The 2019 NRL GRAND FINAL is upon us! Sunday will see the Sydney Roosters attempt to defend their title, and the Canberra Raiders attempt to win their first in 25 years! Check out our full preview and tips right here.
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The final round of the 2019 NRL regular season is here and in a nice turn of events from what we’ve witnessed a lot recently, there is still plenty on the line.
There’s movement to be made in the top four, there’s home finals on the line and there’s more than one position in the top eight up for grabs. Tick, tick, TICK!
NRL Round 25 tips and previews in all their glory can be found below.
What an outstanding way to kick off the final week of the NRL regular season. There is every chance that this won’t be the last time that we see these two clubs square off in 2019, but there’s still lots on the line when the Rabbitohs host the Roosters on Thursday night.
Following their worryingly bad run of form, the Bunnies have well and truly begun to re-find their feet. The win over the Broncos has been franked more than once and while this is another huge step up in class for them, I think it’ll be a real indicator as to what we can expect in the finals.
The Roosters could very well go back to back. I lost faith for about thirty seconds in the middle of the season, but boy do they know how to put a team to the sword. I also think that this game will be a real indicator as to what they’ll do in the next few weeks, and I feel like it might be brutal.
Latrell to take another leap towards topping the try scoring tally, as well.
The early game on Friday takes us to Bankwest Stadium and specific positions in the top eight are on the line when the Eels host the Sea Eagles
This is one of the better rivalries in the league. It might sound like a cliché, but rarely is there an Eels vs Sea Eagles game that isn’t hard fought, regardless of the form of either club. The only thing that could have made this one better is if it was played at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon.
I would have tipped Manly with my eyes closed and nothing else considered if Tommy Turbo was in the side, but given he’s now gone for the season and with him, Manly’s premiership credentials, I feel like the ledger is now far-squarer.
Regardless, I still cannot have the Eels and for perhaps the final time this season, I’m eager to take the value on offer for the Sea Eagles in head-to-head betting.
Betting suggests that the most one-sided game of the round will take place in Melbourne on Friday night, when the Storm welcome fellow Queensland side the Cowboys.
Not only did the Storm all but end Manly’s hopes of winning the Premiership (albeit indirectly through Tommy Turbo’s injury), but in my opinion they also stormed right back into the framework after a few quiet weeks (by their standards). I’m less convinced they’ll go out in straight sets and I think they’ll be eager to tune up further by recording an enormous win here.
This is the Cows’ final appearance in 2019 and barring any big-name rests for the Storm, which could actually happen, I don’t think that it will be a particularly fruitful trip to Melbourne.
The Canberra Raiders have enjoyed their best regular season in donkey’s years, and they can consolidate third position when the down and out New Zealand Warriors drag their feet into town on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors have barely shown up when there was a lot at stake and everything to play for, so I cannot imagine that there will be a whole lot of fight when it’s all over. Last week’s performance and loss to Souths at home was abysmal, and they’ve typically been worse on the road.
The Raiders meanwhile responded with a tough win over the Sharks in the Shire, and they obviously face a far easier task here. in theory they can still drop out of the four and while that is less than likely, I don’t think they’ll be going into this one with the foot on the brake.
The line is 11.5 points and I think that is generous towards the Warriors’ ability.
The season might be done and dusted for the Bulldogs, but they can still ruin things for the Broncos on Saturday evening.
Somehow, the Dogs remained a mathematical chance of making the eight heading into Round 24, despite barely firing a shot for the first 18 rounds of the comp. That was all but put to bed when they failed to overcome a weak Cowboys side however, and nothing less than regathering their previous form will be required to sink the Broncos.
The Broncos themselves weren’t that convincing for mind in Round 24; beating the Eels at home, in extra time is hardly the sort of performance that wins premierships but regardless, they’ll be in the eight and will be as good a chance as anyone from next week.
While I do think that Canterbury can win this, I just can’t picture them challenging for the full eighty.
This is the last time that we’ll see the Neds Gold Coast Titans go around in 2019 and everything that you need to know for this game, along with several tips, can be found in this week’s Titans Tips.
Wests Tigers, proudly sponsored by Neds, will lay their claims for a finals berth when they host the Cronulla Sharks, whose season is also on the line on Sunday afternoon. WHAT A GAME THIS IS GOING TO BE!
The Tigers have found top gear at the right point of the season, but this is obviously a must win and nothing less than another world-beating performance will be required to beat this tough Sharks outfit. Club legend Robbie Farah could confirm his retirement at any point this week and it would only be fitting to see the legendary hooker into one last finals campaign.
The Sharks, while not always pretty, have been finding ways of getting it done more often than not as the competition has quickly wound towards the finals. They were unlucky not to knock off the Raiders last week and in theory, should be facing an easier task here. I personally don’t think that they will be though, given what’s at stake.
I’m backing our boys to get it done.
What an appalling way for the regular season to finish. Two clubs who had bright prospects only a few weeks ago, but who have both suffered massive falls from grace and ultimately, played their way out of the finals picture.
There’s nothing on the line for either side, so I suppose that Penrith deserve favouritism at home? Tipping Kalyn Ponga to score a try at some point.