NRL Betting: Back Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs against Wests Tigers

Recommended bet: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs @ 1.24 Luxbet

A place in the Finals Series is looking good for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on the back of three straight wins (and five in their last seven) that has taken them up to fourth spot in the NRL Premiership.

Wests Tigers are currently 12th in the table and still in the running for a top eight finish after their impressive 34-26 win over Penrith Panthers last time out.  It’s all very tight in the race for the Finals Series below the top two or three teams in the standings, so anything that the Tigers can take from the Bulldogs would be a significant benefit.  

When these teams met in Round 10, it was the Bulldogs who came out as convincing clear victors by 36-4, running in seven tries to one in the process.  They have historically had the better of things between the two teams, having won 19 of the 30 previous meetings and eight of the last 10.

Both teams have been hit by Origin call-ups, with the Bulldogs missing Josh Jackson and David Klemmer.  Greg Eastwood and Danny Fualalo are set to start in their places.  The Tigers look to have been harder hit and have three players – James Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah – on Origin duty, with Josh Addo-Carr, Dene Halatau and Tim Grant the replacements.

It would certainly appear that the Bulldogs will suffer the least, as Tedesco, Woods and Farah are big misses for the Tigers and they could prove to be decisive absentees here. The Bulldogs are the form team going into this match and look to have a definite advantage in terms of size and experience in the pack.  

It’s difficult to oppose Des Hasler’s men here, but at around 2/7 or shorter they don’t make great appeal to win on the match betting front.  A better option looks to be taking them on the Handicap, with Tigers being given a 10-point start.  Given team news, current form and history, the Bulldogs look capable of overcoming that.