Betting tips / James Sweeney / 02 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

James Sweeney is predicting a couple of blow-outs and tight tussle in his preview of this weekend's NRL games.

NEW ZEALAND v BRISBANE
2 units on Brisbane at Match Odds of $1.60 or better ($1.69 available)

The Brisbane Broncos are an outstanding rugby league team who, under coach Anthony Griffin, have become renowned for playing hard, playing well on the road and playing with a great deal of consistency. They have had only one slip-up this year, losing to in-state rivals North Queensland, winning the remaining seven games by an average margin of 12.86 points.

Not only have the Broncos been rolling to easy wins, they have covered the handicap in every win but one. Brisbane have won eight of 14 against the Warriors and two of the last four at Mt Smart, and they have allowed three tries in only three of eight games this year, while being held to 14 points or less in three of their last four.

The Broncos play too structured and the Warriors are without the very important Kevin Locke.

The Broncos are in for a big win across the ditch.

PENRITH v MELBOURNE
5 units on Melbourne at Match Odds of $1.08 or better ($1.18 available)

If Penrith were to upset the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night, it would be the biggest upset in arguably a decade.

The undefeated Storm are chasing a ninth straight win to open 2012 and should encounter little resistance against a Penrith team ravaged by key injuries, with centre Michael Jennings, backrower Luke Lewis and halfback Luke Walsh joining Michael Gordon, Tim Grant, Nigel Plum, Kevin Kingston and Nathan Smith on the sidelines.

Scoring has been a major issue for the Panthers - they have managed just 14 points in the last three games - and it is unlikely to improve against a Storm team that has kept opponents to just 12.38 points a game this year. The Storm have won nine straight against the Panthers, with Penrith not putting three tries on the Storm since 2006.

This is a laydown.

Melbourne by plenty.

SOUTH SYDNEY v CRONULLA
1 unit on South Sydney at Match Odds of $1.70 or better ($1.79 available)

Both teams enter Monday Night Football this week in red-hot form, with the Sharks riding a six-game win streak for the first time in a decade, while the Bunnies have won three of four, including their last two at ANZ Stadium.

The Sharks are just 6-10 all-time at the venue and have won only once at the ground since 2009. Souths have won nine of 14 against Cronulla and look well-placed to win the forward struggle, with Dave Taylor playing in career best form at present.

This will be a tight tussle but Souths should win the arm wrestle.