NRL Round 12 Penrith Panthers v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Preview

Sunday footy begins in Sydney's west as the Penrith Panthers host the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Penrith have under performed this season so far and after they beat the Dragons in golden point, they seemed to be getting their season back on track. Then they headed north to take on a weak Cowboys team and were unable to get the win, narrowly going down by 2 points. Nonetheless, they definitely did play like a more convicted team who was determined to perform in attack and defence. Michael Jennings avoids speculation over which team he would play for this week (Panther or their reserves, Windsor Wolves) as he is suspended for one game follow a brain snap in SOO. Manly also have their share of distress coming into this clash. Tony Williams, who was suspended for 7 weeks and then played SOO, is out for around another 5-7 weeks with what appears to be a back injury. It is devastating for the Eagles that this happened because even after an enforced lay off, he looked as damaging as ever on Wednesday night. But the competition rolls on and Manly will be looking to get through this one relatively easily but the Panther won't be giving up without a fight.

Penrith Panthers

Coach Ivan Cleary has stuck with the same team that narrowly lost to the Cowboys. The only change to the starting lineup is that SOO star and captain Luke Lewis, returns to the starting side at lock. His presence definitely will lift those around him as his play is inspirational at the least of times. The Panthers will have to hope that their forwards take control early and assert their dominance in this one. Hooker Kevin Kingston is playing very well at the moment and needs to work over the Manly forwards over close to the ruck. It is very hard to see Penrith getting the money in this game, but then again, stranger things have happened.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

The Eagles have named all of their SOO players to back up in this one but obviously Williams will have to be replaced in the side. There has not been a player named yet so standby for that one. I doubt it will have any great bearing on the result but it will be handy to know. Although he went off early last week, 5/8 Kieran Foran is named to play. It was said that he could have returned to the field last week but the coaching staff thought it would be better to give him a rest anyway. It would not surprise me if they left him out of this one and started his brother Liam.

Recent History

Overall = Panthers 26 - Draw 1 - Manly 46

Last 5 games = Panthers 1 - Manly 4

At Centrebet Stadium = Panthers 16 - Draw 1 - Manly 21

Odds

TAB Sportsbet = Panthers $3.35 Manly $1.35

Centrebet = Panthers $3.05 Manly $1.40

Sportsbet = Panthers $3.05 Manly $1.40

Verdict

Penrith will struggle to get out of this one with a win. Manly are a far superior team and should be too strong for them in the forwards and the outside back. For Manly, it's a matter of by "how many". Don't think that I am suggesting that this game will be a walk over for Manly, but they should get the points without any trouble. Much like last game against the Roosters where they won the game by 8 points in the end, you always felt that they were going to get the win and could always have lifted to another level if they needed to. I cannot definitively say by what margin so I won't tip that in this one, just going to go Manly for the win.

Suggested Bet

Manly @ $1.40

Value bet = Manly/Manly @ $1.80 - Although it isn't much value, it could prop up a sports multi of some sort.

Another thought... = Total points Over 40.5 @ $1.85 - Daytime footy brings out the best in the NRL teams and this one should be no different.

Good luck!

Scooby

@scoobystips

NRL Round 12 St George Illawarra Dragons v Parramatta Eels Preview

The only other Saturday night game is in suburban Kograh as the St George Illawarra Dragons host the Parramatta Eels. One cannot help but wonder that their may have been pressure to move this game to a bigger stadium for this matchup had both teams performed better this season and been at the right end of the table. But they're not and while the Dragons have not been as poor as the Eels, they are certainly not playing to their potential. Across town in the heart of Parramatta, the Eels were able to escape speculation for a week or so having the bye last week and then the controversial try that was awarded late in SOO. It was coming a bit monotonous hearing about a poor Eels performance each weekend after they played, so I am glad we haven't heard how much pressure coach Steve Kearny is under (Yes I did mention it as well a few rounds ago). I know it, you know it, he knows it and more importantly his players know it. But then again I guess the media have to make money one way or another. Nonetheless the Eels will again be under enormous pressure to performance and come away from this one with the win.

St George Illawarra Dragons

The Dragons have had a terrible run of injuries this year and the wear and tear is beginning to show. They have now lost Michael Weyman for what seems to be the remainder of the season. He was definitely a shining light in their play so far and it a shame to see him out for so long, but unfortunately, that is the nature of our game. But in some good news, Beau Scott is back from an elbow injury and Ben Creagh is back into the starting lineup after SOO. He shouldn't be too exhausted after Wednesday night because his involvement was limited. But they are the only two changes to the starting team that lost against Souths in golden point last Sunday. I can almost hear Dragons fans cringe and groan at losing their last two games in golden point. It is not as though they haven't finished games, but late in games their controlled and smart play that they have exemplified in recents season has desserted them. They will only have their minds on one thing in this battle and that is getting the two points...regardless of how scrappy or impressive the victory is, they just want it.

Parramatta Eels
Where to begin with Parramatta? After giving the media a bit about becoming monotonous, I won't go down the same track and say anything about pressure. With only one win this season this game certainly is marked as a "must-win game" if they hold any aspirations of featuring in September. Reni Matua comes back into the team after serving a suspension and former Blues prop Justin Poore comes into the starting side. He has definitely waited a long time to get back to this position and will be going out there with intent to wreak havoc!  Whilst on the topic of SOO, Jarryd Hayne demonstrated what he was capable of during the match and he looked extremely dangerous at points when he had the ball in his hands and free room to more. Maybe that performance could be the catalyst for Hayne regaining some confidence which has evaded him for much of this season. He is a confidence player and without he hasn't been the same player that we once saw. Maybe this could be the turning point of his season and more importantly Parramatta's. If they are to win, he has to fire.

Recent History
Overall = Dragons 11 - Draw 2 - Eels 11
Last 5 games = Dragons 3 - Draw 1 - Eels 1
At WIN Jubilee Oval = Dragons 5 Eels 1

Odds

TAB Sportsbet = Dragons $1.40 Eels $3.00
Centrebet = Dragons $1.42 Eels $2.95
Sportsbet = Dragons $1.43 Eels $2.90


Verdict
Parramatta haven't done enough this season to make me want to take them. The Dragons on the other hand are desperate to get back into the winners circle otherwise they will soon find themselves further down the table and a long distance away from the 8. They didn't play that bad against the Bunnies, they were just let down by silly mistakes at crucial points in the game.

Suggested Bet 
St George -7.5 @ $1.90


Value Bet = Dragons 19+ @ $4 - If the Eels are anything like the team which we have seen for majority of this season, then this one could get ugly!


Think about it... = Dragons 1-4 at HT @ $7 - Could be a close one early with the Dragons pulling away in the second half.


Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips

NRL Round 12 Newcastle Knight v Gold Coast Titans Preview

Super Saturday (well minus 1 game) kicks off at Hunter Stadium as the Newcastle Knights host the Gold Coast Titans. Both teams have struggled this season and have been affected by injuries throughout the beginning of the year. There was a lot of hype around at the beginning of the season for Newcastle after they signed Wayne Bennett from the Dragons. But what he couldn't plan for was the injury toll. There is definitely a difference in their attitude this year but Bennett was never going to make a great impact other than this in his first year of coaching because he didn't have all of the players there that he wanted. The Titans have been very disappointing thus far, despite beating Manly at Brookvale and coming off a win over the Bulldogs. Regardless, their coach John Cartwright is another coach that is under a tonne of pressure. His player can be accused of under performing at certain times but the reason this has occurred is because the players that the Titans have are full of potential, they're just failing to fullfil it at this stage. When they do click, it is good to watch. They have absolute speedsters on either wings that can not only finish off a back line movement but leap high into the air or get on the end of a well placed kick. Both teams come into this round off a Bye and will have relished the week off to rest the bumps and bruises. It is very early on the season and I know that you shouldn't say this, but there is a lot on the line for both teams at this point in the season and that includes a spot in the final 8 come September.

Newcastle Knights

Some good news for the Knights coming into this one with the return of skipper Danny Buderus from a chronic Achilles injury to start at hooker and (Waltzin') Matt Hilder goes back to the bench. Joel Edwards also return to the 17 from suspension. Coming off the Bye, the Knights resume after the previous week suffer a home loss to the Cowboys. They will be hoping that 2 of their back 3 get through SOO without injury. Darius Boyd and Akuila Uate both play on the wings and should definitely feature in this one. The Knights can ill-afford to rest players with the injury toll that they have. In their general play this season the Knights have look poor, but they have looked tough in defence (not all the time) and have been able to hold out teams for extended periods of time. But when they crack, they tend to leak a lot of points. As mentioned, they have suffered a fair few injuries this season which has definitely lead to very dour football throughout the season. A lot of league fans will agree with me when I say this, but the game that the Knights played against the Panther on MNF a few weeks ago was one of the most boring football games I have seen in a long time. They have to lift to another level for this one.

Gold Coast Titans

The Titans have been very similar to the Knights this season, but they have had the luxury of offering a lot more in terms of available players. Throw in the fact that they have a better roster and they are far more disappointing. There are a few changes to the team that was successful 25-14 over the Bulldogs in their last start. Scott Prince has overcome an injury and is named (please note he did also play against the Dogs) and Jordan Rankin drops out of the team for this one. Ben Ridge and Matt White come onto an extended bench, obviously incase either Nate Myles, Greg Bird or Ashley Harrison do not come through the SOO game well enough to back up for this game. These 3 players will be important to the overall result as the Titans rely on their hard nosed attitude in defence and they will definitely miss it in and around the ruck. But in saying that, they have been named and they are tough players so expected them to run out in this one.

Recent History
Overall = Knights 5 Titans 3
Last 5 = Knights 3 Titans 2
At Hunter Stadium = Knights 3 Titans 1

Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Knights $.155 Titans $2.50
Centrebet = Knights $1.55 Titans $2.50
Sportsbet = Knights $1.50 Titans $2.65

Verdict
As I am writing this I am desperately trying to find out the availability of the Titans SOO players. Otherwise, I am finding it extremely puzzling to understand why the Knights are favorites and Titans are out to $2.50. I can smell an upset coming and will be backing it. The Knights have been very hard to have this season and are still reeling from a horrific injury toll. They do get Buderus back for this one, but if all the Titans SOO stars play then I will be taking them (even if 1 or 2 play I still like them). They will have confidence coming off a last start victory over the Bulldogs and did actually play some entertaining footy. Forget the fact that they are playing away from home, this season all of their victories have been on the road.

Suggested Bet
Titans @ $2.65 (with Sportsbet)


Value = Titans 1-12 @ $3.75


Another thought... = The TAB is offering the Titans +8.5 @ $1.53. So if you are a little hesitant to take them straight out, then perhaps think of this bet.


Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips

NRL Round 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canberra Raiders Preview

The Sydney game of Friday night footy is at ANZ for a game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canberra Raiders. This game will take an unusual preference over the game down in Melbourne as it will be beamed live into Sydney. Although perhaps this is the better option for 9 because there is the possibility that a host of SOO start could be missing form the other game. Regardless of the situation, I think that Channel 9 should not have the luxury of picking and choosing which game they broadcast to the general public. But there will be more of this once the TV rights are up for debate later this year, for now its the footy. The Bunnies go into this match off a very good performance against a St George team that had a lot at stake, losing the last two and with a stronger team on paper. But the Bunnies fought back in a tough contest and prevaled in golden point when Adam Reynolds slotted a field goal from around 35m out. It is interesting to note that the Rabbits never led at any stage of the game until that field goal was kicked in the 83rd minute. The Raiders come into this game off the back of a Bye and a high scoring victory over the hapless Parramatta Eels in Round 10. It is definitely concerning that the Raiders allowed the Eels to score 34 points against them at home and coach David Furner will certainly be hoping for a greater attitude in defence this week. Defence has been a priority for the Bunnies this year and they will again defend well through the middle. The Raiders look as though they are a team that hasn't figured out their correct style of play just yet, which does add in the element of surprise in this one.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

The Rabbits go into this encounter with the same team that got the job done against the Dragons. Its interesting that the team from that encounter was minus their SOO stars, Greg Inglis and David Taylor. They have been added to an extended bench, along with Chris McQueen. It is obvious that coach Michael McGuire will give his stars the best chance to recover from Wednesday night and see how they come through the match. Inglis is certain to play a full game out in the centres but Taylor will be coming off the bench for QLD so his minutes may be limited, but in saying that, he does go 100-miles-an-hour and will be looking to make an impact immediately in Origin. So who knows what bumps and bruises that he may come off with. As mentioned earlier, the Bunnies have had defended with great conviction and enthusiasm this season which has not resembled a Bunnies team of years gone by. They have a very dynamic forward pack which sets a great platform for Reynolds to work from. They also have the added bonus of arguably the inform hooker of the 2012 season, Isaac Luke, continually getting them over the advantage line. Throw in pommy superstar Sam Burgess and Michael Crocker, and the Souths pack does have a lot of grunt and won't take a backward step. The one downfall in their team is 5/8 John Sutton. While his 2012 form has been a marked improvement on seasons gone by, he certainly is a liability in defence and hasn't been giving the young half, Reynolds, a lot of support. Let's see if he proves himself in this one.

Canberra Raiders

As I have mentioned in recent weeks, coach David Furner is lucky that the Eels have done as poorly as they have this season. Otherwise he would be one coach in the NRL that would be looking over his shoulder. He already has a mountain of pressure riding on him but has been able to escape this so far. But the pressure isn't relived going into this one with star fullback Josh Dugan and robust winger Blake Ferguson being stood down for breaking the clubs alcohol policy. Many suggest that Dugan was unlucky not to be down in Melbourne in the past week with the Blues. But he certainly does have an attitude problem, as does Ferguson so I applaud the Raiders for the tough stance they have taken. As a result, regular winger Reece Robinson moves to fullback and Edrick Lee starts on the wing. Other changes include Joel Thompson moving from second row to centre and Bronson Harrison covers him in the second row. Robinson is definitely not a out of his depth in this one. He has filled in for Dugan at the back this season and will give the Raiders plenty in attack and has very good positional play in defence. As for the winger Lee, he has a lot of people around the scene singing this kids praises. Some have suggested that he will slot in nicely out wide and has the ability to finish off back line moves. But the to win a game you not only have to attack, but also defend. The Raiders this season have looked poor at times defending their line and unless their is a serious change of attitude towards their defence, they will struggle to hold out a South Sydney team that is full of confidence.

Recent History
Overall = Bunnies 17 - Raiders 27
Last 5 = Bunnies 2 - Raiders 3
At ANZ Stadium = Bunnies 1 - Raiders 3

Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Bunnies $1.22 Raiders $4.50
Centrebet = Bunnies $1.30 Raiders $3.65
Sportsbet = Bunnies $1.28 Raiders $3.65

Verdict

Regardless of whether the Bunnies  SOO stars play, I believe that they will be too strong. They have a great forward pack and have a great hooker getting them over the advantage line. The Raiders do have a big forward pack that can serve it up to the Bunnies forwards but as mentioned earlier, this is a different Souths team. If the SOO stars do play, then expect a big game from both of them. Inglis has been electric at the back for Souths and Taylor didn't exactly get a lot of time on the field so should be fresh enough to go again in this one. One thing holding him back may be back spasms that he was suggested of having during the SOO match.


Suggested Bet
Souths 13+ @ $2.10
Value = Souths 13-18 @ $4.25
First Try Scorer = Isaac Luke @ $17 - If they get close enough, be sure that he will be looking around to strike one early.


Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips

NRL Round 12 Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos Preview

The NRL action gets back on track on Friday after SOO on the Wednesday night. It is a great two weeks for footy fans because since last friday there have only been 2 footy-free days without any game and this continues all the way through until MNF at Allianz Stadium. We stay down in Melbourne for this clash between the Storm and the Broncos which gives the SOO players an even money chance of returning immediately after their representative duties. This clash does offer so much, with the Storm and Broncos being two of the form teams in the competition this year. But the game does hinge on who will play for each side after Origin. The Broncos, as they have done since their existence, have a great young roster. They are a team that isn't afraid of a challenge and certainly won't be backing down in this one. The Storm have only suffered one loss this season to the Sharks and will look to have the Big 3 (Slater, Cronk and Smith) firing in this one.

Melbourne Storm

The makeup of the Storm team is going to be heavily influenced on how weel players can back up from Wednesday night. Players have said in the past that they believe it is easier to back up within 24-48 hours and play on the Friday opposed to playing on Sunday and Monday. They have the Big 3 to get through Wednesday, but apart from that the rest of the squad will be well and rested after having a Bye in Round 11. The only enforced change to the squad that lossed to the Sharks will be the omission of Ryan Hoffman who is out for around a month with a hamstring injury. Jesse Bromwich comes into the starting side from the bench to start up front for the Storm.

Brisbane Broncos

It is a very interesting lineup that has been named by coach Anthony Griffin. Matt Gillett is the only Origin representative that has been selected to back up at this stage, with Sam Thaiday, Petro Civoniceva, Ben Hannant and Justin Hodges to be rested. My understanding is that Ben Hannant will be a chance to play depending on how many minutes he gets in Wednesday nights match. Last year Griffin employed the same tactic of resting his SOO stars after matches and it did seem to work wonders in getting the best out of his players at the business end of the season. The added benefit for the Broncos is that they have the squad depth to manage this and are definitely not afraid of throwing young guys into the line of fire to give them a taste of first grade.

Recent History
Overall = Storm 18 - Draw 1 -  Broncos 11
Last 5 games = Storm 4 - Broncos 1
At AAMI Stadium - Storm 1 - Broncos 1

Odds
TAB Sportsbet = Storm $1.45 Broncos $2.85
Centrebet = Storm $1.50 Broncos $2.65
Sportsbet = Storm $.148 Broncos $2.65

Verdict
By just measuring both teams on which stars will be backing up after Origin 1, it is very hard to take Brisbane. The odds suggest that the bookies believe Brisbane will run will the same team that was named on Tuesday. The bookies are smart and always do their research, otherwise they will lose lots of money and their jobs! There could be the late addition of perhaps Hannant but he did get through a lot of work in SOO. Melbournes stars will also be battle weary, but with Billy Slater not having the best game of his SOO career, he will be out to prove something here. Smith did play the full 80, like Cronk and Slater, but he was continually in the thick of the action. Cronk did have a fair bit of traffic directed his way but didn't have too much of an involvement otherwise. After this one the Storm don't play again until the following Sunday so expect their stars to be ready for a 9 day rest after this one. Brisbane will be strong, but I think that Melbourne will be stronger! 

Suggested Bet

Melbourne 1-12 @ $2.85


Value Bet = Melbourne 7-12 @ $5


First Try Scorer = Billy Slater @ $8.00 (obvious I know but hey he hasn't crossed in a while)


Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips

State of Origin 1 Betting Preview

Its that time of the year that Rugby League fans have been waiting for, one of the biggest games of the year and a game that definitely stops a nation. It is this reason why I generally do like to have similar betting patters to the Melbourne Cup. Firstly, I am not going to give a preview that is similar to the NRL games that I give during each round of the year. I think that most people are going to be flooded with plenty of information to make their own mind up about the game, I am simply only going to give a few suggestions and tips on what could help you make some money in the game. Now why would I compare this game to the Melbourne Cup betting wise? Simply because there will be a lot of money held on the event and you are going to hear every betting guru under the sun talking about "what the money has come for". Each year on the first Tuesday in November, I choose to only invest a small amount of money on a runner which I fancy and then have a few mystery trifecta's on the side. I leave the overall decision up the chance. I believe that it is far better to lose a small amount of money and enjoy the spectacle rather than invest a lot of money and not enjoy the event for what it is. So...it brings me to a few idea's and areas that will be behind my betting patterns on the game. Lets have a look at them:


First Try Scorers
There is 26 players on the field at any one time that can score this (27 if you include the penalty try option) and it can be very frustrating just taking one player and waiting to see if they become involved in the game. So I suggest a few tips to consider when placing your bets. 
QLD = Will definitely look to target Michael Jennings in defence. They will continually work him over and aim to tire him down throughout the match. It is for this reason alone that I would look to take either Justin Hodges ($11) (marking up against Jennings) or the winger playing outside of Hodges (something tells me that it will be Brent Tate($11)) to score first for QLD. The second method in taking a first try scorer I would consider would be that QLD could score early off a kick in the middle of the field which has forced pressure on the NSW back 3, so look for a player trailing through up the middle of the field to dive on a loose ball. This could either be Cooper Cronk ($21), Johnathan Thurston ($17) or Cameron Smith ($26). 
NSW = Definitely are going to play to their strengths and (apart from their forwards) it is definitely the individuals in their lineup. These players generally always back their ability and will be looking to stamp their authority early on in the game. I would look to Todd Carney ($17), Robbie Farrah ($26) or Jarryd Hayne ($11) to score first for NSW.


First Try Scorer/Margin Double
Origin matches are generally always close, especially game 1. So if you want to take a first try scorer and it isn't enough value for you, then look to add some by giving them a margin as well. If I were doing this, I would take a try scorer for both NSW and QLD and then have two margins (4 bets in total) - NSW 1-12 and QLD 1-12. Yes...this may cost a bit more money then your straight out First Try Scorer bet, but it can yield a larger return.


Margin & Winning Margin
This can provide value in an overall bet if my prediction of a close game is right. NSW 1-6 is paying $6.25 and QLD 1-6 $5.25 so either way their is value there. I honestly cannot see NSW winning by more that 6 points against a QLD team of this quality. But QLD may sneak out to a larger victory of around 7-12 points (also $5.25). So maybe QLD 1-12 is a better bet ($2.75).


Half/Full Double
Straight away, I think that it will be extremely hard for NSW to concede the lead at halftime and then fight back to win the game, especially down in Melbourne (possibly a strong pro-QLD crowd). Therefore I will rule out NSW/NSW and QLD/NSW. The two which I would be inclined to go for are NSW/QLD ($6.50) or QLD/QLD ($2.00).


Tri Bet
A good bet if you are predicting a close game and think that the winning margin will be no more than 6 points. It offers great value at $3.00 for either team to win under 6.5 points. Placing this bet allows you to sit back and enjoy the game (and hoping that it'll be really close).


Man of the Match
I generally do not like betting on this option because it is open to interpretation. In the past, I have seen the decision go totally against what 99.99% of the general public thought. Much like the very biased  3,2,1 points given on the Dally M voting procedure, the halves, hookers and outside backs generally rate the highest. So look to these players to win MOM. But don't forget the Paul Gallen factor, if NSW are to win then be sure that he will play an absolute blinder (I am guessing that he will do this regardless, although he is coming in under an injury cloud).


So there you go folks! I hope that this has allowed you to take some suitable choices that can yield you some money come Wednesday night. Please let me know of any feedback or thoughts that you might have. I would love to hear others opinions on the match.


Good luck!
Scooby
@scoobystips

NRL Round 11 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Cronulla Sharks Preview

Wait a minute...are you telling me that is is not time for SOO? Oh that's right, there is the spectacle of MNF to get through first before shifting focus towards Origin. We travel across to Homebush (the only Sydney game this weekend not at a suburban ground) to see the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs host the Cronulla Sharks. Both teams have had very different seasons compared to the expectations that were held for both coming in 2012. The Bulldogs recruited star coach Des Hasler to their ranks and set their sights on a top 8 finish, but after a very inconsistent season, they find themselves in the middle of the table. It is still early in the season, yet they have suffered injuries to key parts of their team. On the positive, they have played some very entertaining football this season and have looked a much better team compared to seasons gone by. Then you have the Sharks. Something happened in the offseason down in the south that coach Shane Flanagan should be credited with. This season the Sharks have looked like  men possessed! Possessed by good footballing ability and playing outstanding football. Full credit must go to everyone involved with the clubs because it has been a shift in their overall attitude that has worked wonders. In games this year they could have easily thrown in the towel and been beaten when they should have won. But not this year. The two games that spring to mind is their two recent games, a loss to Souths and a win over the Storm (the Storms first loss this season). Against the Bunnies, they kept coming and coming and coming; and many suggest that if it wasn't for a 5-star performance from Greg Inglis, the Sharks might've won. They then handed the Storm their first loss of the season in front of their home fans and minus inspirational captain Paul Gallen. They grounded out a tough victory beating them 12-10. Enter Todd Carney. He has been on fire in recent weeks and has been a major factor to the Sharks winning close games this season. But due to SOO duty, both those players miss out and others must step into the fold to overcome the Dogs at home.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs - WWWLWLLLWL (Streak - 1 loss)

The Dogs go into this game after suffering an embarrassing loss to the Gold Coast Titans last week. They were very inconsistent in parts of the game and were a victim of poor handling errors and lack of application in defence. The Titans were brimming with confidence and did get a sniff of a victory early on and went on with the job from there. Des Hasler definitely has his work cut out for him this season as he has not had the added benefit of recruiting players that he wants at the club. Josh Morris is away on SOO duty and Luke McDougall takes his place in the centres. Sam Kasiano is playing this week after miraculously escaping suspension on a grade one dangerous contact charge. David Stagg has been named but is under an injury cloud coming into this one and Martin Taupau could come in for him. There is some talk around that their injured half Trent Hodkinson could make a surprise comeback early from injury so keep an eye out for that one. It would certainly be a big boost for their team if he was. Michael Ennis will be out to play a great game after missing out on SOO and having his form questioned, as well as certain people suggesting that he is playing injured.

Cronulla Sharks - LLWWWWWWLW (Streak - 1 win)

As mentioned above, the Sharks have been a remarkably different team this season. They do suffer a major blow this week with their two star players Todd Carney and Paul Gallen out on SOO duty. Last week coach Shane Flanagan called upon Wade Graham to fill Gallens boots at lock and now he asks him to step into the 5/8 role. Graham is no stranger to the halves and did start his career there before being shifted to the back row after putting on some decent size to cope with the rigours of the NRL season. Sam Tagataese moves into the second row and Jeremy Smith goes to lock and also assumes the captaincy. Special mention has to go to Jeff Robson at 7 as he is to be credited with steering the Sharks around the park this season with great direction. He has also had great support from Isaac De Gois at hooker. Both will play tomorrow night and will be a good combination to fall back on should the going get tough. They beat the Storm last week without Gallen and now have no Carney, but each time the Sharks have been questioned this season, more often than not, they have proved people wrong.

Recent History

Last 5 = Bulldogs 4 Sharks 1

At ANZ Stadium = Bulldogs 4 Sharks 3

Odds

TAB Sportsbet - Bulldogs $1.42 Sharks $2.75

Centrebet - Bulldogs $1.48 Sharks $2.72

Sportsbet - Bulldogs $1.48 Sharks $2.72

Verdict

MNF is another tough one to pick. If the Bulldogs want to go anywhere this season, they must put their hand up and win this game. Although the odds are heavily favoured in their direction, Cronulla will be putting up a good fight. They have shown great application in defence this season and without Gallen it surely does weaken the middle, but they were like this last week against an undefeated team. The Sharks will be putting their hand up for the job again this week. The Bulldogs will be looking to beat the Sharks through the middle of the field. They are very strong in this area and certainly have the forwards to sway the contest in their favour. But with what I have seen from the Sharks this year, it is hard to go past them for a victory.

Suggested Bet

Sharks +5.5 @ $2.10

Or

Sharks win @ $2.75

Good luck!

Scooby