The Kieran Foran era at Manly has been nothing short of astonishing. Not only have the Sea Eagles won and covered seven of eight on his watch but have had the best defence in the NRL over the last eight weeks. Their attack has not suffered either with Manly posting 32 or more in four of their last six. Manly are legitimate title contenders and assuming Tolutau Koula and Haumole Olakauatu backup as expected, they look an extraordinary price as marginal outsiders. Cronulla have no Nicho Hynes and have dropped four of their last five against Manly at Shark Park. The Sharks are 8-18 against the spread against Top 4 team and 7-15 against the number off a win of 20-plus. Manly have covered their last six as an underdog while they have covered seven of nine against teams outside the Top 8. Cronulla have long struggled against elite teams and Manly are just that. Clayton Faulalo has 10 tries in 18 games including tries in each of his two starts at fullback. Lehi Hopoate has nine tries in his seven games under the coaching of Kieran Foran, crossing for at least one in every match.
Tips
Best: Manly +1.5 ($1.85)
Next: Manly 13+ ($4.20)
Tryscorer: Clayton Faulalo ($14 First, $2.65 Anytime)
SGM: Under 46.5/Clayton Faulalo Try/Lehi Hopoate Try ($11.62)
This match sets up perfectly for the Newcastle Knights to make a statement and if Kalyn Ponga backs up from State of Origin then we should see Newcastle put on a show. Ponga is key so keep a close eye on his likelihood of playing as Newcastle’s win record drops 12 percentage points when he is out and the Knights have scored 36-plus in their last four when he has played but if he does turn out then this has the potential to get very ugly for a Parramatta team missing Mitchell Moses and Junior Paulo. The Knights have covered 15 of 20 against bottom five teams and are 21-13 against the spread off scoring 24-plus. They cover at nearly 67% in day games. The Eels have covered just 16 of 48 away from CommBank while they are 14-29 against the spread against Top 8 teams. The Knights are going to score points here and will overwhelm the Eels. The over also shapes as a good bet with the over hitting at 65.2% in day games with a favourite of more than two converted tries. Fletcher Sharpe has 11 tries in eight games starting in the three-quarter line at NRL level. Dominic Young has an elite strike rate with 89 tries in 103 games for the Knights and Roosters. Greg Marzhew has been in hot form with nine tries in his last three showings.
Tips
Best: Newcastle -14.5 ($1.90)
Next: Newcastle 41+ Points ($2.80)
Tryscorer: Fletcher Sharpe ($9.50 First, $1.77 Anytime)
SGM: Over 53.5/Fletcher Sharpe Try/Dominic Young Try/Greg Marzhew Try ($4.32)
Both the Tigers and the Bulldogs are at the crossroads of their season and with so much riding on this contest, expect both teams to really focus on getting their defence right. Both have had issues with their defence of late but any success either side has had in the last 18 months has been on the back of defence. The Tigers will be pleased to see key players Api Koroisau and Jahream Bula return. The news has been less exciting at Belmore with Cameron Cirlado surely not silly enough to play statue Jaeman Salmon on an edge. Both teams are in strong under spots. The under hits in 60% of Tigers games off a loss while it is 7-2 when the Tigers play at CommBank. The under is 14-7 when Canterbury are off a double digit win while it has hit in four of the last five Bulldogs games at CommBank. The total of 48.5 looks very big. Lachlan Galvin has four tries in 11 games this season and will be doing all he can to get over against his former team. Sitili Tupouniua is now the top edge option for the Bulldogs and his power running always makes him a tryscoring bet when playing wide.
Tips
Best: Under 48.5 ($1.90)
Next: Wests Tigers Under 27.5 ($1.87)
Tryscorer: Lachlan Galvin ($19 First, $3.15 Anytime)
SGM: Lachlan Galvin Try/Sitili Tupouniua Try ($12.58)
One game that looks like it could really open up is the Storm-Roosters clash with Melbourne really struggling defensively this season, conceding 26-plus in seven of their last nine, while the Roosters rank fifth in scoring. The last three between these teams have gone over and topped 50 points. The over is 21-12 when Melbourne are off a loss including an 11-5 over record at home off a defeat. The over is also 10-4 when the Roosters are an interstate favourite, 12-5 when they are off being held to 12 or fewer and 24-14 when the Roosters are off a loss. There are attacking weapons on both sides of the ball – particularly the Roosters – with the over a wonderful bet. Hugo Savala has thrived since moving to the centres with five tries in his last five games. Sua Fa’alogo has 12 tries in 12 games this season and has clearly been Melbourne’s most effective attacking option. Siua Wong has two tries in his last five games.
Tips
Best: Over 49.5 ($1.90)
Next: Sydney Roosters 41+ Points ($9.25)
Tryscorer: Hugo Savala ($13 First, $2.35 Anytime)
SGM: Hugo Savala Try/Sua Fa’alogo Try/Siua Wong Try ($18.56)
There has been little to like about St George Illawarra this season, whose attack has been so punishingly predictable that Andrew Johns called it the worst he has ever seen. Dean Young has worked his way out of the permanent coaching job. Clint Gutherson and Valentine Holmes have done immeasurable damage to their legacies. There is something to like about them this week though as huge outsiders to the struggling Brisbane Broncos. The Dragons actually have an incredible recent record against the Broncos with eight wins in the last 10 clashes. They have covered nine of the last 12 meetings. The key to this one though is how poor big favourites tend to go at covering. Teams favoured by 18 or more points cover at just 37% the last four years while favourites of more than two converted tries who are outside the Top 8 have covered at just 34% since 2008. The Broncos get some big names back but they have covered just three of nine day games at Suncorp. The Dragons cannot be bet with supreme confidence but this is a good spot for them. Xavier Willison has five tries in 21 starts and his size makes him a dangerous tryscoring option on an edge when running at horrid defensive centre Valentine Holmes. Ben Talty has five tries in 21 games for the Broncos and is over the odds weekly.
Tips
Best:
Next: St George Illawarra +12.5 ($2.45)
Tryscorer: Xavier Willison ($23 First, $3.70 Anytime)
SGM: Xavier Willison Try/Ben Talty Try ($16.01)
Canberra being favourites in this one against North Queensland – even factoring in home field advantage – is surprising to say the least. There is a big gulf between the two teams with the Cowboys ranking sixth in defence and eighth in scoring compared to the Raiders who rank 14th in scoring and 15th in defence. Head-to-head history doesn’t explain it either. The Cowboys have won seven straight against the Raiders with the last three wins coming by double digits. North Queensland have covered eight of the last nine clashes. Canberra have a 15-26 cover record when favoured while they are 6-14 against the spread at home against Top 8 opposition. North Queensland travel well with 11 covers in their last 17 interstate games while they have covered seven of nine as an underdog. North Queensland are huge overs. Heilum Luki has six tries in 12 games this year and is going to feast against the diabolical Raiders left edge defence. Zac Laybutt scored against Souths and gets a good matchup against Sav Tamale. Scott Drinkwater has six tries in his last eight games.
Tips
Best: North Queensland +3.5 ($1.90)
Next: North Queensland Over 25.5 ($1.90)
Tryscorer: Helium Luki ($19 First, $3.00 Anytime)
SGM: Helium Luki Try/Zac Laybutt Try/Scott Drinkwater Try ($12.79)
The most anticipated clash of the weekend and one of the most anticipated clashes of the season sees top two teams Penrith and New Zealand do battle at CommBank. The Panthers have a great record against the Warriors but this is a great spot for New Zealand – and that is before Penrith potentially resting all of their Origin players. The Warriors cover at 67% as an underdog while they are 10-3 against the spread getting a start of a try. The Warriors have covered their two games the last four seasons at CommBank. There is no knock on Penrith but they have failed to cover their last four night games. The under also needs to be bet with it hitting at 68.3% since 2008 when two Top 2 teams meet. The under is 18-9 when Penrith play a Top 4 team while all bar one of the last 12 Panthers-Warriors clashes have finished on 46 or fewer. Jackson Ford has four tries in 11 games and scored last season against Penrith. There is no better finisher in the NRL than Alofiana Khan-Pereira has 61 tries in 60 NRL appearances including eight in six games this year.
Tips
Best: New Zealand +4.5 ($1.90)
Next: Under 46.5 ($1.90)
Tryscorer: Jackson Ford ($34 First, $5.60 Anytime)
SGM: Jackson Ford Try/Alofiana Khan-Pereira Try ($9.83)