Check out the rest of the NRL action this weekend as we preview and lob in the best bets from every other game following our Game of the Round.
It all begins with the premiership favourite Penrith taking on Manly on Thursday followed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs taking us into the weekend.
Manly vs. Penrith
April 1st 8:05pm
Opposite ends of the NRL Premiership ladder face off when premiership favourite Penrith play the battling Many Sea Eagles on Thursday night.
The Panthers got their revenge over the Melbourne Storm last week after a nailing a try at the death to win 12-10 without co-captain Nathan Cleary.
Clearly has been given the green light to return this week against the Sea Eagles who are yet to record a win in 2021.
The Sea Eagles capitulated to 26-point defeat against St. George last week and faces an even harder task against a Panthers squad who look determined to go one better than 2020.
The Panthers will win this one but have failed to cover the line in four of its last five games played under lights and a return to Lottoland for the Sea Eagles might just keep this one at a respectable margin.
Suggested Bets: Manly Sea Eagles to cover the +18.5 line at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Manly Sea Eagles to cover the +18.5 line
Leg 2: Total points scored over 41.5
Combined odds = $4.6
canterbury vs. South Sydney
April 2nd 4:05pm
The South Sydney Rabbitohs make the trek to Stadium Australia to play the the winless Canterbury Bulldogs on Good Friday.
It was a chapter to behold for the Rabbitohs in ‘The Book of Feuds’ after defeating cross-town rival Sydney 26-16 with Hollywood stars Russell Crowe and Chris Hemsworth bathing themselves in glory during post-match celebrations.
Complacency might the factor the Bulldogs rely upon to steal an unlikely win in this game, but it is hard to see that occurring here.
The Bulldogs were scoreless for the second week in a row during their horrendous 24-0 loss against last year’s wooden spooner Brisbane.
Expecting this be a very lopsided game in favour of a Rabbitohs team who are a genuine premiership threat this season.
Suggested Bets: South Sydney Rabbitohs to cover the -21.5 line at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: South Sydney Rabbitohs to cover the -21.5 line
Leg 2: L. Mitchell anytime try scorer
Leg 3: Total points scored under 44.5
Combined odds = $6.75
Melbourne vs. Brisbane
April 2nd 8:05pm
The Melbourne Storm look set to get back onto the winners list this Friday when it faces the Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park.
Even though the Storm sit 13th on the table with only one win to its name, it has played in some fiercely competitive matches after its season opening win against South Sydney.
A torrential downpour in NSW saw the Storm go down to a dogged Parramatta Eels and then an agonising 12-10 loss was handed to them by Penrith last week.
While the Broncos represent the easiest of its first four matches on paper, the Storm must be wary of a Broncos team who notched up its first win of 2021 after smashing the Bulldogs last week.
The Purple Haze will welcome back Ryan Papenhuyzen and that in itself will make the monumental task for Kevin Walters’ men ever greater than first thought.
Suggested Bets: Melbourne Storm to cover the -19.5 point spread at $1.79
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Melbourne Storm -19.5
Leg 2: R. Papenhuyzen anytime try scorer
Leg 3: J. Addo-Carr anytime try scorer
Leg 4: Total points scored over 42.5
Combined odds = $4.33
Cronulla vs. North Queensland
April 3rd 5:30pm
The North Queensland Cowboys pack their bags and head to Netsrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday to face an injury ravaged Cronulla Sharks.
The Cowboys are yet to win a game this season but the get the perfect opportunity to pounce on a Sharks team who will be without Briton Nikora and Sione Katoa.
The Sharks also face a nervous wait on the fitness of Will Kennedy and Wade Graham who suffered heavy head knocks in the 28-4 loss against Parramatta last week.
It has been five wins in a row for Cronulla against the Cowboys but if Kennedy and Graham are omitted then the Cowboys could cause an upset here.
Suggested Bets: North Queensland Cowboys head to head at $3.24
Gold Coast vs. Canberra
April 3rd 7:35pm
The Gold Coast Titans and Canberra lock horns at CBUS Super Stadium after the game was moved from the Gold Coast to Sydney due to a COVID outbreak.
Nevertheless, the Titans have made their round one hiccup against the Warriors a thing of the past and will be looking to consolidate their status as the superior league team in Queensland.
The Raiders are aiming to put a heartbreaking 31-34 loss against New Zealand in the rear-view mirror as well but the Titans will make them earn this victory if they do so.
Tussles between these two clubs are historically tight. From the 25 played, the Raiders have 13 wins to the Titans’ 12.
Titans can definitely get the money in this one.
Suggested Bets: Gold Coast Titans head to head at $2.4
Newcastle vs. St. George
April 4th 4:05pm
After showing good form over the first two rounds, the Newcastle Knights hit a road block in losing to Wests Tigers at home in round three.
They stay at home for round four and welcome a St. George squad brimming with confidence after back-to-back victories.
The absence of Jack Bird through suspension will hurt St George Illawarra, but if their forwards can match it with an imposing Knights pack the match is there to be won.
Newcastle have belted the Dragons in the last two fixtures between the clubs but 2021 provides a different outlook for both teams.
While the Knights are fancied to bounce back, the Dragons can easily cover the line in this game.
Suggested Bet: St. George Illawarra to cover the +7.5 line at $1.92
WEsts vs. Parramatta
April 5th 4:00pm
Wests Tigers gave themselves a timely confidence boosting win over the Newcastle Knights ahead of the local derby against their undefeated arch-rivals the Parramatta Eels on Easter Monday.
Newcastle had the form and sentiment on their side, but fine display form the under-pressure Tigers spoiled halfback Mitchell Pearce’s 300th game milestone with a ‘backs against the wall’ 24-20 win.
Parramatta have arguably been the inform side of the NRL this season with only points differential separating it from the first-placed premiership favourite Penrith.
The Eels have accounted for all their challengers this season and looked poised to do so in this game.
Parramatta are opportunists and always hungry to keep the ball alive and moving as the number one ranked offload team in 2021 thus far.
This shapes as an Eels win as they look to surge towards a big year for the club in the finals.
Suggested Bet: Parramatta Eels to cover the -9.5 line at $1.83
