Sportsbet Blog

Round 16 of the 2011 NRL Season is fairly straight forward for footy tipping with only two tricky game against the Warriors V Storm and Dragons V Sea Eagles. This is the game of round 16 and my prediction is the Dragons will take the points in a close match.

Best Bet of Round 16

Take the Raiders to win at the -4 points line paying 1.90 at Sportsbet. With their attacking game style I see them able to cover the line easily.

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Wests Tigers V Bulldogs

Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney, Friday, 7:35pm

Tip: Bulldogs

Odds: Wests Tigers 2.50 Bulldogs 1.53

Although both clubs have had a disappointing season well below expected I predict a high pressure game. The winner will not only take the points but it will ease the tension that has started to creep into the media about both teams.

The inclusion of Jamal Idris, Trent Hodkinson and Michael Ennis into the Bulldogs team will see them much more organised and will get over the line.

South Sydney V Brisbane Broncos

Nib Stadium, Perth, Friday, 9:00pm

Tip: Broncos

Odds: South Sydney 2.66 Brisbane Broncos 1.48

Brisbane’s defense has been the key to their success this year and it will show on Friday night. They look a very solid unit and even with Greg Inglis coming in for the Rabbitohs it wont be enough to stop the Broncos getting the winning score.

The uncertainty of South Sydney with the new coach coming in and players not knowing what future they have with the club will continue to distract the club and hinder an easy recovery,

Gold Coast Titans V Cronulla

Skilled Park, Gold Coast, Saturday, 5:30pm

Tip: Gold Coast

Odds: Gold Coast 1.68 Cronulla 2.18

The Titans have pulled the pin on their 2011 season and will struggle to stop the attacking game style Cronulla have shown they have adopted this year. Fullback Nathan Gardner is the key man to the Sharks side and expect to impress again on Saturday night.

Canberra Raiders V Parramatta Eels

Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Saturday, 7:30pm

Tip: Raiders

Odds: Raiders 1.58 Eels 2.38

The Raiders will find it hard to get a winning score without Josh Dugan’s attacking presence although Jarryd Hayne is in super form at the moment. I think the rumor of Blake Ferguson wanting to go back to Cronulla will bring down the moral of the team that could affect them in this game. Expect a closer result than first thought.

New Zealand Warriors V Melbourne Storm

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, Sunday 12:00pm

Tip: Storm

Odds: Warriors 1.90 Storm 1.90

The form the Storm are in at the moment it would be very hard to tip against them. They have lost some key players this year but have continued to show they are still a force.

Although the game is played in NZ they aren’t playing as well as they were at the start of the season. I expect storm to have a big win.

Penrith Panthers V North Qld Cowboys

Centrebet Stadium, Sydney, Sunday, 2:00pm

Tip:Panthers

Odds: Penrith Panthers 1.48 V North Qld Cowboys 2.66

With the Cowboy’s Johnathan Thurston is yet to face the judiciary it is a touch hard to pick a clear winner in this game. I think if Thurston is out then it will come down to the way Penrith use the ball. If they rely on their kicking game I can’t see them getting a result, if they play with a spring in their step expect the match to go down to the wire. If Thurston plays tip the Cowboys in this one.

Newcastle Knights V Sydney Roosters

Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle, Sunday, 3pm

Tip: Knights

Odds: Knights 1.68 Roosters 2.18

The Knights will easily take the win on Sunday over a lack-luster Roosters side who were very disappointing against Melbourne 2 weeks ago. Newcastle has a finals position in their sights and will do everything to avoid another nail biting loss.

St George Illawarra Dragons V Manly Sea Eagles

WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Monday, 7pm

Tip: Dragons

Odds: Dragons 1.68 Eagles 2.18

This is the games of round 16 2 vs 3 on the ladder. The winner will likely look back at this game come finals time and try to reproduce the effort. With the Dragons struggling over the last few weeks I’m tipping Manly to step up and take the win as they have shown that even if they are behind well into a game they can dig themselves out of it for the result they are after.

Wayne Bennett has been backed from $3.00 to $2.50, at Sportingbet Australia, to be heading to Newcastle next season after the super coach announced he would be leaving the Dragons.

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan a return home to Brisbane remained the favoured option but punters believed Nathan Tinkler could lure Bennett to the Knights.
“All the money over the last week says Bennett is heading to Newcastle,” Sullivan said.
“There hasn’t been one single huge bet but there has been plenty of punters who think that is way he could be heading.
“There are still a few obstacles though as he would be no chance of heading to Newcastle if Tinkler, with all his resources, doesn’t take control of the Knights.”

Brisbane are currently the $1.50 favourites to secure Bennett’s services following Ivan Henjak’s sacking pre-season and replacement Anthony Griffin only getting a one year deal.
“There are a lot of pull factors to get Bennett back to Brisbane given his history with the club and the fact his family are still up there,” Sullivan said.
“Darren Lockyer is retiring would also provide Bennett with the perfect protégé to take over once he does retire and he then would be leaving the Broncos in good hands.”

Sportingbet are currently offering a $100 free bet for this market. Simply make your first deposit and Sportingbet will match up to $100. See the Sportingbet site here for more info on this promotion.

WHERE WILL WAYNE BENNETT COACH IN 2012?
Sportingbet Australia Market
Brisbane 1.50
Newcastle 2.50
Souths 7.00
Any Other Club/Not Coaching 11.00

What a round we seen last week for the first week of the NRL finals. We now move on to the second round of the finals and everyone is getting pumped.

Last week Manly and Newcastle were eliminated from the finals while the Bulldogs and Storm played some excellent rugby to earn themselves a week off and a place in week 3 of the NRL finals.

A loss this week will mean a trip home and a few months off while a win will see the better two sides head through to week 3 of the NRL finals to play either the Melbourne Storm or Bulldogs.

Eels V Titans

7:45pm Friday Sydney Football Stadium

I would be surprised if the Titans are able to win this week after throwing away a possible win last weekend, but then again it is the finals and anything could happen. They didn’t get this far by playing badly. The only injury that the Titans are currently suffering from is the damaged shoulder of Aaron Cannings. Also, William Zillman and Anthony Laffranchi will miss this week due to suspension.

On the other hand, after the Eels defeated the Dragons last week their morale will be high and they will want to be playing again next week. They are not currently suffering any injuries and will be able to approach this match with all but 3suspended players, Krisnan Inu, Nathan Hindmarsh and Weller Hauraki.

Tip: Parramatta Eels – Over 12.5 points – Odds of $2.08

Broncos V Dragons

7:45pm Saturday at Suncorp Stadium

The Broncos played an absolutely stunning first half last weekend and then nearly threw the game away near the end getting up by only 8 points. However, a win is a win, especially when you are playing in the NRL finals. I would like to see the Broncos get up on Saturday night and proceed through to week 3. Ben Te’o will miss yet another game with an injured calf and Justin Hodges will be watching from the sidelines as his suspension continues.

The Dragons could most certainly use the win after their dismal form of late, but I really can’t see it happening. After winning the minor premiership, they were totally dismissed last week in a rather ordinary manner as the Eels cruised to an easy 13 point victory. They are not currently suffering any injuries to their line-up, but are missing 3 players on suspension. Beau Scott, Matt Prior and Michael Weyman will all miss this week.

Tip: Brisbane Broncos – Under 12.5 points – $3.35

After a great season the NRL finals are finally here and we now have the opportunity to see some excellent rugby being played. Only the best have come this far and now a loss can result in a team’s season being over.

With all eight teams desperately wanting to take the NRL premiership, the first round of the NRL finals is bound to be a thriller. The 2009 NRL season was tough and many teams have been lucky to make it this far.

We will soon see who really has what it takes to win the 2009 NRL premiership.

Storm V Sea Eagles

7:45pm Friday Night at Etihad Stadium

This will probably be the best and closest match of the first round of the NRL finals. Both teams were ranked very closely together over the last few rounds of a home and away season and finished with only one point separating them on the ladder. There is no doubt that they earned their position in the NRL finals and now they need to show if they really deserve it.

Tip: Manley Sea Eagles – Under 12.5 points – Odds of $3.40

Titans V Broncos

6:30pm Saturday at Skilled Park Stadium

The Broncos were unlucky to miss out on a top 4 position and they fell only just short. The Titans finished third overall. It is my belief that the Titans do not have the resolve to keep up with the Broncos in this finals match. My money is on the Broncos to win by over 12 points

Tip: Brisbane Broncos – Over 12.5 points – $2.70

Bulldogs V Knights

8:30pm Saturday Night at ANZ Stadium

The Knights will have a huge challenge on their hands in the first round of NRL finals. The Bulldogs will be annoyed after missing out on the minor premiership and I believe that they will take their revenge here. I wouldn’t be surprised with a 20+ point victory for the Bulldogs.

Tip: Bulldogs – Over 12.5 points – $2.72

Dragons V Eels

4:00pm Sunday at WIN Jubilee Stadium

The Eels will be lucky to survive the first round of the NRL finals as they come up against St George Illawarra. However, there are big questions looming whether the Dragons really have what it takes to win the premiership. I can definitely see them making it that far and they should win here in the first round of the NRL finals.

Tip: Dragons – Over 12.5 points – $2.60

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