The 2018 NRL Finals launched with a bang last weekend and the quality will only continue to rise through the semi-finals.
Every game from this point on is do-or-die and we are set for two terrific contests this week, beginning on Friday night when the Sharks host the Panthers at the SFS.
Saturday night will see the injury-ravaged Dragons attempt to keep their season alive against an outstanding Rabbitohs outfit.
Cronulla and Penrith will get the 2018 NRL Semi-finals underway in Sydney on Friday night.
The Sharks will be full of confidence heading into this match, despite losing key forward Wade Graham for the remainder of the season. Graham suffered an ACL tear in his side’s eventual loss to the Roosters last weekend and the injury clearly had a physical and mental effect on the Sharks’ performance. Cronulla have enjoyed an excellent run of form through the second half of the season, however and their ability to take big scalps in high-pressure situations will carry them a long way in this.
Penrith remain the rank outsiders to win the 2018 NRL Premiership but were too good for the Warriors in Week 1 of the finals and will be buoyed by that performance and result. The Panthers showed plenty of backbone to fight back into the contest and ultimately ice the game, but they really do face a big step up in class against the Sharks. James Maloney remains the linchpin for the Panthers and the veteran five-eighth can blow this game open, but he will need to be at his best.
Graham’s loss is obviously massive and it does put a question mark over the Sharks’ premiership chances, but they are certainly good enough to win this game and the line is truly miniscule.
There is plenty of value to be found across the board in betting for this game and a player like Valentine Holmes crossing for the first try is certainly worth consideration.
Additional Tip: Sharks 13+ ($3.50)
The Rabbitohs are clear and justifiable favourites to defeat fellow foundation club the Dragons in the second NRL Semi-final on Saturday night.
The Rabbitohs have been one of the league’s best teams all season and after a slight lull after the Origin period, have returned to blistering form for the finals. A demolition job of the Wests Tigers in the final round of the regular season was franked when they went within a point of the Storm in Melbourne, in last weekend’s qualifying final. Had halfback Adam Reynolds been just slightly more on-target, you get the feeling that the Bunnies would have been enjoying a well-earned week off instead of lining up for this, and it certainly would not have been a fluke.
The Dragons produced what was clearly their best performance of the second-half of this season against the Broncos and enter this game off the back of a 48-18 demolition job. The result has come at a huge price however, with five-eighth Gareth Widdop ruled out for the remainder of the season and big injury clouds hovering over key forwards James Graham and Jack De Belin. Ben Hunt was in terrific touch and silenced plenty of doubters, and the halfback will need to produce a similar performance if his club is to compete here.
Souths really are a class above the Dragons this season, particularly in current health and condition, and I am confident that they will post a big win, ultimately firing a warning shot at their preliminary final opponents.
Additional Tip: Souths to Win Both Halves ($2.05)