With Game 2 of the State of Origin series completed, attention turns back to the NRL with 6 games occurring this weekend. Action will start on Friday, allowing players to back-up from Wednesday and it is a rare free-to-air match for the Dragons and Warriors fixture. The Dragons are experiencing a lot of issues; even week out of the spotlight could not deter trouble. The Warriors sit in 6th place on the ladder and will want to consolidate their spot with a victory. As always, BeforeYouBet will have you covered in a variety of sports across a bumper weekend of action.
Check out our NRL tips for the Dragons and Warriors below!
NRL Round 17 Preview & Betting Tips
St George-Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors
WIN Stadium, Friday 23rd June, 8pm (AEST)
The Dragons were successful in Round 15, with a 36-30 win over an understrength Rabbitohs team. Dictating majority of the match, the Dragons conceded 3 converted tries inside 6 minutes remaining to be at risk of drawing (or even losing) the match. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. They had a stronger share of possession (57%), made more total metres and more post contact metres. It wasn’t a complete performance though; they still conceded 9 line breaks and missed 36 tackles, while also having a lower completion rate (75%). Perhaps it wasn’t as commanding of a win as the score may suggest. News of Ben Hunt request for a release can only destabilise this club further.
The Warriors enjoyed a week off following a spirited 36-14 win over the Raiders on the road. Overcoming the hype of a milestone match, The Warriors overcame an 8-6 HT deficit to produce a commanding effort in the second half. They controlled the ball well (54% possession & a higher completion rate), ran for more metres and made 7 line breaks. They are a team in form, winning 3 of their past 4 games; since their ability to score points was also questioned, they have scored no fewer than 22-points each week. Now, appearing the better team, they must perform to this standard against a tricky opponent.
The chances of the Dragons in this game will depend on whether Hunt backs up from Origin. At the time of writing (Thursday afternoon), he is named and will play. This news has done little to narrow the odds though, with the Dragons still listed as outsiders ($2.75 vs $1.45). Before punters jump into that, they will want to check the recent history between the two sides. The Dragons have won their past 3 against the Dragons, by an average of 6.3 points. The Warriors have a horrible 8% winning record at this ground (1 in 12) compared with the Dragons 62%. Looking at recent form, the Warriors concede far less points in defence compared to the Dragons (18ppg vs 25ppg) but they have an edge in attacked, averaging slightly more than their opponents (21ppg vs 20ppg). Despite their ability to score points, the Dragons may struggle to hold the Warriors to a low total. More is needed from the Dragons before a confidence will increase when investing on them.
This is almost a game to avoid. If you are desperate for an investment, then keep it simple. Take the Warriors to win with a lower line and make that bet an anchor in a multi. The Warriors should have enough power in the forwards to develop a strong platform for Johnson and co to seize attacking opportunities.
Warriors -3.5
$1.62 (1.5 Units)
