Sydney Roosters (8th) v South Sydney Rabbitohs (10th)
The Roosters flexed their muscle last week in style, bouncing back from a poor showing in Round 4 to dominate the Sharks 28-10. It was a tough start to the match, with each side aiming to gather momentum in the first 20 minutes, trading penalty goals in the early stages. The Roosters soon saw an opening and put on 2 quick tries starting with their first in the 21st minute of play. The lead at HT was courtesy of 54% possession in the first half, which was quickly overcome as they had only 45% for the match. Coming under scrutiny in the middle of the field, the Roosters hardly took a backward step and powered over the more fancied pack of forwards, carrying the ball for 9.95m each tackle. This was eventually too much for their opponents, with the 32 missed tackles hardly disrupting their defensive structure. For such a fancied team, they are yet to demonstrate their complete potential, with this performance a reminder of what they are capable of and undoubtedly a step in the right direction. They will be primed to face their bitter rivals, the Rabbitohs, who are coming off a close loss to the Dragons 16-12. Not surprisingly, each half was dominated by a different team and this coincided with the increase in possession statistics. The Rabbitohs were coming home strong in the second half. It took them until the 74th minute to score their first try and when it was obtained, they grew in confidence and quickly grabbed a second. In the end, fatigue got the better of them though and they only have themselves to blame for the result. They completed at just 76% and committed 11 errors, often losing their way in sets that provided strong field position. Much like the Roosters, they are yet to find momentum that their ability suggests, although the home team appears far more capable than their rivals ahead of this match.
Team News
Roosters = Unchanged.
Rabbitohs = Richie Kennar (injury) returns to the wing, pushing Dane Gagai back to the centres and Hymel Hunt to the reserves.
History
Overall = Roosters 35 Rabbitohs 11
Last 5 Matches = Roosters 4 Rabbitohs 1
At Allianz Stadium = Roosters 64% Rabbitohs 31%
Form = Roosters 1 win – Rabbitohs 1 loss
Verdict
The Roosters lifted to another level last week and showcased just what they were capable of. It wasn’t as if the Sharks underperformed, the execution of the Roosters was at a level that their opponents failed to match. The Rabbitohs appear as though they may struggle to compete with their opponents, with the odds suggesting that this will be a one-sided contest. If Sam Burgess were playing and Adam Reynolds had more match fitness, this game would take a different shape. Fact is, the Roosters are looking better with each week and minor slips in performance, like the match against the Warriors, only serve as a reminder to refocus this talented team. You cannot discount the motivation behind the Rabbitohs against a bitter rival, they will be aware of the “underdog” tag and will want to upset the momentum of the home team; in equal measure, the Roosters will not want to give away home ground advantage to an opponent they despise. This game becomes a matter of deciding how much the home team will win by rather than if they will win. To add more support for the home team, they have won 4 of the past 5 matches and hold a far superior record at this ground. In the past 5 meetings, the average winning margin sits at 17-points. This is largely to 3 victories of 14-points or more, with two of those in favour of the Roosters. If the Rabbitohs play like they did in the last 5 minutes against the Dragons, then they are going to push the Roosters to do something special to win this contest. Problem is, with the current form and confidence of the Roosters, they will want to shut them out of the game sooner rather than later. A comfortable margin of victory looks likely, but on the chance, that the Rabbitohs can pick up from where they left off, take the Roosters to cover the line and not much else.
Suggested Bet
Roosters -9.5 @ $1.95
Feeling confident? = Roosters 13+ @ $2.35 – If you believe that the Roosters strong attacking performance can continue, then this is definitely worth a thought. The Roosters average of 22-points per game compared with the Rabbitohs conceding an average of 17-points per game suggests it may not be possible. Nevertheless, they have demonstrated how well they can shut down opponents with defence with their have confidence on the other side of the ball.
Melbourne Storm (9th) v Newcastle Knights (7th)
The Storm were upset for the second time this season by the Tigers, suffering a 1-point loss on the road to their less fancied opponents in New Zealand. Much like the first time they played the Tigers, their momentum was continually interrupted, highlighted by their 46% completion rate for the match. They committed an uncharacteristic 19 errors in the contest and look a shadow of the Premiership winning team that won the competition last year. Despite this effort, they lead for majority of this contest, with the Tigers forced to fight from behind to capture victory. Defence was a key to their opponent’s victory; the Storm will need to focus on their attacking structure and ensure that they are not relying on individuals to lead them to victory. On the other hand, the Knights will take winning form into this match, beaten the Broncos 15-10 at home. In a sign that they are an improved team, the Knights overcame the underdog tag to control the game in an absorbing contest. It took them until the 31st minute to score their first points and from that point onwards, they never allowed their opponents to lead or draw level in the match. The final score line is misleading somewhat, with a late try to the Broncos closing the margin of victory. Credit has to go to the Knights, as they completed at 83%, committing just 7 errors over 80 minutes. Their defence was strong, although they will want to reduce the 32 missed tackles they made, with majority of these coming in the first half. No one would’ve picked that the Knights would be ahead of the Storm on the competition ladder at this point of the season, adding extra motivation for the home side ahead of this match.
Team News
Storm = Brodie Croft has been dropped to the reserves, with Ryley Jacks named at halfback. Kenny Bromwich is named to start at lock, swapping with Tim Glasby, who moves back to the bench.
Knights = Herman Ese’ese moves to lock to cover for Mitch Barnett (suspended), with Daniel Saifiti coming into the team and prop and Jacob Saifiti coming onto the bench.
History
Overall = Storm 23 Knights 15
Last 5 Matches = Storm 4 Knights 1
At AAMI Park = Storm 75% Knights 20%
Form = Storm 2 losses – Knights 1 win
Verdict
The Storm sit in unfamiliar territory heading into this game, sitting outside the Top 8 since June 2014; that will only motivate them further leading into this contest and the shift within the halves is set to have an impact on the play of the entire team. At the moment, they are not being rewarded for positive play with the ball, coming up short of points and being forced to drain more energy in defence. The Knights will consider themselves a chance of performing strongly in this contest, just like they did last week against the Broncos; the difference this week is that their opponents possess far greater quality and will put their pride on the line follow last week’s upset. For the Knights to win, they would need to lift their defensive effort and disrupt the Storms attacking momentum. Teams that have been successful against them have attacked the forwards in the middle and brought pressure onto their halves. The Storm are a smart team and they will adjust in the areas that are needed to combat their flaws in recent weeks. They will be out to prove a point and regain some momentum that has abandoned them recently. As well as these factors, the Storm have a very strong home record, on top of dominating the Knights in recent appearances. This game will be a lot closer than their past 4 victories (17-point average winning margin) and the Storm will be made to work hard for their victory. That being said, the Knights have proven already this season that they are unable to maintain consistency following draining performances. This is likely to occur again; the game against the Broncos would have taken its toll on their playing squad and with a short turnaround and a trip south to Melbourne, it may just be too much for them to handle in this fixture.
Suggested Bet
Storm -10.5 @ $1.90
St George-Illawarra Dragons (1st) v Cronulla Sharks (11th)
The Dragons continued their winning streak to start the season, making it 5-consecutive victories with a 16-12 win over the Rabbitohs at home. Jumping to an early lead, the Dragons suffered a late scare, with their opponents finishing strong with 2 tries in 3 minutes to give themselves a chance at stealing victory. The superior fitness of the Dragons got them over the line, providing reward for how well they started the match. It was a strong display with the ball, completing at 81% with just 8 errors. On the other side of the ball, 36 missed tackles, 29 in the second half, kept the door open for their opponents. They will be aware that this is something that they need to improve on, although things are looking positive for the Dragons at this point in the season; the challenge is maintaining the high standards of execution that has served them well thus far. Interestingly, this is the second meeting of these sides already this season, with the Dragons already prevailing 20-16 back in Round 2. On the same night, the Sharks had no such luck in their match at home against the Roosters, suffering a 28-10 loss to a strong opponent. They were only able to score 10-points over 80 minutes, failing to build on the 55% possession that they had over the match. This was complemented by an 81% completion rate and 9 errors; it came down to the lack of force they showed when close to the Roosters line and their inability to build pressure through repeat sets. Nevertheless, the potential is there for a competitive team, if they could just manage to get the balance of their team right. It shapes as interesting viewing ahead of this match, with the Sharks hoping to return the favour handed to them in by their rivals earlier in the season.
Team News
Dragons = Hame Sele comes into the team for Luciano Leilua on the bench.
Sharks = Josh Dugan (injury) returns at centre for Jesse Ramien. Edrick Lee is named on the wing for Sosaia Feki (injured), while Kurt Dillon (NRL debut) is named on the bench for James Segeyaro (concussion).
History
Overall = Dragons 21 Draw 1 Sharks 19
Last 5 Matches = Dragons 3 Sharks 2
At WIN Stadium = Dragons 63% Sharks 17%
Form = Dragons 5 wins – Sharks 1 loss
Verdict
The Dragons are in a strong position heading into this game and if the odds are to be believed, this game should be a similar result to their Round 2 encounter. Many people are waiting for the Dragons to stutter and while they came close to losing last week, they will be aware of what they need to improve on moving forward. Unlike previous campaigns, the level of experience is dominating their decision making on the field and for the better. The Sharks will need to change their play if they are to change the course of this match; there is a hint that they have become stale in attack, relying on teams being dragged into a defensive contest that they hope to win. The problem with this plan is that teams are figuring out how to break their structure and they are nowhere near as strong as they once were in this area. There is no doubt that they can figure out these issues throughout the season but it is uncertain whether or not it can be sorted ahead of this match. The time will soon come when the Dragons drop a match and they will be measure on how they bounce back, rather than a lack of execution and effort. There is a distinct possibility that it could occur here; the Sharks were not that bad last week against the Roosters, it was just that their opponents were so clinical with their execution. With this in mind, take the margin of victory to be less than a converted try. This was the case earlier in the season and prior to that match, the two previous encounters were decided by 4 and 6 points respectively.
Suggested Bet
Either Team Under 6.5 Points @ $2.70
New Zealand Warriors (2nd) v Brisbane Broncos (12th)
The Warriors took another step in the right direction with a commanding 22-12 win as outsiders against the Cowboys at home. They went on an attacking raid to start the match and found themselves ahead 18-nil just short of HT. This was an impressive period for the home team, which set the foundation for victory. They completed at 80% for the match, with 10 errors, most coming in the second half, leaving the Cowboys with an outside chance of victory. Nevertheless, the experience displayed by this team was impressive to witness, with many believing that this team could in fact be the “real deal” in 2018. They face another tough test against the Broncos, a team that is outside the Top 8 and desperate to bounce back from a 15-10 loss to the Knights on the road. It was a game that they would rather forget, failing to build pressure on their opponents and unable to play with the same confidence, poise and patience displayed by the Knights. They completed at 76% with the ball, with 10 errors plaguing their progress. The real struggle come in defence, they Broncos missed 42 total tackles and found it difficult to scramble; this is an area they have played well in previously and it was surprising to see such a strong team disrupted in this way. It will be a learning experience for this team, still yet to display the consistency and effort that suggests they will be a force towards the end of the year. As long as they keep losing, questions will linger about their spine and what changes should be made to spark attack. Nevertheless, both sides of the ball will need to improve to a higher standard if they want to reach the business end of the season.
Team News
Warriors = Unchanged.
Broncos = Alex Glenn (injury) returns in the second row, pushing Jaydn Su’A to the bench and Tom Opacic back to the reserves
History
Overall = Warriors 17 Broncos 17
Last 5 Matches = Warriors 2 Broncos 3
At Mt Smart Stadium = Warriors 58% Broncos 29%
Form = Warriors 5 wins – Broncos 2 losses
Verdict
All is not well at the Broncos and if history is anything to go by, this is when team should fear them most of all. They are a capable team on their day and despite losing last week, there were plenty of positives in a losing performance. The challenge ahead of them is far greater than they faced last week though and the Warriors are playing with a level of confidence, execution and consistency that has rarely been viewed in their history. This has led to many feeling very excited and last week’s performance suggests that they can make it 6-consecutive victories here. For the visitors to win, they would need to disrupt the momentum in the middle, closing down second-phase play and targeting more playmakers other than Shaun Johnson. Unlike last week, the odds have the Warriors as favourites for this match and rightly so given the form of the two sides. It is also worth considering that the Broncos have had to travel to Newcastle, back to Brisbane and across to New Zealand ahead of this match, while the Warriors remain in the comforts of familiar surroundings. It is no secret that the Warriors winning streak will eventually come to an end, there is too much to like about them ahead of this game. They have won 5 of their last 6 matches against the Broncos at home and appear to have an edge in most areas. It will be a close contest though; the Broncos are well aware of what they need to improve upon ahead of this match and last week will serve a strong reminder that they are perhaps not as good as the quality within their team suggests.
Suggested Bet
Warriors 1-12 @ $2.70
North Queensland Cowboys (14th) v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (15th)
It was a sorry state of affairs last week for both sides and they now find themselves dwelling at the bottom part of the ladder. The Cowboys headed over the New Zealand in the hope that they could halt a 3-game winning streak that was limiting the effectiveness of such a talented team. It was a strong start from their opponents, as the Warriors jumped to an 18-nil lead in with 4 minutes remaining in the first half. They were able to grab a late try and one more in the second half but the damage was already done. It wasn’t as if the Cowboys didn’t give themselves much of a chance; they completed at 86% with just 6 errors and missed 32 tackles. Rather, it was the efficiency of their attack that has left some questioning whether or not some players, most notably Thurston, should be still leading this team. Write him off at your own peril as it will only take a small opportunity for the Cowboys to regain their form. The Bulldogs are in a far worse situation as they possess a lot less talent compared with their opponents. After a spirited loss to the Rabbitohs in Round 4, the Bulldogs failed to make the most of the misfortunes handed to their opponents, eventually suffering a 26-10 loss to the Raiders. Attack was an issue in 2017 and it appears as though they are struggling again, it took them 52 minutes before they grabbed their first points and an 80th minute try only flattered them on the scoreboard. Much like the Cowboys, there is little excuse for this performance other than an underperforming attack. They had a 56% share of possession, completed at 73% (could be improved), made 10 errors and missed just 24 tackles. While it is still early on in the season, each team will know the consequences that another loss could have for their overall chances this year.
Team News
Cowboys = Lachlan Coote (injury) returns at fullback, moving Ben Hampton to the centres and Javid Bowen to the reserves.
Bulldogs = Unchanged.
History
Overall = Cowboys 14 Bulldogs 17
Last 5 Matches = Cowboys 5 Bulldogs 0
At 1300Smiles Stadium = Cowboys 55% Bulldogs 67%
Form = Cowboys 4 losses – Bulldogs 2 losses
Verdict
It has been a long time since the Bulldogs tasted success against the Cowboys and each time Thurston plays his former club, he appears to lift to another level. Their last win came back in Round 13, 2013 and they are undoubtedly going to find things tough here. Despite being separated on the competition ladder by 11-points, the Cowboys are very short favourites to continue the Bulldogs misery. Something has to give in this contest for each team and currently, it is uncertain who will be able to handle the pressure the most. The Cowboys have the slight edge over their opponents, aided by the return of Lachlan Coote to their line up; his presence will allow Michael Morgan to play a more natural game in the halves and take pressure off Thurston. The Bulldogs would love to have the luxury of this, yet, they are going to be forced to limit the Cowboys attacking opportunities if they want to be in with a chance of winning this match. While they have had their positive moments this season, the reality is that they are still a team that is rebuilding; they still only average 15.2 points in attack, while conceding 26 points per game. In equal measure, the Cowboys will have plenty of work to do in order to win this match; a lot of attention is directed to the halves when teams are underperforming, yet, many within this forward pack need to take responsibility for their performance. Taumalolo is always going to generate momentum for his team, however, it is the following plays that will make the difference. If the Cowboys, as expected, can get this and a number of other areas right, they should be able to handle what their opponents throw at them and cover the line.
Suggested Bet
Cowboys -10.5 @ $2
Canberra Raiders (13th) v Parramatta Eels (16th)
The Raiders broke their losing streak which saw them start the season 0-4, with a spirited victory over the Bulldogs at home providing hope that this team has a lot more substance about them than their early season form suggest. Limited to a small rotation of players due to injury and concussion, the Raiders toughed it out to prevail 26-10. They started the match strongly and never really allowed their opponents to build enough momentum to pull themselves back into the match. They overcame just 44% possession to complete at 80%, with 11 errors still a cause for concern. In defence, the Raiders will be disappointed with missing 36 tackles, although majority of these were in the second half when their players were pushed to the limits. It will be interesting to see the effect that the loss of Williams has on the team, as well as the reintroduction of Austin back into the starting team. The Eels are craving their first victory of the year, coming up short last week against the Panthers, eventually losing 12-6. It was an improved effort on both sides of the ball for the Eels in this match, keeping a chance of victory in their sights as the match drew to a close. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be; the Eels were unable to translate 56% possession into success, with a 72% completion rate and 13 errors limiting their effectiveness with the ball. While they had less missed tackles (33) than their opponents, their defensive structure still wasn’t where it was in 2017. Having several key players return to their line-up will have a positive effect; nevertheless, time is running out for the Eels to get their season moving in the right direction.
Team News
Raiders = Jack Wighton returns at fullback, allowing Nick Cotric to move back to the wing in place of Michael Oldfield (concussion). Blake Austin returns to 5/8, replacing Sam Williams (injured) and shifting Aidan Sezer to halfback. Josh Papalii returns on the bench for Liam Knight, who moves back to the reserves.
Eels = Clint Gutherson (injury) returns at fullback, shifting Will Smith to the reserves. Bevan French (injury) returns on the wing for Josh Hoffman. Tepai Moeroa is named to start at lock for Nathan Brown (injured), with Kane Evans coming onto the bench. Peni Terepo is named to start at prop, swapping with Daniel Alvaro, who moves to the bench.
History
Overall = Raiders 18 Eels 12
Last 5 Matches = Raiders 4 Eels 1
At GIO Stadium = Raiders 51% Eels 0%
Form = Raiders 1 win – Eels 5 losses
Verdict
Many were wondering last week whether or not this match would be the first win for either team; with that now out of the equation, the Eels will be desperate to over the fact that they are the only winless team in the competition. Before taking the field, the odds will be against them; the Eels have won just 2 of the past 10 meetings between these two sides and have never won a match at this ground (since 1999) in 4 attempts. That doesn’t read well for the visitors, although, the return of Clint Gutherson is somewhat underrated. He has been a missing link for his team and his return will have the desired effect of lifting those around him. The Eels will need to do a lot more than rely on one player to spark a revival, he will need a few weeks to regain match fitness and play his best football. They find themselves as outsiders for this match and rightly so. Nevertheless, one win does not completely change the course of the Raiders season; the highly emotional victory will have drained plenty of energy and they will relish the opportunity for more time to prepare for this contest. To put things into perspective, you need to look at the quality that the Bulldogs offered against the Raiders last week and compare that with the effort of the Eels against the Panthers. Had each team swapped opponents last week, the form ahead of this game would’ve been completely different. This is an ugly fixture to be investing on this weekend, with others far more conducive to gaining a return. For the sake of making a call on the game, home ground advantage for the Raiders is too much to move past and they should aim to use this to their advantage and move past their opponents.
Suggested Bet
Save your money
Penrith Panthers (3rd) v Gold Coast Titans (6th)
The Panthers backed up a strong performance against the Cowboys in Round 4 with another strong display, this time handing the Eels their 5th consecutive loss. With extra time to recover and prepare, the Panthers got off to a strong start and eventually prevailed 12-6. It was a game that was an absorbing contest, one that previous Panthers teams could’ve easily lost with a lack of experience. This time, it wasn’t the case as they were able to overcome a below-average completion rate (73%), too many errors (13) and more missed tackles than their opponents (42), to grind out victory. They will want to build on that performance and maintain their standing towards the top of the competition ladder, although the Titans have rediscovered some form, winning their past 2-matches in style. Following a 46-point thrashing in Round 3, the Titans have galvanised and turned on an impressive couple of weeks, with their latest victory coming against the Sea Eagles 32-20. This result is no surprise given they completed at 79% with 56% possession and committed just 7 total errors. For the second week in a row, the Titans execution in attack has been a driving force towards victory and it was well supported by their defensive structure. They missed just 26 tackles in this game, overcoming an early try to limit the Sea Eagles future attacking opportunities. For now, they are playing strongly and delivering positive results. This is undoubtedly their toughest test and stakes will be high with each team desperate to keep their winning streak rolling.
Team News
Panthers = Isaah Yeo shifts to the centres for Waqa Blake (injured). Corey Harawira-Naera comes in the second row, with Kaide Ellis coming onto the bench.
Titans = Max King comes into prop for Ryan James (suspended), with Will Matthews returning to the back row. Jack Stockwell comes onto the bench for Keegan Hipgrave, who shifts back to reserves.
History
Overall = Panthers 10 Titans 6
Last 5 Matches = Panthers 3 Titans 2
At Panthers Stadium = Panthers 54% Titans 43%
Form = Panthers 2 wins – Titans 2 wins
Verdict
The odds suggest that, despite their recent form, the Titans are going to find it very difficult to win this match. It can be argued that the Titans are playing as well as the Panthers at this early stage of the season, with the home team exceeding expectations without their halfback. This is yet to be overly exposed by an opponent; they are doing well to cover the loss of Cleary, as other players are stepping up to the mark. That being said, the Titans are playing a strong brand of football that is improving and their win last week will give them plenty of confidence heading into this game. It served as a strong reminder to the halves, especially Ash Taylor, that they have the potential to win matches most don’t think they can. If the Panthers are not careful, this could be the match that their weakness (no Cleary) is exposed by a very crafty halfback. Consideration also has to be given to their respective efforts last week; the Titans had a “home” game on the road, however, the Panthers were involved in a gruelling contest. The Eels made sure that their opponents had to work hard for victory and while they displayed class in powering their way to victory, it wasn’t an ideal preparation ahead of this game, especially considering the further injuries that this squad has suffered. This brings the Titans into serious contention; many are worried about the hot conditions that are ahead of this fixture and the Titans will relish the conditions as it parallels what they are accustomed to at home. The major concern ahead of this fixture though is that the Titans have conceded an average of 27.2 points per game (thrown out by 54-8 loss to the Dragons), compared with the Panthers 13.6 points per game. It has improved in recent weeks for the Titans, allowing their opponents to average just 17-points; that is enough to suggest that this game will be a lot closer than the odds are suggesting and that they should come into contention with the line in their favour.
Suggested Bet
Titans +7.5 @ $1.90
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (8th) v Wests Tigers (4th)
The Sea Eagles dropped back to reality with a 12-point loss to the Titans on the road, failing to build on a strong victory in the previous week. The task of winning was made more difficult with the withdrawal of a few key players, namely Tom Trbojevic. Nevertheless, the Sea Eagles had their chances and started the game strongly, leading 8-6 until the 26th minute. From that point onwards, it was oneway traffic towards their opponents and despite starting well, their poor form during this stage set them up for failure. They only have themselves to blame, completing at 69% with just 44% possession and plagued by 12 errors. It didn’t get any better in defence, missing 32 total tackles. They will have to be better ahead of this match, with the Tigers capturing a win over the Storm for the second time this season. This time around, a 1-point victory was created on the back of some resolute defence, as they were forced to fight their way back into the contest. With a greater share of possession (54%), the Tigers completed well (74%), although will still be aware that this is an area which they need to address moving forward. Even with 13 total errors and 43 missed tackles, the Tigers showed grit and determination that has been a feature of their play so far, this season. It will be interesting to see how long they can maintain this high intensity; either way, they are playing an exciting brand of rugby league that is set a new standard for others to follow.
Team News
Sea Eagles = Tom Trbojevic (injury) returns at fullback for Jonathan Wright. Brad Parker (injury) returns on the wing for Matt Wright. Jack Gosiewski is named at prop, with Frank Winterstein shifting to the bench.
Tigers = Jacob Liddle is named at hooker for Pita Godinet (injured), with Josh Reynolds filling the vacant bench spot. David Nofoaluma is named on the wing, with Corey Thompson shifting to fullback and Tui Lolohea dropped to the reserves. Alex Twal is named at prop for Russell Packer (injured), with Sauaso Sue coming onto the bench.
History
Overall = Sea Eagles 15 Tigers 10
Last 5 Matches = Sea Eagles 3 Tigers 2
At Lottoland = Sea Eagles 64% Tigers 8%
Form = Sea Eagles 1 loss – Tigers 2 wins
Verdict
First things first, since 1999, the Wests Tigers have won just the solitary match against the Sea Eagles at this ground in 12 attempts. This winning record alone is enough to make, even the hardest, Tigers fan shudder in fear. Then again, this team is on a different path to those other sides and are showing promise that suggests the outcome of this match is far closer than most think. Last week’s effort would’ve taken plenty out of this team; the Storm are a difficult side to overcome on their worst day and the Tigers put plenty of energy into a “come from behind” win. This could be why, combined with the strong home record, the Sea Eagles are installed as strong favourites ahead of this fixture. As a warning though, write the Tigers off at your own peril. They have been dynamic this season and Cleary has made a statement by dropping Lolohea out of the team this week. The players withtin the squad are playing well beyond what their level of talent suggests and a lot of credit has to be given to the desire shown each week. Their defensive structure is a corner stone of each performance and this week will be no different. The Tigers allow an average of just 11 points per game to their opponents and the Sea Eagles will have to produce something special from their attacking stars to gather more than this. It is not enough to just have them on the field, they need to be working together and supporting those stars in any way possible. The Sea Eagles have proven on several occasions this season that they can be fantastic one week and forget what makes them work so well the following week. If they are at their best, it will take a special effort from the visitors to upset the home team. Nevertheless, the Tigers are proving themselves worthy with the value only an extra incentive.
Suggested Bet
Tigers @ $2.40
Good luck!
Scooby
