The NRL is back and it’s viva Las Vegas baby!
Check out our tips below and get the best insights from the Neds NRL Unpopular Opinons Podcast. Subscribe now!
Manly and South Sydney kick off the 2024 season from Las Vegas and both teams are missing key personnel.
Manly have lost prop Tof Sipley and backrower Josh Schuster while Souths have been hit hard in the outside backs with Jack Wighton suspended and Tyrone Munro and Campbell Graham hurt. Souths have dominated this matchup with seven straight wins with four of the last five by more than 14 points. Manly also have a heinous opening round record with just one win from their last 10 Round 1 matches.
Souths were a poor betting team last year covering just nine of 24 but they look a play. The top bet in the match though is the under.
The under has hit in 13 of 16 Round 1 games and hits at 63.6% in Round 1 night games dating back to 2008. Look to work around Richie Kennar in tryscorer markets. He has 13 tries in 15 games with Souths including six in his last seven. He matches up against average defender Selwyn Cobbo, who is now playing out of position.
Recommended Bets
- Next Best: South Sydney Win ($1.73)
- Tryscorer: Richie Kennar ($19 First/$3.50 Anytime)
- SGM: Under 34.5 Alternate Total/Latrell Mitchell Anytime Try ($9.89
We will be steaming into the under for the second game with the totals seeming well off with the field dimensions both shorter and narrower.
The Roosters struggled with the third-worst attack in the competition last year and won’t solve those issues in this game while the Broncos are a team that like playing an expansive game and will hurt the most from the field.
The Roosters do look value in this one. Losing Grand Finalists tend to be overrated the following season and their depth has taken a big hit, particularly in the pack where the Roosters are so strong. Underdogs cover at 58% in Round 1 and suspect they have had a better preparation leading into this. Work around Sitili Tupouniua in try markets. He has been named to start and he has 23 tries in 49 starts in the second row. He is massive overs and his anytime bet is the best trycorer bet of the Vegas double-header.
Recommended Bets
- Next Best: Sydney Roosters +3.5 ($1.90)
- Tryscorer: Sitili Tupouniua ($21 First/$3.80 Anytime)
- SGM: Sydney +7.5 Alternate Handicap/Under 32.5 Alternate Total/Joseph Suaalii Anytime Try ($9.94)