Normal transmission resumes this weekend, with a full round of NRL fixtures to delight fan. It was an exciting start to the season which spanned over two weeks with the Las Vegas adventure starting things off.
Just having the NRL back has bought a calm and scratched an itch which has been missing the entire off-season. Familiarity also returns with the Broncos featuring in a night-time match early in the round. They host the Rabbitohs, who like them, would’ve preferred to win on their overseas adventure. One team faces the prospect of starting the year 0-2 and it will make for an exciting NRL match.
As always, Before You Bet is here to take a comprehensive look at the match.
Also, if you’re new to sports betting or betting on the NRL, check out the following articles to help build your knowledge:
- Guide to Betting on the NRL
- Where to Bet on the NRL
- Factors to Consider When Betting on the NRL
NRL Round 2 Preview & Betting Tips
Brisbane Broncos vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Suncorp Stadium – Thursday 14th March – 8pm (AEST)
Match preview
The Broncos tried hard against the Rooters but were unable to lead at any stage during the match and were defeated as favourites. Expected to be better than what they produced, their inferior completion rate (77%) and lower share of possession (48%) hurt their cause. Their defence wasn’t as strong as previous seasons either, missing 36 tackles and allowing 4 line breaks. Their usual sweep movements down the field were halted with sideways movements; Walsh was running himself out of room.
The Rabbitohs were their own worst enemy in their match, making mistakes at key stages and halting their momentum. Despite scoring 5 tries, they still conceded 6, missing 31 tackles and allowing 7 line breaks. They are a better team than their 35-24 score suggests but will find a similar outcome should they not change their execution ahead of this game. Their forwards are key to their success and they will need to focus on speeding up their ruck speed if they wish to catch the Broncos on the back foot.
Match prediction
The odds suggest that the Broncos are set to bounce back from a Round 1 loss. They are strong favourites ($1.38 vs $3.10), with the missing players for the Rabbitohs limiting them in several positions. They are not completely out of this contest though.
As good as the Broncos have been recently, this is a tricky test they will want to prove themselves capable it. They have a superior record at home (59% vs 50%) but the Rabbitohs have won 2 out of the past 3 meetings here.
Expect both to improve and the extra room on the edges (larger field) will allow the Broncos attack to flow easier than last year. With plenty to play for, it would be surprising to see the Rabbitohs defeated by a 13+ margin on consecutive weeks. This brings the line (8.5 points) into play. Given it is still early in the season, both teams will need to offer more before you can invest on them with a high level of confidence.
Rabbitohs +8.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
The average points margin in the past 5 games sits at 39.8 points, but that is dragged down by a total of 15 in one match. 3 out of the other 5 were over 44 points. Mitchell is key to the Rabbitohs attack, and he will take on the line if he gets the chance. Don’t forget just how damaging he was close to the line last week. Arthars is a strike weapon on the edge and went scoreless against the Roosters. Look for him to bounce back here.
Leg 1: Total Points Over 41.5
Leg 2: Mitchell to Score
Leg 3: Arthars to Score
SGM Odds: $7 at Neds
