NRL Friday tips, Broncos vs. Storm exotics, try-scorers & bonuses

Friday, June 30, 7.50pm. Suncorp Stadium.

A BLOCKBUSTER Friday night NRL encounter sees the Brisbane Broncos take on the Melbourne Storm in what could be a preview of the 2017 Grand Final.

The Broncos looked premiership material when beating the Raiders 30-20 in a solid effort coming off the bye. They looked a touch rusty earlier in the season when Ben Hunt was having some confidence issues, but with a better attitude comes better results.

“The most impressive thing about Ben was that he didn’t kick stones when he was told he would be playing for Ipswich (in the Intrust Super Cup),” teammate Benji Marshall said.

“He went back and did what he had to do. I didn’t hear a peep out of him about being angry or filthy about anything.

“He did his job. He came back and made a big statement.”

Ben Hunt is integral to the Broncos’ success which has followed on from last season, but it’s not about to get any easier when they face the Storm coming off a heart breaking loss last week.

The Storm rested its State of Origin stars, but still managed to push the Roosters to the brim. The Storm had the game parceled up, but the lack of experience told over the concluding stages.

That won’t worry the Storm this week, which welcomes back Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Will Chambers and potentially Cameron Smith, who will prove his fitness later in the week.

With all the stars on show this week we took a look at the first try scoring odds and providing our game tip for the Broncos vs. Storm clash.

Broncos first try scoring odds and tips

1. Jordan Kahu – $15
2. Corey Oates – $12
3. James Roberts – $12
4. Tautau Moga – $19
5. David Mead – $12
6. Benji Marshall – $23
7. Kodi Nikorima – $21
8. Korbin Sims – $36
9. Andrew McCullough – $34
10. Adam Blair – $67
11. Sam Thaiday – $36
12. Matt Gillett – $26
13. Josh McGuire – $56

The snubbing of Corey Oates in the Queensland Origin side was an interesting decision, but it could be the Broncos’ gain.

Oates is an exceptional talent and having scored eight tries from 13 games this season, he’s been a great player for punters to follow, but is he tired?

Oates does more work than most players on the field and he’s effectively a second-rower masquerading as a winger. He’s still a great try-scoring threat and the $12 is some of the best odds Oates has been at all year.

There are no Broncos’ players at single figure odds to score first, but that just means there’s more value to be snapped up.

James Roberts has improved significantly this season and is starting to become the player the Broncos had hoped for.

Roberts has scored an incredible 10 tries from 14 games this season and the noted speedster looks to have his confidence at all-time high levels.

Roberts is currently +1100 to score first with Sportsbet.com.au and those odds are worth snapping up.

Storm first try scorer tips and market

1. Billy Slater – $11
2. Suliasi Vunivalu – $8
3. Will Chambers – $18
4. Young Tonumaipea – $19
5. Josh Addo-Carr – $9.50
6. Cameron Munster – $23
7. Cooper Cronk – $23
8. Jesse Bromwich – $41
9. Cameron Smith – $46
10. Tim Glasby – $61
11. Felise Kaufusi – $20
12. Tohu Harris – $26
13. Dale Finucane – $46

Punters love betting on a stacked team and the Melbourne Storm are just that.

The Storm has two players at single figure odds to score first and they’re the usual two suspects. Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr are both in double digits for tries scored this season and they don’t look likely to slow down.

Vunivalu has scored 12 tries from 14 games and he’s lethal under both the high ball and close to the line. The Fijian winger also has 10 line breaks which makes him a threat from anywhere on the park and that’s why defenders are finding it tough to stop him.

Josh Addo-Carr has speed to burn and he’s currently occupying the other wing. Addo-Carr doesn’t have the ball-playing skills of some other wingers, but he’s quick and that’s an asset in his position.

The 11-time try scorer this season has a team high 12 line breaks which means he’s getting himself into the game which is also a good sight.

We’re expecting another big outing for Josh Addo-Carr and $9.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au is a fair price for value punters.

Broncos vs. Storm game tip

It doesn’t get harder to predict on a Friday night than when the Broncos faces the Storm, but the Storm should have too much firepower.

It almost beat the Roosters last week with a second rate team and it had the 27-13 lifetime edge over the Broncos.

Many of these players have played with each other at Origin level and it’s the Storm that bring the experience and try-scoring power to topple the home side.