Will the Storm make it 19 straight against the Rabbitohs at home?
Can the Dolphins continue their surge?
BetDeluxe takes a look at four blockbuster match-ups and provides best bets for each game.
Storm vs. Rabbitohs
25th April 7:50PM
Opportunities to take top spot on the ladder don’t get much better than this, with Melbourne Storm hosting the 16th-ranked Rabbitohs at Aami Park.
The Storm, who are $1.18 short-priced favourites with BetDeluxe – have lost just one game from their first six and are yet to drop one at home. They took their winning form on the road last Thursday with a six-point victory over the Roosters. Xavier Coates continued his scoring domination against their northern rivals with a game-winning try in the 73rd minute. Things only get better for Craig Bellamy as Christian Welch returns to the side via the bench.
With one win from six games to start the 2024 season, the pressure continues to mount on the Rabbitohs and coach Jason Demetriou. There are some positives for the Bunnies this week as they welcome the return of Damien Cook and Jai Arrow, but it won’t be enough to overturn an 18-game winless record against the Storm in Melbourne.
TIP: Same Game Multi
- Leg 1: Storm to win
- Leg 2: Under 43.5 points
- Leg 3: X. Coates score anytime
- Leg 4: R. Papenhuyzen score anytime
- Total: $9
Sea Eagles vs. Eels
26th April 8:00pm
A top-four berth is on the cards for the ever-impressive Manly Sea Eagles this weekend as they prepare to take on the Eels at 4 Pines Park on Friday night.
It’s been a tough but successful fortnight on the road for Anthony Seibold and his chargers, having drawn with the Warriors (22-22) in Auckland before punching out a hard-fought four-point victory over the Titans (34-30). However, back at their home base, where they’ve scored 107 points in their past three games, it’s easy to see why they’ve been crunched into $1.34.
The Eels, who won the Round 3 clash between these two sides in controversial circumstances, will need to regroup after being slaughtered by the Dolphins to the tune of 28 points last week. Star winger Maika Sivo will finally return to the starting line-up, while Ethan Sanders will make his NRL debut at five-eighth.
Despite their poor recent record against the Eels, it’s hard to see the Sea Eagles giving up this one and the chance to jump into the four.
TIP: Sea Eagles 13+ @ $2.20
Dolphins vs. Knights
28th April 2:00pm
Can the Dolphins continue their run towards a maiden finals campaign?
While it’s still far too early in the season to seriously talk finals, Wayne Bennett will be quietly confident with his squad after winning four of their six games and sitting in third spot on the ladder. They were simply unstoppable in their 16-44 win against the Eels in Darwin, scoring eight tries to one in a blistering second half. Despite being down on personnel due to a growing injury list, Jack Bostock stood tall with a game-high treble.
On the other hand, Sunday was a dark day for the Knights. Not only did they lose emphatically to the Bulldogs (36-12), but superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga also went down with a foot injury that will keep him sidelined for months. David Armstrong will debut in place of Ponga, while Dane Gagai will take the captaincy as he returns from a calf injury.
With a 2-5 record and the loss of their best player, the Knights will need to show something special to be competitive in this one.
TIP: Dolphins to win @ $1.39
Raiders vs. Sharks
28th April 4:05pm
With the Storm and Dolphins breathing down their ladder-leading necks, the Sharks will look to solidify top spot when they travel to Canberra on Sunday afternoon.
The $1.40 favourites decimated the Cowboys by 36 points last weekend as both Braydon Trindall and Ronaldo Mulitalo crossed for doubles. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the Sharks are only going to strengthen their line-up this weekend via the return of gun winger, Sione Katoa.
It was quite the opposite result for the Raiders in their Round 7 clash against the Broncos, going down by 24 points and losing Jamal Fogarty to a bicep injury. Kaeo Weekes will now get the chance to partner fellow youngster Ethan Strange in the halves.
While the Raiders have defeated the Sharks in their past four games in Canberra, that run could certainly end on Sunday.
TIP: W. Kennedy anytime scorer at $2.38
