With Origin waiting on the horizon, a reduced round of NRL fixtures see’s fewer games played but fans will be hoping for the same standard which has started this season off as one of the closest ever.
Round 13 action begins on Thursday in Redcliffe, with the Dolphins hosting the Dragons. Each team has had their positives in recent weeks and will want to record a victory to climb up the competition ladder from their current standing (the Dragons were relegated to last after winning in Round 12).
As always, stay tuned all weekend to BeforeYouBet for betting previews of all sporting action across Australia and the world.
NRL Round 13 Preview & Betting Tips
The Dolphins vs St George-Illawarra Dragons
Thursday 25th May, Kayo Stadium, 7:50pm (AEST)
The Dolphins came off a Round 11 Bye to face a strong Storm side that was full of confidence. Heading into the game as outsiders, the Dolphins found themselves in a grinding contest. Eventually, the Storm were too strong. Even with a late second-half revival, the Dolphins left it too late to get close to their opponents. It was an uncharacteristic performance compared to their start to the year; they completed poorly (72%), made just 8.1m per carry and missed 35 tackles. They are a better team than that performance suggests.
After a week where their coach was sacked, the Dragons delivered a spirited last-second 24-22 win over the Roosters. Leading 12-nil at HT, the Dragons wobbled in the second half and looked set to extend their losing streak with a 75th minute try to their opponents. That wasn’t the case though, with their superior share of possession (53%) and higher completion rate (76%) wearing their opponents down. The relief was evident in the team in the way that they celebrated, with the challenge now for them to go to another level and maintain the confidence that they have developed with such a win.
Origin has impacted the strength of both sides. The Dolphins are missing Tabuai-Fidow and Gilbert, while the Dragons are without Hunt. Kaufusi is also absent for the Dolphins as he was suspended for 3-weeks. The Dolphins appear more capable of covering their losses. The omission of Hunt, from a talent and leadership perspective, will impact the play of the Dragons. The Dolphins are strong favourites ($1.50 vs $2.60) based upon this and they are well placed to win this contest; you only have to look as far as the NRL Power Rankings to see the stark contrast between these two sides. Playing the fixture at their ‘traditional’ home at Redcliffe will also give them a boost. They have scored a higher average amount of points and conceded fewer than the Dragons this year. Even in a spirited victory last week, the Dragons still allowed 20+ points. While that has been an issue for the Dolphins also, the Dragons attack is unlikely to cause the same issues as other sides. They should cover the line in this match, while the Dragons still look to establish themselves in a new era without a fulltime coach. As for an investment, this game should be a high scoring contest, while the line doesn’t appear enough to sway momentum towards the Dragons. They may look capable at one stage or another, but overall, the Dolphins should have what it takes to defeat them.
Same Game Multi
Isaako, Niu & Lemuelu to score @ $9 – 0.5 Units
Dolphins -3.5/Total Points Over 42.5
$3.10 (2 Units)
