7 hours of rugby league! Is there anything better for fans? We have you covered at Before You Bet with betting previews of all NRL games this Saturday. After a night of upsets last weekend, 3 favourites will be out to resume normal transmission with victories here.
Action will start on the northern beaches of Sydney with the Sea Eagles hosting the Tigers. Both teams were defeated last week and will welcome a victory to regain some confidence. The next two fixtures will head north to Queensland, with the Roosters taking their game against the Titans to Mackay. Again, both sides were winless last week, and consistency has arguably eluded both teams. To finish the night, the high-flying Cowboys are in a great position to continue their winning streak as they host a Knights team working to find solutions to their horrible play. With teams in desperate positions, anything can happen!
Remember to head to our NRL Tips page for previews and betting tips for every game across Round 9.
NRL Round 9 Saturday Betting Tips
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Wests Tigers
4 Pines Park, Saturday 7th May, 3pm (EST)
Squads
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Ben Trbojevic 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Sean Keppie 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Josh Aloiai 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Kurt De Luis
Wests Tigers
1. Starford To’a 2. Asu Kepaoa 3. Oliver Gildart 4. Luke Garner 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 8. James Tamou 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Joe Ofahengaue Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Alex Twal 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Stefano Utoikamanu 18. Jacob Liddle
Match Preview
The Sea Eagles took the match to the Rabbitohs early on, but their task was made more difficult after one of their players was sent off for foul play. As it galvanised them for some time following the decision, it eventually wore them down as player fatigue meant they were eventually defeated 40-22. They kept things simple (84% completion rate) and they will need the same poise to win here. The Tigers 2-game winning streak came to an end as they were defeated 12-6 by the Dragons.
Always the outsiders, the Tigers were given their fair share of chances but were denied by resolute defence. The loss of several attacking weapons didn’t help their cause and the task is only amplified ahead of this game with more players unavailable. Combine this with the return of Tom Trbojevic and the Sea Eagles are rightly installed as favourites. This game has come at the perfect time for the Sea Eagles too; they have managed to get through the Turbo-less period relatively well.
As impressive as they have been recently, the lack of depth to their team against a team out to return to winning form makes for a dangerous combination. The home side should easily account for the Tigers, but they won’t be able to skip away comfortably until late in the game.
Garrick & Trbojevic Anytime Tryscorers ($2.40 at Ladbrokes)
Schuster Anytime Tryscorer ($3.60 at Ladbrokes)
Total Over 42.5 ($1.90 at Ladbrokes)
Sea Eagles -14.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Sydney Roosters vs Gold Coast Titans
BB Print Stadium, 7th May, 5:30pm (EST)
Squads
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley Interchange: 14. Drew Hutchinson 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Lachlan Lam
Gold Coast Titans
1. Alexander Brimson 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Will Smith 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Isaac Liu 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Interchange: 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Sam Lisone 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Sam McIntyre 18. Jamayne Isaako
Match Preview
In arguably the upset of the season last week, the Roosters were defeated 16-12 by the Bulldogs. Aside from the rarity of back-to-back losses by the Roosters, their execution was also poor (67% completion rate & 18 errors). It was a far cry from what is to be expected from this team.They will be out to make amends here but a road trip north to Mackay will present its own challenges. On the plus side, it may also get them out of the NRL scrutiny.
The Titans have a firm focus on their inept play, most recently suffering yet another loss with an 18-4 defeat by the Panthers. While an improved effort in some respects (keeping the Panthers scoreless in the first half), the loss still leaves them with just 2 (questionable) wins this year. They now find themselves outsiders for this match and will have a difficult task of winning. In saying that, the Roosters are not the same force they once were. They’re vulnerable but the execution of the Titans will have to lift if they are to cause an upset in this match.
The Roosters attack appears flat, but the potential is huge. It is a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’. The same opinion can be held of the Titans, but they have stung many punters before. The Roosters should win but there is zero confidence around both sides. Therefore, the investment will be around the total points. 4 out of the past 5 matches have seen a margin over 41.5 points and this game looks set to be the same.
Total Over 41.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday 7th May, 7:35pm (EST)
Squads
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Fedlt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Deardon 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo Interchange: 14. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 15. Heilum Luki 16. Coen Hess 17. Griffin Nehme 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Newcastle Knights
1. Kaylan Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Tex Hoy 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Leo Thompson Interchange: 14. Jack Johns 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Mat Croker 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Simi Sasagi
Match Preview
The Cowboys powered their way into the Top 4 with a commanding 35-4 victory over the Eels in Darwin. Outsiders for the match and given little hope by most (myself included), they played with poise (84% completion rate) and consistency that could make them a genuine contender.
One victory in similar conditions to those at home will hardly book them a spot in the Top 4 at the end of the season but they have a great opportunity to continue their winning form and build on confidence up against the Knights. Since a strong start to the season, the Knights have fallen into a hole. Their opening 2 victories to start the season remain their only ones for the year. They have failed to score a try in the past 2 weeks and have conceded 110 points to 20 in the past 3 weeks.
Their most recent 50-2 drubbing at the hands of the Storm only added to their misery. Winning seems far away from this squad as the coach and captain appear puzzled in post-match interviews. The task only becomes more difficult as a trip to Townsville has its own challenges. The odds rightly favour the Cowboys and presuming they play to their recent standard; a big tally could be run up in favourable conditions.
Alternate Bets:
Cowboys 13+ ($1.68 at Ladbrokes)
Total Over 40.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
