Value David Fusitua try-scorer odds & tips, Warriors vs. Dragons

Friday. May 19, 6pm, FMG Waikato Stadium.

THIS Friday night clash between the Warriors and the Dragons comes as an early season must-win for both teams, which are struggling to find their best form.

The Dragons showed plenty of early season promise, but key injuries and three losses on the bounce has seen the mighty red V slip down the premiership ladder.

Losses to the Roosters, Storm and Sharks have put them on the back foot, but all three came against quality opposition and there are positives moving forward, unlike the New Zealand Warriors which went from bad to worse last week.

After a moral-boosting victory over the Roosters in round nine, the Warriors slumped to one of its worst defeats in history. After leading by 22 points at halftime, the Warriors somehow managed to lose by eight to the Panthers. which is having an awful season by its standards.

The Warriors look out of answers and news got worse this week when Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei and Solomone Kata were ruled out due to injury. But, the biggest news of the week is the betting markets.

Bookmakers currently have the Warriors as the red-hot favourites, despite being in shocking form and coming up against one of their bogey teams.

The Dragons have won 20 of the 25 games played and despite its injuries, a quality team has been announced to play in Hamilton on Friday night.

Bookmakers and punters might think now is a good time for the Warriors to shine – at home on a Friday night, but that could be just another way to disappoint the loyal fan base once again.

Despite both teams heading in the wrong direction, there are some stars in action and this game should provide some entertainment. We’ve found our best try-scoring chances for both teams and we pick which team will come away with the victory.

Warriors team and try-scoring tips

The Warriors are missing three key players for this game, but there are some try scoring threats in the lineup.

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – $11
2. Charne Nicoll-Klokstad – +850
3. Blake Ayshford – $17
4. David Fusitua – $10
5 Ken Maumalo – $10
6. Kieran Foran – $21
7. Shaun Johnson – $14
8. James Gavet – $56
9. Issac Luke – $31
10. Jacob Lillyman – $46
11. Bodene Thompson – $26
12. Ryan Hoffman – $23
13. Bunty Afoa – $31

David Fusitua is our top pick to score a try because he has been very kind to punters this season.

The rangy centre has scored eight tries from 10 games and he’s still not the favourite in the Warriors line up to score first. Fusitua has had seven line breaks which leads the team and he’s well on his way to being one of the leading try scorers in the NRL.

He’s not a player that will galvanise the Warriors, but he will score tries and the $10 at Sportsbet.com.au for Fusitua to score first is over the odds.

The player that bookmakers are favouring is Charne Nicoll-Klokstad. The young winger has played just two games for the Warriors. but he has scored in both and that has warranted his $9.50 price.

He has yet to commit an error in the NRL and with the likes of Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran slowly growing in confidence, that should give Nicoll-Klonstad more opportunities to score out wide.

There shouldn’t be any surprises in the try-scoring ranks for the Warriors. The depleted forward pack is a shadow of its former self and the backs are having to carry most of the load.

Dragons first try-scorer market and tips

Euan Aitken is the most recent player to fall for the Dragons, but they do welcome back Kalifa Faifai Loa, who is playing his first game this season and is the current favourite to score first for the Dragons.

1. Jason Nightingale – $19
2. Nene Macdonald – $14
3. Taane Milne – $20
4. Timotea Lafai – $17
5. Kalifa Faifai Loa – $13
6. Kurt Mann – $26
7. Josh McCrone – $31
8. Russell Packer – $81
9. Cameron McInnes – $41
10. Paul Vaughan – $26
11. Tyson Frizell – $36
12. Joel Thompson – $36
13. Jack de Belin – $36

Timoteo Lafai might make plenty of mistakes on the field with a high error count, but he scores tries and he asserts himself into the game.

With the senior players out of the side, Lafai needs to show he can do the bulk of the work in the outside backs department and with four tries already this season, Lafai is going about his business nicely.

He has an incredible 28 offloads, so not only is he scoring tries, but he’s also setting them up. His six try assists gives winger Nene Macdonald plenty of chances to score, but Lafai looks a good bet to cross the line first at $17 at Ladbrokes.com.au.

We’re sniffing an upset in the ranks and we think Russell Packer could do the unimaginable. The Kiwi representative is an +8000 chance to score first, but he has scored so far this season and he’d love a try against his Kiwis teammates.

Packer has been a controversial player in the NRL, most notably spending a year in prison for assault, but he appears focused on the job and the Warriors typically show weak ruck defense and without Mannering at the helm, Packer could find himself one-on-one with the try line.

In a game that will provide its fair share of head-scratching moments, this might be added to the list.

Warriors vs. Dragons tips

If the Warriors have any chance to make the playoffs it must win this game, but they’ve shown no fight, no heart, and they come up against their bogey team.

Despite dropping three straight games, the Dragons will know they came up against quality outfits and this will be easier than those recent assignments.

Playing away from Mount Smart won’t help the Warriors and will damp weather expected throughout the week, this plays into the hands of the more impressive Dragons forward pack.

The Warriors are incapable of winning by a big margin, so play it safe and take Dragons +5 at Sportsbet.