The 2017 NRL season has started with a bang and after three rounds all sides have earned a victory and there are only two remaining undefeated teams. There have been a lot of injuries and a coach has already been shown the door, what will the next round bring us? Continue reading for our NRL Round 4 Preview and Betting Tips.
2017 NRL Round 4 Betting Tips
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters (Thursday 8.05pm AEDT)
The Roosters are one of the two undefeated sides to start the season and they faced their biggest test on the weekend against the Panthers. They came out on top by two-points but they had a lot of favourable decisions go their way. Including the decisive try being officially regarded as a wrong decision by referees boss Tony Archer. However, it shouldn’t take away from how well the side has began their 2017 campaign. Luke Keary was quiet on Saturday night in tough conditions but he has taken a lot of pressure off his halves partner Mitchell Pearce. Michael Gordon is also proving to be a great buy at fullback and Latrell Mitchell is excelling in the centre position.
Meanwhile the Bunnies have won their last two matches after starting their season with a hefty loss to the Tigers. Alex Johnston has slotted into the fullback position and played reasonably well while the return of Adam Reynolds has allowed them to play at a higher level. George Burgess and Hymel Hunt will be sidelined due to suspension. We believe the side won’t have enough creativity and strike power to crack the Roosters defence enough to earn the victory in this one.
TIP: Roosters to win at the margin (13+) - $2.30 with William Hill
Penrith Panthers vs Newcastle Knights (Friday 6pm AEDT)
The Panthers will feel hard done by in their third outing of the season. However, it doesn’t change the fact the side that began the regular season as joint title favourites has won just one of their opening three games. The side has one of the most talented backlines in the competition but they are inexperienced. They are big favourites to come away with the win in this one and rightfully so.
The Knights have had a strong start to the season but we still don’t believe they have faced a side at full strength. It could be a long afternoon for the Knights but we have to give credit to a side that has showed a lot of enthusiasm in every match they have played. Brock Lamb has been strong at five-eighth while Mitch Barnett has been a young leader for the side. They have definitely improved on last season but it would be hard to get much worse. The Panthers should be able to put a big scoreline on their opponents this weekend.
TIP: Panthers to win at the line (-14.5) - $1.90 with Ladbrokes
Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders (Friday 8pm AEDT)
The Broncos and Raiders have just one win for the season but the Green Machine will head into this one after a confidence boosting thrashing of the Wests Tigers. They were able to finally hit their straps as the best attacking team in 2016 put on a clinical performance. Jarrod Croker was a late inclusion and the captain made a big impact and kicked off from where he left off.
However, they are facing a much stronger defence on Friday night as the Broncos proved close to impossible to penetrate when they faced the Storm. It was a very unlucky try that resulted in the side losing its second consecutive match. It has been a tough start to the season for the Broncos who are facing another top four opponent from last season this weekend. The forward pack won’t be able to match it with the big Raiders and they will need Ben Hunt and Anthony MIlford to be at their best. However, on the back of Josh Papalli taking his game to another level and Blake Austin and Jordan Rapana playing at their best, we are predicting an away win in this one.
TIP: Raiders to win at the margin (1-12) - $3.60 with Sportsbet
Manly Sea Eagles vs Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs (Saturday 4.30pm AEDT)
This match will be a hard one to predict with these two sides getting first victory of the season on the weekend. The Sea Eagles victory was far more impressive as they defeated the Cowboys in North Queensland. Their opponents were shorthanded but it was still a dominant victory and their defence was very impressive. If they can defend their own line in the same way this weekend it will be very difficult for the Bulldogs to find points as their attack always leaves little to be desired.
The Dogs were able to secure the win in New Zealand against the Warriors and they scored 24 points for the second straight week. However, we still aren’t buying into their attack and their forward pack won’t be as dominant in this one with Martin Taupau returning from suspension and Nate Myles being added to the bench after returning from injury. Tom Trjobevic has been the difference maker at fullback and Daly Cherry-Evans is coming off his best game in years.
TIP: Sea Eagles to win - $2.00 with CrownBet
Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks (Saturday 7pm AEDT)
The Parramatta Eels were without their halfback Corey Norman and gosh did it show. They had no direction around the park in attack and they struggled to create opportunities. It is a disappointing sign considering they were up against an injury depleted Titans outfit that was winless entering the match. The side didn’t turn up defensively and the opposition went through them far too easily.
Meanwhile the Sharks played their worst match in over a year, those were the words from coach Shane Flanagan’s mouth. The side didn’t create much in attack and when they did, they made a mistake and it proved costly. The side bounced back strongly after a loss to smash the Raiders a fortnight ago and we believe they will respond again. However, with Norman back in the line up for the Eels and in career best form they will be a tough side to beat.
TIP: Sharks to win at the margin (1-12) – $3.10 with William Hill
Gold Coast Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys (Saturday 7.30pm AEDT)
The Titans got their season back on track with a victory on the weekend and they will be facing a side with as many injury problems as them. Both teams will be severly weakoned entering this match but it doesn’t mean it won’t be a great spectacle. The two halves pairings facing off will be an interesting one with the experienced Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan up against Ashley Taylor and Kane Elgey.
The Cowboys are down without half their back line and a couple of forwards due to injury and suspension. They missed their punch on Saturday night as they were carved up through the middle by the Sea Eagles pack. Thurston had an off match and Lachlan Coote was missed at the back. Kalyn Ponga didn’t have many opportunities in his first match in the number one jersey.
We are predicting a close match with the Cowboys to show their class and bounce back from a tough loss to come away with the victory on the road.
TIP: Cowboys to win at the line (-3.5) - $1.90 with William Hill
Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm (Sunday 4pm AEDT)
What a start to the season the Tigers have had – Tim Simona’s betting and fraud scandal and now Jason Taylor has been sacked as coach and only three games into the regular season. The Tigers are in last position after two weeks of embarrassing losses but it is still a strange decision considering they stuck by Taylor during the Robbie Farah saga. Nevertheless the show must go on and how the Tigers respond to this will be interesting. On the back of two 30-point defeats the side will be looking for some sort of answer and it needs to start with the sides ‘big four’. James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses need to show some leadership and steer this side towards consistency and victory.
However, that is easier said then done, especially when they are up against the undefeated Melbourne Storm side which has looked very good to start the year. They received a massive blow with Cameron Munster suffering a broken jaw but luckily for them Billy Slater looked good in his return to action. The fullback was dangerous with the ball in his hands and looked quick on his feet, however he was missing his touch and threw a couple of wayward passes. We are predicting the Storm to hand the Tigers another hiding on the back of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Slater reuniting in the starting line up.
TIP: Storm to win at the line (-6) - $1.90 with William Hill
St George Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors (Sunday 6.30pm AEDT)
The Dragons are back in the top four and it has to be said, what a shock. The side was very ordinary last season and they have improved drastically. Their forward pack has really stepped up with Paul Vaughn proving a great signing while Jack De Bellin has been great in the middle of the field. Gareth Widdop has been strong on the back of the go-forward while Cameron McInnes has been great out of dummy-half. The side still isn’t creating loads of chances but they are doing enough to earn the two competition points.
The Warriors are expecting to have a huge boost in this match and we aren’t just talking about Roger Tuivasa-Scheck returning to action. Keiran Foran has been named on an extended bench and should take his place in the line up. Whether he can have an immediate impact will remain to be seen but his cool, calm and collected head will definitely benefit Shaun Johnson’s style. This has been proven at international level and the Warriors have the New Zealand spine. We are predicting them to cause an upset in this one.
TIP: Warriors to win - $2.00 with CrownBet
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