The NRL competition is beginning to take shape after three rounds and not many people expected the competition ladder which fans are left with. Regardless, it has made for an unpredictable and exciting start to the season.
Round 4 action begins on Thursday night as a winless Eels team host the Panthers in a rematch of the 2022 Grand Final. It’s been a positive few weeks for the tipsters at Before You Bet and as always, we will have you covered in a host of sporting action this weekend.
Let’s get stuck into our NRL Round 4 preview and tips for the Eels vs Panthers!
NRL Round 4 Preview & Betting Tips
Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers
CommBank Stadium, Thursday 23rd March, 8pm (AEST)
The Eels faced a tough test against the Sea Eagles on the road last week and were outgunned in a high scoring game 34-30. That loss means that they have now lost each of their opening 3 matches by 4-points. A few late tries gave them hope but it mattered little in the end. Looking at their execution, they need to improve dramatically. They completed at just 64% (with 51% possession), made fewer metres per carry (10.4m vs 9.3m) and missed more tackles. They will lift for this game, but it is important that they don’t panic; they are still a capable team.
The Panthers head into this game following a Bye in Round 3. By the time they take the field, 2 weeks would’ve passed since their 16-10 victory over the Rabbitohs at home. Needing a win after a Round 1 loss, the Panthers were clinical in that match, strangling their opponents out of the contest. They controlled possession (54% & 80% completion rate), made more post-contact metres and line breaks, while also missing fewer tackles. It was a sign that this team was trending back in the right direction. This game promises to be another test (for different reasons) for each side.
The Eels are going to be desperate to win this game. The Panthers are a strong side (as seen in the Power Rankings) but are not yet the finished product that will making them dominant at the business end of the season. One thing which they do have over the Eels is a higher level of confidence; winning does that and, in equal measure, so too does losing and detracting away from confidence. A week off to rest will help the Panthers recovery from a difficult match, but it may also halt their momentum; they suffered consecutive losses and perhaps the Bye would’ve been better placed a few rounds later.
The Panthers are almost too short to invest on ($3.20 vs $1.36). The recent history between these two sides is intriguing. They met 4 times in 2022 with each winning 2 matches. The average winning margin 3 of those games (2 for Penrith, 1 for the Eels) was by 13+ points. The early season fixture (Round 9) went the way of the Eels by 2 points. This game looks headed for a similar result. It should be close, and, with the Eels home ground advantage (62% vs 50%), the line is very enticing. It has already seen a shift in from 8.5 points to 7.5 points, with a high chance that it could get even shorter. If it does, stick with your investment and do not sacrifice a higher stake.
Same Game Multi
Eels +11.5/Under 43.5/To’o to Score/Sivo to Score @ $5.50 (0.5 Units)
Eels +7.5
$1.95 (2 Units)
