Week 3 of the international rugby league is here with two matchups to look forward to. First up Australia will take on New Zealand on Saturday night, which will be followed by PNG vs Fiji on Sunday afternoon. As always, BeforeYouBet is here to look at the action ahead and hopefully add to your enjoyment by finding you a winner or two.
2023 Pacific Championships Betting Tips
Australia vs New Zealand
AAMI Park, Saturday 28th October, 8:10pm (AEDT)
The Aussies were victorious over Samoa in Week 1 of the competition, defeating them 38-12 in a strong display. The class between the two sides was evident and Samoa only gained momentum (and points) in small parts where the Kangaroo’s switched off. That performance was overshadowed by the Kiwis dominant 50-nil win last week over the same opponent. Perhaps feeling the effects of the previous week, Samoa could not match the force of the Kiwis. A strong display over 80 minutes had the home fans creating plenty of noise; the fact that the final score line was so large indicates that the visitors ‘gave up’ but the pressure from the home team forced such a result. These two sides will meet again next week in New Zealand, so it is important to gain both a physical and mental victory over their opponents.
The Kangaroos are strong favourites for this match ($1.37 vs $3.15) with the Kiwis commanding effort over Samoa last week doing little to sway the minds of punters. As one sided as those odds suggest this contest will be, fans should expect the opposite. This game is set to be a tight contest, with the Kiwis a good chance of performing well. The Kangaroos have taken the opportunity to rest some players, especially in their forward pack, which is an area of strength for their opponents. Maguire has not taken this option for the Kiwis, despite the looming fixture in a week’s time. What this does mean is that the 7.5 line perhaps should be shorter. The Aussies are a team which still lacks cohesion; while the same case can be made against their opponents, they had an extra week to prepare for their game last week and the confidence they will take from such a performance will be important in this game. They may even have a chance of winning. Rather than risk that though with the Kangaroos having players coming into the team with a point to prove, use the line to your advantage and get a better understanding of each team ahead of their clash next week.
New Zealand +7.5
$2 (2 Units)
PNG vs Fiji
Santos National Football Stadium, Sunday 29th October, 4pm (AEDT)
PNG are favourites ($1.36 vs $3.20) for this game, arguably their toughest and most exciting in front of their home fans in recent memory. The form line runs through each team’s match against the Cook Islands; PNG delivered a comprehensive 36-point victory while Fiji scraped home 22-18 courtesy of a 74th minute try. Much like the game on Saturday, these two sides will face one another next week. The recommendation is to keep your investment in this match low and see what each has to offer in the next week. In fact, best to invest on the match points, of which there should be a lot, over anything else.
Total match points over 47.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
