NRL
Darren Arthur, ESPN NRL Editor 5y

NRL Preview Round 9: Line-ups, verdicts, tips, odds, everything you need to know for the weekend

NRL, Rugby League

Round 9 is Magic Round which for some reason means every game this weekend will be played at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. Therefore the Broncos are the only team playing at home all weekend, which throws an interesting element into this week's tipping.

There are some really tough calls to be made between the Tigers and Panthers, the Sea Eagles and Broncos, the Bulldogs and Knights and the Warriors and Dragons. Not to mention potential upsets between the Titans and Sharks, Storm and Eels and Roosters and Raiders.

Good luck with your tips.

Jump ahead to a particular game.
Titans vs.Sharks
Tigers vs. Panthers
Sea Eagles vs.Broncos
Bulldogs vs. Knights
Warriors vs.Dragons
Storm vs. Eels
Roosters vs. Raiders
Rabbitohs vs. Cowboys

Thursday, May 9

  Gold Coast Titans vs. Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, Suncorp Stadium, 7:50pm (AEST)

 Titans: 1. Michael Gordon 2. Anthony Don 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Brian Kelly 5. Dale Copley 6. Alexander Brimson 7. Ash Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Jai Arrow.                Reserves: 14. Jesse Arthars 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. Keegan Hipgrave 17. Max King

 Sharks: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Josh Morris 5. Aaron Gray 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Briton Nikora 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Paul Gallen                  Reserves: 14. Blayke Brailey 15. Jayson Bukuya 16. Jack Williams 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele.

Verdict: The Titans looked ordinary at times in losing to the Cowboys last week, while the injury-depleted Sharks pulled off one of the upsets of the year in beating the Storm. There is a very real danger that the Titans could spring an ambush here as the Sharks come down from last week's big win. However, the young replacement Sharks would have gained a lot of confidence from the victory over the Storm and should be too good. 

Tip: Sharks

TAB odds: Titans $2.25 (+2.5 $1.90) Sharks $1.65 (-2.5 $1.90)

Friday, May 10

Wests Tigers vs. Penrith Panthers, Suncorp Stadium, 6:00pm (AEST)

 Tigers: 1. Moses Mbye 2. Mahe Fonua 3. Robert Jennings 4. Esan Marsters 5. Corey Thompson 6. Benji Marshall 7. Luke Brooks 8. Ben Matulino 9. Robbie Farah 10. Alex Twal 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Chris McQueen 13. Matthew Eisenhuth.  Reserves: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Oliver Clark 17. Luke Garner

 Panthers: 1. Caleb Aekins 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Waqa Blake 5. Dallin Watene-Zeleniak 6. James Maloney 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Wayde Egan 10. Reagan Capmbell-Gillard 11. Frank Winterstein 12. James Fisher-Harris 13. Hame Sele  Reserves: 14. Sione Katoa 15. Tyrell Fuimaono 16. Moses Leota 17. Tim Grant

Verdict: The Tigers were blown off the SCG by Latrell Mitchell and the red-hot Roosters last week, while the Panthers continued their miserable season with a big loss to the Raiders. The Tigers have been able to bounce back from big losses this year, while the Panthers are really suffering from a complete lack of confidence and a drain on talent through injury.  

Tip: Tigers

TAB odds: Tigers $2.00 (+1.5 $1.90) Panthers $1.80 (-1.5 $1.90)

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Brisbane Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 8:05pm (AEST)

 Sea Eagles: 1. Brendan Elliott 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Moses Suli 4. Brad Parker 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Apisai Koroisau 7. Kane Elgey 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Manase Fainu 10. Martin Taupau 11. Joel Thompson 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic.           Reserves: 14. Jack Gosiewski 15.Kelepi Tanginoa 16. Corey Waddell 17. Morgan Boyle

 Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3 Kotoni Staggs 4. Jack Bird 5. Gehamat Sihasaki 6. Anthony Milford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Thomas Flegler.      Reserves: 14. Patrick Carrigan 15. David Fifita 16. Tevita Pangai-Junior 17. Joe Ofahengaue.

Verdict: This is a real battle of the coaches with Des Hasler working miracles with his depleted Sea Eagles, while Anthony Seibold searches for positives in each new defeat. On paper there is no way the Sea Eagles should win this game, especially with the Broncos being the only team playing at home this weekend. The Sea Eagles have been defying the odds all year, but this hurdle should be too high for them.

Tip: Broncos 

TAB odds: Sea Eagles $2.35 (+4.5 $1.80) Broncos $1.60 (-4.5 $2.00)

Saturday, May 11

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Newcastle Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 3:00pm (AEST)

  Bulldogs: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Jayden Okunbor 3. Kerrod Holland 4. Will Hopoate 5. Reimis Smith 6. Jack Cogger 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Rhyse Martin.    Reserve: 14. Fa'amanu Brown 15. Danny Fualalo 16. Adam Elliot 17. Sauaso Sue.

 Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Hymel Hunt 4. Sione Mata'utia 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Connor Watson 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Danny Levi 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Tim Glasby.   Reserves: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Herman Ese'ese 16. James Gavet 17. Josh King.

Verdict: The Bulldogs let in some really soft tries in losing an arm-wrestle against the Sea Eagles last week, while the Knights beat the Warriors convincingly in Auckland. The Knights appear to be living up to expectations of late, with Mitchell Pearce leading the way. This is a tough one to pick, but the Knights should have too much talent for the struggling Bulldogs.

Tip: Knights

TAB odds: Bulldogs $2.35 (+3.5 $2.00) Knights $1.60 (-3.5 $1.80) 

New Zealand Warriors vs. St George Illawarra Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm (AEST)

  Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 David Fusitu'a 3 Peta Hiku 4 Patrick Herbert 5 Ken Maumalo 6 Kodi Nikorima 7 Blake Green 8 Agnatius Paasi 9 Nathaniel Roache 10 Leeson Ah Mau 11 Isaiah Papali'i 12 Tohu Harris 13 Lachlan Burr.           Reserves: 14 Jazz Tevaga 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Ligi Sao 17 Karl Lawton.

 Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Zac Lomax 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jai Field 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Blake Lawrie.            Reserves: 14. Jeremy Latimore 15. Euan Aitken 16. Jacob Host 17. Luciano Leilua.

Verdict: I broke a golden rule of tipping last week by picking the Warriors and won't make the same mistake again. They were soundly beaten at home by the Knights, while the Dragons started well against the Eels before fading badly. The Dragons have some serious injury issues, so this will be a big test of their depth, but they seem to have more resolve than the unpredictable Warriors.

Tip: Dragons 

TAB odds: Warriors $2.35 (+3.5 $1.90) Dragons $1.60 (-3.5 $1.90)

Melbourne Storm vs. Parramatta Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 7:35pm (AEST)

Storm: 1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Marion Seve 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Brodie Croft 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane. Reserves: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Jaeman Salmon 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Daniel Alvaro 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tepai Moeroa. Reserves: 14. Peni Terepo 15. Tim Mannah 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Manu Ma'u.

Verdict: Storm coach Craig Bellamy was very disappointed with his team's effort in losing to the Sharks last weekend, while the Eels notched up another convincing win at their new stadium. The Storm won't play that poorly again and the Eels have a habit of not turning up for away games.

Tip: Storm

TAB odds: Storm $1.45 (-6.5 $2.00) Eels $2.80 (+6.5 $1.80)

Sunday, May 12

Sydney Roosters vs. Canberra Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 2:00pm (AEST)

 Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Matt Ikuvalu 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Victor Radley 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Angus Crichton 13. Isaac Liu.                 Reserves: 14. Nat Butcher 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Mitchell Aubusson.

 Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Michael Oldfield 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Sam Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Ryan Sutton             Reserves: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Bailey Simonsson 16. Iosia Soliola 17. Corey Horsburgh.

Verdict: Latrell Mitchell and the Roosters were unstoppable last week against the Tigers, while the Raiders were also impressive in beating the Panthers. This should be a great game between two form sides bristling with attacking weapons. As good as the Raiders have looked, the Roosters have been the best team in the competition ever since their round one loss to the Rabbitohs.

Tip: Roosters

TAB odds: Roosters $1.40 (-7.5 $1.90) Raiders $3.00 (+7.5 $1.90)

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. North Queensland Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm (AEST)

  Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Corey Allen 3. Kyle Turner 4. Dane Gagai 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. George Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. John Sutton 12. Sam Burgess 13. Cameron Murray.   Reserves: 14. Tevita Tatola 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ethan Lowe 17. Liam Knight.

 Cowboys: 1. Jordan Kahu 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Enari Tuala 5. Ben Hampton 6. John Asiata 7. Michael Morgan 8. Matt Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo.      Reserves: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Scott Bolton 17. Francis Molo.

Verdict: The Rabbitohs ran all over the Broncos last week, while the Cowboys showed some glimpses of form in beating the Titans. This should be one of the more straight forward results to pick this weekend, with the Bunnies playing some great football, while the Cowboys continue to struggle.  

Tip: Rabbitohs

TAB odds: Rabbitohs $1.30 (-9.5 $1.90) Cowboys $3.60 (+9.5 $1.90)

^ Back to Top ^