Uncool Dad’s Round 3 NRL Preview
Before I move onto Uncool Dad’s Round 3 NRL Preview let’s have a quick look at Round 2. It looked difficult to pick on paper and proved exactly that for most. So many of the games were 50/50 propositions so if you were able to get more than a few right it would have set you up nicely in your tipping comp. However, a couple of false moves and you would have been down in the depths of your work tipping ladder and no doubt the butt of all jokes!
Luckily for me, I did pretty well scoring 6/8 with The Storm letting me down and of course my Rabbitohs getting done by Penrith despite a top effort. My bets were on song once again with only the Bunnies and Storm missing in my recommended wagers. All the other games had a collect, some more than one. I hope someone followed!
Onto the new round and whilst the match ups don’t look quite as even we know that anything could happen. Some teams are starting to get a bit on the desperate side as you really don’t want to be 0-3 after 3 rounds. Let’s have a look at the team lists which dropped yesterday and see what we come up with..
If you’re having a punt remember to gamble responsibly.
Sea Eagles v Eels
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Cooper Johns 20. Morgan Harper 21. Karl Lawton 22. Ben Condon
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Matt Doorey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Jirah Momoisea 15. Jack Murchie 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Haze Dunster 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Isaac Lumelume
Manly -2.5, Eels +2.5
The Match
The Eels slumped to their second loss in a row last week, both were at home which makes it worse. They haven’t been too bad, only going down by small margins but they haven’t been able to crack it for a win yet. I suspect that we may not see the best of Parramatta until Matterson and Lane return. I would have added Nathan Brown too but he’s signed with the Roosters under their limitless salary cap.
We haven’t seen much of Manly but what we have seen has been impressive. They were the best side in the pre-season and grabbed a dominant win early against the Doggies who have since won. There will be a big crowd on hand at Brookie to cheer them home for a 2/2 record.
Both sides look strong but I do have a question mark over Parra’s back row and general forward depth. Schuster comes in for Manly which I think will improve them further.
The Tip
The Eels will be desperate for a win here after losing their first 2 and drawing Penrith next week. Parra are more than capable of winning but I’m having trouble going past Manly at home. They have plenty of attacking options and look to be on a bit of roll with their new coach.
The Bet
Manly straight out at $1.75 seems good. If you’re more daring you could take Manly 1-12.
Knights v Dolphins
Knights team: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Jack Hetherington 11. Brodie Jones 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Leo Thompson 14. Ryan Rivett 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Johns 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Enari Tuala 19. Greg Marzhew 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Ben Talty 22. Thomas Cant
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Kodi Nikorima 10. Jarrod Wallace 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Connelly Lemuelu 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Kurt Donoghoe 18. Mason Teague 19. Poasa Faamausili 20. JJ Collins 21. Anthony Milford 22. Robert Jennings
Knights +4.5, Dolphins -4.5
The Match
We have two last start winners squaring up for the early Friday game and this should be a good clash. The Knights showed some rare resilience against the Tigers and scored a brave win after losing Ponga and Brailey to HIA and having Saifiti dismissed. The Dolphins continued their super start to big time footy with a come from behind win against Canberra in the mud at Redcliffe.
This game has been robbed of a bit of quality as the Knights have been hit by a stack of injuries and a suspension. The Newcastle line-up looks fairly skinny here with their depth truly tested. What would have been a pretty even contest is now weighted in The Dolphins’ favour as they have the more settled side. Let’s face it, Wayne’s boys have been going pretty well too!
The Tip
I think we have to keep riding the Dolphins’ wave here. I think Newcastle will try hard in front of their home fans for the first time in 2023 but the Dolphins should outlast them over 80 mins.
The Bet
Dolphins to win at $1.62 seems good but I doubt that price will be available by kick off. I expect the Knights to give it a go so maybe Dolphins 1-12 could be a decent gamble.
Roosters v Rabbitohs
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Jake Turpin 15. Drew Hutchison 16. Terrell May 17. Fletcher Baker 18. Naufahu Whyte 19. Ben Thomas 20. Sandon Smith 21. Corey Allan 22. Siua Wong
Rabbitohs team: 1.. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Michael Chee Kam 13. Cameron Murray 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Hame Sele 16. Davvy Moale 17. Shaq Mitchell 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Ben Lovett 21. Taane Milne 22. Peter Mamouzelos
Roosters +2.5, Rabbitohs -2.5
The Match
The blockbuster game that every footy fan looks forward to is on this Friday. I’ve lost count of the league fans who don’t support either team that have told me how much they loved last year’s semi. I was there for that and will be there on Friday for my first live game of 2023. Can’t wait!
The Rabbitohs have 2 massive inclusions in Sele and Tatola coming back into their side. This strengthens up the middle dramatically and makes them even stronger. The Roosters, however, also have some good players coming back with JWH and Radley into the mix.
South Sydney’s form has been better so far this season but the Roosters are looking more settled. They would have had this game marked on their calendars after being bundled out by their arch rivals in last year’s finals.
The Tip
Souths
The Bet
Just happy for Souths to win.
Titans v Storm
Titans team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Erin Clark 16. Jo Vuna 17. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Klese Haas 20. Toby Sexton 21. Keano Kini 22. Treymain Spry
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tariq Sims 17. Jordan Grant 18. Grant Anderson 19. Aaron Pene 20. Young Tonumaipea 21. Bronson Garlick 22. Kane Bradley
Titans +6.5, Storm -6.5
The Match
This is a very interesting clash for our first game of Super Saturday. Both sides were pretty ordinary in Round 2 after kicking off the season with wins. The Titans got hammered by a fired up Dragons whilst a very lacklustre Storm went down to Canterbury in Melbourne.
I did mention in last week’s preview that the Storm side looked very thin. Despite this, I thought they’d still find a way to win like they usually do. But no, it looks as if the injuries may have caught up with them. I wasn’t that surprised the Titans went down to the Dragons as the merger side had a lot to play for given the criticism they’d copped.
The Gold Coast team looks relatively unchanged from the last 2 weeks. As always, they have lots of exciting attacking players but you never know what you’re going to get. The Storm still looks weak and are now missing big Nelson however Sims, Olam and Kamikamica are good inclusions.
The Tip
This is a real tough one. I don’t like the look of the Melbourne team at all but figure they will be smarting after last week. They need to start banking some wins too. A Titans win though would not surprise at all.
The Bet
Either side 1-12
Cowboys v Warriors
Cowboys team: 1. Tomas Chester 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Coen Hess 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. James Tamou 18. Heilum Luki 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Taniela Sadrugu 21. Riley Price 22. Mitchell Dunn
Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Edward Kosi 3. Brayden Wiliame 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Mitchell Barnett 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Josh Curran 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Tom Ale 18. Viliami Vailea 20. Freddy Lussick 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Jazz Tevaga 23. Rocco Berry
Cowboys -9.5, Warriors +9.5
The Match
The middle Saturday game is also an intriguing one. You have the Cowboys who got dusted by the red-hot Broncos up against a NZ side which has so far been fairly solid.
Despite being 1-1, the NQ side still looks very strong on paper. They are missing Hiku this week which gives Shibasaki an opportunity. Luki is an interesting 18th man and will surely come in if he’s fit. He looked like a really dangerous attacking forward before getting injured last year.
I have no complaints about the NZ side. They look pretty much intact from the team that featured in the first 2 weeks and should continue to work hard for new coach Webster.
The Tip
I think you have to go with the Cowboys here at home. They will be looking to make up for last week’s loss against Brisbane but won’t have it all their own way against an improving Warriors side.
The Bet
Cowboys to win but not worth it at $1.42. Possibly Cows 1-12 for a bit of value.
Broncos v Dragons
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Martin Taupau 18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Xavier Willison 21. Jock Madden 22. Delouise Hoeter
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Zane Musgrove 16.
Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr 18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Talatau Amone 22. Aaron Woods
Broncos -11.5, Dragons +11.5
The Match
Two sides that have built up a bit of a rivalry over the years meet up in the late Saturday match. The Broncos couldn’t have been more impressive in their first two games but the Dragons also silenced their detractors with a classy first-up performance.
Both teams look unchanged from last round which is unsurprising given the strength of their wins. The Broncos team looks seriously stacked with Reece Walsh making them look even more ominous. The Dragons don’t have the same star power but are still fielding a decent NRL line-up.
The Tip
I expect the Broncos to continue on their winning ways in front of a packed home crowd. The Dragons were good last week but they may come back to earth with a thud if Brisbane play to their potential.
The Bet
I don’t mind Brisbane by -11.5 here. I’d say that line will go out further by kick off though.
Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Bulldogs team: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Jayden Okunbor 15. Corey Waddell 16. Franklin Pele 17. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Braidon Burns 20. Karl Oloapu 21. Josh Reynolds 22. Jackson Topine 23. Jayden Tanner
Tigers team: 1. Charlie Staines 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Brent Naden 4. Starford To’a 5. Junior Tupou 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Asu Kepaoa 12. Shawn Blore 13. Fonua Pole 14. Brandon Wakeham 15. Alex Twal 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Brandon Tumeth 18. Justin Matamua 19. Alex Seyfarth 20. John Bateman 21. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 22. Jahream Bula
Bulldogs -9.5, Tigers +9.5
The Match
Belmore will be absolutely heaving on Sunday afternoon for this monster clash against another popular Sydney rivals. The Dogs started on fire against a very flat Melbourne and got the win away from home. I’m not sure if the Storm would have troubled too many sides that night but the win was nothing to be sneezed at.
On the other hand, the Tigers couldn’t have been much worse against a seriously depleted Newcastle. I think the home fans would be just about ready to burn down the sacred Leichhardt Oval given they never seem to win there any more. They will certainly be looking to bounce back and get their first win but do they have the team to do it?
The Canterbury team looks unchanged whilst Wests seemed to have shuffled their team a little. Staines gets a start at fullback and I think To’a might be a new inclusion.
The Tip
You have to go for the Bulldogs at home. They looked good last week and a packed Belmore will be a definite advantage.
The Bet
Dogs to win. Don’t mind the 1-12 bet for Canterbury as I expect Wests to improve and make a game of it.
Raiders v Sharks
Raiders team: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Pasami Saulo 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera 14. Tom Starling 15. Trey Mooney 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Emre Guler 18. Zac Woolford 19. Matt Frawley 20. James Schiller 21. Semi Valemei 22. Peter Hola
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Royce Hunt 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Jack Williams 18. Connor Tracey 19. Thomas Hazelton 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Daniel Atkinson
Raiders +3.5, Sharks -3.5
The Match
I really like this match-up to end the round. We have last start winners Cronulla who got the job done without Hynes at Parra versus a Canberra side who are 0-2 but have their first game at home.
The Sharks look to be fielding the same side as last week. They look strong across the park and have plenty of good attacking options. Sure they’d be better if they had Nicho but Trindall is possibly the best back-up half in the comp. The Raiders are still looking a little thin in the backs but they have at least been competitive in both their games. They wouldn’t have been impressed about dropping a game to the Dolphins and will be fired up for this.
The Tip
I don’t mind the Sharks as a team but I’m going to go with the Raiders here. It’s rare for teams to lose 3 in a row early on and I think this is a good opportunity to jump on the home team. Coach Stuart will have them primed and expect their big forwards to be ferocious.
The Bet
Raiders head to head at $2.19 looks good. Either team 1-12 for the conservative punter should salute as it will be tight. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some points in this game too, Over 43.5 could be a good option.
Match info from NRL.com
Team info from foxsports.com.au
Betting info from Sportsbet.com.au
Let’s go punters….I can’t wait for Round 3 to start and get back amongst it at Trellianz on Friday night! Let’s hope for another round of winners and collects. Go Souths!
Uncool Dad’s Round 3 NRL Preview.
By Greg Allan for Bunnies TV.
Add comment