Oscar Pannifex breaks down every game of Round 8 and provides his best betting plays of the weekend.
Wests improvements this year have been genuine but they were dealt a reality check last week.
Brisbane’s effort areas and goal-line defence were superb to repeatedly turn away a Tigers attack that spent a lot of time inside-twenty without cashing in. Wests are still adjusting with Jarome Luai back in the halves and what that means for Adam Doueihi playing on the ball and we need to see them strike a better balance here.
Assuming they can, I like Wests to bounce back at home against a Canberra pack missing both Hudson Young and Josh Papali’i this week.
Tips
Best: Wests Tigers Win @ $1.48
Anytime Try Scorer: Taylan May @ $2.30
Same Game Multi: Wests Tigers Win + Taylan May Anytime Try @ $2.92
The best version of this Cronulla attack generates momentum around the ruck to create cues in the line for Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall to respond to. Given how North Queensland’s middle continues to fold under fatigue, the Sharks profile well to post a few points in this one.
They disappointed to let Easts back into the game last outing but fresh off the bye and with a winnable game here, I like Cronulla to pull away late in both halves.
Tips
Best: Sharks Win @ $1.87
Anytime Try Scorers: Nicho Hynes @ $4.25 & Siosifa Talakai @ $2.65
Same Game Multi: Sharks Win + Nicho Hynes Anytime Try + Siosifa Talakai Anytime Try @ $13.82
Ambushed by a horribly depleted Eels side last week, the Bulldogs get another injury-hit opponent – and a chance to answer back – in NRL Round 8.
Brisbane were specials for an upset against Wests but it’s a tall task for Michael Maguire’s men to get up in back-to-back games. With another few key players missing through the middle again here, the Broncos present a winnable game for a Bulldogs side searching for consistency this season.
Canterbury need this one more than Brisbane right now.
Tips
Best: Bulldogs Win @ $1.60
Anytime Try Scorers: Bronson Xerri @ $2.75 & Villiame Kikau @ $4.00
Same Game Multi: Bulldogs Win + Bronson Xerri Anytime Try + Villiame Kikau Anytime Try @ $12.83
Easts started slow last week but their ability to post points in a flurry is up there with the best in the NRL right now. With genuine ballplayers in all channels across the field, the Roosters attack is still figuring things out and should enjoy more than a few looks in this one.
Even assuming a response from the embattled Dragons here, this is Easts to win – comfortably.
Tips
Best: Roosters 13+ @ $1.57
Anytime Try Scorers: Robert Toia @ $2.20 & Daniel Tupou @ $1.52
Same Game Multi: Roosters 13+ + Robert Toia Anytime Try + Daniel Tupou Anytime Try @ $4.20
The Dolphins got up for Penrith last week and despite not getting the result, it was an important step in the right direction for Kristian Woolf’s men. We know Redcliffe have points down their left edge but we need to see their middle control the ruck better before they can be considered genuine finals contenders.
New Zealand have the blueprint for winning the ruck before hitting the edges, and a lot of that comes through the work of Wayde Egan at dummy-half. If he can fold Redcliffe’s line in good-ball, the Warriors halves will have time to ballplay on the tramlines.
Tips
Best: Warriors Win @ $1.45
Anytime Try Scorers: Leka Halasima @ $2.02 & Erin Clark @ $6.80
Same Game Multi: Warriors Win + Leka Halasima Anytime Try + Erin Clark Anytime Try @ $14.93
South Sydney’s record at AAMI Park will be well documented leading into Saturday night but if there was ever a week to be with the Bunnies, this is it.
Whether it’s a grind or a shoot-out, I like the value in Souths to get the job done considering how Melbourne’s edges are breaking down under pressure. They’re struggling to control the ruck as they’ve done so well for the past 20 years and it’s leaving an unfamiliar and inexperienced backline exposed and isolated into poor decisions.
South Sydney just have too many points in them right now.
Tips
Best: Rabbitohs Win @ $2.35,
Anytime Try Scorers: Matt Dufty @ $2.35 & Campbell Graham @ $2.20
Same Game Multi: Rabbitohs Win + Matt Dufty Anytime Try + Campbell Graham Anytime Try @ $7.47
As uncharacteristic as it was for Penrith to let Redcliffe back into the game last week, we also saw some ominously familiar signs from the Panthers in NRL Round 7.
Their ability to absorb pressure with their defence for long periods is unmatched, as is their ability to execute in pressure moments themselves.
Both of Thomas Jenkin’s tries – not to mention the match-winning field goal – came in the clutch last week, and only after the Panthers were able to defend their line and repel a searching Dolphins attack.
Newcastle have impressed in all the little areas so far this year but I’m not sure their attack can disrupt or unsettle this Penrith defence.
Tips
Best: Penrith Panthers 13+ @ $1.90
Next: Brian To’o 2+ Tries @ $3.20
Same Game Multi: Penrith Panthers 13+ + Brian To’o 2+ Tries @ $5.92
One team coming off the upset of the year and another flying high with three-straight wins; this is going to be a great measuring stick for both clubs.
Manly appear to have found a winning formula by playing direct before hitting the edges. How they adapt without Tom Trbojevic remains to be seen, but in Tolu Koula the Sea Eagles have a handy – albeit very different – readymade replacement.
Parramatta punched above their weight last week but it’s their defence that was most improved. Now they’ve got to back it up.
Tips
Best: Sea Eagles Win @ $1.44
Anytime Try Scorer: Lehi Hopoate @ $1.57
Same Game Multi: Sea Eagles Win + Lehi Hopoate Anytime Try @ $2.05