NRL Tips / Nick Tedeschi / 18 August 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Despite their recent form, Nick Tedeschi still can't see the Bunnies getting over the Cowboys this weekend.

NORTH QUEENSLAND (v South Sydney)
1 unit at match odds of $2.10 or better

When was the last time South Sydney won a match they needed to win?

It has been a quarter-century since "the pride of the League" won a finals match, and they have played in just one finals game since 1989.

This match against the Cowboys is not a final, but for the Bunnies it essentially is. And despite putting on 103 points in two weeks, and winning five of their last six against the Cowboys, the Bunnies are vulnerable.

The Cowboys have been one of the better defensive units this year, and the likes of John Sutton and Issac Luke aren't going to be able to wreak havoc like they did against weak teams like Parramatta and Canberra.

And Johnathan Thurston will be better for the run last week.

In what will prove a real arm-wrestle, expect the Cowboys to collect the points.

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MELBOURNE (v St George-Illawarra)
2 units at match odds of $1.57 or better

Even Wayne Bennett cannot explain the fall of St George-Illawarra, who have gone from premiership favourites to a distinct possibility of missing the play-offs within the space of a few weeks.

The Dragons have collected five lousy premiership points since the round 12 win over the Tigers, and a loss to the embattled Roosters on Sunday has them riding a four-game losing streak. With key play-maker Jamie Soward likely to be ruled out through injury, it would appear that streak will be extended by the Melbourne Storm, who have all but secured this year's minor premiership.

The Storm have now won 11 straight, and with a 17-4 record at AAMI Park and a 12-year Dragons' drought in Melbourne (the Storm are 17-4-1 in their last 22 against the Dragons), it is hard to see anything but a Melbourne win, even with Cooper Cronk side-lined.

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CANTERBURY (v Manly)
0.5 units at match odds of $3.00 or better

Manly should beat Canterbury on Sunday afternoon.

The Sea Eagles are still an outside chance of claiming the minor title, are looking to secure a top-two berth and have a better team across the board than the Bulldogs.

But they are vulnerable.

Their attitude was not up to scratch against Parramatta, and against a half-competent team they would have lost last Saturday night.

The Bulldogs, while struggling, have put together consecutive wins and do go well against Manly, winning three of the last six including two of the last four at Brookvale.

This game will be close.

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