Week 9 of the NRL season rolls along and we’ve got two intriguing matchups on Sunday afternoon. The Sea Eagles will host the Warriors in the early game while the Dragons take on the Bulldogs in a match where both sides will be desperate to regain some form. Read on for our NRL tips to complete Round 9 action.
NRL Round 9 Sunday Betting Tips
Manly Sea Eagles vs New Zealand Warriors
Lottoland, Sydney, Sunday 2:00pm AEST
This looks a match which is set up to be a close one. These two sides met just four weeks ago, when a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal in the dying seconds helped Manly secure its first win of 2021. Manly have looked a different team since Tommy Turbo returned and were very good in defeat to Penrith last week. They were right in the fight up until the late stages and will take plenty of confidence from that performance.
The Warriors have now won two of their last three after a gutsy 4 point win over the Cowboys last week. They sit on the edge of the top eight and will be keen to cement their spot there for the coming weeks with a win today.
Marty Tapau is a big loss for the home side who have surprisingly struggled at home recently, having lost six straight games at Lottoland. The Warriors will be riding high with confidence and as always, it just depends which Warriors side will show up today.
Verdict
If Manly can put in a similar effort as last week they should be too strong for the visiting side here today. They matched motors with the competition front runners for the majority of the match last week and will take a heap of confidence from that. Tom Trbojevic continues his stellar form since returning from injury and will once again need to be at his best to lift his side to a win.
The Warriors will also be brimming with confidence after two wins from their last three but continue to be plagued by inconsistency. I think the Sea Eagle forward pack might be too strong for them today and that looks a key battle in the middle of the park.
Daly Cherry Evans has found some form and his link up play with Tommy Turbo has been a key factor in the turnaround of their form. Pretty confident that these two can lead the way as Manly look to break their losing streak at home. It looks like it will be another close match between two even teams and happy to take a margin for some extra value.
St.George-Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney, Sunday 4:05pm
The Dragons are reeling off the back of three straight losses after seemingly looking one of the form teams of the competition. They had won four straight a few weeks ago and things were looking good for St George. They now found themselves in desperate need of a win, coming up against the struggling Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have shown improvement across the last few weeks and if the Dragons give them a slight chance they will be there to capitalise. They do still remain on just one win for the season and will be keen to continue their fight off the bottom of the ladder.
History bodes well for the visiting side here, having won seven of their past nine games at Jubilee Stadium. I do think the Dragons look clear favourites however and it will be crucial that they start well.
The Dragons will be without Zac Lomax who injured his thumb last week while the Bulldogs have named Lachlan Lewis on the reserves as he makes his way back through the NSW Cup.
Verdict
It is do or die for the Dragons at this point and a loss here today could see alarm bells ringing at the club. They really should be winning a match like this today at home on Sunday afternoon against the weakest side in the competition this year.
With all that said, it is hard to be too confident with the Dragons at the moment as they continue to struggle and come into this off the back of one of their worst performances all year. I do think they’ll bounce back though and Anthony Griffin will have his side up and about for the match this afternoon
Matt Dufty has been a shining light for the home side all year and he will once again be a crucial factor in the outcome of this match. I just think the Dragons halves will be too clinical in comparison to their opposite numbers today as the Bulldogs struggle to score points each week. It looks the Dragons game to lose and I am expecting a big statement from then as they look to regain the form that saw them sit in the top 4 only a few weeks ago.
