Broncos v Raiders NRL Rd 6 tips, odds & value bets – 8/4/2023

April 6, 2023 3:54 pm.by Jack Hudson

Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders - NRL Rd 6 preview


Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders NRL Betting Odds & Game Info
Best odds	Broncos $1.18 at BetOnline \| Raiders $4.90 at BetOnline
When	Saturday, April 8 \| 7:35pm AEST
Where	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Last time they met	Broncos 24–18 Raiders (Rd 14, 2022)
Watch live	Fox Sports, Kayo

Super Saturday NRL action wraps in Brisbane with the high-flying Broncos hosting the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos are the only undefeated side left in the competition – a streak the Raiders will be keen to end.

The Brisbane Broncos have named an unchanged line-up after belting the Tigers by 34 points last weekend. On the other hand, the Raiders have been forced to make several changes. Fan favourite Jarrod Croker has been recalled from NSW Cup to lead the Raiders at the expense of Harley Smith-Shields, while Brad Schneider replaces Matt Frawley, who has suffered a hand injury.

The Raiders can be a dangerous side with their backs against the wall; however, the losses of Jack Wighton, Xavier Savage and Nick Cotric are proving to be significant. The future does not look promising for the Raiders, who have only won two of their last 12 games at Suncorp. The Broncos continue to improve week-on-week, and in front of what is expected to be a packed home stadium, the Broncos are expected to win in dominant fashion. Brisbane at the 13+ margin is the play, offering $1.73 odds with BetOnline.

The Broncos have been an entertaining, try-scoring machine early in 2023. One player returning to some of the best form of his career has been Kotoni Staggs. Having recovered from shoulder injuries experienced throughout the 2022 season, Staggs has six tries this season already off the back of 13 tackle breaks and two line breaks.

Staggs has been most impressive against lower-quality sides like the Dragons and Tigers, who are of a similar calibre to this Canberra Raiders side. This week he will be lining up against an ageing Croker, who has been missing from the NRL for some time. As such, Staggs is every chance of recording another try-scoring double this weekend ($6.50).

The form of both Selwyn Cobbo and Herbie Farnworth to start this season has also been remarkable. The pair have had a high workrate which has resulted in the pair bagging tries off the back of their own hard work. Cobbo ($1.60) is marking up on the slightly shorter and much less experienced Albert Hopoate on the wing, while Farnworth ($1.97) always finds himself in try-scoring situations, so they are both live chances to cross the line at some stage.

The Broncos have shown already this season, and most particularly last week against the Tigers, they can put low-quality sides to the sword when they want to. When they are on, they look liable to score every second play. Dry, sunny conditions in Brisbane on Sunday will suit this style of play, which should see the match finishing with more than 45.5 total points ($1.90).

Key matchup: Haas v Tapine

Payne Haas

Joseph Tapine

23	Age	28
194cm	Height	189cm
117kg	Weight	106kg
86	Games	170
8	Tries	24

The battle up front between these two powerhouse forwards will make for incredible viewing. Both Payne Haas and Joseph Tapine are offloading, tackle-breaking machines who run for enormous amounts of post-contact metres per game. The challenge Tapine faces is combatting not only this, but the ‘eyes up’ style of football Haas is playing that leads to him scoring tries like the one he had against the Tigers. If Tapine cannot control Haas through the middle third of the field, then the Raiders will be in for a very long night.