For the last time this year, NRL Super Saturday will feature 3 games of rugby league. This betting preview will be there to lead you through the afternoon of action and aim to find you a winner or two.
Action will begin in New Zealand as the Warriors host the Titans. Both are out of contention but finishing the season off with a win will make the celebrations better come Monday. Nothing is given for free, but this Warriors team deserves to finish the season with a win.
The second game has the Dragons hosting the Broncos, with the visitors in need of a win to keep their Finals hopes alive. Other results will impact their chances but all they can do is win and leave the rest to fate. To conclude, it is a top of the table blockbuster as the Cowboys face the Panthers at home. Even with several players being rested, stakes are high for the Cowboys to finish the season in second place and capture home field advantage for the Finals.
NRL Round 25 Saturday Betting Tips
New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans
Mt Smart Stadium, Saturday 3rd September, 3pm (AEST)
Squads
New Zealand Warriors
1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Rocco Berry 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 11. Euan Aitken 12. Josh Curran 13. Bunty Afoa Interchange: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Tom Ale 18. Jack Murchie
Gold Coast Titans
1. Jayden Campbell 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Philip Sami 5. Corey Thomspon 6. Alexander Brimson 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam McIntyre 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Isaac Liu Interchange: 14. Paul Turner 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Klese Haas 18. Jarrod Wallace
Match Preview
In a meaningless match for everyone, this game could throw up any number of outcomes. Regardless, it is still an opportunity to find a winner. The Warriors made their final trip to Australia and were comprehensively beaten 46-12 by the Panthers. Despite scoring the opening try of the match, the Warriors were merely passengers in the Panthers impressive display. The loss leaves them in 14th on the ladder, 2-points ahead of the Titans, who inched closer with their 36-26 win over the Knights.
Always expected to play well at home, the Titans performed well in attack to score 7 tries but were let down (again) by their defence which allowed their opponents to score 5. It has been a constant theme for them this season and somewhat fitting they ended this way in front of their home fans.
The winner of this match will come down to which team has the right mindset to finish the season on a positive. There is a genuine sense that the Titans may have ‘concluded their season’ last week with a win at home, while the Warriors almost ‘owe’ it to their loyal home fans to perform well. It should be a large and loud crowd too with the gates ‘thrown open’ to all fans. The home side are listed as favourites ($1.58 vs $2.40) but with two of the most inconsistent teams in the competition, it would be best to invest on this game being a high-scoring contest and enjoying everything that comes with this style of match.
Prop Bet: Warriors -4.5 & Montoya to score @ $2.50 – 1.5 units
Total points over 57.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
St George-Illawarra Dragons vs Brisbane Broncos
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Saturday 3rd September, 5:30pm (AEST)
Squads
St George-Illawarra Dragons
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack De Belin 9. Jayden Sullivan 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Josh McGuire 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird Interchange: 14. Tyrell Fuimaono 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Jackson Ford 17. Aaron Woods 18. Jack Gosiewski
Brisbane Broncos
1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Delouise Hoeter 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Corey Jensen 17. Zac Hosking 18. Tesi Niu
Match Preview
Given the respective performance of each team this year, it is surprising that the Dragons, who sit 4 points (and one spot) behind the Broncos on the ladder, are the team to be carrying winning form into this match. They narrowly defeated the Tigers 24-22 last week, with an 80th minute penalty goal and a converted try in the 75th minute saving them from embarrassment. It was a poor display as they lacked spark in attack and relied too heavily on Hunt to create opportunities; when he was void of options, so too were the Dragons.
The Broncos are in a lot of trouble with their 53-6 home loss to the Eels last week forcing them to 9th on the ladder. They need to win to give themselves an opportunity to play Finals but that appears highly unlikely with the Raiders facing the Tigers. They only have themselves to blame; they have won just 1 match since Round 20 and conceded 113 points in the past two weeks, while only managing 18. After performing well for stages of the season, this club deserves better than to miss the Finals in this manner, but the playing group need to take responsibility.
The Broncos are listed as favourites ($1.58 vs $2.40) and this will likely coincide with the return of Carrigan at lock. Still, he cannot solely overturn the points difference for them; other players will need to step up and there is every chance that Reynolds could be a late omission after suffering a head knock last week. They should win this contest. Even though the Tigers defeated the Broncos (comprehensively 32-18) back in Round 20, they were a better team than the Dragons faced last week. The fact that they could do little to capitalise on their opponents 63% completion rate indicates where this Dragons team is at in Round 25. Perhaps a home ground performance will lift this side but with more to play for, the Broncos should comfortably cover the line.
Prop Bets: Broncos 13+ @ $3 – 1 unit
Oates, Staggs & Gamble to score @ $11 – 0.5 units
Broncos -4.5
$1.95 (3 Units)
North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday 3rd September, 7:35pm (AEST)
Squads
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo Interchange: 14. Jake Granville 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Brendan Elliot
Penrith Panthers
1. Charlie Staines 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Robert Jennings 4. Thomas Jenkins 5. Christian Crichton 6. Kurt Falls 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Linday Smith 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Matthew Eisenhuth 11. Chris Smith 12. Scott Sorensen 13. J’maine Hopgood Interchange: 14. Soni Luke 15. Eddie Blacker 16. Liam Henry 17. Jack Cole 18. Mavrik Geyer
Match Preview
The Cowboys return home following a 20-10 loss against the Rabbitohs on the road, a result which could cost them 2nd place on the competition ladder (assuming the Sharks also win this week). A late try to their opponents expanded the margin of victory and overshadowed how well the Cowboys played. They have plenty of improvement left in them (only a 71% completion rate & 15 errors) and will be an improved team returning home.
Unfortunately, the game has been robbed of quality following the Panthers 46-12 win over the Warriors. In an impressive display which sealed the Minor Premiership, the victory has also given the Panthers the opportunity to rest players ahead of the Finals next week.
There are a total of 12 players missing from the Panthers team which took the field last week. This has impacted the odds, with the Cowboys overwhelming favourites ($1.12 vs $6.20). With the Sharks to play on Sunday, the Cowboys will want to put pressure on them to win and turn in a strong display to build momentum ahead of next week. The line (19.5) has been well set and it could be a bridge too far. The Panthers defensive structure is still strong and for that reason, even with lower value, the more enticing option is for the home team to win by more than 2 converted tries.
Prop Bets: Total Points Over 46.5 & Holmes to score @ $3.70 – 1 unit
Cowboys 13-18 @ $5 – 0.5 units
Cowboys 13+
$1.40 (4 Units)
