NRL Round 16 Betting Preview & Stats

MELBOURNE STORM v MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES

A touch of irony here, with the game being on the Sunshine Coast, as Melbourne’s opponents Manly were the previous feeder club bosses of the Sunshine Coast. They even won a Queensland Cup premiership with Daly Cherry-Evans leading the way. Something the renamed Falcons have yet to do. Cameron Smith returns, and maybe he’d like to lead the Falcons to victory next season, or coach the Broncos, or referee for the Titans. Cameron Munster also returns, and he’s already played for the other Melbourne feeder club Easts Tigers.

QUICK MATCH FACTS

• Manly lead the Storm 56%-44% on a Sunday.
• The away side has won the last five H2H matches, plus eight of the last nine.
• Manly have lost their past four Sunday games. Melbourne have won their last seven.
• The Storm also have the best winning record in the NRL on a Sunday at 62%.
• Melbourne have won their last 15 games in Queensland
• Melbourne obviously like a coast in Qld, they have won their last seven dating back to 2013.

• Manly have drifted, no doubt on the news of the two Camerons returning.
• Both sides lean towards scoring more points in the second half.
• The last five games are under the 43.5 points total mark, and the average for all games since 1992 is also lower.

• Melbourne score the first try in two thirds of their games, and although logic says to take Josh Addo-Carr to score first, an alternative is Jahrome Hughes who is great value.
• Manly have scored first and last seven times, but they still don’t have their leading man for first try Tom Trbojevic back.
• A Melbourne betting preview wouldn’t be complete without some love heading in Nicho Hynes’ direction, and after he provided the spark for Melbourne last weekend, last try is the next step this weekend.

THE FINAL SAY SAME GAME MULTI

Melbourne to Win
Total Points Under 43.5
Second Half – Highest Scoring Half
Jahrome Hughes – First Melbourne Try Scorer
Nicho Hynes – Last Try Scorer

@ $301

CANBERRA RAIDERS v BULLDOGS

Once again the NRL’s least favourite child (Bulldogs) gets the crappy Sunday 6:30pm treatment, and good luck to the Raiders and Bulldogs competing against reality TV behemoth The Block. Thankfully the game is not up against singing goldfish, otherwise it would have no chance. Bulldogs have been getting closer to wins, but with 14 sets of fans cheering for them each week to send the Broncos last, perhaps the Dogs are weighed down by the anti-Broncos crowd.

QUICK MATCH FACTS

• The Bulldogs have won just one game in their last nine against teams with green in their jersey (Canberra/Souths).
• Bulldogs have won one game on the road this season. Which makes up 50% of their victories.
• Bulldogs have only won once in their last nine games on a Sunday. Canberra have only won once v Sydney teams on a Sunday in their last five matches.

• The Bulldogs fooled quite a few last weekend, with their odds reducing steadily all week, but the Warriors got the win. They have drifted out this week, going out to $7.00 to win H2H.
• Four of the last six matches have been well under the 42.5 total points, and Canberra are averaging 17 points per game v Sydney sides this year. The Bulldogs are averaging just 13 points in all games in 2020.
• So take the unders for total points scored.

• John Bateman for last try scorer has been suggested for two weeks, so here’s a third.
• One of the Canberra wingers for first try. Jordan Rapana for more entertainment.

THE FINAL SAY SAME GAME MULTI

Canberra to win
Total Points Under 42.5
John Bateman to Score the last try
Jordan Rapana to score anytime first half

@ $111