The NRL season enters Round 8 this weekend and it is set to be a big one with five matches to be played back-to-back this Saturday on ANZAC Day. Continue reading for our NRL Round 8 betting tips.
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Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers (Friday 7.45pm AEDT)
The Bulldogs bounced back into the winner’s circle last week with their second win of the season against bottom-placed Manly. The match was highlighted by the impressive performance of Moses Mbye who created a few tries for his teammates and also crossed for one of his own. The Dogs welcome back Sam Kasiano, Tim Browne and Josh Morris but will still be without the services of David Klemmer, James Graham and Brett Morris.
The Tigers had pencilled in a win against the Raiders when they were leading 22-0 but it that was quickly erased as the Green Machine stormed home to put up 30 unanswered points. The Tigers have shown flashes of brilliance but ultimately their inexperience has let them down on multiple occasions.
TIP: Bulldogs – 2.5 @ $1.90 with Ladbrokes
New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans (Saturday 11.45pm AEDT)
The Warriors cost themselves a valuable away win last week against the in-form Cowboys. They led for 79 minutes of the match and they only have themselves to blame for their loss. Errors at key times and basic defence around the ruck allowed North Queensland to steal the victory late. The New Zealand side has failed to hold onto the ball throughout the season and the 16 errors they made last week cannot be repeated again if they hope to return to winning ways.
Meanwhile the Titans have won two games in a row by 30 points or more and are looking very impressive. They don’t have the best record against the Warriors and have only won twice in New Zealand in seven attempts. However, I like them with an 8.5 point start.
TIP: Gold Coast +8.5 @ $1.92 with Luxbet
Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys (Saturday 2pm AEDT)
Both of these sides underperformed in Round 7 however the Cowboys just did enough to escape with a victory whilst the Knights let the game slip away from them in one they really should have won. They were unable to capitalise on the possession and territorial advantage they had in the first half and they certainly paid for it in the second, despite taking the lead during this period on more than one occasion. In Johnathan Thurston’s 250th NRL match, the Cowboys left it until the final minute to secure their fourth victory in a row. Both sides will enter the match with practically the same lineups and I expect the Cowboys to be too good for the Knights and hand them their fourth straight loss.
TIP: Cowboys -4 @ $1.90 with Sportsbet
Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons (Saturday 4pm AEDT)
Who would have thought that entering this match in Round 8 the Roosters would only just scrape into the top eight whilst the Dragons would be on a five-game winning streak and be tied at the top. Well, that is the case and the Roosters will be desperate this weekend to knock off the Dragons. The success for the Dragons can be put down to their defence that has only leaked 20 points over the last five weeks, on average that is a measly one try a game. The Roosters attack will need to be at its best this weekend to crack the Dragons line. The Red V also has a better record having won 17 of their 31 meetings.
TIP: Dragons +6.5 @ $1.90 with Sportsbet
Melbourne Storm vs Manly Sea Eagles (Saturday 6.15pm AEDT)
This match has the top of the table Storm against the Sea Eagles who sit on the bottom. It is more than that though for these two sides that have had a great rivalry over the past decade. The only win for the boys from Brookvale this season is against the Storm in Round 2 when they narrowly held on to their lead against the fast-finishing Melbourne outfit. The Storm will be looking for redemption as they let that match slip mainly due to their own errors. They have never lost to Manly at home winning three of their four encounters at the venue with the one draw.
TIP: No Bet
Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels (Saturday 8pm AEDT)
The Broncos suffered their second loss of the season last week to the Dragons in a close match that they could have easily won. Injury prone Justin Hodges is back on the sideline as the Eels are beginning to welcome back the players they have missed since the opening few rounds. Semi Radradra is still a few weeks away but the Broncos will miss international player Alex Glenn in the backrow. Thaiday will move to his preferred position in the back row to cover for Glenn whilst Adam Blaire moves to the front row.
The blue and gold have a decent record at Suncorp Stadium as they have won 6 and lost 9, I expect this match to be closer than predicted.
TIP: Eels +9.5 @ $1.90 with Luxbet
Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks (Sunday 2pm AEDT)
The Penrith Panthers are still struggling without Jamie Soward and to add to that they are without Peter Wallace and Jamal Idris. They need more direction from their halves replacements Isaac John and Apisai Koroisau to stand a chance against the inform Sharks that have won three on the trot. Their latest win was their most impressive as they defeated the Rabbitohs in woeful conditions and without captain Paul Gallen. To keep the run going they will need another great performance from young gun Jack Bird.
TIP: Sharks @ $1.90 with Sportsbet
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canberra Raiders (Sunday 4pm AEDT)
Since the Rabbitohs lost their halfback Adam Reynolds two weeks ago they have suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of the Sharks and the Cowboys. John Sutton is again not named but it is almost a certainty for him to play as he was almost expected to return two weeks ago. The Raiders are a very inconsistent side and they are hard to predict as they have patches of brilliance and then times when they look like the opposite of an NRL team. As the Rabbitohs will be without Reynolds again and Inglis is clearly being hampered by a leg injury, the line given to the Raiders is ideal.
TIP: Raiders +9.5 @ $1.94 with Ladbrokes
