NRL Round 19 Tips & Preview

NRL Round 19 Tips & Preview

Queensland will host all eight matches in Round 19 of the NRL as conditions in the southern states remain unsteady.

The general vibe around the Suncorp Stadium precinct last Sunday gave a similar feel to Magic Round, and Brisbane fans will be treated to another double-header on Saturday, with both Sunday games to be played on the Gold Coast this week.

I’ve previewed the lot, and you can find my complete NRL Round 19 Tips below.

Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders
Eels (-12.5)

Thursday night footy takes us back to the Gold Coast and the Parramatta Eels have opened as clear and justifiable favourites to beat the Canberra Raiders.

They remain a genuine Top 4 side in 2021, and the Eels enter Round 19 in winning form after outclassing the Neds Titans.

With the Origin period in the rear-view mirror, it’s full steam ahead towards the finals, and winning matches like this one remains crucial to their home final prospects.

The Raiders’ season has been largely terrible, but they appear to have regathered a bit of form and confidence recently, and they are incredibly chasing a third win in succession this week after downing the Sea Eagles and the Sharks. I personally think that it will prove a bridge too far.

Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights
Knights (+11.5)

Another one-sided contest could very well materialise between the Roosters and the Knights on the Sunshine Coast on Friday evening.

The Roosters have had to do without a lot of key players in 2021, but so good is the quality of their bottom line that they have continued to win more often than not, and ultimately hold down prominent position on the ladder.

They proved too good for the Cowboys after trailing early last week, and they will take plenty of beating again in Round 19.

The Knights have been awful more often than not, but they are always a far better prospect when Kalyn Ponga is fit.

I don’t think that they will win, but I am going to give them the chance to cover an 11.5-point line.

best bet
North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm
Storm (-26)

Betting suggests that the most one-sided match of the round will come up in Friday night’s primetime slot, and it really isn’t hard to see why.

The Cows have definitely punched above their weight in 2021, but they have fallen back out of form recently as their defence simply hasn’t shown up.

That will not do them any favours at all against the league’s most potent, multi-dimensional attack in Round 19, and it would not be surprising to see the Storm put up another cricket score.

They were a very easy ‘Best Bet’ to cover the line as favourites against the Knights last week, and I can’t find a reason not to repeat that bet on Friday.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors
Rabbitohs (-16)

South Sydney can consolidate their position in the top three by beating the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

At times it wasn’t pretty, but they put up 32 points against an improving Bulldogs side in Round 18 and it was enough to get the job done.

The Warriors’ inability to perform when the pressure goes on was on show again last Sunday, and they were comfortably outplayed by a weakened Panthers outfit in the second half of their match, losing 30-16.

I’m not entirely convinced by Souths’ premiership prospects, but I am convinced that they are a far better side than the Warriors.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Wests Tigers
SGM: Sea Eagles (-18)/Turbo, Saab Anytime

The Sea Eagles welcome back their stars, and the Tigers (proudly sponsored by Neds) are the unlucky side charged with containing Tom Trbojevic in Round 19.

Comparing Manly with Turbo to Manly without Turbo is like chalk and cheese, but fans were surely thrilled with their effort and win over the Dragons last week without the prolific fullback, his brother and DCE to boot.

I genuinely believe that they are one of the few sides who can worry the Storm at the pointy end of the season, and they look well placed to put on another clinic in Round 19.

The Tigers muscled up and proved too good for the Broncos here at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, really running away with it in the final ten minutes.

This is an enormous rise in class for them, however, and they would need to produce a season-best performance to compete.

Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos
Panthers (-17.5)

The Panthers can record yet another win at the expense of the down-and-out Broncos on Saturday night.

They’ve been dealing with several key injuries and most of their side being out for Origin, but the Panthers have maintained their position in the NRL Top 2, and they were too good for the Warriors at Suncorp on Sunday.

The Broncos’ woes have continued, and despite being right in their game with Wests last week, they went to water with 15 to play and were subsequently flogged.

It would be the upset of the season if Kevvie’s boy somehow got up here.

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Gold Coast Titans
SGM: Titans Win/Brimson Anytime

The Neds Titans can bounce back at the expense of the Dragons on Sunday afternoon.

The Dragons looked well placed to compete with a depleted Manly outfit in Round 18, but after something of a competitive start, they fell apart once more.

They line up opposite a Titans’ side who struggled to compete with the Eels in Round 18, but who still have plenty of upside, and who have proven that they can compete with most other clubs on their day.

I’m confident that Justin Holbrook has spent the week stripping everything back and working on the fundamentals, and I think that the Titans can and will convert a win as a result.

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Cronulla Sharks
Bulldogs to Win ($3.90)

They’ve still only won the two games all year, but you’d have to have been living under a rock not to notice the Bulldogs’ improved form since being touched up by Manly, and they will surely be a handful for the Sharks on Sunday evening.

Having gone within six of upsetting the Roosters a fortnight ago, the Dogs were again in the contest with Souths almost all the way in Round 18, and managed to score twenty-four points in the process.

The Sharks have proven to be extremely difficult to trust again, and they were handsomely beaten by an out of form Raiders outfit last week.

I’m still coming to terms with it, but I actually think the Dogs might sneak home.