Sunday afternoon NRL action begins in Penrith this weekend, with the Panthers hosting the Bulldogs. The Panthers are at the top of the competition ladder but with the Broncos still to have 1 Bye, they are 2nd in theory. They need to continue winning and have a great opportunity here. The Bulldogs have their eyes fixed beyond 2023 but will want to give a good account of themselves here, with coach and several players facing their former club.
BeforeYouBet is here to provide a comprehensive look at the on-field action, with the aim of finding a winner to add to your viewing enjoyment.
NRL Round 21 Preview & Betting Tips
Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
BlueBet Stadium, Sunday 23rd July, 2pm (AEST)
Missing several key players from their regular starting side, the Panthers jumped to a 12-nil lead inside 16 minutes but were let down by their goal kicking, failing to convert any of their tries. A HT lead of 12-4 gave the Dolphins hope and when they took the lead with a 55th minute try, an upset appeared likely. The Panthers didn’t panic though and demonstrated poise to score two final tries and close out the match. Having a lesser share of possession (49%), an inferior completion rate (76%), fewer line breaks and more missed tackles didn’t help their cause; nevertheless, they are a team which will only get better in the coming weeks.
The Bulldogs were more competitive than they have been in recent weeks but couldn’t build on a victory in Round 19, allowing too many points to the Broncos in their 44-24 loss. It was a one-sided affair that had the Bulldogs believing they could cause an upset, trailing just 22-18 at HT. Though when the Broncos kicked into another gear, the Bulldogs were unable to match them. Overall, they weren’t poor statistically but lagged in the key areas of completion rate, possession, total/post-contact metres and line breaks. They need greater consistency in their execution, but similar performances will continue to give them hope as they head into the off-season at the end of a rebuilding year.
All signs point towards the Panthers winning this contest and the odds ($1.02 vs $13) are a clear indication of how most, if not all, believe this game will pan out. If you needed any further evidence the Panthers not only see the return of 4 Origin players, but they are joined by halfback Nathan Cleary, who has missed the past 5 games with a hamstring injury. In equal measure, Kyle Flanagan comes into the team to replace Sexton at halfback. For a team which is only averaging 17ppg in attack (9.2 in their past 10 games), this poses a large issue, especially when their opponents only allow 12ppg. On the other side of things, the Panthers attacking record (24ppg) looks set to test the defensive structure of the Bulldogs which has allowed 30ppg so far this season. Home ground advantage gives the Panthers another edge (60% vs 38%), as does the fact that they’ve won the past 5 meetings with the Bulldogs. You must go searching for value here and in order to increase it, you will need to utilise a Same Game Multi.
SGM: Panthers 30+, & Total Points Over 47.5
$2.70 (2.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
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Turuva 2+ Tries – Turuva has had a quiet season with just 5 tries from 17 matches but the inclusion of Cleary and Luai in the halves will increase his involvement on the right edge.
Tago & Sorensen to Score – Tago is the leading try scorer for the Panthers with 10 and Sorensen has 3 to his name in 16 games. Expect him to be hitting the line hard with one of his playmakers tying up defenders.
SGM Odds: $19 at Picklebet
