TipResumen

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Sydney Roosters are fresh off an absolute trouncing of the Sea Eagles who are having their worst season in living memory. The final score in that match away at Brookvale oval can only make the Roosters faithful smile from ear to ear. 24-56, after leading 6-34 at HT the Roosters did take their foot off the pedal in the second stanza eventually winning the second half 18-22. An impressive performance no doubt and with 10 tries from the Roosters, the Dragons better have the defensive hats on. After resting their Origin players the week prior and still managing a victory against the Titans Coach Trent Robinson has to be very happy coming to the pointy end of the season. Fresh players, few injuries, the Roosters are a very good option if you are considering a wager for the title. Tedesco is a big part of the attacking options for Sydney and his support play is certainly on the up. His combination with halves Keary and Cronk is slowly gaining momentum and looking very good come finals time. The other man who is going very well is Latrell Mitchell, he has taken his selection in the NSW Blues in his stride and the confidence gained at that level is flowing over into the Roosters. Isaac Liu and Mitchell Abusson return in the only changes for Sydney.



ST GEORGE DRAGONS

St George had a good away victory in Townsville last round eventually coming out victorious against the lacklustre Cowboys who have had a shocker of a season. Halting a two game slide. Leading 10-18 at HT there was only the one try in the second half, final score 10-24. This match was in interesting watch as the Cowboys were certainly not out of it, in fact had a couple of calls gone their way the Cowboys could have been celebrating a rare victory in 2018. This was in contrast to the week prior where the Tigers upset St George in a closely fought encounter 16-20. Dragons Fullback Dufty had a blinder, scoring a try and setting one up, his match up with Tedesco will be well worth watching. The support play from Dufty is very good, maybe better than Tedesco and I am sure Dufty will want to outplay his more fancied opponent. The other big matchup is of course the halves, Hunt and Widdop who have played well since the opening minute of round one up against Cronk and Keary who have only really just started to click, just in time for the finals. Tyson Frizzell returns for the Dragons in their only change.



THE BETTING VERDICT

Back on Anzac day, Round 8 these two sides met and the Dragons won easily in the end 24- 8. Nene Macdonald scored two tries in that game and he is absent with a foot injury, Jordan Pereira is his replacement, Macdonald is expected to return next weekend. Some interesting points to note here are the Roosters have lost all 3 matches against top 4 sides this season, this is their chance to break that trend. The Dragons last beat the Roosters twice in a season in 2010, the last time they won the premiership. Current odds have the home side Roosters favourites $1.65 to $2.30, handicap line 3.5 points and combined points 37.5. Both sides are playing well but I do see the Roosters as favourites as do the bookies. I also do not see either side blowing out a high scoreline given the good defensive records they both hold. Roosters are first in this category with just 263 points conceded to date, the Dragons are 4th with 316. So given the predicted closeness of the battle and with both sides desperate to stay in the top 4 a 1-12 betting option looks a very solid option. Roosters to win by 6 points