NRL Round 22 Tips & Predictions

<p>The shocks and surprises kept coming in what is now undoubtedly the most closely contested season of NRL in recent history.</p> <p>Last week there were stunning tries, golden point glory and celebrations aplenty as players across the competition took our Try July initiative to new levels.</p> <p>With plenty of tough to predict matchups coming up this week, you’re going to need all the help you can get. That’s why we’re back yet again with our crystal ball to bring you our expert NRL round 22 tips &amp; predictions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Broncos vs Sydney Roosters Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Thursday, July 27, 7:50pm AEST – The Gabba</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The backflipping Broncos are commandeering the Gabba this week, as they <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/brisbane-broncos-v-sydney-roosters-7511286">welcome the Sydney Roosters</a> to the Sunshine State.</p> <p>Brisbane were too good for a Latrell-less South Sydney side on the Sunshine Coast last week, laying on the style to run out 36-20 winners in an entertaining clash.</p> <p>Adam Reynolds came back to haunt his former side, turning in a vintage display to lead his side to victory, while also scoring the match sealing try.</p> <p>This week they take on the Roosters, who finally managed to stop the bleeding and put together a decent performance, overpowering the Titans on the Gold Coast.</p> <p>While the Chooks showed glimpses of what they are capable of last week, if superstars like Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs put in another shift like they did last week, the Broncos are an easy tip in this one.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts:</strong> This is ‘all in’ time for the Roosters. This game could really go either way. The best way to go in this one is to have Selwyn Cobbo in one of your Tryscorer Markets.&nbsp;</p> <p>Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh is having a stellar year and has become a try assist merchant. His number one pet play is sweeping around the back and firing a cut out ball to his right winger - Selwyn Cobbo.&nbsp;</p> <p>Cobbo has scored 14 tries in the 15 games that he has played with Reece Walsh this season including two in State of Origin Game I.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Selwyn Cobbo -&nbsp;First Tryscorer or Anytime Tryscorer.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, July 28, 6:00pm AEST – Scully Park</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This season continues to get worse and worse for the Wests Tigers as they lost the battle of the cellar dwellers to St George in a forgettable game.</p> <p>This week <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/wests-tigers-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-7511287">they face a South Sydney side</a> who have slipped outside the top eight and will be desperate to get their season back on track.</p> <p>With all of their key players set to take the field together for the first time in months, the Tigers present the perfect tune up game for Souths and their returning superstars.</p> <p>Keep an eye out for a Red and Green victory as well as a Latrell Mitchel masterclass, should he make his return to action as anticipated.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>A right winger try against the Tigers is the gift that keeps giving. They’ve conceded 12 right winger tries in their last five games alone</p> <p>For context the competition’s current leading try scorer has 19 and that’s over the whole season. Make sure to include Taane Milne in your Tryscorer Markets and Same Game Multis.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>SGM - Rabbitohs 13+ &amp; Taane Milne Anytime Tryscorer</p>

<h2>Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Friday, July 28, 8:00pm AEST – Marvel Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Melbourne’s minor premiership ambitions were derailed last week by a Newcastle ambush. The rejuvenated Knights left Craig Bellamy’s men four points from the summit of the competition ladder after a tense 26-18 victory.</p> <p>Finishing first may now be out of reach for the Storm, but they’ll want to ensure they stay inside the top four this week as they welcome a bruised and battered <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/melbourne-storm-v-parramatta-eels-7511289">Parramatta outfit to Melbourne.</a></p> <p>The Eels went down to the Cowboys in Townsville last week despite a late charge led by Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson that nearly produced one of the comebacks of the season.</p> <p>Things continue to go from bad to worse for the Eels on the personnel front, with gun backrower Shaun Lane’s torrid luck with injuries continuing. Lane unfortunately dislocated his elbow in his side’s loss to the Cowboys.</p> <p>Add to this Dylan Brown’s suspension and the fact that dummy half Josh Hodson, who only just signed a contract extension, faces medical retirement and you can see the Eels are a little thin on troops at the moment.</p> <p>At full strength, we’d be inclined to back the Eels in this one, who despite their injury and suspension woes are still playing some eye-catching footy, largely thanks to the form of halfback Mitchell Moses.</p> <p>However, away to Melbourne who will be desperate to bounce back after last week’s shock loss, and without a handful of key men, we simply have to side with the Victorians in this one.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>With no Shaun Lane, Dylan Brown and Maika Sivo in the Parramatta team it makes for a very inexperienced left side defence for the Eels. The Cowboys exploited this last week with tries to Valemei and Hiku. This should make for a good day out for Will Warbrick.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Will Warbrick to Score 2 or More Tries.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, July 29, 3:00pm AEST – GIO Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>They nearly did it, they nearly pulled off the comeback of the season. Two tries in the last two minutes saw Canberra somehow level up at 20 all against the Warriors in New Zealand.</p> <p>The comeback was extra remarkable considering the hiding they received from the Warriors just a few weeks ago in captain Jarrod Croker’s 300th.</p> <p>The man himself had the perfect opportunity to exact revenge against the side that spoiled his 300th game, but the centre was unable to convert a kick from the sideline after the siren to win the match.</p> <p>Unfortunately for the Green Machine, their comeback for the ages was shot down by a Shaun Johnson field goal in golden point and they had to return home across the ditch with nothing to show for their efforts.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canberra-raiders-v-newcastle-knights-7511291">Now they must turn their attention to the giant killing Newcastle Knights</a>, who last week upset the Melbourne Storm in stunning fashion.</p> <p>The Knights are one of the form sides in the competition at the moment and have mounted an unlikely finals charge.</p> <p>With the Raiders still within touching distance of the top four and the Knights gunning for the eight, this has all the makings of a classic encounter.</p> <p>As for the result, it’s close, but we’re going with the Raiders who, at home, should be able to make up for last week’s golden point heartbreak.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>They last met in round four and the Knights won 24-14 in Newcastle. It's season over for the Knights if they get rolled and for the Raiders a loss here and they can wave goodbye to any ambitions of a top four finish. So it’s safe to say, this is a huge game.&nbsp;</p> <p>In their last encounter the Knights’ right side had a field day with Marzhew getting two and Dane Gagai grabbing one. Greg Marzhew has since been moved to the left side, Dom Young (The NRL’s leading try scorer) is on the right and my hunch is coach Adam O’Brien will wheel out a similar game plan so include him in your Tryscorer markets and Same Game Multis.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Greg Marzhew - First Tryscorer or Anytime Tryscorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St George Illawarra Dragons vs Manly Sea Eagles Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Saturday, July 29, 5:30pm AEST – WIN Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>From a near comeback for the ages, to a near implosion for the ages, Manly did everything in their power to lose the unlosable against Cronulla last week.</p> <p>Leading 30-8 with 10 minutes to play, the Sea Eagles conceded three tries in four minutes as the Sharks rallied back to 30-26.</p> <p>They somehow held on for the last five minutes to see out the win, but it would have been far too close for comfort for head coach Anthony Seibold.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/st-george-illawarra-dragons-v-manly-sea-eagles-7511293">This week they play a Dragon's side</a> who picked up a rare win last week, thanks to the always charitable Wests Tigers.</p> <p>A narrow four-point win against the Tigers at home doesn’t exactly instill confidence in us, so we’ll be backing Manly to win this one despite their late fade out at Shark Park last week.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Warriors have mastered the two man crash play (where they send two players running at either shoulder of the defender) and teams are now copying them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Sea Eagles last week used it against the Sharks to great effect with Tolotau Koula scoring just as Rocco Berry did against Cronulla the week before. Given they had success with it first up, they will want to use the play again. Koula your target here for the betslip.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Tolotau Koula - Anytime TryScorer<br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, July 29, 7:35pm AEST – Penrith Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Someone needs to tell Cronulla that Rugby League games go for 80 minutes, not four, because that’s all they showed up for last week.</p> <p>If they don’t figure that out before <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/penrith-panthers-v-cronulla-sharks-7511294">Saturday night</a>, we’re certain Penrith will remind them in devastating fashion.</p> <p>Origin is run and won, Nathan Cleary is back on deck and its full steam ahead for the Panthers as they gun for premiership number three.</p> <p>They dismantled the dismal Doggies last time out and are likely to do the same to a Sharks side who are slipping further and further down the ladder with each passing week.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Panthers have only conceded five first half tries in seven matches at home this year. The Tryfecta is a betting option that allows you to select the order of the first three tries by team. Panthers/Panthers/Panthers won last week, in fact in their seven games so far this year it has saluted four times already.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Penrith Tryfecta (Panthers to score the first three tries of the match)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Canterbury Bulldogs vs The Dolphins Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, July 30, 2:00pm AEST – Salter Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-dolphins-7511296">Dismal Doggies versus depleted Dolphins</a>, who wins? Well after a much-needed week off, we like the Dolphins in this one.</p> <p>The Bulldogs have been abysmal this season and that was on show once again as they were blown off the park by the Panthers last week.</p> <p>Scoring tries isn’t the problem for Cameron Ciraldo’s side, it’s keeping them out that they struggle with.</p> <p>They were down 24-0 in just 21 minutes against Penrith in damning scenes for their goal line defence.</p> <p>While the Dolphins don’t possess the attacking capabilities of their Penrith counterparts, we’d back the Tigers to put a score on the Bulldogs at this point, so they should have enough going for them to get over the line in this one.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>It’s just a gut feeling, but energy should be extremely high in the Kennel this week with the cavalry returning in Addo-Carr, Kikau, Preston, Sexton &amp; even new recruit Liam Knight a chance to lace the boots up.&nbsp;</p> <p>This punt is all about the price and for me this match could go either way, but the price for the Bulldogs is too good to ignore. The Doggies, whilst beaten comfortably by the benchmark Panthers last week, finished off the game well.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip:&nbsp;</strong> Take your pick - The Bulldogs Line, H2H or 13+</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, July 30, 4:05pm AEST – Robina Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Round 22 wraps up with a <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/gold-coast-titans-v-nth-queensland-cowboys-7511297">Queensland derby on the Glitter Strip</a>. The topsy-turvy Titans welcome the form side of the competition – the North Queensland Cowboys to Robina Stadium on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>The Titans didn’t have a chance to blow a lead last week, instead choosing to get blown off the park by the Roosters from the first whistle.</p> <p>The Cowboys on the other hand continued their hot streak, taking their tally of consecutive wins to six, after an entertaining clash with the Eels in Townsville.</p> <p>Fullback Scott Drinkwater was once again the star of the show, with the dynamic No.1 undoubtedly the form player of the competition.</p> <p>North Queensland are borderline unbeatable at the moment and we’re backing them to get the best of their fellow Queenslanders in this one.</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s final thoughts: </strong>The Titans have the worst right side defence in the comp. They were the recipients of even more pain there on the weekend against the Roosters with tries to Tedesco, Egan Butcher and Lindsay Collins all cashing in on that side. How are they going to contain Val Holmes for 80 Minutes?</p> <p><strong>Sugar’s tip: </strong>Valentine Holmes to Score 2 or More Tries</p>

<h2>New Zealand Warriors – BYE</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The high-flying Warriors get a week off after their thrilling golden point victory over the Raiders that saw them move up to third on the ladder. Not bad for a side tipped to collect the spoon at the start of the season.&nbsp;</p>