As the formalities of Wednesday night have now completed, the talk in and around Game 1 will undoubtedly continue right up until the kick off to Game 2. It will still be spoken about after that game and for the rest of the season but as “that game” has now finished, it is time to turn our attention back to club football and the beginning of Round 13. There was a reduced round of fixtures last week and half of the teams in the competition would have relished the week away from football and some players would have needed the time off to repair a few aches and knocks they have copped since the start of the season. Not only that, it would have been an opportunity for struggling clubs to regroup together or a chance for the well performing teams in the competition to reflect on how they have gone thus far, and create new goals in moving forward. Despite SOO being the pinnacle of the game, the major contributor to the success of the competition revolves around club football and fans will be happy that more games are returning. It is still not a full round though and two sides will have a bye this week.

Eels v Sydney Roosters

Regardless, the round will kick off with a Sydney Derby between the struggling Eels and the high-flying Roosters out at Parramatta Stadium. The Eels were certainly one of those sides that would have used their week off to regroup following mounting disappointing performances. At times this season, they have shown improvement in their game but they have been unable to maintain any momentum. Application is hurting the Eels as is discipline, and the attitude within the squad appears to be short of what it should be. Pressure at this time of year on Ricky Stuart has usually been reserved for Origin but as he has stepped away from that role, he will have respond to questions around his team’s performance. He still doesn’t have the players he wants at the club, however you would expect a better effort of those that are putting on the jersey each week. There are no such issues for the Roosters though and they are evidence that it is possible to turn around the fortunes of a club within one season. They are playing with a far superior structure compared to last season and one of their strengths is certainly their defence. They have been strong around the middle of the field and they are forcing the opposition sides to the edges to score their points. They cannot get too far ahead of themselves just yet and they were reminded of that in their last match against the Storm. This is a work in progress for them and they are moving strongly in the right direction. They have to ensure that this success is driven by their confidence and they are not relying on a few players individual brilliance to get them through a game. It will be appealing to see how they are able to back up following a loss and if their attitude is in the right place against a inferior opponent. There is only one game on this Friday so all attention will be on it, make sure that yours is also.

Parramatta Eels

It was a rare two-points that was added to the Eels total this week but unfortunately for them, it wasn’t a win that brought it about. They were one of many teams that were given a bye and they would have no doubt used the week to regroup following a few lackluster performances. Coach Ricky Stuart would’ve also had his players hard at work though as they haven’t really earned a week off just yet. Perhaps the week off has also given Stuart some time to rethink his team. Jarryd Harne is named for the Eels at fullback and he should probably back up from SOO. Ryan Morgan is brought back into the side in the centres at the expense of Api Pewhairangi and he will partner Jacob Loko. On the wing, the 18^th man from a few weeks ago, Brayden Wiliame, will take Vai Toutai’s spot on the wing and will look to cement a starting spot in the side. One of the biggest changes for the Eels is in the halves as Luke Kelly has been dropped back to the NSW Cup and will play halfback for the Wentworthville Magpies. This is perhaps aimed at boosting the confidence of Kelly and with the money they’re playing Sandow, there is a smaller chance that he will be dropped. Joseph Paulo comes into the side from the bench and will fill the 5/8 role. There are no other changes to the starting side and the Eels forwards will remain the same. On the bench, Darcy Lussick is welcomed back into the team along with utility Jake Mullaney and Pat O’Hanlon. They come in to cover for Paulo’s promotion, as well as the dropping of Junior Paulo (NSW Cup) and Kaysa Pritchard (NYC). Finally, Kenny Edwards has been named as 18^th man, but will be the likely man to miss out.

Sydney Roosters

There is no surprise to see the Roosters also named their SOO players and they will often tell you that they find it easier to back up immediately after the game rather than waiting a few days. All three of their players put in a solid performance and they will want to carry over the confidence into this match. There are still a few question marks over the kicking game of Pearce and expect a few sides to test this in coming weeks (if not QLD in Game 2). If there is a disruption to the side, that will be the only problem as the Roosters have chosen to name an unchanged lineup from their loss to the Storm. It was a leveling experience for them as they were shown by the Storm what it takes to still be able to compete with the top sides in this competition. It came down to a few poor choices in attack from them but they were also a little lackadaisical in their defence. The scoreboard was a little flattering to them and they will have been disappointed with their efforts. Their forwards didn’t set solid platform up front and their halves were pressured. As is the case in any game when this happens, the outside backs saw little possession with any room to move. There were a few positives to take away from the game and they will no doubt have learnt from a few of their mistakes.

Recent History

Overall = Eels 60 Draw 5 Roosters 59

Last 5 games = Eels 1 Roosters 4

At Parramatta Stadium = Eels 10 Roosters 11

Stats that matter

• As the Eels play has declined drastically in recent weeks, so has their completion rate. Since Round 6, it has only gotten above 70% once (75% v Broncos Round 9) and it is now sitting at an average of 68.9% (15^th).
• The Roosters are tightening the strings on their defence and average the least number of missed tackles per game with just 18.5. They are miles ahead of 2^nd (21.3 – Bulldogs). This is no doubt having a positive effect on the amount of points they concede, which is just at 10.9 (1^st).
• It is polar opposites in the line breaks categories and the Eels are failing to threaten their opposition each week. This is probably due to their poor completion rate but they only average 3.2 line breaks per game (16^th). The Roosters would be happy with their performance and are benefitting from the second phase play they get from offloads. They break the line at an average of 5.5 times per game (1^st).

Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Eels $3.75 Roosters $1.78
Centrebet = Eels $3.80 Roosters $1.28
Sportsbet = Eels $3.80 Roosters $1.28
Betfair = Eels $4.40 Roosters $1.78

Verdict

You would be a very brave person to back the Eels in this game. All the momentum is with the Roosters, despite a loss in their last outing. They are a strong team and they have the Eels covered all over the park. At this stage of the season, you would expect a better effort from the Eels, especially considering news is surfacing that a few of them may be looking for another home in coming seasons. As we have seen in the past, that is used as motivation by some players and it could be the case here as well. As for the margin, the Roosters trounced the Eels 50-nil earlier this season and another hiding looks on the cards. However, with the week off, the Eels should head into this game refreshed and with a point to prove. I still believe the margin will get out to 13+, but it will be nowhere near what it was in the last game.

Suggested Bet
Roosters -8.5 @ $1.80

An unforgiving margin = Roosters 13+ @ $2.20 – It would be hard to see the Eels lift their performance from recent weeks and the Roosters should still be able to put their mark on this game. This option still has a bit of value in it as well given you can still double your money.

Superstar threat = Michael Jennings FTS @ $8 – After a strong performance for the Blues on Wednesday, you would expect more of the same from Jennings. He was able to cross the line in that match and he should be a handful for the Eels right hand edge that has had it’s fair share of troubles this season.

Newcastle Knights v St George-Illawarra Dragons

Saturday night action will begin in Newcastle this week as the Knights play host to the Dragons. It will be a timely return home for the Knights as it is no secret that they have struggled to mirror their home performances when they are on the road. The last two weeks have been clear evidence of that as they have suffered consecutive losses at the hands of the Warriors and the Rabbitohs. What was even more disappointing for them was the loss to the Warriors followed them losing the previous week by 56-points and the Knights winning by 36. That seemed to matter little in the end as they were outplayed in the forwards and never really brought themselves into the contest. They have suffered a few injuries also, so the task remaining for them becomes even more difficult. They are a chance of pushing hard for a Finals position, but their play away from home needs to become more unfailing. Normally this clash would focus heavily on the two coaches facing one another as it is the master (Wayne Bennett) against the apprentice (Steve Price), although, the player’s performances have dominated a lot more than they would’ve liked. There is a lot going on over at the Dragons and they seem to be in the headlines because of the performance of Jamie Soward. They were unlucky (to some extent) to suffer a loss to the Bulldogs and had the chance to send the game into golden point with a final shot at goal but were unable to do so. Despite being so close to their opponent, the score line was a little flattering to the Dragons and the Bulldogs seemed to have the game under enough control to get a win. There was a mini-revival for the Dragons following a slow start to the season but it seems as though that form has now abandoned them. They need to find out what it was that was making them tick and return to the winners circle, otherwise the controversy within the club will continue to grow. There is sure to be a lot written once the fulltime whistle goes so why not take a front row seat for this ride ahead.

Newcastle Knights

The Knights were in the news late on Tuesday night following the information that they have signed Craig Gower to play for the rest of the season. It is a little puzzling to see them sign the 35-year old, as well as intriguing as to how he will fit into this side. At this stage he hasn’t been named, but he could very well be a late inclusion into the lineup. As for the changes, the Knights have named Darius Boyd to play at fullback and this has forced Kevin Naiqama to move back to the wing, and Peter Mata’utai out of the team altogether. In the forwards, Alex McKinnon is out after sustaining an injury in a tackle that has caused a lot of controversy. Hopefully the NRL comes to its senses sooner rather than later because it is a dangerous move that has the potential to cause an injury when it is executed. Luckily for them, Chris Houston returns to the side from injury and will slot directly into the second row. Apart from that, the bench remains the same with Neville Costigan named as 18^th man and the likely option to miss out. The Knights would also be boosted by the news that Korbin Sims has chosen to resign with them until the end of 2015 and it could be very soon that we see him take a regular starting spot in the side.

St George-Illawarra Dragons

The Dragons were in the news on Monday and Tuesday of this week and it was surprising to see them there considering there was Game 1 of SOO kicking off on Wednesday. Team disharmony was the main reason for this and when there are a few consecutive poor performances, questions will always be asked. This centred on Jamie Soward and his “thinking” around a contract that he signed with the Panthers for next season (and beyond). He has been dropped back to the NSW Cup this week and Chase Stanley has been moved from the centres to 5/8. Nathan Green is the new face on the edge and as he comes in for Stanley, he will now partner Prior. Soward can consider himself a little unfortunate to be in this predicament, while at the same time, Nathan Fien would be breathing a sigh of relief. It is his play that has come under a lot of scrutiny and surely it is only a matter of time before he is making way for Josh Drinkwater to come into the side. Brett Morris and Trent Merrin will both look to back up from SOO and Morris will take his spot back on the wing in a move that forces Daniel Vidot back to 18^th man. Merrin’s return also causes a shift in the back row, Tyson Frizell will move back to the bench and Leeson Ah Mau will drop out of the team altogether. Despite the halves being poor so far, the Dragons forwards have to stand up and take ownership of the sides momentum. They have been a little “soft” at times and need to bring back some aggression to their play.

Recent History

Overall = Knights 9 Dragons 18

Last 5 games = Knights 1 Dragons 4

At Hunter Stadium = Knights 2 Dragons 12

Stats that matter

• The Knights are giving themselves every opportunity with the ball and they only commit 9.3 errors per match (2^nd). The same cannot be said for the Dragons though as they are a fair way away with an average of 11.6 errors (9^th).
• The Knights have also been their own worst enemy in defence and the stringent early season tackling we saw from them seems to have deserted them.In the first 6 Rounds of the competition they average just 16.5 per game but in the next 6, they averaged a very high 31.7 missed tackles. They are still ranked 5^th in the competition with an average of 24.1, but will want to ensure that this number doesn’t climb any higher.
• The Dragons are having trouble scoring points in their matches and their attack is looking very flat. They average 14.8 points per match (15^th) and will have trouble keeping up with the Knights, who average 22.4 (4^th) per match.

Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Knights $1.40 Dragons $3.00
Centrebet = Knights $1.42 Dragons $2.95
Sportsbet = Knights $1.38 Dragons $3.05
Betfair = Knights $1.43 Dragons $2.88

Verdict

Both sides are going to take the field with a point to prove and perhaps not just to the public, but also the coaches. This shapes as a difficult game to select, as the Knights have never beaten the Dragons under the guidance of Wayne Bennett. This may be because a few of the Dragons are using Bennett’s departure as motivation, or it could come down to sheer ability. Having seen NSW begin to turn the tide earlier in the week, it is time for the Knights to do the same. They are a different side when they take the field in front of their home fans and following consecutive losses on the road, it may be time for a change in performance. It will not be like their other home games this season though, they will find it difficult to get a victory and the margin should sit comfortably within the 1-12 guideline.

Suggested Bet
Knights 1-12 @ $3.10

Off to a good start  = Knights Try @ $1.80 – You would expect the Knights to begin this game on the right foot here following there last few performances. They started well against the Rabbitohs as well and back at home it should be more of the same. It doesn’t possess the most value, but one you could perhaps throw into a multi bet to boost your return.

He’s your guy = Dane Gagai FTS @ $11 – He was brought to the club by Bennett following his sacking from Brisbane and he is developing with each game. He is strong on the edges and will look to get more involved here following a quiet game last week.

North Queensland Cowboys v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

The second and final Saturday night game returns back to one of its familiar homes Townsville as the Cowboys tackle the Bulldogs. Both sides have experienced a range of emotions this season and it has had a strong influence over their performance this season. At this stage, it appears as though the worst of the troubles are behind the Bulldogs but the toughest period could yet be in front of the Cowboys. There is news floating around all over the place that they are in a lot of trouble on and off the field and their coach Neil Henry only has a few weeks to prove his worth or he will be shown the door. This has been coming for some time now as he has failed to get the most out of his squad. The responsibility does have to lie with the players to some extent and they possess a roster that should be contending for the title. A return home will aid their cause but winning needs to become a habit or the season could drag on for them. They could take a leaf out of the Bulldogs book because they have dealt with their off-field issues and are beginning to play consistent football. This has coincided with their squad returning to full fitness but their coach Des Hasler continues to get the best out of his players. They are a genuine threat for the title, although they have a long way to go before they develop into a serious contender. Their strength revolves around their forwards and they have been impressive in recent weeks. As they continue to develop, more room is created for their outside backs and they are worrying teams all over the field. This game is absorbing to say the least and there will be a lot spoken, written and proposed following this game. Make sure that you have your say once it has finished and the only way is to watch this game live. Hopefully we can win a few bets to make the outcome of this game more valuable for fans of rugby league.

North Queensland Cowboys

Following another disappointing performance against the Titans last week, the Cowboys will welcome back their SOO stars with open arms. Despite coach Neil Henry being a “marked man”, he has still shown faith in his squad and perhaps it is time for his squad to start repaying the favor. Brent Tate is named to play in the centres and this has forced Antonio Winterstein back to the wing and Kalifa Faifai Loa back to bench (20^th man). Thurston is back at 5/8 and he will partner Robert Lui (halfback) and Michael Morgan is dropped back to an extended bench (named as 19^th man). There is some news floating around that Thurston may miss this game through injury and you will have to pay attention to the final naming of this side prior to kickoff. The Cowboys big men Matt Scott and James Tamou are back into the team and this has forced Ashton Sims and Scott Bolton back to the interchange. As mentioned earlier, they have named an extended bench of 8 players so Henry is definitely leaving his options open. This has seen the departure of Joel Riethmuller and Blake Leary back to the QLD Cup but the retention of Ethan Lowe (18^th man) and Ricky Thorby (21^st man). A lot of this does revolve around the return of the SOO players but you would expect them to make their way onto the field in this game, given just how much pressure the Cowboys (especially their coach) are under heading into this week.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have a few puzzling changes this week at it revolves around their SOO players. They have chosen not to name them here but no doubt they will take the field if they are fit enough. Krisnan Inu returns to the centres from his second lengthy suspension for the season and will partner Tim Lafai if Morris doesn’t play. This has forced Mitch Brown back to the wing and Drury Low out of the team altogether. Joel Romelo has been named at 5/8 and after a brief return, Kris Keating is back in the NSW Cup. You would expect Josh Reynolds to play though as he didn’t take the field for the Blues throughout the game. The forwards remain unchanged and this is no surprise given how well they are performing. There is only a minor alteration on the bench as Martin Taupau has not been named as 18^th man. This is surprising given the Bulldogs are travelling in this game and will want to cover for a late injury.

Recent History

Overall = Cowboys 10 Bulldogs 20

Last 5 games = Cowboys 1 Bulldogs 4

At 1300Smile Stadium = Cowboys 3 Bulldogs 11

Stats that matter

• Errors are crueling the Cowboys attack and they are turning the ball over too often to their opposition. They average 12.2 per match (14^th) and while the Bulldogs are not that far ahead of them, they are ranked a lot higher (=5^th) with 10.5 per match.
• As the Bulldogs are slowly getting back to full strength in the forwards, they are starting to tighten up in defence and are now only missing an average of 21.3 tackles each week (2^nd). In a sign that they are improving, in the last 4 weeks they have averaged just 19.5 in their matches.
• The same cannot be said for the Cowboys though and in the last 5 weeks they have missed an average of 33.2 tackles, which has them now average of 27.5 for the season (13^th). Surprisingly, it has not had too much of an impact just yet on the amount of points they concede and they allow their opposition to score an average of 18.8 (9^th).

Odds

TAB Sportsbet = Cowboys $2.65 Bulldogs $1.50
Centrebet = Cowboys $2.50 Bulldogs $1.56
Sportsbet = Cowboys $2.45 Bulldogs $1.55
Betfair = Cowboys $2.54 Bulldogs $1.54

Verdict

This game is as difficult to select, as it was when these teams first met in the opening round of this season. All of the momentum is with the Bulldogs at the moment and they are reminding the rest of the competition what they are capable of. They are nowhere near their best, but just doing what it takes to beat their opposition each week. It could be the same case here as the Cowboys are still struggling to find a winning formula. Thurston is terribly out of form at this stage and this can be related back to the forwards and the protection they have given him up the middle of the field. It is very hard for any halves combination to play strongly behind a beaten pack and the Cowboys are a glowing endorsement for this statement. The Bulldogs will not find it easy though and this match should be just as close as the first time that these two sides met, although this time, it will be the boys in blue and white that will reside in the winners circle.

Suggested Bet
Bulldogs 1-12 @ $2.90

Scoring on their play = First scoring play Cowboys Try @ $2.15 – The Cowboys have started 6 out of their last 10 matches with a try and they are a good chance of starting with a try here. They will be fired up to start this game and while the “Bulldogs try” is favorite, there are better odds on offer for this bet.

Cranky Franky = Frank Pritchard LTS @ $17 – Surprisingly, Pritchard has scored the last try for the Bulldogs in 2 out of their last 3 matches and he is in some fantastic form. Hasler is giving him more minutes towards the end of the game and this is allowing him to dominate write up until the final whistle.

New Zealand Warriors v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Super Sunday is back in its best form as three games will be played today and NRL fans will relish the opportunity to watch all three without any clashes. The first of the game will kick off over in New Zealand as the Warriors are back home following their MNF victory and will look to continue their winning run against the Sea Eagles. It is very frustrating to watch the Warriors take the field each week because you can never be sure which Warriors team will “show up”. Last week it was the “entertaining” Warriors that were on display and they reminded everyone just how potent and exciting they can be. The aim for them now should be playing this style of football on a more consistent basis. It will be a real acid test against the Sea Eagles and despite playing at home; they will have their work cut out for them. The Sea Eagles would’ve enjoyed a week off last week following a grinding performance against the Raiders. They were successful in that game however it wasn’t easy for them and it required a few moments of skill from their halves. They are the centre-point of their team and majority of their success relies on Kieran Foran and Daley Cherry-Evans performing well each week. The ability for them to control the game does depend on the potency their forwards display. When they have failed this season, their forwards have been beaten up the middle and the pressure on Foran and DCE is compounded. If they are able to get this right each week, they are going to be a greater force to be reckoned with. If you’re lucky enough to have a day-off on Monday, today is going to be a nice and relaxing day. What better way to spend it than watching some good, quality rugby league.

New Zealand Warriors

The Warriors have a short turn around to contend with here but they will be the first to remind everyone of how well they played on MNF. It certainly was impressive but also disappointing in the same sense that we have not witnessed more of that from then this season. We saw practically a complete performance and this is probably why they have chosen to take the same 17 that took the field into this game. There was one late change to the side that faced the Broncos though and that was the inclusion of Dominique Peyroux in jersey 18 on the bench. Pita Godinet was the player that made way for him and he has done the same again this week. Unfortunately for Godinet, Suaia Matagi is named to play 18^th man but he will probably miss out on selection altogether. The Warriors need to look to their forwards again for motivation and their second phase play created by offloads, is always difficult to maintain. Feleti Mateo was back to his best against the Broncos and he has again set a standard they NRL fans would like to consistently see of him. Whether or not this will happen is another thing and it seems to be a running theme through the entire Warriors outfit, summing up the success of their season to date.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

The Sea Eagles are another side that would have relished a week out of the game following another tough game against the Raiders. They are a side that appears to be playing a tough game every week as sides look to take the battle to them up front. It can only go one or two ways and sooner or later it will either take a toll on the fitness of the squad or prove to be a valuable learn curve for them. They are an extremely tight team and they will not be fazed by the fact that they have another tough game approaching them. This week, coach Geoff Toovey has chosen to run with almost the same squad that go the job done in their last game. Anthony Watmough is expected to back up from his SOO game on Wednesday and Toovey will be happy (for his team anyway) that Watmough played a reduced role off the bench. While solid as always, he didn’t appear to use the same amount of fuel as some of the other players, but it will still be a difficult trip for him to make over to New Zealand. On the bench, David Gower has been dropped to 18^th man and James Hasson has come into the 17, in jersey 15. Tom Symonds will again start from the bench, although this week he will wear 14 instead of 15.

Recent History

Overall = Warriors  7 Sea Eagles 16

Last 5 games = Warriors 0 Sea Eagles 5

At Mt Smart Stadium = Warriors 2  Sea Eagles 7

Stats that matter

• The Warriors inconsistency is reflected in their woeful completion rate. Based on their season average, they are currently ranked 16^th in the competition with 68.1%. Their highest one for the season has been 79.4% (last week against the Broncos) and their average when they have won games has been 71%.
• The Sea Eagles are very difficult to break down this season and despite missing an average of 26 tackles per match (11^th), they are ranked 2^nd for points conceded. They only allow 11.6 points and are only .7 points away from 1^st, but more impressively 3.5 points away from 3^rd.
• As noted above, the Sea Eagles rely heavily on their defence as they only score 18.6 points (9^th) in attack. The Warriors actually average more than them (19.6 – 7^th) but have trouble containing their opposition (26.2 points conceded – 14^th).

Odds

TAB Sportsbet = Warriors $2.20 Sea Eagles $1.70
Centrebet = Warriors $2.20 Sea Eagles $1.70
Sportsbet = Warriors $2.15 Sea Eagles $1.70
Betfair = Warriors $2.26 Sea Eagles $1.75

Verdict

As stated above, you never know which Warriors team will show up. What you can be sure of though, is which Sea Eagles team will take the field in this contest. They are a tough football team and will relish the challenge against any opponent. They may struggle to contain the Warriors early, but have what it takes to transform this match into a real arm wrestle. That is the type of football that best suits this Manly team and based on that, they should prevail at the end of this game. This game looks as though it will be very close and one that may just be won in the final few minutes.

Suggested Bet
Sea Eagles -2.5 @ $1.95

Small, but Manly margin = Sea Eagles 1-12 @ $3.10 – This game will be a very tough contest and close enough that the Warriors will have a chance of winning. The Sea Eagles are a tougher side though and this points towards the fact that it will be fairly close, with them prevailing in the end (and with juicy odds).

A beast of a bet = Manu Vatuvei FTS @ $7 – Get ready for this statistic, in the Warriors past 5 games, Vatuvei has scored the opening try for the Warriors on all 5 occasions. To take that a step further, 4 of those were the first try in the match and 3 of those have been at a Warriors home game. Based on form, this bet is a good option to take and expect the “Beast” to have a chance again at opening the scoring. For what it is worth, he is paying $1.80 to just score a try.

Penrith Panthers v Wests Tigers

The “main game” this Sunday features the second Sydney Derby for the weekend between two sides that are battling for superiority in Sydney’s west. It is surprising that more has not been written about this game but the fledging fortunes of the Tigers perhaps has taken away from the challenge. These two sides met back in Round 2 and it was the Tigers that were successful on that occasion, 28-18. Since then, the Panthers have gone on to surprise a lot of critics (myself included) and it has been the Tigers form that has headed south. There are numerous reasons as to why this has happened and the Tigers would be the first to point out that their injury toll has severely hampered their success. Before they do that though, they might want to have a look at the Panthers players that are sidelined and notice that it has been relatively the same. Sure, the last performance for them was a win over the Cowboys but for majority of this season, they have lacked commitment and enthusiasm in their play. They can take a lot away from their opponents this week and they can begin with their toughness in defence. The Tigers will have a first hand experience of this and plenty of sides that have faced the Panthers have made a point just how physical they are. Not only that, their coach Ivan Cleary is doing a good job of motivating his side to execute each week. You do wonder how long they can keep this up for though as the toll it is taking on their bodies may just become too much for their relatively inexperienced lineup. For now, they will want to ride the wave that they are on and it can only benefit their performance. This is the second game on “Super Sunday” and while coverage will be delayed, it will be a game worth watching and could benefit your tips in coming weeks. Let’s hope that we can even grab a winner before then.

Penrith Panthers

The Panthers didn’t have any players named in the SOO game and this is probably a reflection on just how stretched their squad is at the moment through injury. They have maintained a strong squad again despite their growing injury list at the only change for them occurs on the bench. James Roberts has been named to make his second start of his career and he will take the spot of Ryan Simpkins on the bench. It is amazing what winning can do for an organisation and the Panthers critics have been quiet for a few weeks now. Having listened to players following a game against the Panthers, they have made a point that they are a difficult side to play because they are strong in defence and hit hard in the initial first up tackle. This is a strength of theirs that they will want to continue on with and they are attempting to be just as strong on the edges. In the halves, Luke Walsh is forming a solid combination with Isaac John and this is related to the stand the forwards are making.

Wests Tigers

It has been relaxing for the Tigers being out of the headlines and having a chance to relish two weeks as “winners”. Of course, this is due to the bye as well but you can never knock winning form and always want to carry it into your next game. This week, Sean Meaney is called into the side at fullback and will replace James Tedesco in only one of three changes to the starting side. Liam Fulton is the another player who is out of this weeks match and Eddy Pettybourne takes his spot in the starting side. The final one is the inclusion of Jarred Farlow who is looking to make his NRL debut. He is a back rower and is no doubt included to tighten up the middle of the field with his defence. The Tigers have just the one player returning from SOO duty and that is their hooker and captain Robbie Farah. News did break on Thursday that he suffered a fractured cheekbone and will be on the sidelines for 2-3 weeks and may be in danger of missing SOO Game 2. He was outstanding as usual for Blues on Wednesday night and was expected to take the field again here but now Masada Iosefa (18^th man) will come into the side. For a side that is really struggling, the last thing they wanted was to be without their captain for the coming fixtures.

Recent History

Overall = Panthers 14 Tigers 10

Last 5 games = Panthers  0 Tigers 5

At Centrebet Stadium = Panthers 8 Tigers 4

Stats that matter

• Both teams have terrible stats in and around the average of missed tackles they allow each match. The Tigers are ranked in 15^th spot with 29.1 per game, while the Panthers are slightly ahead of them in 14^th place with 28.4 per match. The alarming thing for the Tigers though is that this has forced them to stand in 16^th spot for points conceded, as they allow their opponents to score around 27.9 points per match.
• The Tigers are not only allowing a lot of points, they are struggling to score them as well. They are ranked in 16^th position and manage just 13.2 points this season. The Panthers certainly do have a lot more try scoring potential and are dangerous with the ball. They have also benefitted from a few scoring blow-outs and average 21.9 points per game (5^th)
• The Panthers are unexpectedly sitting 2^nd in the competition for completion rate with 75.2% for the season. The Tigers will want to mirror some of that for their performances as they are ranked in 13^th with just 69.3% this year.

Odds

TAB Sportsbet = Panthers $1.26 Tigers $4.00
Centrebet = Panthers $1.25 Tigers $4.10
Sportsbet = Panthers $1.25 Tigers $4.00
Betfair = Panthers $1.26 Tigers $4.30

Verdict

The Panthers are heavy favorites in this game and their price has only shortened following the news that the Tigers will be without Farrah. This contest will be vastly different to their Round 2 encounter and the momentum the Panthers have, should get them through in the end. Returning home also assists their cause but you have to be wary of the effect of the week off. Both sides will head into this game off a bye, but the Tigers may just benefit from a week out of the headlines and it would’ve been a chance for them to regroup. It may just mean that this game is a little closer than most think and for that reason, the 1-12 margin is far more appealing.

Suggested Bet
Tigers +10.5 @ $1.90

Panthers pride = Panthers 1-12 @ $3 – Sure the Panther can score point in attack but this contest will be a little closer than most think. The odds on offer are very valuable and it is something that can odd more value to a few of your bets.

Signing success = David Simmons FTS @ $8 – After signing a contract extension this week, Simmons will be desperate to get out onto the field and prove that the Panthers have made a wise choice. He has played his best games this season on home turf and expect him to test out the inexperienced Tigers wingers.

 

Good luck!
Scooby

Author

I have followed Rugby League since I was young enough to watch it and growing up in Sydney, it was inevitable. I will always make it my business to watch all 8 NRL fixtures per week and follow it with more than just passion. During my playing career, I have played at several representative levels, with and against current players. I began writing previews on NRL games early on in 2012 and really found a passion within this. I enjoy listening to various people and their opinions on the game, and then forming my own. Coupled together with another passion, gambling, I soon learnt that there was a market out there for more than the rugby league diehards. Hopefully I can pass on my knowledge of the game to help you win some cash.

Please Note:
All of the above are the opinions of the author and are not recommendations or advice. The author may not be taking every bet listed above. Bet at your own risk.
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