Broncos vs. Sharks first tryscorer tips for NRL Friday

BRISBANE sent a warning shot to the rest of the competition in round 22.

Humbled by Parramatta the week prior, the Broncos responded with 10 unanswered tries in an emphatic 54-0 demolition of the Gold Coast.

Ben Hunt starred with a treble, but Tevita Pangai Jr stole the headlines with an outrageous no-look try assist for James Roberts.

What.

A.

Ball!#NRLTitansBroncos#NRL pic.twitter.com/1WlO2yOG7U

— NRL (@NRL) August 5, 2017

It was another perfect night for Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima, who have won seven from seven when paired in the halves in 2017.

That combination will see out the season as the Broncos chase a spot in the top two.

Jai Arrow joins the squad in place of Joe Ofahengaue, who was handed a three-match ban this week for a lifting tackle on Titans forward Max King.

Also hunting optimal seeding in the finals are Cronulla, but their NRL Premiership defence took a big hit last Saturday night.

The Sharks were overrun by a Canberra side that showed more everything en route to a 30-12 win at Endeavour Field.

Sloppy handling at key moments cost Shane Flanagan’s men dearly in the first half, while a string of Raiders penalties after the break killed off any chance of a comeback.

Cronulla are without Origin rep Jack Bird, who will miss a week or two with a shoulder injury, but James Maloney returns for the trip north.

SQUAD ??#SharksForever? pic.twitter.com/WSj5uPFXGl

— Cronulla Sharks FC (@Cronulla_Sharks) August 8, 2017

Broncos first tryscorer odds

Jordan Kahu has made a habit of notching first-half tries this season.

In fact, it was he who struck the first blow when Brisbane beat Cronulla in the opening round.

Back on the wing since first-choice fullback Darius Boyd returned from injury, the New Zealander is always a danger in Bennett’s aggressive, free-flowing system.

Fit-again Corey Oates is the understandable favourite with online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au, but we like Kahu for the first try at +900 odds.

Market courtesy of Sportsbet:

+750 – Corey Oates

+900 – James Roberts, Jordan Kahu

+1400 – Darius Boyd, Anthony Milford

+1700 – Tautau Moga

+1800 – Benji Marshall, Kodi Nikorima

+2200 – Matt Gillett

+2500 – Alex Glenn, Ben Hunt, Sam Thaiday

+4000 – Josh McGuire, Tevita Pangai Jr, Korbin Sims

+5500 – Adam Blair

Sharks first tryscorer market

While the Sharks let us down last week, Sosaia Feki did not disappoint.

It took the Cronulla winger only five minutes to clinch us a win in the first tryscorer betting.

Considering he did that in a defeat, there is value to be had in backing a similar outcome at Suncorp.

The safer option is the +163 quote on Feki to cross at anytime.

Market courtesy of Sportsbet:

+1200 – Sosaia Feki

+1400 – Gerard Beale

+1800 – Valentine Holmes

+2200 – Ricky Leutele

+2500 – Adam Clydsdale, Luke Lewis, James Segeyaro, Chad Townsend

+3000 – James Maloney, Wade Graham

+3500 – Andrew Fifita, Chris Heighington

+4000 – Paul Gallen

+4500 – Jayson Bukuya, Jeremy Latimore, Matt Prior

Broncos vs. Sharks match betting

Brisbane Broncos to win both halves – +175 at CrownBet

The Broncos have too much going in their favour.

Oates is back prowling the wing, Boyd is running the show from fullback and the Milford-Nikorima halves pairing is yet to lose.

The Sharks are solid scrappers, and Maloney is a big in, but do they have the all-round class needed to conquer Suncorp?

After last week’s results, it would be a brave man indeed who went against Brisbane.