Eels v Raiders betting tips & prediction | NRL semi-finals 16/9

Week two of the 2022 NRL finals series kicks of in Sydney’s west as the Parramatta Eels host the red-hot Canberra Raiders at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.

The Eels are looking to avoid another season failure, with many tipping them as NRL premiership winners, while the Raiders are playing with nothing to lose.

Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart has publicly stated that he believes no one gives his side a hope of winning. This has been reflected heavily in betting markets with the Raiders drifting out from $1.80 to $2.60 with Australian online bookmakers.

Brad Arthur and the Eels have stuck solid naming Mitch Moses to start at half-back, despite having suffered a heavy concussion last week against the Panthers. Jakob Arthur has been named on the bench as cover, but coach Arthur maintains he may not play if he is not needed.

For the Raiders, Adam Elliot has been ruled out with a groin injury. Corey Harawira-Naera has been named to start in the lock roll, with English enforcer Ryan Sutton coming onto the bench in his place.

This match more so than any will be won in the middle. The forward packs of these two clubs will almost solely dictate which club is more dominant in the centre third of the field and winning the battle for field position.

The Raiders come in as huge underdogs, as they did last week against the Storm, but are a better winning chance than the odds suggest. It is hard to tell exactly how big a margin they will win by, should they go on to do so, but the Raiders are great value to win paying $2.60.

Once the field position battle is won, it will be superstar five-eighth Jack Wighton who will feature heavily in the Raiders attack. Whether it be his incredible running game, short kicking game or support play, Wighton is always around the ball putting himself in position for the Raiders to score. Look for him in the anytime try scorer markets at $3.90.

Another man who will be in the frame to score is Maika Sivo, who is addicted to scoring tries at his home ground, where the Eels attack is built around him. Whether it is block plays inside him to create space on the wing or kicks across the field, Sivo will be a target and is a lock to score at any time paying $1.67.

Clear and sunny skies are predicted for Parramatta in the lead up to this match. CommBank Stadium is one of the best scoring grounds in the nation, and on their day, these two sides are two of the best scoring teams in the NRL. With threats all over the park and their seasons on the line, this could be a shoot out for the ages that will see the total points margin of 41.5 exceeded paying $1.90.

Key match-up: Jack Wighton v Dylan Brown

The battle between these two electric five-eighths will be on from the start. These two are as dynamic in attack as they are strong on defence. Both players can create plays for those around them, or if need be, put their club on their back and create something from nothing for themselves.

The running games of these two players is some of the best in the NRL because of their sheer size and strength. They also have incredible footwork and upper body strength to throw defenders off them, making them a threat in so many ways.

The kicking games of these two can be underrated, as often they are putting in kicks for their second rowers to score or kicking enormous bombs to the opposition’s backs that makes life very difficult for them. It’s hard to know who will come out on top, but we’re sure to see some incredible plays from the man who comes out of this victorious.

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