NRL Round 7

By Stephen Gallagher

THURSDAY: Dolphins V Rabbitohs – Suncorp Stadium – 22.00NZT

Both were big winners last week, and both getting important players back this weekend – this is shaping up to be a great game to kick us off with round seven.

What Redcliffe did last week in Townsville shows they this club has the DNA of Wayne Bennett all over it.

They definitely have the systems and belief to knock Souths off.

The way that Souths were toying with their opposition by the end of the match was quite something last weekend. They provided tries at will, and the way Souths play both sides of the field equally is so good to watch.

Plus with this being Bennett’s former side, there’s another element of interest in this game.

TIP: Rabbitohs 1-12

 

FRIDAY – Sharks V Roosters – PointsBet Stadium – 20.00NZT

They’ve had two weeks to mull over that loss have Cronulla, and they’ll want to rectify that at all costs.

Roosters were also thoroughly outplayed last week and have a great record over the Sharks at Cronulla.

I think the Sharks are more settled in 2023, despite their defensive flaws. The Rooster still look like they’re tracking at about 70%, which isn’t bad considering they’ve only lost two games.

I think being fresh off the bye will definitely help, but it won’t mean the Roosters will make it an arm wrestle. Their forward pack is still performing incredibly well despite missing some key players.

TIP: Sharks 1-12

 

Sea Eagles V Storm – 4 Pines Park – 22.05NZT

The last two weeks have been a write-off for Manly in terms of defence. Leaked plenty of points and haven’t shown much resilience like they had in the opening month of the competition.

This Storm clash comes at a bad time for them too, as they are on the back foot massively.

Melbourne stood up and delivered at home against the Roosters and will look to take that confidence on the road and do it to Manly.

Interesting to see Munster named in the 1 jersey, but it makes sense in the way that rookie Jonah Pezet has been filling in around the halves this season.

Manly needs to show a bit of backbone, otherwise, it could be another pantsing.

TIP: Storm 13+

SATURDAY: Warriors V Cowboys – Mount Smart Stadium – 17.00NZT

Both sides were bettered last weekend.

Meeting only four weeks ago, it seems bizarre they meet again but it works in the Warriors favour as they are in much better form than North Queensland.

It shows that despite their outs, the players coming in have been doing more than just a job.

Will be a big ask without Martin and Egan, two of their best this season, but they just look better in all departments compared to the Cowboys.

A Saturday arvo Wahs game always is a nice touch, and you can bet they’ll run that same strategy that gave them a 13+ win last time these two met. Composed kicking with smart kicking.

TIP: Warriors 1-12

 

Knights V Panthers – McDonald Jones Stadium – 19.30NZT

I think anyone who comes up against the Panthers are going to be a little nervous, but the way Newcastle have gone about their work the last couple of weeks gives me the impression they will just go out there and try stick it to them.

It will be tough without a proper hooker for the remainder of 2023, but this Knights side look to be growing together as a side.

No changes to the Panthers, obviously, and you just expect them to notch up plenty of points while conceding only a few. In some hot form right now.

TIP: Panthers 13+

 

Titans V Broncos – CBus Super Stadium – 21.30NZT

A loss is just what the doctor ordered for the Broncos, who will have learnt so much from that than scraping in with a last gap win which was on the cards.

The Gold Coast looked to play better as the game went on last week, which gives them hope for this Queensland clash.

I still think that Brisbane will be too hot to handle, and will want to prove that last week’s loss against Canberra was just a hiccup.

Those one-percenters will be crucial this week, as that’s what cost them.

Titans will just want to score tries on them, and don’t mind so much about conceding them. They love a shoot-out.

TIP: Broncos 13+

 

SUNDAY: Raiders V Dragons – Cbus Super Stadium 16.05NZT

That gutsy win can be the platform to launch the Raiders season. They’ve shown they can be that side, and it’s important they stick it to the Dragons this week to get that ball rolling.

While the Dragons had their opportunities, they ultimately let themselves down when it mattered the most.

This game reeks of a slog. Two sides that haven’t really got going yet are somehow just out of the eight.

Canberra will bring the niggle which excites them. The Dragons will have to be smart not to get sucked in.

TIP: Raiders 1-12

 

Eels V Bulldogs – Commbank Stadium – 28.05NZT

Both of these sides sit next to each other near the foot of the ladder after six weeks. 

The side Canterbury-Bankstown have named is definitely stronger than the near-reserve grade forward pack they had to scrape together in a loss last week.

While Parra’s performance wasn’t a convincing win, it was a win – and that helps them relieve a bit of pressure.

No pun intended, but this has the writings of a dog-fight. It can get messy, it might get fiery, and it might be hard to watch.

Something tells me this Bulldogs side will bounceback after their drubbing and upset the Eels.

TIP: Bulldogs 1-12

BYE: Tigers… should be a competitive match…both have a lot in common

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