With an NRL fixture on Monday, just two matches will feature on Super Saturday this week but that doesn’t mean the night will be void of excitement.
The first fixture heads to Sydney’s west, with the Panthers up against the Sea Eagles. The home side were at their attacking best last week and will be difficult to stop. The Sea Eagles need a drastic change from last week if they are to be competitive.
The second game heads to north to Brisbane with the undefeated Broncos hosting a struggling Raiders team. These two sides sit wide apart on the ladder (even in the weekly NRL Power Rankings) and a lot has to do with their confidence. The Broncos are flying high, while the Raiders are struggling for momentum.
Before You Bet will have you covered all weekend with previews from your favourite sports, so make sure you follow along and hopefully find a winner.
NRL Round 6 Saturday Preview & Betting Tips
Penrith Panthers vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
BlueBet Stadium, Saturday 8th April, 5:30pm (EST)
The Panthers delivered an impressive 53-12 victory over the Raiders on the road. Leading by only 7-points at HT (13-6), the Panthers kicked into another gear in the second half and their opponents were powerless to stop them. It was the first time this year they have scored over 20 points and confidence was restored to this squad in this area.
The Sea Eagles could’ve used the same level of execution in their 32-all draw to the Knights; it would’ve gone a long way to helping them capture victory. In a game which they were strong favourites, they jumped to a 10-nil lead, only to be scrambling towards the end of 80 minutes for a positive result. Their attack was great in all areas; their defence let them down and fans will hope it is just a minor hiccup. They want to avoid similar ‘shoot out’ matches with quality opponents.
Do not get completely overwhelmed with the Panthers point scoring display last week; to put it into perspective, it was only the Raiders. The Sea Eagles also need to be afforded the opportunity to bounce back. Yet, if their defence doesn’t improve, the Panthers will strike and go close to replicating their Round 5 display. The Panthers have won the past 6 against the Sea Eagles and, with their opponent’s poor record at this ground (29% vs 59%), they are well-placed to extend this to 7. The line of 9.5 might not be enough; the Sea Eagles have allowed 30+ points several times this season. In equal measure, the Panthers defensive efforts have been overlooked this year and the Sea Eagles will be challenged to match their opponents scoring. This should lead to the line being covered.
Same Game Multi
Total Points Over 42.5, Hosking & Crichton to score @ $8.50 – 0.5 units (TAB)
Panthers -9.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders
Suncorp Stadium, Saturday 8th April, 7:35pm (EST)
Despite only facing the Tigers, the Broncos were given a tough task. After a strong start to the season, how would this team perform in a game that they should win and win well? It went just as expected, defeating the Tigers 46-12. Clearly at a different level to their opponents, the Broncos dominated all areas. Most impressive was their 9 line breaks and only 20 missed tackles. This young team will be hard to stop if they continue such performances.
The Raiders have a difficult task and need a reversal of form following a comprehensive 53-12 loss to the Panthers at home. Rock bottom couldn’t be any lower for this team, made even more frustrating by the fact that they only trailed 13-6 at HT. Their 67% completion rate, only 2 line breaks and 51 missed tackles highlight just how poor they were. History suggests this will be a tough trip for the Raiders. Despite winning 3 of the past 4 against the Broncos (all in Canberra), they have won just 1 match against the Broncos at this ground since 2005 (Round 16, 2017); this leads to a 21% winning record here (compared to the Broncos 59%).
Much like last week, this is a game that the Broncos should win and win well as the leading team in the competition (and if they want to be taken seriously). They have the makings of a very capable team, while the Raiders will struggle again without Wighton. They are down to their third-choice 5/8 and will rely heavily on their forwards taking the contest to the young Broncos pack. This is a challenge that the home team will relish. Confidence is everything in rugby league and one team has it, while the other doesn’t. There is no reason why the Broncos shouldn’t cover the line, other than losing a key player in the contest to injury but play it safe with a slightly smaller option (and a larger investment).
Same Game Multi
Total Points Over 45.5, Staggs 2+ tries and Mam to score @ $26 – 0.5 units (Ladbrokes)
Broncos 13+
$1.75 (2.5 Units)
