The NRL season continues this weekend and we take a look at every match below. Continue reading for our NRL Round 21 Preview and Betting Tips.
2017 NRL Round 21 Betting Tips
Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury Bulldogs (Thursday 7.50pm AEST)
The Penrith Panthers are two competition points outside of the top eight after winning their past two games. They face another easy challenge this weekend as they come up against the Bulldogs. The Panthers won a fortnight ago without Matt Moylan and the five-eighth managed a little over 50-minutes on the weekend before he was forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury. Halfback Nathan Cleary has stepped up in his abscence and he will continue to lead the field regardless of Moylan’s availability.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs looked strong in the opening 20-minutes with their clash with the Broncos last week but they quickly fell a part. Their inability to capitalise on opportunities has been their downfall all year and with their season all-but over, we can’t see them turning in a performance that earns a victory.
TIP: Panthers at the line (-9.5) – $1.90 at CrownBet
New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks (Friday 6pm AEST)
Credit to the Warriors last week who made a real contest out of their match with the Cowboys. They were playing without Shaun Johnson for the first time this season after he suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for a month but they showed more spirit than they have all season. It is a shame they can’t produce those efforts on a weekly basis and with their season over, we can see them struggling against the defending premiers.
The Sharks still haven’t hit their peak this year and they hit another stumbling block as James Maloney has been ruled out for a month with a broken hand. They are already without a hooker and it will be a huge blow to have the NSW playmaker on the sidelines. Their other experienced players will need to step up in the absence of Maloney and they will be able to just enough to scape by in this one.
TIP: Sharks at the margin (1-12) – $3.10 at Sportsbet
Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos (Friday 7.50pm AEST)
The Broncos are generally slow out of the blocks for the post-origin period and the home stretch of the NRL season but they showed last week they won’t be hampered by that. They still have Darius Boyd and Corey Oates on the sidelines but they produced a big 42-6 victory and showed they can still put sides to the sword without their two stars. Anthony Milford was dangerous in attack and his regular partner in crime Ben Hunt is returning to form.
Meanwhile the Eels only just pulled off the victory over the Tigers last week thanks to a last minute field goal to Corey Norman. He will need to step up over their run home as Clint Gutherson, who has been their best player this season and filled a lot of holes, has suffered a season ending injury. Bevan French will move back to fullback to replace him. He is a tryscoring machine and will fill the void well. This should be a tight battle but we are picking the away side.
TIP: Broncos at the margin (1-12) – $3.00 at William Hill
Newcastle Knights vs St George Illawarra Dragons (Saturday 3pm AEST)
The Knights will have nightmares of the last time these two sides when they head into this one. They were leading by 18-point at the break but let it all slip in the second half. To make matters worse for the red and blue, the Dragons bounced back to form last week with a convincing win over the Sea Eagles. The Knights may be winning off the field after the announcement Wests will purchase the club but we can’t see that turning things around for them on the field.
TIP: Dragons at the line (-10.5) – $1.90 at Ladbrokes
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canberra Raiders (Saturday 5.30pm AEST)
The bunnies and Raiders’ seasons look done and dusted after their latest loss. They could mathematically make the finals but they will need other sides to lose too. We are predicting a high scoring match in this one with both sides to play freely with not much to lose. The Bunnies have made a host of changes to their squad with reshuffled across their backline and in the hooker position. It could spark their attack with John Sutton out of the five-eighth position but we don’t think it will change the outcome of this match.
The Raiders will be on the road for this one and they have struggled to win on the road this season. Picking up just two victories from eight outings. However, the side has such a strong roster that we can’t see them losing this one. They should be able to outmuscle the Rabbitohs through the middle of the field – an area the bunnies have been soft in – and then make the Rabbitohs pay out wide.
TIP: Raiders at the margin (13+) – $2.80 at William Hill
Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys (Saturday 7.45pm AEST)
The Cowboys will face their toughest test post-Thurston for this season. The side is on a four game winning streak but during that period they haven’t faced a side inside the top eight. The Roosters are sitting in second position and have class all across the field. The Cowboys held on for victory last week against the Warriors but Michael Morgan had a quiet game. He needs to be playing at the top his game every week to lead the Cowboys to victory. Jason Tuamalolo was the most impactful player for the Cowboys and he will need to have a huge game up against the big forward pack of the Roosters.
The Roosters are without Michael Gordan and Jake Friend which are two big losses but fortunately for the Roosters they have a lot of depth and can fill the voids of those two players rather easily. Connor Watson was strong at fullback last week and picked up a try while Mitchell Pearce and Luke Keary will need to carry more of a load during Friend’s absence. We are predicting a close match but the Roosters at home should win.
TIP: Roosters at the margin (1-12) – $3.00 at Sportsbet
The big news heading into this match will be surrounding Billy Slater. The fullback has not been named in the team or on the reserves list after suffering a severe head knock as he was taken high against the Raiders last week. Cameron Munster has moved from five-eighth to fullback and is the perfect replacement. It Brings Ryley Jacks back into the side and fortunately for the Storm they are used to this spine. However, Cameron Smith has been named to play but could be ruled out after he missed the final 30 minutes of the match against the Raiders with a pectoral injury. Whether he plays or not will have a massive implication on the result of this match.
Meanwhile the Sea Eagles enter this match after they were given a flogging from the Dragons last week. The side didn’t turn up and the match was over when they went into the sheds down 30-0 at half-time. There is always the fear of the ‘bounce back’ factor and we think that could be in full force this weekend. The Sea Eagles have been very up and down throughout the year and we are going to ride that rollercoaster onto the high this weekend when they earn a surprise victory on the road.
It will be a big battle of the fullbacks in this one as James Tedesco will look to outdo Jarry Hayne. The two are the present and former New South Wales fullbacks. Tedesco is threatening everytime he touches the ball while Hayne has made a tendency of late to slip in and out of games.
