The NRL top 9 is far from set and Round 22 will be another important one for teams looking at a shot of Grand Final glory. The action starts on Thursday night footy with the Eels looking for another upset as they host the Storm at CommBank.<\/p>\n
The Eels edged the Broncos 22\u201120 in Round 21, but that thriller masked a season\u2011long habit of shooting themselves in the foot: only three sides make more errors, and their attack ranks a lowly 15th for points and 14th for tries. Home turf hasn\u2019t been a fortress (3\u20115) and travelling\u2019s even tougher (3\u20117), so they\u2019ll need a near\u2011perfect 80 minutes to keep pace with Melbourne\u2019s clinical Storm outfit.<\/p>\n
The Storm are coming into this clash against the Eels with a slick 13\u20115 record and momentum to burn\u2014four wins from their last five and a tidy 6\u20113 mark on the road. They\u2019re the NRL\u2019s points\u2011scoring and try\u2011scoring kings, so you can bet they\u2019ll be hunting the scoreboard early even without Hughes (gone for the regular season). Luckily, Papenhuyzen\u2019s back patrolling the backfield and the rest of the spine still hums. Sitting third on the ladder and boasting a 7\u20112 home slate, Melbourne just dropped 34 on the Roosters in Round 21; if they find that same rhythm, the under\u2011fire Eels might be chasing shadows all night.<\/p>\n
Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Parramatta are 5-5 in their last 10 games at CommBank. Melbourne are 3-2 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 5 meetings, the Storm have won 5 games against the Eels.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Storm are going to miss Hughes in attack and Parra come off a nice win over the Broncos on the road. So I like the chances of the Under, which is 8-0 when the Eels host the Storm.<\/p>\n Under 47.5 = $1.87<\/a><\/p>\n Same Game Multi<\/strong><\/p>\n I think the Eels can keep this close and +20.5 is a safe bet. Moses is back at halfback and they just beat the Broncos in Brisbane. Harry Grant loves playing Parra, scoring a try in his last 6 against them. He also crossed last week and took over the attack when Hughes went off with injury.<\/p>\n Under 47.5 pts \/ Eels +20.5 \/ Harry Grant Anytime Tryscorer = $12.00<\/a><\/p>\n The Warriors roll into their showdown with the Dolphins still smarting from an eight\u2011point slip\u2011up against the Titans at Mount Smart, but overall they\u2019re travelling nicely at 12\u20116 and sitting fourth on the ladder. They\u2019re rock\u2011solid both home and away (6\u20113 on each front) and, crucially for punters, they keep their mistakes to a minimum\u2014ranked 17th for errors in the comp. Form over the last month has been patchy 2\u20113, yet when this side clicks, it turns field position into points in a hurry. Expect them to tighten the screws early and test the Dolphins\u2019 discipline all night.<\/p>\n Fresh off a 43\u201124 thumping of the Cowboys at Lang Park, the Dolphins will face off against the Warriors riding a 3\u20112 patch and clinging to eighth on the ladder at 9\u20119. They\u2019re 5\u20114 at home and 4\u20115 on the road, but what really jumps off the page is their firepower\u2014second\u2011best in the comp for both points and tries while keeping errors down (14th overall). If the attack hums like it did last week, and they keep the handling tidy, the Phins have every chance to turn this into a shoot\u2011out the Warriors mightn\u2019t fancy.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n New Zealand are 2-3 in their last 5 games at this venue. The Dolphins are 0-2 at this venue since 2023.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 5 meetings, the Warriors hold a 3-2 record against the Dolphins.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n Interesting to see the Dolphins as favs in NZ. But I like the Over, which is 5-1 in the Dolphins last 6 night games and the Warriors defence struggled with the lowly Titans last week.<\/p>\n Over 46.5 = $1.95<\/a><\/p>\n The Broncos hit this Rabbitohs clash sitting sixth on the ladder at 10\u20118 and sporting a hot 4\u20111 run across their last five, but that narrow two\u2011point slip\u2011up to the Eels at Lang Park shows they\u2019re still prone to brain fades\u2014no surprise for a side that ranks fifth\u2011worst for errors. When they keep the pill, though, they\u2019re deadly: fourth in the comp for both points and tries, thanks to a slick spine and plenty of punch out wide. They\u2019re a tidy 6\u20113 at home but more vulnerable on the road (4\u20115), so getting their attack to click early and minimising dropped ball will be key if they want to put the Bunnies on the back foot.<\/p>\n The Rabbitohs are buried in 17th spot (last) and riding an ugly eight\u2011game skid. They\u2019ve dropped their last five, most recently falling 24\u201122 to the Sharks at Polytec Stadium, and their season ledger sits at 6\u201113. There is one silver lining: they don\u2019t beat themselves too often, ranking a respectable 14th for errors. Trouble is, tidy hands haven\u2019t translated into points\u2014the Bunnies are second\u2011worst in the comp for both tries and total points. They\u2019re only 4\u20116 at home and an even shakier 2\u20117 on the road, so unless the attack suddenly sparks, the red\u2011and\u2011green faithful could be in for another tough watch against a confident Broncos outfit.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Brisbane are 6-4 in their last 10 games at Suncorp. South Sydney are 1-4 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 10, the Rabbitohs are 6-4 against the Broncos.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Rabbitohs were awesome defensively last week and hopefully that continues against the Broncos as I like the Under. It’s 4-0 in the Broncos last 4 too.<\/p>\n Under 48.5 = $1.85<\/a><\/p>\n The Titans snagged a morale\u2011boosting 24\u201116 win over the Warriors in Round 21, but it barely dents a rough season: they\u2019re 5\u201113 overall, stuck down in 16th, and just 1\u20114 across the last month. Home form\u2019s shaky at 2\u20116 and travelling hasn\u2019t been much prettier (3\u20117), so rolling into a showdown with the Panthers feels like climbing Everest in thongs. If they\u2019re going to spring an upset, they\u2019ll need the same spark they showed last week\u2014plus a lot more polish\u2014because Penrith won\u2019t hand out freebies.<\/p>\n Riding a seven\u2011game heater, the Panthers are looking like serious finals movers once again. They just flogged the Tigers 36\u20112 at Western Sydney Stadium and have now rattled off five straight wins to climb to fifth at 10\u20117 overall. Home turf has been serviceable (6\u20114), but it\u2019s their form everywhere that counts\u2014think a tidy 4\u20113 record on the road and a defence that\u2019s tightened the screws week after week. If they unleash that same ruthless edge on the 16th\u2011placed Titans, this could get ugly in a hurry.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Gold Coast are 1-4 in their last 5 games at this venue. Penrith are 4-1 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 10, the Panthers are 9-1 against the Titans.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n I think the Panthers do it easily as they look for a top 4 spot, they’ve covered the line in 5 straight games.<\/p>\n Penrith Panthers -12.5 = $1.85<\/a><\/p>\n The Dragons limp into this clash with the Raiders on a four\u2011game slide, fresh off a 38\u201132 shoot\u2011out loss to the Cowboys up in Townsville. Their season ledger sits at 6\u201112, and the recent form is ugly\u2014just one win from the last five. They\u2019re break\u2011even at home (4\u20114) but road trips have been brutal (2\u20118), so Canberra will fancy their chances. If the Red V can tighten a defence that\u2019s been leaking tries and rediscover some spark with the ball, they might hang around, but right now momentum\u2019s all pointing green.<\/p>\n The Raiders swagger into this one atop the ladder at 16\u20113, riding a nine\u2011game heater and fresh off a 44\u201118 demolition of the Knights in Canberra. They\u2019re lethal pretty much everywhere\u20147\u20112 on the road, 9\u20111 at home\u2014and the numbers back it up: third for points, second for tries, and way down the pecking order for errors, which means they hardly hand the ball over. With five straight wins in their back pocket and an attack humming, the Green Machine looks set to roll on unless the Dragons can spring a major ambush.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n St. George are 6-4 in their last 10 games at WIN Stadium. Canberra are 3-2 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 10, the Raiders are 8-2 against the Dragons.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Over is 7-1 in the Dragons last 8 and the Raiders are scoring points like no tomorrow.<\/p>\n Over 45.5 = $1.90<\/a><\/p>\n The Sea Eagles are coming into this clash sitting 9\u20119 and clinging to ninth spot, but they\u2019ve got plenty to prove after copping a 42\u20114 hiding from the Bulldogs at the SFS. Home\u2019s been a decent fortress at 6\u20113, yet their 3\u20116 road record shows the wheels can wobble away from Brookie. Form\u2019s patchy at 3\u20112 over the last five, so consistency is the big question\u2014if they shake off last week\u2019s shocker and bring their usual home\u2011ground grunt, they can push the Roosters, but another slow start could see them chasing feathers all night.<\/p>\n The Roosters are riding a two\u2011game skid after falling four points short of the Storm at the SFS. They\u2019re dead\u2011even on the road (4\u20114) but shaky at home (4\u20116), and handling\u2019s been a killer \u2014 they cough it up more than all but two sides. Still, when they hang onto the pill they can light it up, sitting fifth for points and fourth for tries, so the attack\u2019s never the worry. If they can tighten up the errors and channel that scoring punch, they\u2019ve got every chance to ruffle the Sea Eagles\u2019 feathers.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Manly are 6-4 in their last 10 games at 4 Pines Park. Sydney are 3-2 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last 10 meetings, the Roosters have won 6 games against the Sea Eagles.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Under is 5-0 when the Sea Eagles are at home and I think this will be like a tough finals clash as both sides look to make the top 8.<\/p>\n Under 46.5 = $1.80<\/a><\/p>\n The Tigers are sitting 13th at 7\u201112, and the attack is still MIA \u2014 they\u2019re 14th for both points and tries, which showed in last week\u2019s 36\u20112 thumping from the Panthers at Western Sydney. They\u2019ve split their last five 2\u20113, but home turf hasn\u2019t been kind (3\u20116) and they\u2019re only a touch better on the road (4\u20116). If they can\u2019t find some spark with the ball, they\u2019ll be leaning hard on hustle and hope to keep this one within striking distance.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs come into this one sitting second on the ladder at 14\u20114, firing on a three\u2011game heater after hammering Manly 42\u20114 at the SFS. They\u2019re rock\u2011solid wherever they play\u20147\u20112 both home and away\u2014and while the last five have been a mixed 3\u20112, the overall form screams contender. If they bring the same ruthless edge they showed against the Sea Eagles, the Tigers could be chasing their tails all night.<\/p>\n Stadium Record<\/strong><\/p>\n Wests are 2-3 in their last 5 games at this venue. Canterbury are 1-4 in their last 5 games at this venue.<\/p>\n Head to Head Record<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bulldogs are 4-1 against the Tigers in the last 5 meetings.<\/p>\n Best Bet<\/strong><\/p>\n The Doggies elite defence should continue what Penrith did last week and that should see the Under salute. It’s also 8-1 in the Tigers last 9 at this stadium.<\/p>\nNew Zealand Warriors (4th) vs Dolphins (8th)<\/h3>\n
Brisbane Broncos (6th) vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (17th)<\/h3>\n
Gold Coast Titans (16th) vs Penrith Panthers (5th)<\/h3>\n
St. George Illawarra Dragons (12th) vs Canberra Raiders (1st)<\/h3>\n
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (9th) vs Sydney Roosters (10th)<\/h3>\n
Wests Tigers (13th) vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2nd)<\/h3>\n