NRL Round 6 betting preview: Parramatta to prolong Wests Tigers’ record-breaking losing streak
The Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters meet in a blockbuster clash to kick off round six with the visitors forced to do without their captain, James Tedesco, following a head knock he suffered last week.
On Good Friday, the Bunnies and Bulldogs will do battle in the afternoon before the Cowboys and Dolphins meet for the first time. North Queensland may be struggling right now but they have won five of their last six against fellow Queensland sides.
Elsewhere, Penrith host Manly having won six matches in a row against them, while the high-flying Broncos boast an even better record than this against their opponents, the Canberra Raiders. Brisbane have won 11 of their last 12 against them at Suncorp Stadium.
On Sunday, the Warriors will be aiming for back-to-back wins against Newcastle for the first time in six years, before the round is concluded when the Wests Tigers attempt to snap their 10-game losing streak against Parramatta on Easter Monday.
Here’s The Sporting News’ betting predictions for Round 6.
Jahrome Hughes to return with a bang
After serving a two-match suspension for his high shot on Tanah Boyd, Jahrome Hughes returns in the halves for Melbourne’s clash with the Roosters.
There aren’t many other teams who the Kiwi international prefers playing against having notched four tries in his last six meetings with them.
Sydney's defence seems to struggle to get a read on the halfback after he has also recorded five assists in that time.
Melbourne have had the wood over their opponents in recent times although their five-match winning streak was snapped the last time these two met last year, with Trent Robinson’s men prevailing 18-14.
Anytime try-scorer: Jahrome Hughes -$2.87
The Bunnies to blow away battling Bulldogs
Canterbury will be really up against it on Good Friday with a whole host of injuries to their forward pack leaving them bare up front.
The Bunnies have injury issues of their own through the middle although not to the extent of their opponent as Tevita Tatola and Hame Sele’s returns have eased this issue somewhat.
South Sydney have a great recent record against the Bulldogs, having won four on the bounce. In that time, they have averaged 36 points per game.
Latrell Mitchell will run out in his milestone 150th match with a point to prove after struggling last week against the Storm.
The fullback loves this fixture and has been directly involved in six tries during his past two matches against Canterbury.
South Sydney Margin [13+] / Anytime try-scorer: Latrell Mitchell -$4.26
Alofiana Khan-Pereira to touch down against St George
The Gold Coast Titans have never beaten the Dragons in back-to-back games at Cbus Super Stadium in their history but will be attempting that feat following a 32-10 win back in 2021.
St George bounced back from two horror losses with their best performance of the season so far against an undermanned Dolphins outfit last week.
Although they will face a stern test against the Titans despite them having every player in their spine on the sidelines apart from Tanah Boyd.
The Dragons have a terrible record on the road, having won just one of their last 16 matches outside of New South Wales.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira has made seven linebreaks in the season to date which is more than every other player in the comp besides Reuben Garrick, who has nine.
Khan-Pereira is in a rich vein of try scoring form and will fancy his chances against the Dragons’ right edge defence which has leaked plenty of points already this campaign.
First try-scorer: Alofiana Khan-Pereira -$8.50
Parramatta to pile yet more misery on the Tigers
The Eels have had a dreadful start to the season, yet they have still hit nowhere near the same depths as the Tigers have. Tim Sheens’ men sit rock-bottom of the table and haven't tasted victory in 2023.
The narrative was similar the last time these two sides met on Easter Monday, when the Tigers fashioned a 21-20 win against all the odds.
Can the same thing happen again? Unlikely.
Prior to that anomaly, Parramatta had won eight of their past nine meetings with the Tigers, who are now on their worst run ever. They have lost their last 10 matches in a row by an average margin of 21 points.
Clint Gutherson has been in the news a lot lately with rumours circulating about the club wanting to sign someone with “more x-factor” at fullback.
Yet he has shown he knows his way across the stripe against the Tigers having scored four four-pointers in his last six games against them, along with providing seven assists.
Both teams to score 10 points: No -$3.70
