The final NRL game on Saturday is a rare fixture, with the Broncos hosting the Raiders on Saturday. Usually featuring in a free-to-air match, the Broncos will feel different but will undoubtedly relish the 8-day turnaround. They are 2 points outside the Top 8 and will want to maintain their winning form from last week. The Raiders are third on the competition ladder and holding their form. It could easily unravel for them though and this is their hardest test to date. The stage is set for a fantastic night of exhilarating rugby league action and Before You Bet has you covered with a detailed look at how the match will play out.
Also, if you’re new to sports betting or betting on the NRL, check out the following articles to help build your knowledge:
- Guide to Betting on the NRL
- Where to Bet on the NRL
- Factors to Consider When Betting on the NRL
2024 NRL Round 7 Preview & Betting Tips
Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders
Suncorp Stadium – Saturday 20th April – 7:35pm (AEST)
Match Preview
The Broncos kept their undefeated record against the Dolphins alive with a 28-14 win over their cross-town rivals. The first half was a tight contest, with neither team giving much away and just a 2-point advantage to the Broncos in a low-scoring match. The game opened in the second half, with free-flowing attack from both sides. The Broncos took advantage of this and when they gained enough momentum, looked very dangerous in the middle of the field. Scoring 4 tries in 14 minutes to start the second half established victory, with 2 ‘garbage time’ tries closing the gap for the Dolphins. They were off their best with just a 67% completion rate while having a 46% share of possession. Still, they ran for more metres, had more pcm’s and line breaks. They also missed just 20 tackles. Getting such victories with key personnel missing is crucial to their back end of the season.
The Raiders were also victorious but were somewhat lucky in their 21-20 win over the Titans. They conceded 2 tries in the final 5 minutes and almost lost a match they were dominant in. The fact that they were clearly the better team yet almost lost, might be a concern moving forward. Such was their superiority, they had a 58% share of possession, completed at 87%, ran for 600m, had 900+pcm’s and missed fewer tackles. Being unable to turn this performance into points against a team who is still winless, must be addressed ahead of this fixture.
Match Prediction
This is a tricky contest to assess, with both teams throwing up positives and negatives. The Broncos have a superior record at home (59% vs 29%) and have won 6 of the past 7 at home against the Raiders. To offset this, the Raiders have won 4 out of the past 6 games against the Broncos, including 2 13+ wins.
The home side is listed as favourites ($1.42 vs $2.90) and this is somewhat surprising given they are still missing their halfback and a key forward. The season averages give the Raiders an edge; the Broncos average 24ppg in attack but concede 22ppg in defence. This is far too high. The Raiders score an average of 25ppg in attack and concede 17ppg in defence. If they are strong defensively, it will cause headaches for the Broncos. You can ensure that the Raiders will be focussed on winning this contest. Coach Stuart would be using a lot of motivation ahead of this contest and sense an opportunity to cause an upset. Confidence in what the Raiders can produce is low though; they should’ve dominated the Titans last week and only scrapped home. They are missing something in attack which turns their positive field position and play into points. It’s as if they are unable to continually build pressure.
As disappointing as the Raiders result was against the Titans, they are still sitting relatively high on the NRL Power Rankings. Nevertheless, more will be needed from them if they are to win this match. The Broncos will need to be careful, otherwise, they will be caught out by their opponents. Previous games this season have indicated that this talented group of young players can absorb and counter pressure from opponents. Despite not having key individuals at their disposal, other players have stepped up in their absence. Expect a close outcome; 3 of the past 5 matches have been decided by 1-12 points, with two of those matches decided by 6 points. This game looks set for a similar outcome, bringing the line into play. Keep your stake low though, this game could produce any possible result.
Broncos 1-12
$3.10 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
This is the ultimate bet for fans who cannot decide on a winner and want a high scoring contest to enjoy. The average total points in the past 5 games are 44.2 points while it was highlighted above just how close the recent contests have been.
Total Points Under 44.5
Either Team to Win by 1-12
SGM Odds: $4 at Neds
