NRL Tips Round 5 | Free

NRL Tips Round 5 | Free Game Preview

Bulldogs vs Roosters | Accor Stadium Homebush

Homebush
+10.5 market line
37.5 total points (market position)

Roosters have won nine of their past 10 against the Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are without Addo-Carr, Preston and Morrin with Wilson to return, Curran starting on an edge and Edwards and Kautoga on the bench. Hughes will start at prop with Knight also on the bench.

Roosters have Collins back, May to the interchange and Egan Butcher out whilst Crichton starts and Tupouniua reverts to the bench.

There is currently a lot of heavy rain forecast for Sydney and surrounds through Thursday to Saturday. 70 to 80mm across Thursday and Friday and then a further 35mm for Saturday has to leave us with likely wet conditions and damp to quite wet and slippery fields.

This ground (Homebush) while it does drain well when late arvo or evening time slots can get quite moist and slippery at the best of times, let alone if we then have all of this rain around.

The Roosters certainly look the stronger list and offering, and with Collins back they look well advantaged through the middle. But how wet the field and game is then has to influence how they look to play, and how many general errors we get. The Bulldogs have had effort to date, in particular in defence, much better than last year, but they do lose two of their harder working forwards here in Preston and Morrin.

Thought 10.5 in these conditions looked a bit too wide, but with their two forward outs and some weakness in depth and quality of middle forwards the Bulldogs could also then be worn down by size and muscle over 80 minutes, so was happy to stay out. But with an early evening wet field and possibilities of rain before and or during the game in wet conditions this ground normally at best offers 32 to 36 points, often far less. Wanted to be with the lower points position and under the original total forecast.

Tip: Roosters
Total: Points Under