Oscar Pannifex breaks down the opening week of the NRLW Finals, offering his usual expertise, analysis, and betting plays on the neds blog!
These two clubs will run it back in Week 1 of the NRLW Finals after facing each other just last week in NRLW Round 11.
Canberra were the better side on that occasion but there’s a bit to like about what Wests might do here at home and on the big stage.
Kezie Apps was a notable absence from the Tigers pack last week and she makes a big difference both defensively and in yardage here. Add in the return of Caitlan Turnbull at fullback and suddenly Wests profile much better in the field position battle.
Tigers looked at their best last week when attacking around the ruck. Simaima Taufa leaves a big hole in this Raiders middle and Wests clearly had a plan to target those very spaces last. Sarah Togatuki proved a handy decoy in the lead up to Shenae Lendill and Salma Nour tries and can be a play-to target again for the Tigers good-ball attack.
On the few occasions Wests did shift the ball, Rikeya Horne was the target at right centre. Look for Raecene McGregor to tie up Zahara Temara with a lead decoy and create some space for Turnbull or Horne to run down that right tram line.
Prediction: Wests Tigers to Cover the Line (+4.5 Points) @ $1.90
Anytime Tryscorer: Rikeya Horne @ $3.40, Sarah Togatuki @ $6.20
It looked like the wheels had fallen off in Brisbane for more than a moment there, but the Broncos have played themselves back into form and back into another NRLW finals campaign.
The poise of Ali Brigginshaw’s at halfback has proven the perfect foil at times this year for Tamika Upton and Jesse Southwell – two primarily running threats – to go to work. Strong in yardage to consistently earn the field position needed to post points, it’s typically Upton who plays conductor inside-twenty.
While far from an easy proposition, it’s a simple one for Newcastle this week; contain Upton and they’ll contain the Broncos attack.
It feels like the bookies are backing Brisbane on reputation and I love the start for Newcastle here.
Kirra Dibb’s boot continues to keep the Knights in the contest while their defence last week was far better than the 32-point scoreline suggests. In reality, the Gold Coast were camped on Newcastle’s line for the best part of 70 minutes and only pulled away in the final quarter.
If the Knights can defend like they did last week, they’ve proven more than efficient enough in good-ball to keep this close.
Tips: Newcastle Knights to Cover the Line (+15.5 Points) @ $1.90,
Anytime Tryscorer: Olivia Higgins @ $5.75, Kirra Dibb @ $5.25
