GOLD COAST TITANS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
An interesting clash awaits on Saturday afternoon, and this invasion of a group of lads from south of the border is probably the closest the Gold Coast will get to having Schoolies this year. The Titans probably won’t make the top eight, but they are two points ahead and in the top one of Queensland based teams for a change.
QUICK MATCH FACTS
- Canberra have lost just once in their last eight games v sides from Queensland.
- The Raiders lost five in a row on the Gold Coast from 2007 to 2011 and lost three of the next eight.
- Canberra have won all six games on a Saturday away from home on a Saturday against non-NSW opposition.
- The Gold Coast have just one win from their last 14 matches on a Saturday, their only win coming thanks to an awful Broncos side.
- Canberra have the recent record over the Titans, but the Gold Coast have a decent historical record at home to the Raiders. But the odds say history isn’t enough.
- The total points under 44.5 market is worth taking on. The overall total points may be 44, and there have been some bigger scores in this fixtures in the last five seasons, but both side aren’t in the richest of scoring form. Gold Coast have average 14 points a game since July and Canberra are averaging 20 points since July. That includes the pile of points from last weekend’s win over the Broncos.
- No team has scored the last try more this season than Canberra – 11 times in 14 matches. Gold Coast have scored the last try six times for the record.
- Second rowers have done the job three times for the Raiders this season, and John Bateman has been looking rather keen since his return, so there’s a good value tip for last try scorer.
- Neither side is very prolific at scoring the first try, but wingers do feature for both sides when they do. Going with the in form Nick Cotric or the very likeable Anthony Don is the pick here.
THE FINAL SAY SAME GAME MULTI
Canberra to win
Total match points Under 44.5
Nick Cotric to score anytime first half.
John Bateman to score anytime second half.
@ $52.00
WESTS TIGERS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Insert ninth placed dig at the Tigers here, but in all likelihood, they will probably ninth at the end of this weekend, and the end of the season. The Roosters are in a battle for the final top four spot, and their injury toll won’t halp. Although they do get Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Brett Morris back this week. No SBW yet. Must be waiting for a Channel Nein game. Actually it is a surprise this isn’t a Sunday 4pm Channel Nein game.
- Roosters have won 28 of 36 games v Sydney clubs since 2018. Wests Tigers are 15/35.
- The Tigers have won just six of the 19 clashes between themselves and Sydney sides on a Saturday from 2015. The Roosters are 14 wins from 21 games.
- Roosters have lost just one of their last eight games in August.
- The game is back at Leichhardt, but the Tigers record there isn’t great for a home side. 48 wins from 83 games is the return. Sydney Roosters are 4/6
- The recent Head to Head of 8-1 to the Roosters since 2015 is hard to ignore, but the Tigers have nowhere near the injury concerns of the Roosters. The +6.5 points start for Tigers might be tempting, and four of the last five games have been decided by eight points or less. Perhaps find a market where you can choose your own line a nd take +10.5.
- Wests Tigers appear to be a first half side, so take them to have a good first half.
- Brett Morris is back so must be considered for both first and last try scorer.
- David Nofoaluma is always a good bet to score anytime to boost the same game multi.
THE FINAL SAY SAME GAME MULTI
Wests Tigers +10.5 start
Wests Tigers + 4.5 1st half start|
Brett Morris to score score anytime
David Nofoaluma to score anytime
Brett Morris to score the last try.
@ $44
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v MANLY SEA EAGLES
Wayne Bennett is back for the Rabbitohs after hopefully the best Italian meal he’s ever had. Talking of eating, this is one of the games this weekend that could cook the final eight, as Manly are already four points and 100 points difference behind eighth placed Souths.
QUICK MATCH FACTS
- Souths have an 80% winning record against Sydney teams at ANZ Stadium since 2018. They have beaten Manly three times and scoring at 30 points a game.\Manly last won at the Olympic stadium in 2013, a week before losing to the Roosters in the Grand Final.
- Souths are 3/5 on Saturday this season, Manly are 2/.5.
- The last two matches between these sides on a Saturday have been decided by one point. There was another one pointer three Saturday games before that.
- Souths have only won two of ten matches on a Saturday in August.
- A little bit of betting movement with this one during the week, but Souths still odds on favourites. Punters not keen on a non-Tom Manly.
- Souths are averaging 20 points against Sydney sides this season, and Manly struggle to break 20 points without Tom Trbojevic, so going for under 43.5 points could be a good risk. They have only broken the 43.5 three times in the last 10 meetings.
- Souths tend to do a lot of their scoring in the first half, and Manly score on average slightly more in the first half also, so grab the $2.25 for first half being the higher scoring half.
- Neither team are prolific first or last try scorers, so usually the safe bet is to stick with wingers. Although a Manly winger hasn’t scored first this season so far.
- Big fan of Alex Johnston, and still find it hard to believe that Souths haven’t nailed him down for next season and beyond. He’s a good chance of scoring first and last.
- Although, Souths don’t score the last try that often, so why throw Cade Cust in for last try scorer or at least a second half try.
THE FINAL SAY SAME GAME MULTI
Souths to win
Under 43.5 points
First half – highest scoring
Alex Johnston anytime try scorer
Cade Cust anytime try scorer
@ $80.50
