NRL Magic Round is finally here! The attention of the rugby league world will ascend on Brisbane this week, with Round 11 of the NRL having all fixtures play out of Suncorp Stadium. The blockbuster weekend of action is sure to spark the interest of any fan, let alone punters, who have a chance to find a winner.
The opening match of the weekend has the Raiders up against the Bulldogs in an important match for both teams and their Top 8 hopes. Before You Bet is here to take a comprehensive look at the match. Stay tuned to the website all weekend for detailed analysis of all NRL Magic Round fixtures.
Also, Picklebet are running some great combo Multis in the NRL this weekend. They can be found on the first match of the day under additional markets. Click the image below to get involved in the fun!
NRL Round 11 Preview & Betting Tips
Canberra Raiders vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Suncorp Stadium – Friday 17th May – 6pm (AEST)
Match Preview
The Raiders enjoyed the week off with the Bye in Round 10, with extra time to savour their spirited 26-24 victory over the Sea Eagles. Trailing 20-6 at HT, the Raiders were expected to struggle in the second half against a team who was dominating the contest. Down on personnel, it was always going to be tough but conceding the first try in the second half to extend the score to 24-6 made it harder. Unlike the first half, they built pressure on their opponents and slowly clawed their way back into the match. An 85% completion rate assisted their cause, as did running for more metres and pcm’s. They also tightened up their defence, missing just 23 tackles for the night. The win keeps them in the Top 8 also.
The Bulldogs were bumped out of that position following their 16-10 loss to the Panthers. Judged as the inferior team, the Bulldogs played their usual competitive brand of rugby league which makes their opponents work hard for victory. Their resolute defence challenged the Panthers and gave them a winning chance. While probably never likely to cause an upset (79th minute try narrowed the margin), they were competitive. They will need to improve upon their 75% completion rate but can take confidence away from the fact that they made more total metres, as well as double the amount of line breaks (3 vs 6). Trying hard in defence and scrambling at every tackle meant they missed 54 for the night and must be better in this area if they want to be a chance of winning this match.
Match Prediction
It is rare to see the Bulldogs head into a game as favourites but that is exactly the case in this game ($2.30 vs $1.62), with the recent form of each team supporting their starting price. Not even the impending return of fullback Rapana can help the Raiders case. The discrepancy between the two teams is somewhat puzzling too, given the line is only set at 3.5 points.
It is not worth considering each teams performance at the venue as they are both horrendous (Raiders 27% vs Bulldogs 28%); however, the Raiders were successful over the Bulldogs 34-30 in Magic Round 2023. In fact, that victory meant the Raiders have won 9 of the past 10 matches between these two sides. The Bulldogs are a different outfit though to previous seasons. The Raiders are capable but can easily succumb to the pressure the Bulldogs build in a match; they are also just as likely to provide a stirring victory. Such a situation makes for a difficult decision.
You are better off investing in this game being a close contest as opposed to selecting an outright winner. For the record, the Bulldogs are the preferred selection but only slightly. With the past 5 matches decided by an average margin of 8.4 points, take the safer option of this being a close contest and being satisfied with whoever prevails in the match.
Either Team By 10.5 Points or Less
$1.85 (2 Units)
Same Game Multi
They are strike weapons on the left edge for their respective teams and have proven capable of scoring tries already this season. If their team is to win, they will be strongly involved and have a knack of finding their way to the line as their team is attacking in their opponent’s red zone.
Young to Score
Kikau to Score
SGM Odds: $12 at Ladbrokes (0.5 Units)
