Week 3 is upon us and the NRL programming has delivered again, providing another set of blockbuster matches for us. We will start to get a better gauge on each team after this round with more minutes to judge and assess – and there are already a few teams, for example, Manly, who it would appear are on an upward trend in 2024. We got off the mark with our FREE best bet last week, with the Warriors covering the spread against Melbourne. Looking to make it two on the bounce!
FREE Best Bet of the Round
Record: 1-1
Tigers First Half +6.5 ($1.88 Lads/Neds)
*Next Best: +6.5 @ $1.75 BlueBet or +6 flat @ $1.82 Toppy
Cronulla are the hottest team in the NRL and are playing a side who looked terrible in their first game of the year last week. Despite this, I like the Tigers at the line this week back at their spiritual home of Leichardt Oval and they are a side with their backs to the wall. On paper, they have a forward pack who can match up quite well with the Sharks middles given Nikora and Hamlin-Uele are both out.
The line of +12.5 is the biggest of the 2024 season to-date. It won’t be pretty.... but it is a game the Tigers can be competitive in for long stretches. You only have to look at the response of the Dolphins last Sunday to see how a team can flip a switch and put in a good performance in the space of one week. Sharks sitting at 2-0 might be caught sitting a little fat and happy and the Tigers can start strong and look to ambush them.
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Game Previews
Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos
Thursday 8pm, BlueBet Stadium
Line: -10.5; Total: 38.5
The two grand final sides from last season meet to open the round and to my judgement, they are still also the two best teams in the competition right now. The game loses a little bit of its lustre with Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds out with an MCL strain, as is Payne Haas and whilst for the Panthers, James Fisher-Harris is also injured and won’t take part tomorrow night.
The Broncos have made a strong stance to not talk about the Grand Final this week, and whilst nothing can make up for how that game ended last October; privately within the Club I believe they would’ve circled the rematch and Kevvie will want to see his side put in a good performance and regain some form of a mental edge. Jock Madden proved himself as a steady hand and they will be looking for him to play his role, steer the side around the park and allow the creativity to fall onto key playmakers in Mam and Walsh and get early ball to the strike weapons on an edge.
No one is denying the strength of the Panthers and they were impressive against the Eels last week, but from a line perspective, this was +3.5 in last year’s Grand Final. Sure both Clubs have lost a few players since, but this is out to double digits.
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