NRL Tips and Previews, April 6-7
Melbourne Storm vs. Sydney Roosters
April 6th
Thursday nights before the Easter break don’t get much better than a blockbuster clash between the sixth-placed Melbourne Storm and the third-placed Sydney Roosters.
Both sides enter this match off the back of impressive Round Five wins, with the Storm defeating the Rabbitohs 10-18 and the Roosters holding off the Eels 28-20.
The Roosters dominated the Eels in the opening half, scoring three unanswered tries and building an insurmountable 16-2 lead. Luke Keary top-scored with a double, while Daniel Tupou couldn’t be stopped as he ran for 236m. They lose skipper James Tedesco to concussion as the returning Joey Manu replaces him.
The Storm pulled off an impressive upset win over the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium, with Josh King, Will Warbrick and Cam Munster each hitting the scoreboard. Chief playmaker, Jahrome Hughes, returns from suspension in a massive boost for the home side. This and the Melbourne fans should be enough to edge past the Roosters.
Suggested Bet:
Storm to win 1-12 at $2.95
Canterbury Bulldogs vs. South Sydney
April 7th
In the first of two Good Friday matches, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will enter their clash against South Sydney Rabbitohs as $3.30 outsiders.
This is despite the Bulldogs pulling off a gutsy one-point win over the Cowboys last weekend thanks to two Jacob Preston tries and a game-high 239m from Jacob Kiraz. The fallout of the match was not in the Bulldogs’ favour, with Raymond Faitala-Mariner (head knock), Franklin Pele (broken arm) and Jayden Okunbor (suspension) all out.
The Bunnies will be licking their wounds in 13th spot on the ladder after falling to the Storm by eight points at home. It’s the Rabbitohs’ third loss from five games as they struggle to find the try line, ranking 16th and above just Wests for points scored. Star winger, Alex Johnston, will miss the game with a head knock.
Suggested Bet:
J. Addo-Carr anytime try scorer at $2
North Queensland vs. Dolphins
April 7th
Has the Dolphins’ bubble finally burst? Can the Cowboys get their season back on track?
Wayne Bennett’s men suffered their second and biggest loss of the season to the Dragons, going down 38-12 on the back of seven tries to two. After scoring the first of the game via Jamayne Isaako, the Dolphins could do little but watch as the Dragons piled on six tries in a row. Thankfully for the Dolphins, Kodi Nikorima and Edrick Lee are back in the side for this match, but they lose Anthony Milford for three-four.
The Cowboys, in 14th on the ladder with just two wins on the season, fell one-point short of the Bulldogs. They will be buoyed, however, by their $1.30 market favouritism in this one. Scott Drinkwater returns from a lengthy suspension, but they’ve lost forwards Heilum Luki and Jordan McLean to hamstring injuries.
The Cowboys last played at home in Round Four, defeating the Titans 24-12. With the number of outs to the Phins, we’re going with the home side.
