NRL Tips Round 18 & Free Game Preview

Cowboys vs Sea Eagles | Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Townsville
-2.5 market line
50.5 total points (market position)

Eagles Away record very poor, won just 1 away game this season and just 8 of their last 30 (26%)
Eagles tho have won last 4 in Townsville
Cowboys have won 5 of last 6 at Home
Last 5 games at the ground have been points over
7 of last 9 Eagles away games have produced points over

Cowboys ticking away quietly in the background at present now winning 5 of their last 6 after looking to have hit the wall earlier with 5 straight losses. They are still for mine very inconsistent in effort, in the middle of these wins when looking to have started to balance up, and having their full compliment of rep players in they play at home and get whacked by the Warriors?

Two of these wins have been when away, with out rep players and against the Roosters and Panthers, that might all provide some internal squad unity and building blocks into the weeks and months ahead.

Now prior to Origin 3 they have their rep players once again back, are at home and get a chance for an important win and further sure up their potential top 6 table position. There are significant reservations on their defence, they just don’t knuckle down for the tough stuff and at home it has been even worse conceding 28 a game (6 games) and with only a 50% win record. They do get the benefit of playing at home off two away legs, back to back away return home a nice angle, and 6 rep players ins a big lift.

The Eagles are also tricky to catch, and another who love playing with the ball but not so much when with out it. All of the strength of form for them has also been when at Brookvale, 6 home wins and just the 1 when away (and only 8 wins from their last 30 away games at 26%) – interestingly enough they have won their last 4 in Townsville. Eagles also get their rep players back plus Turbo, Garrick and Aloiai and so a far stronger line up.

Looks a good entertaining contest with a heap of attack and ball shift, and you’d expect points aplenty and defence optional. Cowboys last 5 home games have all produced high scoring points over results while the Eagles also play in plenty of high scoring games, and with a distant travel away game in warmish conditions I’m sure they also loosen up in defence.

I marked it a small lean to the Cowboys at home, but did like the points over angle.