The final two games of the regular NRL season kick off on Sunday with the Knights hosting the Sharks, before the Raiders head to Leichhardt Oval to take on the Tigers.
The Sharks will be playing for 2nd spot on the ladder, and a home semi-final in week 1, depending on the result of Saturday night’s matchup between the Cowboys and Panthers. Assuming the Cowboys win, the Sharks will have to win against the Knights to guarantee that home game in week 1.
The Raiders could know their fate before this game, however at worst they will have destiny in their own hands, with a victory over the lowly Tigers guaranteeing them 8th place on the ladder.
Ben Bridge is back with his NRL tips for this Sunday's matches. Let’s finish strong this year with some winners before we knuckle down for the Finals.
NRL Round 25 Sunday Betting Tips
Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 4th September, 2:00pm (AEST)
Squads
Newcastle Knights
1. Tex Hoy 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Dominic Young 6. Phoenix Crossland 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13. Mathew Croker. INTERCHANGE: 14. Chris Randall 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Jack Johns. RESERVES: 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Ben Talty 20. Enari Tuala 21. Jirah Momoisea 22. Hymel Hunt
Cronulla Sharks
1. Lachlan Miller 2. Matt Ikuvalu 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes. INTERCHANGE: 14. Teig Wilton 15. Braydon Trindall 16. Aiden Tolman 17. Andrew Fifita. RESERVES: 18. Luke Metcalf 19. Jesse Colquhoun 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Kayal Iro 22. Dale Finucane
Match Preview
Old Boys’ Day in Newcastle is generally a day out to celebrate the past Champions of this team, and is usually seen to galvanise the Knights into a good performance. And whilst we could see some intensity from the Knights in this game, if the Sharks can get out to a solid start the Knights might give up early.
These sides met back in round 4, with the Sharks shutting the Knights out in an 18-0 victory. Both sides were 2-1 heading into the match, with their seasons going in opposite directions after the game. Whilst both sides were not at their best, the Sharks dominated the game and should probably have won by 30+.
In team news, the Knights will be without Anthony Milford, replaced at five eighth by Phoenix Crossland. The Sharks are hoping to have Dale Finucane back, named in the reserves and hoping to come back before the finals from a rib injury.
The only concern I have here for a comfortable Sharks victory is the result in the Cowboys/Panthers clash on Saturday night. If that goes as predicted, and the Cowboys win, the Sharks will have it all to play for on Sunday afternoon. If the Cowboys lose, the Sharks have nothing to play for and could mail in a sub-par performance, allowing the Knights to get a late season win in front of their fans.
I’m betting on the Cowboys getting it done, and I’m betting on the Sharks brick wall defence to continue. With a new halves pairing, the Knights may struggle to get on a roll in this game, and with the Sharks tremendous forward pack, the Knights will struggle to give their halves the necessary field position to succeed. Whilst the Sharks attack looks a little clunky, their defence is stout, and I can see another shutout here against a Knights side that is ready for the off-season.
Note: Jayden Brailey is out, pushing Chris Randall to start at hooker. This makes me like the below bets even more, with Randall not offering as much in attack as Brailey.
Alternate Bets:
Sharks 13+ (margin) - $1.53 @ Ladbrokes
Under 46.5 (alt. totals) - $2.90 @ Ladbrokes
Newcastle Knights (team total) under 16.5
$1.87 (2.5 units)
Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders
Leichhardt Oval, Sunday 4th September, 4:05pm (AEST)
Squads
Wests Tigers
1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford To’a 4. Luke Garner 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jock Madden 8. James Tamou 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Thomas Freebairn 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Fa’amanu Brown. INTERCHANGE: 14. Fonua Pole 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Tyrone Peachey 17. Austin Dias. RESERVES: 18. Jacob Liddle 19. Junior Pauga 20. James Roberts 21. Henry O’Kane 22. Brandon Mansfield
Canberra Raiders
1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott. INTERCHANGE: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera. RESERVES: 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Ata Mariota 20. Matt Frawley 21. Peter Hola 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Match Preview
It’s tough to handicap this match up prior to the Broncos result being known, so I’ll offer a quick write up for both scenarios.
Scenario 1, the Broncos win, forcing the Raiders to win to make the top 8. In this instance, the Raiders will be far too strong for a side that is ready to end their season and forget about it forever. It’s been a terrible season for the Tigers, and their 2022 team will go down as the first side in franchise history to take out the wooden spoon. With the Raiders having so much to play for, they will lap the Tigers, and with the weather expected to subside in the afternoon, could put on a big score. The Tigers might be able to stay in the game during the first half, but if they can’t stay within 6 at half time, this could get ugly in the second half. Raiders by 13+ in this scenario.
In scenario 2, the Broncos lose to the Dragons on Saturday night, meaning barring a 50-odd point loss to the Tigers, the Raiders will progress to the finals. In this situation, I wouldn’t be surprised to see 1 or 2 big names rested from the Raiders and for the team to struggle to ‘get up’ for this nothing match against the Tigers. The Tigers will easily sense this, and if they have any pride in their performance, should be able to put on a performance good enough to push the Raiders at home. Whilst I’m nowhere near as confident with the bet in this scenario, the odds are worth a tiny flutter on the Tigers to get the win at their spiritual home Leichhardt Oval, against a side that will have their minds on next week. Tigers ML in this scenario.
Alternate Bets:
Tigers ML - $4.20 @ Betfair
Over 49.5 - $1.90 @ Ladbrokes
Raiders 13+
$1.96 (2 unit)
