NRL Tips Round 22 & Free Game Preview

Belmore
-8.5 market line
47.5 total points (market position)

Bulldogs have won all 8 Home games so far this season
Bulldogs have only won 3 of last 12 when playing at Belmore
Raiders have won their past 9 games straight v Bulldogs

At Belmore should be a significant advantage to begin with, full house of 17,000 or there abouts but all close to and all but on top of the ground should produce a big home based atmosphere.

Suggest last week up there as one of their best wins attitude and execution wise through recent seasons, even with the late withdrawal of Crichton (and additional outs) and back to back interstate away games the coaching and tactical approach was 5 star. They stripped a meek Broncos attitude offering down the edges and used an up tempo game and quick ball shift to advantage with a commanding win.

Bulldogs should get Crichton and Addo-Carr back for this, and undefeated in their home games to date. Defence has already been a standout strength, off last week their would also be some growing confidence in their attack strike.

Raiders off two home wins have themselves back in top 8 contention, but for mine it looks some questionable depth but they did last week go on from the outset to post a wide margin result. Fogarty back for these last two weeks significant, the quality of his long kicking game and general direction is excellent, Ethan Strange has had an outstanding season and looks a very bright star for their future while their back three forwards in Whitehead, Young and Smithies are playing very well.

The Raiders can lack periods of in game consistency and lazy defence, should or could well have nailed the Warriors by plenty two weeks ago off a positive start yet then allowed the second half to near fall into Golden Point period. They are just 3 from 8 away, but do like playing with less expectation and underdog status, and this game also marks a major milestone for Papalii (300th NRL game).

Similar to the market I marked this 8.5 between them and do like the Bulldogs to cover this. They look to be building quietly week by week and obviously have some confidence around themselves when playing at home, and no better than this one with a full house at Belmore. The quality and consistency of Sexton and Tracey has added much to their overall play and result, and then balance with Mahoney and Burton, but I think the tightness of their defence wins them the result (and margin).

Tip: Bulldogs

Play: Bulldogs -8.5