A full slate of 3 games greets us on Sunday afternoon, with two brand new head coaches trying to get their new team’s back on track.
At 2:00pm we the Sea Eagles head to Campbelltown, where they will take on the Brett Kimmorley led Wests Tigers. Noddy has never coached in first grade, and it will be interesting to see how he goes. He will take on the experienced Des Hasler in his first match, with the Mad Scientist no doubt having the edge psychologically. The Sea Eagles showed promising signs last week, however it was only against the Warriors.
Next up, the Panthers travel north to McDonald Jones Stadium, where they take on the Knights. The main talking point in the lead up will be the intrigue over what Origin players will back up, particularly for the Panthers. The Panthers will be considered favourites no matter who suits up, however the handicapping of this one is very dependant on the make up of the Premiers’ squad come game day.
Finally, the Warriors and their new coach Stacey Jones will host the Cronulla Sharks at Moreton Daily Stadium. The Warriors appear in all sorts, and with the bye freshening up the Sharks last week, this could well be another sobering result for the Warriors.
NRL Round 14 Sunday Betting Tips
Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles
Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sunday 12th June, 2:00pm (AEST)
Squads
Wests Tigers
1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Brent Naden 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 8. James Tamou 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Joe Ofahengaue. INTERCHANGE: 14. Jock Madden 15. Alex Twal 16. Kelma Tuilagi 17. Alex Seyfarth. RESERVES: 18. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Fonua Pole 20. Jake Simpkin 21. Junior Tupou 22. Austin Dias
Manly Sea Eagles
1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic. INTERCHANGE: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Josh Schuster 16. Martin Taupau 17. Sean Keppie. RESERVES: 18. Taniela Paseka 19. Ethan Bullemor 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Kurt De Luis 22. Jorge Taufua
Match Preview
The Sea Eagles have struggled this season in away games, winning only one of their “away” matches this season (Sea Eagles beat the Raider 25-6 in Mudgee in a “Home” game). This is a worrying statistic for Manly, and one they really need to sort if they are going to figure in the finals.
The Tigers, aside from a two week stretch where they defeated the Rabbitohs and Eels in consecutive weeks, have been awful this season. It has culminated in the sacking of Head Coach Michael Maguire, in a move that has left the players and fans voicing their frustration at the club. It’s obvious for all to see that the Tigers need to start at the top with their rebuild, and with their continued scape goating of coaches, they will never turn it around.
The conditions should be lovely at Campbelltown on Sunday afternoon and I’m expecting plenty of points. Over their past 6 matches, there has been an average of nearly 59 points scored per game between these sides. I expect that to continue. I’m also expecting a big Manly win. Interim coaches rarely succeed and Kimmorley has been put in an unenviable position. The players and fans are upset, and it could be a long second half of the season for long suffering fans.
Alternate Bets
Sea Eagles 13+ ($2.80 at TopSport)
Over 41.5
$1.90 (3 Units)
Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 12th June, 4:05pm (AEST)
Squads
Newcastle Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Enari Tuala 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Jake Clifford 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Mitchell Barnett. INTERCHANGE: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Leo Thompson 17. Mathew Croker. RESERVES: 18. Pasami Saulo 19. Jirah Momoisea 20. Tex Hoy 21. Jack Johns 22. Phoenix Crossland
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo. INTERCHANGE: 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Jaeman Salmon. RESERVES: 18. Robert Jennings 19. Chris Smith 20. Sean O’Sullivan 21. J’maine Hopgood 22. Spencer Leniu 23. Charlie Staines 24. Kurt Falls
Match Preview
All things being equal, the value is very much on the side of the Panthers in this game. The market agrees, with the Panthers opening as 13.5-point favourites to now sit at 16.5-point favourites. The big question is, who plays and who is rested.
If you must bet this early, you are guessing as to who Ivan Cleary will name on Sunday afternoon. The only information we have at this point to go off is the team named by Cleary, and what the Panthers opted for last season during Origin.
Last season, the Panthers opted against backing up all their Origin players after game 1, aside from Liam Martin, who only played 30 minutes in game 1 last year. And whilst Cleary has named all his Origin stars to backup this week, a quick look at the teams’ reserves gives an indication that late changes may be coming.
Observing the game last night, I believe it’s entirely plausible that Yeo and Martin won’t play this weekend. Yeo appeared to be concussed in the first tackle of the game, yet battled on, with Martin playing all 80 minutes and making 50+ tackles. Chris Smith and Matt Eisenhuth would be likely moved into the starting team for Martin and Yeo.
Given the Panthers 4-point lead over the Storm on the ladder and the quality play by their halves’ replacements, there is a good chance we don’t see Cleary and Luai either. Crichton will certainly backup, with To’o a 50/50 proposition for mine.
Given the uncertainty, picking a side right now is a guess. Keep an eye on team lists and bet accordingly. If Yeo and either of the Panthers halves are rested and you can still get Knights +16.5 or better, jump on. If all Panthers players back up, -16.5 is a bet.
Instead, I’m going with the overs. The Panthers defence struggled last week without their top players, and if they do play, they will surely be fatigued and give up more points. Over is once again the play, however small stakes around the Origin period is the smart way to go.
Alternate Bets:
Kikau Anytime Tryscorer ($2.90 at Neds)
Crichton Anytime Tryscorer ($2.40 at Neds)
Gagai Anytime Tryscorer ($4.10 at Palmerbet)
Over 40.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks
Moreton Daily Stadium, Sunday 12th June, 6:15pm (AEST)
Squads
New Zealand Warriors
1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Ben Murdoch-Masila 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jazz Tevaga 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tohu Harris (c) 13. Jack Murchie.
INTERCHANGE: 14. Josh Curran 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Dunamis Lui 17. Bayley Sironen. RESERVES: 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Aaron Pene 21. Eliesa Katoa 22. Jesse Arthars 23. Ronald Volkman
Cronulla Sharks
1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes. INTERCHANGE: 14. Aiden Tolman 15. Braydon Trindall 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Andrew Fifita. RESERVES: 18. Connor Tracey 19. Wade Graham 20. Lachlan Miller 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Mawene Hiroti
Match Preview
Surely everyone remembers the last time these two sides met. Round 9, the Sharks led 6-0 early before their fullback Will Kennedy was sent from the field. Two quick tries for the Warriors and it appeared as though it was game over. Fast forward 55 minutes and the Sharks pile on 23 straight points to win 29-10. It was a low point in a season full of them for the Warriors, and they haven’t won a game since.
The Sharks haven’t had back-to-back wins since round 5 and have lacked any real consistency over the past 10 rounds. After looking like a genuine threat over the first month of the competition, they now appear to be a side destined for the bottom half of the top 8, and a year or two away from competing for the Premiership.
Nevertheless, after a 15-day turnaround since their last game, the Sharks should be well rested and prepared for a big performance. They hold a massive psychological edge over the Warriors and should blow them off the park. Stacey Jones coming in as Interim coach for the Warriors may spark them, but over 80 minutes I see the Sharks running away with this one. I have the Warriors as my lowest rated team right now and I don’t see that changing.
Alternate Bets
Wilton Anytime Tryscorer ($5.40 at Palmerbet)
Mulitalo 2+ Tries ($4.10 at Neds)
Sharks -14
$1.90 (2 Units)
