The NRL makes its return after a week off, but with COVID wreaking havoc, crowds will be non-existent for many of this weekend’s matches.
Roosters vs Storm
The Storm is still without Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen, but they are top of the table with good reason. Returning home for a few days ahead of their trip to Newcastle for a clash with the Roosters should work wonders. Trent Robinson’s team welcome back Sam Walker, but it’s their defence that looms as a bigger problem. After putting on 66 against the Tigers, the Storm now averages almost 36 points per game. While the Roosters sit fourth for points conceded, it may not be enough unless James Tedesco stands tall while backing up from Origin. Seven tries and eight try assists for the season shows exactly how good he has been. But with Nicho Hynes providing 14 try assists in 13 games himself, it’s hard to say Teddy will provide the difference.
Storm by 8. $3.15 at PlayUp
Warriors vs Dragons
The Warriors have had the wood over the Dragons for quite some time now. They have won the last five matches between the two clubs, and have made just two errors in their last two games against the Saints. While it’s not a long-running hoodoo yet, the Dragons haven’t responded well to teams who complete well against them, and the Warriors are fourth in the competition in that regard. While the Warriors’ attack isn’t all that crash-hot, sitting sixth from last, the Dragons have missed the fourth-highest amount of tackles. If the Warriors hang onto the ball as they have, that could prove disastrous for the Red V.
Warriors by 4. $3.10 at PlayUp
Panthers vs Eels
The Panthers are about to find out how difficult life will be without Nathan Cleary. A rude introduction against the Eels awaits. Jarome Luai, who has 14 try assists and 12 forced drop-outs in 13 games this year, holds the key as he partners Matt Burton in the halves.The Panthers have a lot more going for them though, and with the most run and post-contact metres in the competition, they have multiple methods of getting on the front foot. Parramatta will find it mighty difficult to slow down their opposition if those numbers continue, given they make more errors than any other team.
Panthers by 12. $2.95 at PlayUp
Bulldogs vs Sea Eagles
Canterbury’s blip on the radar win against the Dragons a few weeks ago is fading fast into the rear-view mirror, following it up with a 36-10 loss to the Eels in Round 15. Their average of 12.3 points per game has increased to 16 in the last five games, but that won’t be enough to contend with Tom Trbojevic and the Sea Eagles. Given Trbojevic has 11 tries and 15 try assists from eight games this season, to go with Manly’s defence leaking just 14.4 points per game in their last five starts, it’s hard to see anything other than a Sea Eagles win.
Sea Eagles by 22. $1.27 at PlayUp
Raiders vs Titans
A battle of the slightly inconsistent Titans, and a Raiders outfit performing well below expectations. Canberra is a hard place to play in the middle of winter, and the Titans have lost all of their last five against the Green Machine. While their attack can turn it on (they have scored more points than any team in the bottom eight), the Titans have a very fragile defence. It’s the third-worst in the competition, and with the Raiders having the best defensive record of those teams in the eight, while still running up 30 points on three occasions this year, Saturday’s game could be another important win.
Raiders by 14. $2.68 at PlayUp
Knights vs Cowboys
The Knights may not have a lot going for them down in 12th place, but they do sit fifth for total run metres, second for kick metres and second for all tackles made. Those stats don’t win a lot of games, but against a team like the Cowboys who sit 11th for run metres, it might. Not only that, but the Cowboys have still only won a single game away from Townsville this season, from six attempts.
Knights by 8. $3.10 at PlayUp
Broncos vs Sharks
Given the Broncos and Sharks sit equal for the most missed tackles in the competition, this could be a very high-scoring, open game of footy. The Broncos are at home and have made more offloads than any other team, with a returning Kontoni Staggs looking to exploit the Sharks’ brittle edge defence. The Sharks have only beaten the Broncos once in their last four trips to Lang Park, so it’s difficult to see where they stop their opposition from chalking up a rare win here.
Broncos by 16. $8.70 at PlayUp
Wests Tigers vs Rabbitohs
The Tigers are something of a mess, having conceded 66 points against the Storm in their last game. It leaves them with the competition’s second-worst defence, sitting fifth for both errors and missed tackles. They are areas the Rabbitohs will look to exploit. Given Damien Cook runs the ball more than any other dummy half, and that his team sit fourth for line breaks, it could be a second-straight beatdown for the hapless Tigers.
Rabbitohs by 26. $1.43 at PlayUp
