Newcastle Knights v Brisbane Broncos
Thursday 5/8/21
Newcastle is back in finals contention following a win over Canberra and have a dream run home, which continues here against the Broncos. Mitchell Pearce returns for the Knights while the Broncos will be battling the loss of the energetic Kotoni Staggs. The Knights have also won three of the last four against the Broncos and look to have the edge again here. I just fail to see the Staggs-less Broncos having the spark to counter the Knights.
Suggested bet – 1.5u Knights -11.5 at $1.80
Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons
Friday 6/8/21
Two sides clinging onto a finals berth, with the Dragons taking on the Raiders without skipper Ben Hunt. Both sides come off momentum-sapping last round losses and will be looking to bounce back and continue their run to the finals. The Dragons were undermanned last week losing to Souths (50-14) but they get some reinforcements here despite losing Hunt. However, Canberra has the wood over the Dragons in the past 20 years – from 27 encounters they’ve lost just six times. They’ve also won their last five matches at Cbus Stadium.
Suggested bet – 3.5u Canberra win at $1.29 and 2u Canberra -11.5 at $1.90
Parramatta Eels v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Friday 6/8/21
Cracking contest looms here as the Eels look to regain form against a Rabbitohs side looking for its ninth straight win. The Eels have lost their past two, and three of their last four, and are now in a battle for a top four spot. While the Eels get Mitch Moses back, the Rabbitohs are bolstered by Cam Murray and Benji Marshall returning. The Rabbitohs have scored 38 points in each of their three consecutive wins over the Eels and they look likely to extend that win streak in this fixture to four.
Suggested bet – 1.5u Rabbitohs -9.5 at $1.90 and 2.5u Rabbitohs win at $1.36
New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla Sharks
Saturday 7/8/21
The Sharks are clinging onto eighth place and come up against a Warriors outfit which comes off a defy-all-odds win last round to beat the Tigers. The undermanned Warriors snapped a seven-game losing streak in that win, while the Sharks are coming off a 40-22 loss to Manly. The Warriors are probably over the odds, but despite their shock last-start win, I’ve sworn off them as betting propositions in 2021. Happy to let this game pass.
No suggested bet
Sydney Roosters v Penrith Panthers
Saturday 7/8/21
Very interesting clash and a real test of where these two sides are at ahead of finals. The Roosters are on a four-game win streak as they continue defying their lengthy injury list. The Panthers get Apisai Koroisau and Isaah Yeo back, while arguably the game’s most important player, Nathan Cleary is circling for a return. While I’m tempted to back the Roosters at the price, the query around Cleary and also the fact these two sides met only a few weeks ago and it was the Panthers victorious (convincingly) has me wary.
No suggested bet
Manly Sea Eagles v Melbourne Storm
Saturday 6/8/21
The high-flying Storm haven’t tasted defeat since way back in round three and have won their past three games against the Sea Eagles. While this Manly side appears capable of almost anything when Tom Trbojevic is fit and firing, they come off the five-day break here and will have to be at their devastating best to test the Storm. Manly has only lost three games since round five, but the Storm have dominated this fixture the last three times these sides have met. I think the Storm will prove too good here with their depth coming to the fore.
Suggested bet – 1u Storm -12 at $1.85
Canterbury Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Sunday 7/8/21
A lacklustre clash on paper with neither in the finals mix, however this should be a competitive little tussle between two bottom eight sides. Recent encounters between the two have been very close, with the Bulldogs having the wood over the Tigers (especially if you overlook the 34-6 Tigers win two clashes ago). The Tigers come into this match with pride to restore after letting a 10-point lead slip away in a two-point loss against the depleted Warriors. While the Bulldogs have lost six in a row despite being competitive in various stages of the latter half of the season. If the best of the Tigers show up here, they should be winning.
Suggested bet – 1.5u Tiger win at $1.48
Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys
Sunday 7/8/21
The Titans cruised past the Bulldogs in Round 20 and have somehow jumped into the eight. They can almost cement a finals berth with a win here over the Cowboys. Val Holmes is an important inclusion for the Cowboys as they look to avoid eight straight losses. The Titans have made a mess of the Cowboys the past two times they’ve met and should be winning, but this has danger game written all over it, so I’ll stay out.
No suggested bet