Dragons vs Tigers NRL Sunday tips, odds & value bets – R8, 2022

Both the St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers come into their Round 8 contest in Wollongong this Sunday with a new lease on life.

They’ve both managed consecutive wins in close games and have opened a window to get their season back on track, and the winner of this game will edge closer to contending for a top-eight berth.

The Dragons had control over both the Knights and Roosters for their wins, so they’ll fancy their chances against a Tigers side who fell over the line against Souths despite having every break imaginable.

They’ve gone back to meat-and-potatoes football, pouring the bulk of their energy into getting their defence right.

Sprinkle that with the terrific form of Ben Hunt at halfback and you can start to see why they come into the game as the $1.60 favourite with online bookmakers.

Hunt was comfortably the best player on the field on ANZAC Day, and he is terrific value at $4.90 to score a try at any time.

His running game will trouble a Tigers middle third which still has their moments of looking shaky under fatigue, and his support play on linebreaks is another avenue for him to strike.

The best option for a first tryscorer is Zac Lomax at $13. He will be matched up against Oliver Gildart, who is having some growing pains as he adjusts to the physicality of the NRL compared to the Super League.

The Wests Tigers have resurrected their season with two thrilling victories by a combined two points, and it has largely come off the back of Jackson Hastings returning from suspension to take control of the team.

People will tell you it has “freed Luke Brooks up”, but in reality, it’s given Hastings more say on their fortunes. He has touched the ball more than 100 times in each win, putting himself front and centre to get the team through their sets of six the way the offense is designed before shifting wide and creating more space on the edges for the back five.

The main criticism of Brooks is not his natural ability, but more his skill in commanding a team around the park. It is a role Hastings perfected during his Super League stint, and his form makes the Tigers a good value selection at the +4.5 line.

What is going against Wests is the fact they completed 45 sets against the Rabbitohs and almost lost the game, and when they defeated Parramatta, it was a case of playing out of their skins and only surviving because of a miracle field goal.

One player to watch on the right wing is David Nofoaluma, who will be trying to score his third consecutive double. He is $6.75 to complete a rare hat-trick.

Key matchup: Ben Hunt vs Jackson Hastings

Two players who have received plenty of roses from fans and media recently are Ben Hunt and Jackson Hastings.

Both players have come under enormous criticism at different stages of their careers, and a lot of it has been unfair.

They have a similar trait that they will both not shy away from trying to get the result for their team, evidenced by how many touches they have. Hunt had 78 touches last week in a man-of-the-match performance, while Hastings had an absurd 102.

Hastings plays the ‘field general’ role well and will often touch the ball three times in a set to either create a backline play or bring forwards onto the ball in a bid to suck the defence to a certain section of the field.

Hunt is at his best when the play opens up from an offload or a quick play the ball. He might be 32, but he still runs strongly and has continued to improve his kicking game over the years.

It shapes up as a terrific battle, and the better of this pair will no doubt earn the win for their team.

Dragons vs Tigers predictions & best bets

The Dragons as the home team will get the two points. The betting doesn’t reflect it, but this game feels more like a coin toss and punters will head into this game with no confidence. Tigers at the +4.5 line is the play.

Dragons vs Tigers NRL same-game multi tips

Tigers +4.5 with David Nofoaluma and Zac Lomax both scoring a try gets you $9.47 at BetOnline.

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