To conclude a big Saturday in the NRL, the ‘Battle of Brisbane’ will take centre stage, playing at the Gabba for the first time in NRL history. This promises to add to the excitement to what should be another fantastic clash.
Find our preview and betting tips for the Broncos vs Dolphins below, and make sure to head over to our NRL Tips Page for more free previews and tips for Round 18.
NRL Round 18 Preview & Betting Tips
Brisbane Broncos vs The Dolphins
The Gabba, 1st July, 7:35pm (AEST)
The Broncos dropped a winnable game against the Titans last week and their frustration was clearly on show. Expected to easily account for their opponents, the Broncos were drawn into an arm wrestle against their ‘local’ opponents where their final execution let them down. They were in positive attacking positions but failed to turn that into points. Most statistical areas were even and probably even pointed towards a Broncos victory. They will need to rebound quickly though, as the Dolphins are also facing their own issues.
Winning just 1 of their past 5 games, the Dolphins were outplayed by the Eels. The game was over by halftime, with the home side trailing 42-4 at the break. Despite performing better in the second half, this effort indicated that this squad of players was struggling after a strong start to the season. They’ve now dropped to 10th on the ladder and are in danger of losing touch with the Top 8 if their poor performances are to continue.
The Broncos are heavily favoured to bounce back to form with the win ($1.32 vs $3.40). This result would repeat the outcome of their Round 4 meeting where the Broncos were victorious 18-12, scoring 4 tries to 2. In that match, they trailed 12-8 with just over 10 minutes remaining but scored 2 tries in 8 minutes to power home.
Defence is where this game will be won; the Broncos have an edge here, allowing just 17ppg vs the Dolphins 27ppg. Leaking points has been a recent issue for the Dolphins too, conceding an average of 45.3 points in their past 3 matches. The Broncos also score slightly more in attack (23ppg vs 22ppg).
There are key players returning for the Dolphins to boost their chances; Marshall-King and O’Sullivan are vital inclusions, while the Broncos will be without Walsh, Flegler and Riki. This game will be a lot closer than the odds are suggesting. Fatigue in high-pressure games is likely to also take a toll on the Broncos, while Wayne Bennett is sure to have his team ready to prove a point that they are not to be forgotten about. This brings the line into play, albeit, with a low(ish) investment.
Dolphins +9.5
$1.95 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi at Picklebet
Popular bookmaker Picklebet have launched their Same Game Multis for both the AFL and NRL. There are plenty of markets to choose from an excellent odds on offer, so make sure to check them out!
Either Team Under 10 points – Much like their first meeting, this game is expected to be close. Happy to play into the either team by less than 10 market for good value..
Total Points Under 47.5 points – Along with the same theme as above, the point scoring should also be lower than normal. The Dolphins defence will be the biggest determining factor on this result but a change in recent efforts is bound to occur sooner rather than later.
SGM Odds: $3.60 at Picklebet (0.5 Units)
