The NRL season continues this weekend and with Game 3 of State of Origin next weekend, there is only four matches on this weekend. We preview and give our betting tips for all four games in our NRL Round 18 Preview and Betting Tips below.
2017 NRL Round 18 Betting Tips
Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (Friday 7.50pm AEST)
It is a shame this fiery contest will be without the representative players – for the Roosters anyway. The Rabbitohs will be at full strength and full of confidence after they earned their biggest win of the season last week against the Panthers. The 42-14 victory has given the side a slim hope of reaching the finals but they will need to continue their winning ways this weekend. Alex Johnston is coming off a five try performance but credit needs to be given to Sam Burgess and Cody Walker who were instrumental in the success of the winger and the Rabbitohs.
Meanwhile the Roosters are coming off a big loss, the side was embarrassed by the Sharks in a white wash and they will be without their stars for this one. The Roosters have played well while their origin players were out but we can’t see them causing an upset and producing a win in this one.
TIP: Rabbitohs at the line (-3.5) – $1.90 at Sportsbet
Penrith Panthers vs Manly Sea Eagles (Saturday 5.30pm AEST)
The Panthers season is hanging on by a thread and they will need to starting earning victories if they are going to reach the finals. They will need to win at least six of their matches for the remainder of the year. As mentioned above. they were embarrassed last week against the Rabbitohs. They went into that match as favourites but they didn’t show up. Their attack was all over the place while their defence went back to where it was at the beginning of the season where they fell off tackles far too easily.
The Sea Eagles had a slow start in Perth against the Warriors. They trailed by 16 points after as many minutes but they rallied to earn the victory. It shows where their mentality is at and after Daly Cherry-Evans was overlooked as the replacement for Johnatahan Thurston, he will take his place at halfback this weekend. The Panthers will put up more of a fight in this one but they won’t be able to take down the Sea Eagles.
TIP: Sea Eagles at the margin (1-12) – $3.30 at William Hill
Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels (Saturday 7.30pm AEST)
The eighth placed Parramatta Eels will consider themselves lucky heading into this contest. They face the current competition leaders on the road but without all of their superstars. The Storm have won without them and came within a minute of winning against the Roosters but it will be harder in this one with Cameron Munster being included in the origin team for game 3. He has been instrumental in helping the inexperienced players coming into the side and taking the pressure off them. The young players such as Brodie Croft will still play terrifically but it will be harder without the experienced heads next to them.
Meanwhile the Eels head into this one on the back of a golden point victory over the Bulldogs. It was far from convincing as the side essentially didn’t turn up in the second half. There were multiple brain explosions which kept the pressure on them but with the Bulldogs not offering much in attack they were able to defend their line. We are backing them to play at a higher level this weekend and earn an important two competition points against the Storm.
TIP: Eels at the margin (1-12) – $3.00 at CrownBet
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Newcastle Knights (Sunday 4pm AEST)
What happened to the Knights last week? They went into the match as competition favourites against the Tigers for the first time in a long time and they didn’t turn up on home soil. They lacked effort, direction, spark and a whole lot of other things in the disappointing loss. It was a match that could have seen them pull away from the bottom of the table but instead they didn’t show up. If they can’t turn things around this weekend against a Bulldogs side that has lacked flair in attack and will be without its superstars than a third straight wooden spoon will be handed to the red and blue.
As mentioned, the Bulldogs will be without their origin players David Klemmer, Josh Jackson and Brett Morris. It adds to a forward pack that is already missing James Graham and Greg Eastwood. The Bulldogs will be missing punch which will prevent Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye from getting on the front foot. We are predicting the Knights to bounce back strongly for this one with a narrow victory.
TIP: Knights at the margin (1-12) – $4.20 at Sportsbet
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