NRL: Lead up to the Finals

This week’s NRL finals promise to produce intriguing Rugby League. The first week of the finals saw some very strange results which turned the betting market at online betting agencies like 888sport upside down. Both the Bulldogs and the Storm have the weekend off now with four other teams desperate to book their chance at a Grand Final next weekend.

The first game sees the Parramatta Eels host the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night. The Eels showed that they are the form side of the competition when they comfortably beat the Minor Premiers St George last weekend. The Eels were coming off a thrashing the week before (against the same side, at the same venue) but turned the tables with the help of their inspirational forward leader Nathan Hindmarsh who returned from injury. The Gold Coast on the other hand lost their home final to the Broncos in a high scoring affair that saw the coach blame the refereeing for his side’s loss. 888sport has Parramatta as 8.5 point favourites in line betting which is a big start to give away to the Titans. The Titans have been very good all year and have nothing to lose and a fighting effort against the Eels should see them be competitive.

The other game this weekend showcases St George who will travel up north to face the Brisbane Broncos. If there was ever a dream match-up then this would be it. The Saints have been the best team all year but they face a Brisbane side that has found devastating form at the right end of the season. The Dragons will still start slight favourites but there are plenty of positives for the Brisbane side. The Broncos will have a huge home crowd advantage and have no injury concerns. They face an opposition that played a very hard game in hot conditions last week and the Broncos get the advantage of an extra day to recover from their last game. Add to this the fact that the Saints are coached by former multi-premiership Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett then you have all the ingredients for a memorable game.