Dragons v Dolphins NRL Rd 5 tips, odds & multi picks – 1/4/2023

Super Saturday NRL action continues in Wollongong with the St George Illawarra Dragons hosting the Dolphins for the first time at WIN Stadium.

The Dragons could possibly welcome back forward Jack De Belin, who has been named in the reserves as he returns from a calf injury. The Dolphins are welcoming back Isaiya Katoa from an elbow injury in the halves to replace the injured Sean O’Sullivan, while Jack Bostock will make his NRL debut by replacing Tesi Niu on the wing.

These two clubs meet for the first time on Saturday in very interesting circumstances. Issues surrounding Dragons coach Anthony Griffin and the playing group have only been amplified by the thrashing they received from Nicho Hynes and the Sharks last weekend. The Dolphins may be impacted by injuries, but with the wealth of experience they have on the field in combination with super coach Wayne Bennett, the visiting side should be able to secure a win at $2.10 odds with Ladbrokes.

One thing the Dolphins would have taken away from the Dragons’ loss is the importance of support play in scoring points. Opportunities will present themselves to those who do not give up on the play – something Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has done a brilliant job of for his new club. Tabuai-Fidow’s incredible speed puts him in the play all the time and his work ethic has been undeniable to start the 2023 NRL season. At some point in the match, he will be presented the opportunity to score a try ($2.40).

Another lesson the Dolphins should have learned is the defensive weakness of the Dragons right edge. Moses Suli and Mikaele Ravalawa do not appear to be on the same page, which should concern the home side given the Dolphins have shown they can move the ball left to attack. Debutant Bostock showed during the trials and pre-season he is a brilliant athlete and finisher. Although he is a short price to score, he should be able to do so at some point in the match ($2.25).

Wet weather is predicted to his Wollongong on Saturday, which will create very difficult conditions. The Dragons’ on- and off-field issues, along with the Dolphins injury woes, will take a toll on this match. Given all this, Saturday afternoon’s match should be a low-scoring affair with the total match points falling below 42.5 ($1.90).

Key matchup: Moses Mbye v Jeremy Marshall-King

Moses Mbye vs Jeremy Marshall-King

The middle third of the field will be where this match is won and lost. The return of Jeremy Marshall-King to the Dolphins’ starting line-up could not come at a better time given the loss of O’Sullivan to injury. The Dolphins hooker will provide the direction and spark needed to get the forward pack moving on the front foot, creating time and space for Katoa and Anthony Milford to create scoring opportunities. Moses Mbye will have a big gap to bridge in combination with Jacob Little, and if they are unable to so, they’ll struggle to beat this ever-improving Dolphins side.

Dragons v Dolphins NRL Rd 5 betting prediction

Dragons v Dolphins NRL Rd 5 same game multi

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