NRL Round 3 Preview – Barely Interesting Stats & Stuff

The NRL is back, and so then is our weekly preview with the NRL Round 3 Preview – Barely Interesting Stats & Stuff.

There are plenty stats below, enough for every game, and give every team’s fans some hope for the long awaited NRL Round 3.

We then top it all off with our tip for each game.

All records go back to 1998 unless otherwise stated.

Enjoy the return of some real sport, and our NRL Round 3 Preview.

BRISBANE BRONCOS v PARRAMATTA EELS

HEAD TO HEAD

STATS

WHY BRONCOS CAN WIN

The Broncos have won five of the last six at home on a Thursday/Friday night v Sydney teams. And have lost just five of the last 28.

Brisbane won this game last season at Suncorp.

Parramatta had lost their last seven games away to sides not from Sydney when kicking off at 7pm or later.

If you exclude the Gold Coast, the Eels have also lost their last 11 games away to non Sydney teams at any time.

Brisbane have lost just five of the last 29 games v Sydney teams at home. Make that eight times over five full seasons to 2019.

There are no Poker Machines available to play at the moment.

WHY THE EELS CAN WIN

The Eels bashed up the Broncos last meeting in the 2019 Final Series.

Broncos have lost four of their last five against Sydney teams on a Thursday.

The Broncos have won their two last Thursday games, but prior to that had lost their last seven of the previous eight.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

In their last 12 away games to non Sydney teams, Parramatta have conceded between 17 and 20 points eight times. They also conceded 64 in one game.

Brisbane and Parramatta have made the fewest and second fewest tackles so far this season. They are also first (Broncos 96) and third (Parramatta 84) for Tackle breaks.

‘THE FINAL SAY

Broncos 26 Parramatta 18

WHY COWBOYS CAN WIN

North Queensland have won the last nine clashes between these sides.

North Queensland have won both of the clashes between these sides in May.

Gold Coast have lost their past seven away games to the Cowboys.

The Titans have won just six of their last 30 away games. Two of those were against Brisbane.

The Titans have missed 101 tackles this season already. Ashley Taylor leads the competition with just under 12% of those. The team have made the most tackles of any team.

WHY TITANS CAN WIN

The Cowboys have lost 100% of their games at this weekend’s ground.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

Jason Taumalolo has run 20% of the total metres run by the entire Gold Coast team.

Talking of needling the referees, Bryce Cartwright has given away the most penalties so far this season with five.

‘THE FINAL SAY

North Queensland Cowboys 28 Gold Coast 12

WHY ROOSTERS CAN WIN

The Roosters have won five of the past seven clashes between these sides at all grounds, and hold a 12-9 H2H record from the past 10 seasons.

Going back to 1998, the Roosters hold the advantage over the Rabbitohs on Friday games (10-2), night games (18-10), games kicking off between 7pm and 8pm (15-7), and Channel Nine games (14-8)

Roosters have a 10-2 record on a Friday.

South Sydney lost both of their games at Bankwest Stadium last season, while Roosters won their only fixture. Going back to 1998, Souths record in Parramatta is really poor, just two wins in 12 matches.

Roosters have the fourth best tackle efficiency at 91.2%, Souths are second last with 88.4%.

South Sydney’s off field issues during Coronavirus enforced break.

WHY RABBITOHS CAN WIN

If the game kicks off late (after 8pm from scheduled 7:55), Souths have the H2H advantage 3-2 for games after 8pm.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

The Roosters have lost just two matches in the last 21 against Sydney opposition – home or away.

Despite losing two Burgess brothers, Souths have conceded the second most penalties in the first two rounds.

‘THE FINAL SAY

Sydney Roosters 20 South Sydney Rabbitohs 10

WHY WARRIORS CAN WIN

The Warriors have beaten the Dragons in their last three clashes.

Despite having a reputation of being poor away from home early in the season, the Warriors have actually won five of their last season away in May.

WHY DRAGONS CAN WIN

The NZ Warriors have made 0 line breaks so far this season.

The Dragons lead 11-2 for Saturday games, 11-5 for day games, and have won twice as many games in May and kicking off at 3pm.

St George-Illawarra have lost just three of their last 16 clashes kicking off at 3pm.

New Zealand have won one of their last eight games away to Sydney clubs.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

We are surprised that the record between these sides is 3-2 when the games have been played on Channel Nein. Not for the H2H record, but the fact that there has been as many as five matches between these sides shown on Channel Nein since 1998.

The Dragons have lost their only game at Central Coast v Northern Eagles. The Warriors are 2/3 at this ground, but haven’t played there since 2016 when they beat the Roosters. The Warriors have also beaten the Northern Eagles.

‘THE FINAL SAY

Warriors 14 Dragons 26

WHY SHARKS CAN WIN

The Sharks have won the last five clashes between these sides.

Wests Tigers won only once in five games at Bankwest Stadium.

The Tigers have also only won once in their last nine games away on a Saturday.

Cronulla have missed the third fewest tackles this season despite losing both of their games.

WHY TIGERS CAN WIN

David Nofoaluma has run the most metres out of these two sides and is fifth overall. The Sharks number one metre-eater is former Tiger Aaron Woods.

The Sharks haven’t played at Parramatta Stadium since 2015 where they won. Prior to that they lost their last four.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

The Sharks seem to like May, they have won 13 of their last 14 games in May.

Honours are even at night with seven wins a piece.

THE FINAL SAY

Cronulla 12 Wests Tigers 16

WHY STORM CAN WIN

The Storm are ahead 11-2 for games played between 7-7:55pm for H2H

Melbourne hold a 16-7 record v Canberra on Saturdays.

Melbourne Storm have won the last eight games at home to Canberra for a game kicking off between 7pm – 7:55pm.

WHY RAIDERS CAN WIN

Canberra have won their last five away games that have kicked off after 5pm.

Canberra have won their last five away games against non Sydney teams at all times.

Canberra broke a run of four straight losses in Melbourne last season with their 22-18 win.

Melbourne lost the last two home games of 2019 that kicked off after 5pm.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

There has been just one regular season game between these sides since 1998 on Channel Nein. Channel Nein suck.

Nick Cotric has 10 more tackle breaks than the next best player this season so far.

‘THE FINAL SAY

Melbourne 19 Canberra 18

WHY PENRITH CAN WIN

Penrith have won the only two games between these sides that have kicked off between 4pm and 5pm.

Api Koroisau leads the season tackle count with 99.

WHY KNIGHTS CAN WIN

Newcastle hold a 4-1 record for games on Channel Nein. But it is much closer for day games at 11-10.

Newcastle have won three of their last four away games on a Sunday against Sydney teams.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

Penrith have 5-4 record at Campbelltown, they won their last game there in 2017, but lost four in a row prior to that. Newcastle’s record is 4-6.

‘THE FINAL SAY

Penrith 18 Newcastle 10

WHY SEA EAGLES CAN WIN

Manly lead the Bulldogs 10-7 for Fox Spots only games. For interest – the Bulldogs lead 13-4 for games shown on Channel Nein.

WHY BULLDOGS CAN WIN

The Bulldogs are 8-2 ahead on Sundays.

MOST BARELY INTERESTING STAT/S

 Bulldogs have a 7-2 record at Central Coast Stadium, Manly are even better with 13 wins in 16 matches. Ironically, the 81% win record for Manly at Central Coast Stadium is way better than the Northern Eagles record at the same ground (47%).

The H2H record is 2-2 for game in May.

Although the ground is neutral, a barely interesting fact to point out is that Manly’s record away to other Sydney teams is three wins from their last 16 games. The Bulldogs have won their last two away to Sydney team, however before that their run away to Sydney teams was even worse with just three wins in 21 matches.

‘THE FINAL SAY

Manly 12 Bulldogs 4