The 2017 NRL season continues this weekend as we head into the final three weeks of the regular season. See the best value of the weekend in our NRL Round 23 Preview and Betting Tips below.
2017 NRL Round 24 Betting Tips
Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans (Thursday 7.50pm AEST)
The Gold Coast Titans have suffered back-to-back humiliating defeats and to make matters worse there is a lot of off-field drama surrounding the club. The rift between coach Neil Henry and Jarryd Hayne has been spread across the media and both are in danger of being shown the exit. We can’t see the Titans producing a better effort in this match than their previous two games with their season over and a lot of negativity surrounding the club.
The Eels are coming off a disappointing loss against bottom placed the Newcastle Knights. The Eels were surprised and unfortunately for them they came up against a Knights side that produced their best game in over three seasons. We are predicting the team to bounce back strongly as they look to push their way into the top four and secure a finals position.
TIP: Eels at the line (-12.5) – $1.90 at CrownBet
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors (Friday 6pm AEST)
This match doesn’t carry much weight with both sides eliminated from the finals series. However, the Rabbitohs are favourites heading into this one with home field advantage and on the back of their past two performances. The Rabbitohs are currently on a two game winning streak after they defeated the Dragons in a come from behind victory while they made easy work of the Bulldogs last week. We are predicting their forward pack to prove its superiority in this one as they lay the platform for the victory.
Meanwhile the Warriors have given up on the season and are currently on a five game losing streak. The team is looking forward to the summer break and their effort levels in matches continue to drop. Their latest embarrasing loss came at the hands of the Raiders on home soil and we don’t believe the will produce a better effort on the road.
TIP: Rabbitohs at the line (-8.5) – $1.90 at William Hill
Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons (Friday 7.50pm AEST)
The Broncos lost Andrew McCullough a fortnight ago and a lot of experts drew a line through their premiership aspirations. However, since they lost their hooker and Ben Hunt stepped into the role, The Broncos have secured two strong victories. The first, a 54-0 drubbing of the Titans before their latest comfortable victory against the defending premiers. Ben Hunt’s offensive ability has overshadowed the dangers he has defensively around the ruck. We are predicting them to continue to climb the ladder as they look to secure a top-four finish.
The Dragons returned to winning ways last week against the Titans. They rode the victory on the back of their first half performance. Despite the big win, the Dragons struggle offensively and it will be hard for them to create enough quality opportunities to breakdown the Broncos defence, which is one of the best in the competition. We are predicting them to put up a fight for the opening 20-minutes but eventually the Broncos will get the upperhand and cruise to a comfortable victory on their home soil.
TIP: Broncos at the margin (13+) – $2.20 at William Hill
Newcastle Knights vs Melbourne Storm (Saturday 3pm AEST)
Can somebody say four-in-a-row? Unfortunately, we can’t. The Newcastle Knights have produced their best winning streak since 2013 and shocked a lot of punters on Friday night when they produced their best performance in years to upset the Eels 29-10. It was a dominant win from the red and blue who lead from the outset. The Knights effort hasn’t been questioned this season but over the past month of football – since the lambshank incident – Brock Lamb has been terrific as five-eighth. The youngster is putting his hand up to be claimed rookie of the year and he has been the main reason for the Knights recent success.
However, all of that won’t be enough for them to get over the line in a victory against the Storm. Melbourne are the premiership favourites and are leading the competition by six points in what has been a dominant season by them. The side is proving nearly impossible to beat and they produced magic when it mattered most to hold off the Sydney Roosters. We are predicting them to earn a more comfortable victory in this one but the Knights won’t lack the effort and motivation to make it a contest.
TIP: Storm at the margin (1-12) – $3.40 at Sportsbet
Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers (Saturday 5.35pm AEST)
The Tigers pulled a rabbit out of the hat last week to produce a last minute victory over the Sea eagles and erase a 20-6 half-time deficit. Do we think it can happen again? Not a chance. To make matters worse for the Tigers, they will be facing the Roosters who are coming off three losses in a row and they will be desperate to snap the losing streak and cement their spot in the top four on the table.
James Tedesco produced an impressive performance against the Sea Eagles and he will be keen to produce a similar effort against his future side. However, the Roosters have a formidable forward pack and class all across their backline and they will prove to be too strong for the Tigers.
TIP: Roosters at the line (-12.5) – $1.91 at CrownBet
North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks (Saturday 7.30pm AEST)
The Cowboys and Sharks will face off in an important match for both teams. The two are on two match losing streaks and another loss could see the Cowboys drop out of the top eight while for the Sharks they would drop out of the top four.
The Cowboys were always going to struggle after they lost their captain and superstar playmaker Johnathan Thurston for the season. To begin with the side was able to string three wins together but ultimately they were going to be found out in the long run. To add to that, they have numerous other injuries which mounts up to 12 players missing from their starting line up. If they are to produce the win in Saturday night’s match, it will be next to a miracle.
Meanwhile the Sharks have lacked effort in their losses against the Raiders and Broncos. In both matches they have made silly errors at crucial times and they haven’t been able to dig deep and hold out their opponent defensively. It will be an area they need to improve on and we are predicting them to be much better this Saturday and we are backing the defending premiers to return to winning ways.
TIP: Sharks at the margin (13+) – $3.25 at Sportsbet
Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers (Sunday 2pm AEST)
The Canberra Raiders have been playing their last two games as if their season depended on it – and it does. The side has produced two big victories as they begin to hit their full potential. The side still has a mathematical chance of making the eight but they will need to win their final three games to do so. The Green Machine’s right edge of Joseph Leiluia and Jordan Rapana has proved deadly over the last two weeks and the Panthers’ left edge defence will have its hands full attempting to handle the two players.
Meanwhile the Panthers are arguably the form team of the competition. The side has won nine of its past 11 games and is in a position to push into the top four. We are predicting this match to be a tight one, similar to their meeting earlier in the season. But in this match we believe the Raiders will get home.
TIP: Raiders at the margin (1-12) – $3.00 at William Hill
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles (Sunday 4pm AEST)
What happened to the Sea Eagles at half-time? The side was cruising at 20-6 against the Tigers but they came out in the second half and imploded, losing the match 30-26. The side has lost three of its last four games and is holding onto a top four spot by the skin of its teeth. However, we are predicting them to return to winning ways as they face the woeful Bulldogs on the road.
The Bulldogs have been the worst attacking team in the competition this season and the move by coach Des Hasler of Chase Stanley into halfback hasn’t worked. He is barely a playmaker and he hasn’t helped them create anymore chances than usual. The forward get in the way of the attacking opportunities and we can’t see them earning a win in this one. Josh Reynolds is also out with a calf injury which adds to the Bulldogs’ attacking issues.
TIP: Sea Eagles at the line (-10.5) – $1.90 at CrownBet
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