Round 15 in the NRL will get underway on Thursday night as the Brisbane Broncos host the South Sydney Rabbitohs from Suncorp Stadium at 7.50pm! As always, Greg Davis is back on the case with a full preview and betting tips for the standalone fixture below.
NRL Broncos vs Rabbitohs Betting Tips
Thursday 17th June, Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST)
Brisbane
1.Tesi Niu 2. Xavier Coates 3. Herbie Farnworth 4. Jesse Arthars 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Karmichael Hunt 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Matt Lodge 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn 12. Tevita Pangai Jnr 13. Tom Flegler Interchange: 14. Kobe Hetherington 15. John Asiata 16. Keenan Palasia 17. TC Robati 18. Cory Paix 19. Jordan Riki 20. Rhys Kennedy 21. Dale Copley
Souths
1.Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Mark Nicholls 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray Interchange: 14. Braidon Burns 15. Hame Sele 16. Tom Burgess 17. Jacob Host 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Liam Knight 20. Josh Mansour 21. Jaydn Su’A
In the cinematic classic ‘Rocky III’, the character of Clubber Lang - played by Mr. T – is asked for his thoughts on the upcoming bout against Mr Balboa.
“Prediction…pain!” he snarled.
If the fool-pitying Mr T was asked for his tip for this Thursday night’s clash between the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs, he may well utter the same forecast.
It all points to it not being particularly pretty for the Ponies at Suncorp Stadium.
The Broncos were belted by the basket case that is Canberra in 2021 last weekend with Brisbane missing 39 tackles, completing just 29 sets in attack, conceding a whopping 233 kick return metres and seven tries to three on the way to a 38-16 loss.
It was capital punishment in Canberra at the hands of a side that had won just four games all season with rumours of internal rumblings growing louder each week in a dramatic fall from grace from the Raiders.
So, imagine what Souths will do to the Broncos who have the same-for-and-against as the last-placed Bulldogs (-204 points).
After Penrith pumped the Bunnies to the tune of 56-12 in Dubbo last month, Souths have got their season back on track with wins over Parramatta and Newcastle either side of a bye.
Their dangerous attacking left side got their groove back against the Knights last Saturday with Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston crossing three times in the first 46 minutes.
Brisbane has the competition’s worst defensive record having let in 436 points in 2021. No other team has conceded more than 400 points with Penrith boasting the NRL’s best record with just 133 points conceded.
The Broncos have shown some promising signs only to let in bulk points once the floodgates open.
In Round 5 against the Bunnies, Souths only led 10-6 after 36 minutes but conceded a late converted try in the first half and a two-point field goal from Adam Reynolds. Three more unanswered tries to Souths after halftime handed the Rabbitohs a 35-6 victory at Homebush.
It is a pattern that has become all too familiar for Brisbane this season. There is nothing to suggest that this clash will be any different.
Especially with the Rabbitohs bringing in the rested Origin quartet of Dane Gagai, Jai Arrow, Damien Cook and Cam Murray to bolster the squad that beat the Knights.
Apart from failing to show the required level of resilience in defence, Brisbane’s attack has been pedestrian and predictable. Given that new coach Kevin Walters has fielded seven different halves pairings in 2021, it is little wonder that the Broncos have looked so disjointed and clunky with the Steeden in hand.
The Bunnies are a game clear of archrival Roosters to sit inside the top four and should take care of business against the Broncos with Johnston to have another field day out on the left wing for the visitors.
