NRL Semi Final Preview: Weekend of the Road Warriors
NRL Ladder 
/ Nick Tedeschi / 16 September 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now
Bettors should side with both road teams in week two of NRL finals action, writes Nick Tedeschi.
Traders can confidently side with both road teams in NRL action this week, safe in the knowledge they are taking value. Both the Gold Coast and the Dragons are over the odds at present with each an outstanding chance of advancing to next weekend's preliminary finals.
In Friday night's first semi-final at ANZ Stadium, Parramatta are set to start big favourites against the Gold Coast with current Betfair prices having the Eels at the ridiculously low quote of 1.36 and the Titans at 3.55.
The Titans are wonderful value. They have not lost to Parramatta in three matches played and have been fairly competent on the road this year with a 5-7 record. They welcome back key outside back William Zillman, who will provide some starch and experience to the three-quarter line, while Mat Rogers should be right to go.
Parramatta are certainly flying at present, mainly thanks to the form of Jarryd Hayne. Bettors playing this match should look back to the tactics orchestrated by Titans coach John Cartwright to shutdown Billy Slater when his team played Melbourne as Cartwright will most likely employ a similar formula to stop Hayne. Cartwright had his kickers put the ball dead or out while ensuring that when Slater ran the ball he felt it. Hayne will be given little space and fewer opportunities.
Parramatta are deserved favourites on the back of eight wins from their last nine matches but they are way too short. Punters should take the Gold Coast at any plus bigger than 6 ½ with an interest at any quote above 3.00.
In the second semi-final, the Dragons should be too strong for a Brisbane team who has started to fall back into bad habits the last two weeks. They allowed 32 points last weekend and they were 32 soft points. They won't be able to run in 40 points against a Dragons team renowned for their sturdy line. If Jamie Soward can get the Dragons backline firing, this could be a walkover. The Dragons have won eight of their last nine against Brisbane and should have too much quality, particularly in the forwards, to lose.
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