Death, taxes, and Friday night Broncos games! Some things never change. It is business as usual in the second Friday night NRL game, with the Rabbitohs traveling north to battle the Broncos. As always, we have you covered with our preview and betting tips for the clash below.
Remember to head to our NRL Tips page for previews and betting tips for EVERY game during the 2022 season.
Broncos vs Rabbitohs Betting Tips
Suncorp Stadium, Friday 11th March, 8.05pm (AEDT)
Interestingly, it is the Rabbitohs second consecutive match at Suncorp since their defeat in the 2021 Grand Final. A lot has changed since then for the visitors, with the Rabbitohs moving forward following the departure of Bennett and Reynolds. It is a new venture but one that the current team are capable of dealing with. A positive start to the season is crucial for the Broncos as they aim to improve upon a 14th placed finish in 2021.
Despite finishing the season off strongly, inconsistent performances plagued their potential. Hopes are higher with incoming personnel but all will not be revealed with fans having to wait another week to see Adam Reynolds take the field. History suggests that the Broncos have an advantage over their opponents; a lack of experience in their current team will impact their ability to continue their dominance over their rivals.
The Stats
Head-to-Head = Broncos 22 Draw 1 Rabbitohs 12
At Suncorp Stadium = Broncos 59% Rabbitohs 44%
Last 10 meetings = Broncos 5 Rabbitohs 5 – The Broncos average winning margin is 7 points, while the Rabbitohs average 26.6 points. In the past 3 matches, the Rabbitohs have scored an average of 36.3 points compared to the Broncos 8 points. The Rabbitohs have won 2 out of the past 3 against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Verdict
The Rabbitohs head into this game as favourites and appear to have an edge over their opponents. Despite a poor(er) record against them at Suncorp, this Rabbitohs team is different to the ones of previous years; more importantly, so too are the Broncos. They are lacking experience in key positions and are further weakened by the withdrawal of Reynolds. Walters and Kelly are a puzzling selection in the halves. There is every chance that the Broncos are encouraged by the enthusiastic home support. This will only take them so far though with players expected match the fans support with a high level of execution. As it stands, it is difficult to see this happening to the point where they cause an upset. Though, the previous winning margins experienced are not a true reflection of how this match will play out. The Rabbitohs are also down on experience (in key positions) and while strong in most other areas, they will take some time to build confidence in their (new) combinations. Given this, the preferred option is for the visitors to win by less than 2 converted tries.
