NRL Round 9, May 3
Brisbane Broncos vs. Sydney Roosters
May 3rd
It’s set to be an all-out war at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night as the two most attacking sides in the NRL lock horns.
After losing three of their first five games, the Brisbane Broncos are well and truly back on track for a finals campaign after notching their third-consecutive win via a 24-point demolition of the Tigers. Things are only looking up for Kevin Walters’s side, with Ezra Mam (finger) and Selwyn Cobbo (shoulder) both returning from injury.
The Roosters, who are $2.96 outsiders, delivered a flawless offensive display in their 18-60 victory over the Dragons. Joey Manu and Nat Butcher punched home two tries apiece, while Sam Walker went 10/10 conversion attempts.
The Roosters have won four of their past five games against the Broncos, making their current quote appear overs. While they shouldn’t be expected to win, it’s safe to say it could be a lot closer than the market suggests.
Suggested Bet:
Broncos 1-12 at $2.75
GC Titans vs. Melbourne Storm
May 4th
Can the Titans turn their winning form into the round’s biggest upset?
After going six matches without tasting success, the Titans finally got off the mark last weekend with a hard-fought three-point victory over the Warriors. They gave up the first two tries in the opening six minutes but bounced back with the next five. While they moved off the bottom of the ladder, Des Hasler still dropped Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Aaron Schoupp for Phillip Sami and Harley Smith-Shields.
As for the Storm, they’re simply winning machines right now. They made it four on the trot on Anzac Day, defeating the Rabbitohs by 34 points. Xavier Coates (hamstring) has been ruled out, and Tyran Wishart will take his place on the wing.
With nine wins from their past 10 against the Titans, this should be another comfortable result for the Storm.
Suggested Bet:
Storm (-13.5) at $1.94
North Queensland vs. Dolphins
May 4th
Another game where the market appears slightly skewed, the Cowboys ($1.37) will start short-priced favourites when they host the Dolphins on Saturday night.
While the Cowboys should retain favouritism on home soil, the $3.05 about the Dolphins could be considered overs given recent results. Yes, they lost to the Knights at Suncorp last weekend, but Wayne Bennett will receive a huge boost thanks to the return of Felise Kaufusi and Connelly Lemuelu. Jesse Bromwich is also expected to suit up after injuring his calf last week.
The Cowboys, who sit three spots below the Dolphins in ninth, were unable to hold off the Panthers in Round 8 and went down 20-26 in Townsville. Two-straight losses at home seems unlikely, especially given they’ve scored 77 points in their past two games against the Dolphins.
While we like the Cowboys to get the job done, the disparity in the head-to-head prices is too much.
Suggested Bet:
J. Bostock anytime scorer at $1.96
Newcastle Knights vs. NZ Warriors
May 5th
Arguably the match of the round, the Knights and Warriors will both be looking to put pressure on the top eight when the two sides meet in Newcastle on Sunday.
Currently $2.22 with Bet Nation, the Knights returned to form with a four-point victory over the Dolphins. Most impressively, they did it without star fullback Kalyn Ponga (Lisfranc) and will need to do so for the next three months. His replacement David Armstrong was a standout for the 13th-placed Knights, scoring the first try of the match and providing a much-needed spark for Aiden O’Brien’s men.
The Warriors will be looking to bounce back after lowering their colours against the embattled Titans and going down 24-27 in Auckland. Kurt Capewell and Bunty Afoa will return for the Warriors as they try to snap a three-game losing streak, but given they’ve not won in Newcastle since 2019, they might be waiting another week.
