2022 NRL All Stars Indigenous vs Maori betting tips – February 12

The 2022 NRL All Stars game on February 12 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney signals the beginning of the 2022 rugby league season in Australia. The Indigenous cultures of both Australia and New Zealand have produced some of the finest athletes in the code’s history and there will be plenty of stars on show to produce a high-quality spectacle. The Maori outfit come in as $3 outsiders with NRL betting sites and despite missing stars like Brandon Smith, Joseph Manu and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, they field a side that still has a ton of talent on paper. The Indigenous All Stars will be without Latrell Mitchell, who is still serving a suspension from the 2021 season, but they have a backline that oozes class and has the potential to be the difference on the night.

Key matchup: Dylan Walker vs Jesse Ramien

The Maori side have the advantage in the forward battle while the Indigenous team has the superior backline, so where is the game won? Jesse Ramien quietly had a good season for Cronulla in 2021 and he marks up against Dylan Walker. Walker returns to the centres after he spent 2021 as the bench utility for the Sea Eagles and a return to the three-quarter line could prove to be a big adjustment and open the game up down the right-edge. Ramien was one of the best on ground in the 2019 clash in Melbourne and if he gets on top early with his physicality, he can make it a long night for the Maori left-edge.

Indigenous All Stars value bets

It isn’t often a winger is the captain of a rugby league team, but the choice to give Josh Addo-Carr the captaincy is an inspired one. He is one of the game’s most charismatic superstars and arguably the best winger in the competition. He is the $7.50 favourite to score the first try of the game and his enthusiasm to inject himself into the contest is going to see him in the frame early to get across the stripe. Even the $1.62 option for him to score at anytime is a nice option for a same-game multi. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored the first try in his State Of Origin debut last season and he is $8.50 to do the same in this game, and the $1.72 price for an anytime try could be among the more popular betting options. The best ‘roughie’ to get across for the first try is halfback Brayden Trindall at $26. The $1.45 price is quite short considering the last two results, which were a draw and 14-point loss. It is a little surprising they’ve been given the -7.5 handicap but perhaps the bookmakers are convinced the class gulf between the backlines will be enough to pile on the points required.

Maori All Stars value bets

In the first three editions of this clash, the Maori team have scored first each time. They’ve started every contest with more control and seeing every player on the list in double digits in the first tryscoring market is sure to entice punters to have a crack. Jordan Rapana’s form at fullback for Canberra in 2021 probably makes him the best option at $15 to score the first try. Kenny Bromwich at $23 also offers enormous value as dynamic backrower, having been a favourite of punters for several years on the favoured left-edge. Kodi Nikorima as a $4.50 anytime tryscorer is also hard to ignore, given his ability to hunt out tired forwards and support teammates who poke their nose through the line. The +7.5 also looks a terrific option considering the results history in the past three clashes.

Indigenous vs Maori All Stars predictions & multi tips

The Maori cover the +7.5 line but lose the game by four points, while David Fifita scores a try and so does Kenny Bromwich. Put all that into a same-game multi at Sportsbet and you can get a tasty return of $20.75.