Spring is in the air and the NRL Finals are on the horizon. The Roosters are preparing themselves for another shot at the title. Sitting in second position on the competition ladder, they are performing well. The Raiders travel up to face them full of confidence following their upset victory last week. Both teams will fancy themselves a chance of winning this game and the stage is set for an exciting NRL contest.
Below, we will dissect the matchup, supply our Best Bet, and suggest a Same Game Multi. Be sure to keep up to date with all the NRL fixtures, as we preview every single game all season long, for free!
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
NRL Round 26 Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders
Allianz Stadium, Sunday 1st September – 4:05pm (AEST)
The Roosters barely got out of second gear last week against the Titans, traveling to the Gold Coast and easily accounting for their opponents 48-22. The nine-try performance saw some impressive individual and team plays; they are a team which is growing in confidence, and it was evident in their play. With 51% possession, they completed at 84%, averaged 9.8m per carry, had more PCM’s and made 10 line breaks. They will want to improve upon their 44 missed tackles, but they didn’t allow it to become a factor in that match. The Raiders were at their best last week at home, lifting to another level rarely seen this year and getting some luck to fall their way. The 22-18 upset victory over the Panthers surprised many, but the grinding nature of their play saw them rewarded for pressuring their opponents in the middle. Despite a couple of lucky tries, their defence remained strong and limited the usual Panthers fightback that has become synonymous with their play. This saw them complete at 85% with just 47% possession, average 9.6m per carry but only make 2 line breaks. Their defence was better missing just 32 tackles; there is a sense that had their opponents been at full-strength, the result might have had a different outcome. Regardless, they will take the victory with the increase in confidence serving them well ahead of this match.
The Roosters are overwhelming favourites ($1.16 vs $5.20) for this match and rightly so given the form of each side. While the victory last week of the Raiders places them in a positive position ahead of this match, the Roosters will offer another lift in intensity. A lack of consistency has plagued the visitors all season and it would be surprising to see them produce back-to-back performances of a similar nature. The Raiders also face a challenge to overcome a horror record here; they have won just 17% (4/24) of matches played at this venue, one where the Roosters excel (64%). The season averages also favour the home side. The Roosters dominate in attack (31ppg vs 19ppg), with the ease of their movement to the edges is established first through the middle. They are superior in defence also, only allowing 19ppg compared to the Raiders 25ppg; turning this game into a defensive slog-fest might be the Raiders only hope. With dry conditions expected, that outcome appears unlikely. Therefore, this becomes a decision of ‘how much’ the Roosters win this match by. The line (16.5) has been carefully set. The previous mentioned season averages indicate that the Roosters should cover this. If you need further convincing, they have won 3 of the past 5 matches against the Raiders by 26.7 points; the average over the 5 matches is 17.6 points. Once they find their feet in this game, the home side should cruise to victory.
Roosters -16.5
$1.90 (2 units)
Same Game Multi
Total Points Over 52.5 - The average points total of the Roosters past 3 victories is 58.7 points. When they win, they usually do so by scoring plenty of points and allowing a few ‘garbage time’ tries late.
Young and Tedesco to score - Young is the leading try scorer for the Roosters this year with 19 and is an attacking threat both in the air and on the ground. Tedesco is third on that list with 12, with his support game in recent weeks providing several opportunities for him to add to his tally.
SGM Odds: $4.10 at Ladbrokes
