Rabbitohs vs Eels NRL R12 betting tips – Saturday, May 29

The South Sydney Rabbitohs had an unhappy trip to Dubbo, but they return to Stadium Australia as $1.77 favourites on Saturday night for their Round 12 clash with the Parramatta Eels.

Conceding 50 points in two of their last three games would normally have the Bunnies as outsiders with NRL betting sites, but they have only lost once in their past 21 clashes against teams not named Melbourne or Penrith. The Eels have been impressive so far this season, but their 22-point defeat to Manly at Bankwest Stadium left fans and pundits feeling as though it’s the same old Parramatta.

This contest shapes up as immensely important for both clubs, and the loser will be left to do some soul searching. If Souths are unsuccessful, questions about their future beyond this season will begin to pop up, while if the Eels lose, the longest premiership drought calls will continue to grow louder.

Rabbitohs vs Eels betting analysis

South Sydney seem to have all types of issues against Penrith and Melbourne, but against everyone else they are hard to handle. The -1.5 line means there is an expectation that Souths may have to grind this game out rather than their usual mode of victory, which is to blow teams off the park. In that case, the 1-12 margin for the Rabbitohs at $3 is a terrific price to get on. We believe Latrell Mitchell will score a try, but we also think Cody Walker and Campbell Graham should be thrown into some NRL multis.

The Parramatta Eels are sitting pretty in third place on the NRL ladder, but the way in which they lost to Manly would have caused huge concerns for their fans and their premiership hopes. They come in as the $2.10 outsider and could be the best choice around if you’re looking for an upset. The Eels boast an impressive win over Melbourne already this year, and they should still be confident despite two big losses to Souths last season. The Parramatta 1-12 margin is the best bet for the upset, and we think both Maika Sivo and Tom Opacic will score at some stage down the left side, along with Clint Gutherson.

Key matchup: Latrell Mitchell vs Clint Gutherson

Clint Gutherson and Latrell Mitchell are both hugely influential to their respective teams, and this fullback battle promises to be a highlight of Super Saturday. One gets the feeling that both men are on the outside looking in when it comes to State of Origin selection, so you can be sure they will be looking to impress Brad Fittler at the last minute. We will go out on a limb and say both Gutherson and Mitchell will score a try.

Rabbitohs vs Eels match predictions

Result: South Sydney Rabbitohs by 1-12 points

Souths will bounce back this week and win by 1-12 points as Latrell Mitchell mounts one final case to be recalled for the New South Wales Blues.

Same game multi: 4 legs @ $26.25

Rabbitohs 1-12 with Latrell Mitchell, Clint Gutherson and Maika Sivo to all score a try can get you a $26.25 return at Sportsbet. Get on!