The final game of Super Saturday heads to Sydney for the rematch between the Roosters and the Dolphins. It was the inaugural game for the Dolphins which saw them start their club off on the right note. It has been challenging to say the least but the same can also be said of the Roosters. Expected to do better than their ladder position suggests, they will want to salvage some pride and keep their slim Finals hopes alive.
Below, we will dissect the matchup, supply our NRL betting tips, and suggest a Same Game Multi via Picklebet. Be sure to keep up to date with all the NRL fixtures, as we preview every single game all season long, for free!
NRL Round 24 Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney Roosters vs The Dolphins
Allianz Stadium, Saturday 12th August, 7:35pm (AEST)
Match Preview
The Roosters kept their Finals hopes alive with a 26-16 win over the Sea Eagles. Their second consecutive win saw an improved effort as they played to their potential for majority of the match. A strong first half saw them establish an 18-2 lead and they were strong too in the second half. 2 tries in the final 7 minutes were nothing but consolation for their opponents. Having more total metres and creating 6 line breaks was key to their success.
The Dolphins have won just 1 of their past 8 matches and have dropped quickly down the ladder. They were defeated by the Knights 30-28 in a scoring shootout, unable to capitalise on a 14-12 HT lead and playing against 12 men for 10 minutes. They dominated possession (54%), had a higher completion rate (80%), made 9.6m per carry and most post contact metres. Yet again, they were let down by their poor defence, missing 52 tackles and allowing 9 line breaks. This has been an issue for them all season and will again be tested here against an opponent who is growing in confidence.
Verdict
The Roosters are strong favourites ($1.29 vs $3.60) but perhaps their two previous victories have masked some of their problems. The quality of opponents in those matches fails to match the attacking power of the Dolphins. The visitors have a superior average in attack (17ppg vs 21ppg) but that is overshadowed by their struggles in defence (22ppg vs 26ppg) and the Roosters will need to avoid a shootout with their opponents. It was the opening game of the season, the Dolphins first, which saw them spring an upset on the Roosters. Just like that encounter, the Roosters appear to have the superior team in every area on paper, but you cannot rule out the Dolphins. The fact that they scored 28 points last week against the Knights provides hope. Use the line (10.5 points) to your advantage; the Roosters have proven that they are prone to mistakes; so too are the Dolphins but they have a knack of keeping pressure on opponents through their dangerous attack. Given the uncertainty around multiple areas of this fixture, keep your investment low, with better options available this weekend.
Dolphins +10.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
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!
Total Points Over 47.5 – The stats suggest the points total is in danger of being surpassed early in this contest.
Tupou & Isaako to Score – Given it is expected that plenty of points will be score, take the leading try scorer for each side to build on their season tally and cross the line here.
SGM Odds: $5.50 at Picklebet (0.5 Units)
