Another State of Origin clash looms on the horizon, so time to get our Alternative NRL Round 14 Predictions over and done with as not to interrupt the interstate clash too much.
To let everyone know that the NRL is still a good competition during Origin, Round 14 throws up a lot of good clashes, mostly between sides in very similar positions. The highlights are the Canberra Sharks and Melbourne v Newcastle matches.
For now, our Alternative NRL Round 14 predictions and preview awaits.
NRL Round 14 PREDICTIONS – GURGLER PREDICTIONS
CANBERRA to beat Sharks
GOLD COAST to beat NZ Warriors
NORTH QLD to beat Wests Tigers
MELBOURNE to beat Newcastle
PENRITH to beat South Sydney
BRISBANE to beat Parramatta
DRAGONS to beat Manly
ROOSTERS to beat Bulldogs
TIPPING PROGRESS – 57/100
— Last Week 4/8
BEST BET PROGRESS – 46/92
$1 Season Earnings $97.90 (from $1 bet on all tips)
— Last Week 2/8 — $3.73
NRL Round 14 PREDICTIONS – OPPONENT PREDICTIONS – 2ND HALF OF SEASON FORM
CANBERRA (49.8%) to beat Sharks (49.6%)
NZ WARRIORS (48.2%) to beat Gold Coast (38.3%)
WESTS TIGERS (41.9%) to beat North Qld (40.4%)
MEBLBOURNE (63.3%) to beat Newcastle (45.8%)
PENRITH (45.6%) to beat South Sydney (44.4%)
BRISBANE (56.2%) to beat Parramatta (53.8%)
MANLY (55.3%) to beat Dragons (49.6%)
BULLDOGS (58.9%) to beat Roosters (56.0%)
BACKGROUND FOR TIPS – Since we are just into the second half of the season, curiosity leads to ponder which team is better in the second half of the season, and why not use that stat as a way of selecting NRL winners.
It’s easy, the higher the win %, the more likely they will win, so the tip is all theirs.
2019 OPPOSITION TIPPING PROGRESS – 55/100
Week 1 – First Round Form – 5/8
Week 2 – Best Supported Club in 2018 – 5/8
Week 3 – Club Memberships – 3/8
Week 4 – April Fool’s Day – 3/8
Week 5 – NFL Teams – 4/8
Week 6 – Full Moon – 6/8
Week 7 – Anzac Day – 4/8
Week 8 – NRL Supporters – 5/8
Week 9 – Suncorp Stadium – 5/8
Week 10 – Game of Thrones – 5/8
Week 11 – Election Results – 6/8
Week 12 – Split Rounds – 1/4
Week 13 – Post Origin 1 Form – 3/8
NRL Round 13 PREDICTIONS PREVIEW – MATCH BY MATCH THOUGHTS
Here is our short game by game preview for the big weekend ahead. We couldn’t offer up our NRL ROUND 13 predictions without explaining ourselves a little further.
THU 7:55pm – CANBERRA RAIDERS v CRONULLA SHARKS
Head to Head since 1998 – Sharks 23 Canberra 16
Last Season: Canberra 16 Sharks 24 — Sharks 28 Canberra 24
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Before the Sharks win in the most recent game in 2018, the away side had won 10 games in a row in this clash.
SUMMARY
Both sides had good, dominant wins last weekend, and both sides currently sit on 16 points. Canberra’s better for and against gives them the title of top four side.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
Just Origin’s Josh Morris returning for the Sharks, but a looming return for Shaun Johnson is on the cards for the Sharks too.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
A decent rivalry has grown between these sides recently, so it promises to be a good start to the NRL weekend.
Either team to win by 8 or less @ $2.00
FRI 6:00pm – GOLD COAST TITANS v NZ WARRIORS
Head to Head since 1998 – Warriors 17 Gold Coast 9
This Season: Warriors 26 Gold Coast 10
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Prior to the Titan’s win at CBUS in 2018, they had lost the previous seven clashes to the Warriors on the Gold Coast.
SUMMARY
The Titans moved two points away from the very bottom of the NRL ladder last weekend after a second consecutive surprise win over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The NZ Warriors faced the number 1 team for results after Origin 1 – Melbourne – and were eventually beaten after the Storm stretched their legs in the second half. New Zealand has a great recent record on the Gold Coast. As anyone who the saw the short-lived reality TV series The GC will confirm.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
Nothing major. The Titans have an all new all ex-Panthers second row. For the Warriors Gerard Beale is dropped for Patrick Herbert and Stephen Kearney knows what the Jazz is all about with his new inclusion on the bench.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
Hopefully some free flowing football and points. The average points per game on the Gold Coast between these sides is 44.
Total Match Points over 39.5 @ $1.90
FRI 7:55pm – NORTH QLD COWBOYS v WESTS TIGERS
Head to Head since 1998 – Wests Tigers 19 North Qld 16
Last Season: Wests Tigers 20 North Queensland 12
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Wests Tigers have never lost to the Cowboys in June. (2/2)
SUMMARY
Getting to be a crunch match between two sides in a similar predicament. Both team have 12 points, lost last weekend and the for and against is quite similar. Both are also still equal with the 8th placed Eels. Cowboys looked much better in defeat last weekend than the Tigers scoreless effort. They really don’t like BankWest stadium.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
Jordan McLean drops out after injury, and always good to see Kurt Baptiste returning to any side. Moses Mbye is named at centre, which leaves the dynamic Corey Thompson another stint at fullback to shine.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
Jason Taumalolo ran for over 300 metres last weekend, and is always a reason to watch. Also interesting is how a former prop has become a great starting five eighth in John Asiata.
North Queensland -3.5 start @ $1.90
SAT 3:00pm – MELBOURNE STORM v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Head to Head since 1998 – Melbourne 25 Newcastle 15
Last Season: Melbourne 40 Newcastle 14 — Newcastle 10 Melbourne 28
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Melbourne have won the past 10 daytime match meetings between these sides, stretching back to 2005.
SUMMARY
First plays the in form team in the competition at the moment in an all top four clash. Newcastle are building nicely, and dusted off fellow top four-ian South Sydney with relative ease last weekend.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
No changes for Melbourne, and why would they after seeing off the Warriors in NZ last weekend. Ponga returns for the Knights, Kurt Mann replaces Mason Lino, and Aidan Guerra could make a return from injury, though only named among the reserves for now/.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
Kalyn Ponga is back after a deserved week off, and there’s always watching Mitchell Pearce’s audition for the Blues. Which given his record of winning series is a double edged sword for Blues fans given his current incredible form.
SAT 5:30pm – SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v PENRITH PANTHERS
Head to Head since 1998 – South Sydney 19 Penrith 15
This Season: Penrith 18 South Sydney 22
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
Penrith have not beaten Souths away since 2005. It has been the Rabbitohs seven times in a row since.
SUMMARY
Two teams heading in opposite direction form-wise. To be honest Souths have been terrible the last fewweeks, and while they can blame some of it on Origin absentees, they had a stack of Burgess in the pack and should have done better. Penrith have turned around their slump with three straight wins. They knocked off the high flying Roosters last weekend, so another top four scalp isn’t out of the question here.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
Is Dane Gagai still playing for the Rabbitohs? No wonder he’s reportedly not happy being bumped to the wing for James Roberts and a returning Kyle Turner. The Rabbitohs have to make up for some missing Burgess brothers too, with promotions from the bench and reserves. Cody Walker returns to the side too, and has one last chance to keep his Blues spot, although that seems unlikely. He has replaced Connor Tracey which seems harsh as he was excellent over the past two games, and arguably better than Adam Doueihi. Alex Johnson has been named among the reserves, and he has scored a big bag of tries against Penrith back in the day.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
Two of the finest big second rowers in the game in John Sutton and Viliame Kikau. Or a potential head to head for a Blues five eighth spot between Cody Walker and James Maloney.
Penrith to win @ $2.55
SAT 7:30pm – PARRAMATTA EELS v BRISBANE BRONCOS
Head to Head since 1998 – Brisbane 20 Parramatta 19
Last Season: Brisbane 18 Parramatta 10
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
For all their Channel Nein dominance of TV screens on a Thursday/Friday night, the Broncos have a decent record on a Saturday in Sydney. They have won two-thirds of their games in Sydney on a Saturday since 1998.
SUMMARY
Both teams coming off a loss last weekend, and they sit nicely together in 8th and 9th with just the one point difference in for and against. Both net totals are negative mind you. Two of the more inconsistent sides in 2019, so it is good luck to anyone trying to tip which of the two sides will show up and then tip that.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
The highly rated off season recruit Sean O’Sullivan makes his way into the side for the injured Tom Dearden, O’Sullivan has been very good for Norths who are doing well in the local competition. Nathan Brown starting at lock is good news for the Eels.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
Both sides offer plenty from time to time, so let’s hope they both do it on the same night for a classic clash.
Brisbane to win @ $2.00
SUN 2:00pm – MANLY SEA EAGLES v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Head to Head since 1998 – Dragons 32 Manly 9
This Season: Dragons 12 Manly 10
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
The Dragons have won the past daytime matches against Manly and with an average margin of 28 points. They’ve also won the last 7/8 daytime games.
SUMMARY
A pair of good wins last weekend, leaves Manly in seventh and two points ahead of the Drsgons, who are in a gaggle of teams on 12 points and sniffing around 8th place. You get the feeling or hope that the lower half of the top eight becomes a 5-7 team battle in the last few weeks of the season.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
Same 17s all round for the previus round winners.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
Manly’s Tom Trbojevic has another week under his belt. Before he heads off for Origin that is. And we love Martin Taupau.
Dragons +6.5 start @ $1.65
SUN 4:05pm – SYDNEY ROOSTERS v CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Head to Head since 1998 – Bulldogs 21 Roosters 20
Last Season: Bulldogs 0 Roosters 6 — Roosters 30 Bulldogs 12
BARELY INTERESTING FACT
The Bulldogs and Roosters have met 12 times on a Sunday, and a winning pattern has emerged. The winning sequence of Bulldogs-Bulldogs-Roosters has been repeated a further three times.
SUMMARY
Bulldogs remain last, and two points adrift after the Titans win last weekend. The Roosters have lost their last three games, and a fourth could see them out of the top four by the end of the weekend.
MAJOR TEAM NEWS?
Latrell Mitchell and Angus Crichton are welcome returns for the Roosters. The biggest team news is the arrival of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for the Bulldogs.
ONE REASON TO WATCH
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s Bulldogs debut.
Total Match points under 40.0 @ $1.90
