The first Super Rugby quarterfinal will take place across the ditch this evening and we are set for an outstanding clash between the Hurricanes and Chiefs. The Hurricanes haven’t been as convincing since the international break and have lost two from three, including one against an Australian team. The Chiefs on the other hand appear to be peaking in form at the right time and are primed for another big performance. This is the second time in as many weeks that these sides have met and the Chiefs are good enough to make it two in a row.
The Sharks and Raiders have built a nice rivalry in recent seasons and will square off in the Shire tonight. Cronulla have firmly ingrained themselves in the eight and enter this game off the back of a smart win over Penrith. The Raiders have enjoyed a resurgence since the return of hooker Josh Hodgson and are now on the edge of a finals berth. Canberra do look over the odds in head-to-head betting here and they certainly have the tools to cover a line currently set at 4.5 points.
The Broncos will host the Panthers in Brisbane tonight and it looms as a great opportunity for both clubs to return to winning form. The Broncos were absolutely thrashed in front of the Lang Park faithful last weekend and they really do appear to be hanging onto eighth spot by the skin of their teeth. The Panthers were clearly tired in last weekend’s loss to the Sharks, but with their Origin stars back in tow, they should be ready for a successful run into the finals. The Panthers can take the win in what shapes as a tight fixture.
Round 18 of the AFL gets underway with a bit of a mismatch between St Kilda and Richmond at the Etihad tonight, and it looks like it will be another easy win for the reigning premiers. The Tigers have returned a truly devastating force in 2018 and have lost only four of their sixteen games leading into this one. They were stunned by the Giants in Western Sydney last weekend and are sure to come out firing against a Saints outfit that really is a class below.