NRL Best Bets, July 6
South Sydney vs. Canterbury Bulldogs
Head-To-Head
South Sydney kept their finals chances well and truly alive in Round 18, defeating the Warriors 6-28 in NZ and simultaneously snapping a two-game winless streak.
Does it mean they’re officially back? Not exactly. But the pressure is undoubtedly on them to perform as they sit in the 7th spot and try to stave off the Warriors, Cowboys, Sea Eagles and Dolphins below them.
While they will be missing star quartet Cameron Murray, Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Keaon Koloamatangi to Origin III, they should still have enough firepower to take down a Bulldogs side that was just embarrassed 66-0 by the Knights.
Suggested Bet:
Souths to win at $1.48
Wests Tigers vs. Cronulla Sharks
Handicap
Can the Sharks dish out another shellacking this weekend?
Craig Fitzgibbon’s chargers were irrepressible during their 52-16 victory against the Dragons, leaving them at $1.06 in the head-to-head market in this one.
While there’s little value head-to-head, we’re interested in taking them with a 22.5 handicap following Wests’ own struggles, whereby they lost to the Cowboys 74-0 in one of the all-time thumpings.
They’ve lost four in a row and given up 150 points in the process, leaving us with no choice but to expect more of the same against the third-placed Sharks.
Suggested Bet:
Cronulla (-22.5) at $1.93
Gold Coast vs. Dolphins
Totals
This one could go either way, but given the depth of quality coming out of the Titan’s forward pack, we’ve decided to go -49.5.
The Titans will enter the match as slight favourites in the market, but interim coach Jim Lenihan will need to find inventive ways to create scoring opportunities with frontline forwards David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika and skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui on Origin duty alongside gun fullback AJ Brimson.
Further, the Dolphins are missing Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from their line-up, giving us every reason to expect a hard-fought, close encounter on the Gold Coast.
Suggested Bet:
Under (-49.5) at $1.87
Maiko Sivo (Parramatta)
Anytime Scorer
No Moses, no Gutherson and no Campbell-Gillard? No problems for Maiko Sivo.
While the Origin trio will all miss this clash, Sivo, who is equal-first with 16 tries this season, has somehow slipped to $1.80.
Irrespective of how or why he got there, we’re happy to take the star winger to step up and get the job done in the absence of his teammates.
Suggested Bet:
M. Sivo anytime try scorer at $1.80
St George vs. Canberra Raiders
Same Game Multi
- Leg 1: Canberra to win
- Leg 2: Over 44.5
- Leg 3: J. Rapana anytime try scorer
- Leg 4: M. Ravalawa anytime try scorer
- Total: $6.75
