Eels v Titans NRL R20 betting tips & top odds – July 16, 2023

Parramatta Eels v Gold Coast Titans best bets

Eels v Titans NRL R20 match preview

Round 20 of the 2023 NRL Premiership wraps up in Parramatta with the Eels hosting the Gold Coast Titans at CommBank Stadium on Sunday evening. Both sides have several State of Origin stars expected to back-up from Wednesday’s match, but which team will have the fitness to secure this win?

Titans interim coach Jim Lenihan has selected fullback AJ Brimson along with forwards Moeaki Fotuaika, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita to start after featuring in the Queensland Maroons’ loss on Wednesday. However, Fifita (hip) is under an injury cloud and yet to be confirmed as a starter.

Jayden Campbell shifts back to the interchange bench, while Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Jamin Jolliffe, Joe Stimpson and Jacob Alick drop to the reserves.

Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur has selected captain and fullback Clint Gutherson, halfback Mitchell Moses and forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard to back-up from the New South Wales Blues’ game three win on Wednesday. Sean Russell will move back to the wing with Isaac Lumelume dropping out of the side. Daejarn Asi will play five-eighth, shifting Ryan Matterson back to the interchange bench, and Campbell-Gillard will start in place of Ofahiki Ogden, who is named in the reserves.

Arthur has made further changes by bringing Shaun Lane back into the starting side after his suspension, pushing Andrew Davey back to the interchange bench and Makahesi Makatoa to the reserves.

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Eels v Titans NRL betting predictions

The Gold Coast Titans have won just three of their last eight games, and one more loss will push them down to the bottom four on the NRL ladder. Meanwhile, the Eels have won four of their last five games. Parramatta have only suffered losses at CommBank Stadium to sides that sit in the top eight, and a win this weekend will put them within two points of a top-four position.

The Eels forward pack is well rested in comparison to the Titans’, which will make winning the battle in the middle third of the field easier for the home side. Parra should win at the 13+ margin, which is paying $2.25 odds with BetOnline.

Maika Sivo is the equal-top tryscorer in the 2023 NRL season having scored 16 tries in 17 games. In this season alone at CommBank Stadium, Sivo has scored five tries in seven games with two tryscoring doubles. The Eels’ attacking structure sets up Sivo perfectly to score in the corner, and Sunday night should mark another tryscoring double ($3.75) for the Fijian winger.

Bailey Simonsson has been a tryscoring machine for Parramatta over the last two months, bagging eight tries in seven games with two doubles. On Sunday, he will be running at the shorter, lighter Titans centre Brian Kelly. This will be a brilliant opportunity for the Eels centre to use his size and strength to overpower his opponent and score a try ($2.15).

This season alone, the Eels have won three times with more than 50 total match points. Meanwhile, the Titans have been beaten in five matches where more than 50 points have been scored. Look for this trend to continue as the Eels win with more than 50.5 total points scored ($1.90).

Key matchup: J’maine Hopgood v Isaac Liu

J’maine Hopgood vs Isaac Liu

The matchup in the middle of the field between Eels lock J’maine Hopgood and his Titans opponent Isaac Liu will be key to deciding the outcome of this game. With more weary Origin stars on his side, Liu will be tasked with a higher workload and more responsibility moving the football. If his performance does not surpass that of Hopgood, the Titans will struggle to win this match.

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