The following are previews with betting tips for Round 15 of the 2022 NRL season. Best bets for the round are also provided.
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St George were dominated by the red-hot Cowboys last week and now face another huge test against a South Sydney outfit looking for their third consecutive win. The Rabbitohs looked comfortable in their last-start win over the Titans and with superstar Latrell Mitchell nearing his return to the field, Souths are well placed to make a late-season charge into the top-four.
Betting Tip: Souths -6.5 @ $1.95 (Bluebet)
North Queensland were at their dominant best against the Dragons last week, despite the disruption of the rep period. They will face a depleted Manly outfit after the club rallied for an impressive 30-4 win over the hapless Tigers as veteran coach Des Hasler continues to tinker with his club’s gameplan in the absence of so many important players.
Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai will return at lock and second-row respectively for the Cowboys after they were rested after Origin. In devastating news, Heilum Luki has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury with Connelly Lemuelu set to join the second-row as cover. For Manly, Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans will return at halfback in an otherwise unchanged squad.
While they are flying high in the top-four, North Queensland should be on high-alert against a Manly outfit desperate to break into the top-eight and prove they are not a spent force this year in the absence of Tom Trbojevic. Expect a well-executed game-plan from Manly to test their opposition but the class within this Cowboys line-up should prove the difference.
Betting Tip: Cowboys -4.5 @ $1.91 (Unibet)
The resurgent Broncos face one of their biggest tests this season up against the Storm at their home-ground in Melbourne. Brisbane produced a courageous win over the Raiders last week, a particularly impressive result given they finished the game with no interchange players. The Storm have recorded consecutive wins since their round-11 capitulation to North Queensland after an impressive last-start win over the Roosters.
In disappointing news for Melbourne, Ryan Papenhyzen’s return has been delayed due to covid protocols. Nick Meany retains the fullback jersey in his absence. Meanwhile, injuries to key players in captain Adam Reynolds, Herbie Farnworth and Cory Paix are a big blow for the Broncos. Tyrone Roberts will join the squad at halfback, while Kotoni Staggs and Jake Turpin join the squad at centre and off the bench respectively. Maroons stars Selwyn Cobbo and Kurt Capewell also return on the wing and second-row after being rested last week.
With both teams suffering from injury disruption, this contest may lack some polish. Expect Brisbane to deploy a simple game-plan based around their devastating forward-rotation in the absence of key attacking weapons in Reynolds, Paix and Farnworth. If Brisbane can gain the ascendancy in the ruck they are certainly capable of producing an upset but expect the Storm’s playmaking brains-trust of Grant, Hughes and Munster to get them over the line.
Betting Tip: Broncos +14.5 @ $1.90 (Bluebet)
Cronulla overcame a fast-starting Warriors outfit last week for a comfortable win as the Shire club looks to bank premiership points in a bid to break into the top-four. Their opposition in the Titans slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat after a disappointing loss to Souths and with only one win from their last 10 games, pressure is mounting on the club to turn their season around.
The Sharks have named an unchanged squad for this match, although Dale Finucane could make his return from a knee injury after he was included in the reserves. For the Titans, AJ Brimson will return at fullback, pushing Jamayne Isaako to the wing in an otherwise unchanged squad.
Given their opposition’s struggles on the field, the Sharks will head into this match as heavy favourites. Expect the Queensland club’s inexperienced spine to struggle against the Sharks’ red-hot spine combination. Sharks to get the win.
Betting Tip: Sharks -13.5 @ $1.90 (Playup)
The Warriors showed some positive signs in their first match under interim coach Stacey Jones but the Kiwi club will need to find a lot of improvement in order to compete against the competition’s elite teams. Penrith were at their dominant best in a massive 42-6 win over the Knights last week with the club losing only one game this season.
The Kiwis have made a number of changes with Jesse Arthars replacing Rocco Berry at centre and rookie Ronald Volkman set to make his NRL debut at five-eighth. Aaron Pene will join the bench with Addin Fonua-Blake also a possible late inclusion after being named in the reserves. Meanwhile, Penrith’s only change comes with the return of lock Isaah Yeo after he was rested last week.
The Warriors have been woefully inconsistent this season and have lost a number of games by narrow margins. Expect the Kiwis to struggle to compete against this Penrith juggernaut.
Betting Tip: Panthers -24.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
Parramatta produced a woeful effort in a humbling 30-point loss to a Canterbury running second-last on the competition ladder. Their opposition in the Roosters suffered a heart-breaking loss to the Storm last week, conceding two tries in the last quarter after taking a narrow lead into half-time. The Roosters and Eels sit eighth and sixth respectively on the competition ladder and heading into the latter-half of the season both clubs will be desperate to break into the top-four.
The Tricolours will welcome Sam Verrills back from an extended injury layoff in a big boost, while veteran half Luke Keary was also named despite a nasty head-knock last week. Meanwhile, the Eels have named an unchanged squad.
Roosters’ fans will be desperately hoping Luke Keary’s season isn’t impacted by his history of concussion. Expect a massive response from this Eels outfit, particularly with coach Brad Arthur questioning their effort and attitude after the emphatic loss. This match could go either way but expect the physicality of this Eels line-up to prove too much for the battered Roosters.
Betting Tip: Eels -1.5 @ $1.90 (Unibet)
Canberra suffered a frustrating defeat to the Broncos last week, failing to score in the second-half despite their opposition finishing the match with no bench in a tough contest. They will face a Newcastle outfit humbled by a huge loss to Penrith as pressure continues to mount on coach Adam O’Brien.
The Raiders will welcome Jordan Rapana back from suspension on the wing in an otherwise unchanged squad. Newcastle have named the same 17 for this match, with Kalyn Ponga a possible late withdrawal after he sustained a concussion against Penrith.
Canberra look to have rediscovered the physicality that has been the bedrock of their game in recent years with an absolutely brutal contest through the middle against Brisbane. Expect a big response from Ricky Stuart’s troops given the frustration of their last match and with Newcastle having won only four games all year, expect Canberra to get the points.
Betting Tip: Raiders -10.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
While the Tigers and Bulldogs have seen their respective head coaches depart from the club in recent weeks, the similarities end there after both playing-groups produced polar-opposite responses. The Tigers struggled in a 30-4 loss to Manly, while Canterbury produced the upset of the season in a massive 34-4 win over a highly-rated Eels outfit.
Wests will finally welcome key player Adam Doueihi back from an ACL injury on the bench in a big boost to an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have named only one change with Kurtis Morrin set to join the bench for his NRL debut to cover the injured Chris Patolo.
The Bulldogs’ form seemingly came from nowhere last week, with their halves Matt Burton and Kyle Flanagan enjoying freedom to play both sides of the field and some much-improved try line defence. Given their loss last week, Wests may take some time to find their feet under new coach Brett Kimmorley. This match could go either way but expect the massive confidence boost of their performance last week to get Canterbury over the line.
Betting Tip: Bulldogs H2H @ $1.77 (Unibet)
Raiders -10.5 @ $1.91 (Bet365)
