bad gambler said:
NRL - Rugby League
Bulldogs to beat the Broncos - (-110) (5 units)
Public have been all over the Broncos in this matchup ever since they beat the Knights last week by 50 points. Add to that the Broncos beat the Dogs comfortably in both matches they played each other both home and away this season. BUT in the final game (rd 24) where Broncos won 30-0 there were many excuses that could be made for the Dogs' inept performance that night:
* Sonny Bill pulls out before the game a stiff knee before the game
*Mason gets reported within 10 min - you can't tell me this didn't affect his game that night, he had a shocker
* Within first 15min Asotasi gets injured
*Tonga and Myles get injured around 25min mark
* What exactly were the two teams playing for that night? Broncos pretty much their season, whereas the Doggies had a mortgage on the 2nd spot....
Now the Dogs have a full squad. Yes Asotasi will be underdone, but Folkes has been in the game as a player and coach way too long to be playing him in such a crunch game if he wasn't 100% fit. Regardless the dogs have the depth up forward to cover for him. Their forward pack is the best in all aspect I have seen EVER. Even better than the Broncos of the mid 90's purely because of their superior athletism.
Dogs have the Broncos pretty much covered all over the park with the exception of the halves and centres.
My only concern about this game was potentially the fact that they were coming off a week's rest, and given what happened to both teams last year in the prelim finals who had the week's rest. But on closer look, the Dogs have one of the best records coming off a bye going around. Their two performances this year says it all:
Round 4 - BYE
Round 5 - Vs Penrith 30-12
Round 21 - BYE
Round 22 - Vs Cowboys 54-14