NRL Round 7 betting predictions – Sydney vs St George Illawarra

Sydney Roosters – $1.45 at Sportsbet
St George Illawarra Dragons – $2.75

The annual ANZAC Day clash is shaping up as a beauty.

The Sydney Roosters are in fine spirits after edging out Melbourne in a thrilling grand final rematch last week.

That win came at a cost, however, with Luke Keary ruled out for Thursday’s game after copping a head knock.

That means Latrell Mitchell will start in the halves, with Joseph Manu shifting into the centres alongside Mitch Aubusson.

Marantelli Bet

Watch Marantellibet TV

Australian-owned and operated bookmaker!

18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?

read review Bet Now

BetOnline

$5,000

50% matched deposit up to USD $5,000

read review Bet Now

Jake Friend is back after a spell on the sidelines, which sees Victor Radley move from hooker to lock.

The St George Illawarra Dragons head to the SCG as underdogs, but that will not bother a team that has won four games on the bounce.

They had to work hard for their 12-10 win over Manly last time out, with Mikaele Ravalawa crossing for the match-winning try in the 77th minute.

The Red V have made no changes as they look to replicate last year’s dominant victory in this fixture.

Roosters vs Dragons first tryscorer tips

Odds courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au

Daniel Tupou
First tryscorer – $8.50
Two or more tries – $6
Anytime tryscorer – $1.91

Sydney’s no.2 always needs close minding, but his threat level rises considerably when the Roosters play host. Tupou has scored tries in five consecutive home games and looks a sound bet to notch a major at any time.

Jordan Pereira
First tryscorer – $11
Two or more tries – $10
Anytime tryscorer – $2.40

Matt Dufty and Mikaele Ravalawa did the damage against the Sea Eagles last week, yet Pereira looks as lively as anyone in St George Illawarra’s back half. Again, we like the anytime tryscorer market over the riskier exotics.

Key stats and betting trends

• The Roosters have covered the line in nine of their last 10 games
• All of Sydney’s last seven Thursday home games have gone over the total points line
• Steady money for the Dragons has seen them firm from $3.25 into $2.75 at Sportsbet
• Matches at the SCG have delivered 35.6 total points on average this season

Best bets for Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra

Do not underestimate how the absence of Luke Keary might affect Sydney’s chances.

The Roosters have quality everywhere and can fill gaps better than most teams, but forced changes can upset even the winningest of systems.

It is also worth noting they were 20-0 up on the Storm last week and only just escaped with the win after a lazy second half.

St George Illawarra’s forward pack is working well and the team’s form is hard to fault, so there is value in backing the outsiders to cover the line at the very least.

St George Illawarra Dragons +6.5 – $1.90 at Sportsbet

Latest sports betting tips

[rm_recent_news exclude_tags=”Promo,Australian Bookmaker Bonus Offer” title=””]