Rugby League: NRL Round 4 Preview

After a promising round of predictions last week, we bring you our NRL Round 4 Preview hoping for a perfect 8. Check out the rounds matches and teams below:

Parramatta Eels v South Sydney Rabbitohs

Eels – $3.25

Rabbitohs – $1.36

The Eels need all the help they can get in the Round’s opener at Pirtek Stadium. Home ground advantage will give them a small boost against the Rabbitohs, but’s its unlikely to get them over the line against the best side in the competition.

The Rabbitohs look increasingly like defending champions already after winning their three openers, two of which were against other top 4 contenders. They’ve lost Dylan Walker for a month through a hand injury but are otherwise at full strength. They are fortunate to have the best player in the NRL leading their side from fullback, and one of the toughest in Isaac Luke at hooker.

The Rabbits x-factor will be too much for an Eels line-up still missing ‘Semi-trialer’ and a number of other key personnel. Rabbitohs to win this one by 13+.

Eels: 1. Will Hopoate 2. John Folau 3. Ryan Morgan 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Reece Robinson 6. Corey Norman 7. Chris Sandow 8. Darcy Lussick 9. Nathan Peats 10. Tim Mannah (C) 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Anthony Watmough.

Interchange: 14. Issac De Gois 15. Joseph Paulo 16. Danny Wicks 17. David Gower.

Rabbitohs: 1. Greg Inglis (c) 2. Alex Johnston 3. Daryl Millard 4. Bryson Goodwin 5. Joel Reddy 6. Luke Keary 7. Adam Reynolds 8. George Burgess 9. Issac Luke 10. David Tyrrell 11. Glenn Stewart 12. Chris McQueen 13. Tim Grant

Interchange: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Jason Clark 16. Chris Grevsmuhl 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Ben Lowe 19. Nathan Brown

West Tigers v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs

Tigers – $3.05

Bulldogs – $1.40

The all Sydney second encounter should be settled in favour of the Superior Bulldogs side. They have made a good fist of the 2015 season and have plenty of go-forward from their in-form pack, particularly props Tolman and Graham. The Tigers look a better side in 2015, but still ely too heavily on Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods. While Tedesco, Moses and Brooks are fine young players and will are all future superstars, they’re all too defensively vulnerable and too easily targeted by opposition teams.

Pat Richards is serving a suspension and won’t play for the Tigers; he’s been replaced by Delouise Hoeter. Aaron Woods is also a doubtful starter despite being named.

The Bulldogs are unchanged. We think they’ll win this one, but only by 1-12. They’re not really big scorers no matter how dominant.

Tigers: 1 James Tedesco 2 Kevin Naiqama 3 Tim Simona 4 Chris Lawrence 5 Delouise Hoeter 6 Mitchell Moses 7 Luke Brooks 8 Aaron Woods 9 Robbie Farah 10. Keith Galloway 11. Curtis Sironen 12. Sauaso Sue 13. Martin Taupau.

Interchange: 14. Dene Halatau 15. Ava Seumanufagai 16. Jack Buchanan 17. Brenden Santi 18. Kyle Lovett

Bulldogs: 1 Brett Morris 2 Curtis Rona 3 Josh Morris 4 Tim Lafai 5 Sam Perrett 6 Moses Mbye 7 Trent Hodkinson 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Michael Lichaa 10 James Graham 11 Josh Jackson 12 Tony Williams 13 Greg Eastwood.

Interchange: 14 Sam Kasiano 15 David Klemmer 16 Frank Pritchard 17 Tim Browne.

Newcastle Knights v Penrith Panthers

Knights – $2.00

Panthers – $1.85

Second on the NRL ladder plays third in what shapes as an entertaining Saturday afternoon encounter between the Knights and the Panthers. The Knights are the surprise packages of 2015, winning all three games (one of only two teams to do so). They are playing an attractive brand of football entering around enterprising centre Dan Gagai. Gagai is about to be the most sought after property in the player market and Wayne Bennett has already made a play to bring him to the Broncos.

They got a little lucky last week, but will compete strongly again against the Panthers. The Panthers, like the Knights, had a TMO controversy last week, but this one went against them when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was denied a freakish try.

Both teams have well-settled squads so this is tricky to pick. We’ll have Panthers 1-12.

Knights: 1 Kurt Gidley 2 James McManus 3 Dane Gagai 4 Joseph Leilua 5 Akuila Uate 6 Jarrod Mullen 7 Tyrone Roberts 8 Kade Snowden 9 Adam Clydsdale 10 David Fa’alogo 11 Beau Scott 12 Robbie Rochow 13 Jeremy Smith.

Interchange: 14 Tyler Randell 15 Chris Houston 16 Paterika Vaivai 17 Jack Stockwell 18 Sione Mata’utia.

Panthers: 1. Matt Moylan 2. Josh Mansour 3.Dean Whare 4. Jamal Idris 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6. Isaac John 7. Peter Wallace 8. Sam Mckendry 9. James Segeyaro 10. Brent Kite 11. Sika Manu 12. Lewis Brown 13. Elijah Taylor.

Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Jeremy Latimore 16. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 17. Bryce Cartwright

Cronulla Sharks v Gold Coast Titans

Sharks – $1.52

Titans – $2.60

Cronulla have lost Ben Barba to suspension, but it may be a blessing in disguise for a team who are struggling for points. Wade Graham will play five-eighth instead, and will be hoping to use the for again Luke Lewis in a similar ball playing role to make it easier. Youngster Jack Bird is on the interchange bench if needed.

The Titans were okay last week. The TMO cost them dearly, as they didn’t struggle at all with the addition of the drug baron trio. The Sharks are favourites but the Titans could easily surprise. If you fancy adding some grunt to your multi this week, seriously consider the Titans. However, we’ll play it safe and tip the Sharks 1-12.

Sharks: 1 Michael Gordon 2 Sosaia Feki 3 Gerard Beale 4 Ricky Leutele 5 Valentine Holmes 6 Wade Graham 7 Jeff Robson 8 Andrew Fifita 9 Michael Ennis 10 Chris Heighington 11 Jayson Bukuya 12 Anthony Tupou 13 Paul Gallen.

Interchange: 14 Luke Lewis 15 Matt Prior 16 Jack Bird 17 David Fifita 18 Tinirau Arona.

Titans: 1 Josh Hoffman 2 Anthony Don 3 James Roberts 4 William Zillman 5 David Mead 6 Aidan Sezer 7 Kane Elgey 8 Luke Douglas 9 Beau Fallooon 10 Nate Myles 11 Ryan James 12 Dave Taylor 13 Greg Bird.

Interchange: 14 Eddy Pettybourne 15 Matt White 16 Ryan Simpkins 17 Kierran Moseley 18 Agnatius Paasi.

St George Illawarra Dragons v Manly Sea Eagles

Dragons – $2.30

Sea Eagles – $1.65

The worst team of the first two weeks (the Dragons) surprised all last week by sneaking some points against the Raiders in a fast finish. They need to thank youngster Euan Aitken and experienced frontman Trent Merrin for doing so after the pair put in huge efforts in the second half. Aitken was a revelation at centre, and he keeps his place after running for more than 200m on debut. Want-away Merrin was also huge and finally gets a start this week with Jack de Belin absent.

They’ll need a similar effort against the always professional Manly side who welcome back Jamie Lyon and Kieran Foran. Those two will add a huge amount of experience and nous to the side. The additions should be enough to get them home, by 13+ in our view.

Dragons: 1 Josh Dugan 2 Eto Nabuli 3 Euan Aitken 4 Dylan Farrell 5 Jason Nightingale 6 Gareth Widdop 7 Benji Marshall 8 Leeson Ah Mau 9 Mitch Rein 10 Mike Cooper 11 Tyson Frizell 12 Joel Thompson 13 Trent Merrin.

Interchange: 14 Rory O’Brien 15 Jack de Belin 16 Jake Marketo 17 Heath L’Estrange 20 George Rose.

Sea Eagles: 1 Brett Stewart 2 Cheyse Blair 3 Jamie Lyon 4 Steve Matai 5 Peta Hiku 6 Kieran Foran 7 Daly Cherry-Evans 8 Luke Burgess 9 Matt Ballin 10 Willie Mason 11 Feleti Mateo 12 Jamie Buhrer 13 Dunamis Lui.

Interchange: 14 Jesse Sene-Lefao 15 Jake Trbojevic 16 Tom Symonds 17 Ligi Sao 18 Justin Horo.

New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos

Warriors – $1.67

Broncos – $2.25

The Warriors are slight favourites to pip the Broncos at home in one of the closest games of the round. Both sides enjoyed relatively comfortable wins last week, with the Broncos in particular looking strong as Ben Hunt finally took a game by the scruff of the neck.

The Warriors youngsters of Kata, Lolohea, Vete and Lisone continue to impress. But Tomkins is a huge loss at the back of the field. We feel as though that’s determinative in this one, and that Hunt will take control of the game better than Shaun Johnson will. Broncos to cause an upset and win by 1-12.

Warriors: 1 Tuimoala Lolohea, 2 Jonathan Wright, 3 Matt Allwood, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Chad Townsend, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jacob Lillyman, 9 Thomas Leuluai, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Bodene Thompson, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Simon Mannering.

Interchange: 14 Nathan Friend, 15 Ben Henry, 16 Sam Lisone, 17 Albert Vete, 18 Dominique Peyroux.

Broncos: 1 Jordan Kahu, 2 Corey Oates, 3 Jack Reed, 4 Justin Hodges, 5 Lachlan Maranta, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Ben Hunt, 8 Josh McGuire, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Matt Gillett 13, Corey Parker,

Interchange: 14 Jarrod Wallace, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Sam Thaiday 17 Kodi Nikorima 18 Todd Lowrie

Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders

Rossters – $1.16

Raiders – $5.50

The Roosters will be buoyed by Blake Ferguson’s return to form. He scored two tries last week against the Panthers and looked impressive eon defence and attack. His form completes the puzzle for the Roosters who look well on their way to a top 4 finish this year. The interchange strength of the Roosters continues to wow – Kane Evans and Sio Siua Taukeiaho some of the biggest and most exciting forwards in our game.

The Raiders, despite being much improved from last year, can’t quite finish off games. The win adjacent the Sharks could have been followed up with Warriors and Dragons scalps if their execution had of been better. they have Jack Wighton back, along with Fensom and Buttriss.

They don’t have a chance though. Roosters by 13+.

Roosters: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 Daniel Tupou 3 Michael Jennings 4 Blake Ferguson 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6 James Maloney 7 Mitchell Pearce 8 Jared WaereaHargreaves 9 Matt McIlwrick 10 Sam Moa 11 Boyd Cordner 12 Aidan Guerra 13 Isaac Liu

Interchange: 14 Mitchell Aubusson 15 Dylan Napa 16 Kane Evans 17 Sio Siua Taukeiaho 18 Willie Manu 19 Lagi Setu

Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Sisa Waqa 3. Jarrod Croker © 4. Edrick Lee 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Mitch Cornish 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dane Tilse 11. Jarrad Kennedy 12. Iosia Soliola 13. Shaun Fensom

Interchange: 14. Glen Buttriss 15. Frank-Paul Nuuausala 16. Paul Vaughan 17. Shannon Boyd

North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm

Cowboys – $1.80

Storm – $2.05

A Cowboys side getting no effort from a tired looking forward-pack are desperate to get some competition points before their 2015 chances fade away. They host the Storm on Monday, and will be hoping LoLo and Thurston can bring their international experience to a squad lacking in direction. We’d have them use Jake Granville in the starting hooker spot to spark something different than Kostjasyn, but instead they have dropped O’Neil and Feldt for Wright and Winterstein.

No changes to the Storm. They played nice against the Sharks last week and will prevail the Cowboys too. Picking an upset here, Storm 1-12.

Cowboys: 1 Lachlan Coote 2 Matthew Wright 3 Tautau Moga 4 Kane Linnett 5 Antonio Winterstein 6 Michael Morgan 7 Johnathan Thurston 8 Matthew Scott 9 Rory Kostjasyn 10 James Tamou 11 Gavin Cooper 12 Ethan Lowe 13 Jason Taumalolo.

Interchange: 14 Jake Granville 15 Kelepi Tanginoa 16 Scott Bolton 17 Ben Hannant 18 John Asiata.

Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Young Tonumaipea 3. William Chambers 4. Kurt Mann 5. Marika Koroibete 6. Blake Green 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 10. Jordan McLean 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 15. Tim Glasby 16. Dayne Weston 17. Felise Kaufusi 18. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 19. Hymel Hunt

Odds available at Sportsbet.