It’s difficult to bet against Canberra right now given what their attack is producing each week. Continuity has been to the benefit of the Raiders to begin the year and while it’s only a minor change here, Savelio Tamale leaves a sizable hole on that left wing. He and Seb Kris have been consistent contributors to Canberra’s yardage game and IT attack while making some smart decisions off the ball too.
It presents Sunia Turuva and the Tigers with an opportunity down that edge if they can get it right.
Origin has ravaged both team lists here but it’s the Warriors at home with a significant advantage on paper. Their high-percentage, patient brand of football profiles well against an inexperienced Panthers side that has struggled to remain disciplined and composed under pressure.
Given how Luke Metcalf and Wayde Egan are controlling the ball for the Wahs right now, this only reads as a big win at home.
Fresh off a statement win in NRL Round 15, I’m happy to be with the Dolphins evolving attack again here.
I’m a broken record at this point, but what Isaiya Katoa is doing on the ball right now is unlike anything we’ve ever seen from a rookie half. His ability to change tempo and engage defenders is consistently putting the Dolphins strike weapons into positive involvements out wide.
Newcastle welcome back some big names on the edges but it’s their middle that could struggle to contain Katoa and the Dolphins here.
Without knowing who does or doesn’t backup from Origin II, this game is a nightmare to tip.
Souths are staring down the barrel of four straight losses but their form hasn’t been nearly as poor as it reads on paper. Battling through contests without an established spine or connected backline each week, the Rabbitohs continue to find ways to stay in the fight.
A returning Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and/or Campbell Graham could provide the icing missing from the Rabbitohs attack right now.
Cronulla scraped home for a much-needed win last week but confidence cannot be high in the Shire right now. Their once prolific attack has come to a shuddering halt as Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall and Will Kennedy struggle to create the cues they need to fire a shot with the ball.
Brisbane’s erratic defensive movement may provide them with enough of those cues here though. ‘Madge’ is still searching for a winning formula in the pack and it’s putting pressure on their backline to produce points each week.
Sharks in a scrap.
How do the Cowboys respond here after collapsing against Redcliffe last week? Their attack has kept them in the Top Eight to start the year but there was plenty of evidence through the middle that a heavy loss like that was coming.
Given what James Tedesco is prone to do around the ruck, I like Easts to target the same weaknesses that the Dolphins exposed last week. If he or Sandon Smith can get on the ball and over the ad line often enough here, the cracks will begin to show through North Queensland’s middle.
It’s no surprise the Titans look much improved with Kieran Foran back in the halves. His experience and control is exactly what the Gold Coast need to curb the enthusiasm of AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell in attack.
With both Eels halves missing here and the Gold Coast desperate to climb off the bottom of the NRL ladder, this only reads as a Titans win. Jason Ryles has installed plenty of resilience into this Parramatta outfit but this is a daunting task for a very inexperienced spine.