NRL Tips Round 19 & Free Game Preview

Brookvale
-7.5 market line
48.5 total points (market position)

Eagles have covered the line at 8 of last 9 at Home
Eagles have won 6 of past 7 at Home
Knights have improved their Away record significantly this season covering the line at 7 of last 8

Two teams off short margin wins last week trying to shore up a further win to stay alive with their top 8 chances.

Eagles picked up a golden point win in Townsville last week, could have gone either way with each missing clean golden point shots before the Eagles nailed one. Now well suited to be back at home at Brookvale where their record this season has been very good.

Knights could well have won more convincingly last week in Canberra, dominated most of the second half play and field position but squandered opportunity, and now have a back to back away leg to a ground where their overall recent record has been poor.

Tricky game to get a decent read on given the long list of outs, final team list and playing positions will be key with whispers around that the Eagles in particular are expected to have numerous late positional changes for their back line with Humphreys to start off the bench (named #7), Lehi Hopoate at fullback and Turbo at five eight, and likely more to come. The Knights have also named a list that looks likely to have changes to various positions and who might start.

Eagles are with out Jake Trbojevic and Cherry-Evans with Origin while Croker, Paseka, Ben Trbojevic, Lodge and Arthur are injury outs. The Knights key quality back outs with Ponga, Best and Gagai with Origin and Tuala and Gamble with injury.

two teams coming off gutsy away wins but hampered this week by Origin absentees. The seventh-placed Manly Sea Eagles are just one competition point in front of the ninth-placed Newcastle Knights.

After losing three straight the Knights have now come up with back to back wins and look to have finally found the right combination in their halves with Pryce playing very well in partnering with Hastings. Their forward line up and bench depth here is their strength, if their edges can defend well enough to keep this competitive then I expect down through the middle 405 of the park will be where they want to play this.

The big watch will be Turbo’s influence, in particular if playing at #6. He has certainly not looked full of his normal energy, confidence or impact this season as we had become to expect and know. Closer to the play and with the ball in his hands more often here he gets the chance to stamp some class and skill on the game, lets hope so. I’m sure led by Brooks and Tom the Eagles intent will be ball shift and running play, look to move the Knights around, target done wide edges, use some speed and mount some points and scoreboard pressure.

Even missing Ponga and both centres the plus 8.5 to the Knights early looked generous, they have also improved their road record this season and played above expectation when a road underdog. The Eagles best has been at home but with 6 players who would all be key or in the likely starting 17 missing including the #9, #7 and three to four forwards certainly thins their offering.

Interesting game of tactics. Expect the advantage of playing at home and full house support get the Eagles home but I could only be interested in playing the Knights with the plus position.