NRL Betting Preview: Brisbane Broncos look capable of edging Parramatta Eels by 1-12 points
Recommended bet: Winning Margin – Brisbane Broncos to win by 1-12 points @ 2/1 (3.00) with bet365
Parramatta Eels take on the Brisbane Broncos at the ANZ Stadium on Friday evening, with just two points separating seventh in the table Eels and third-placed Broncos going into the game.
The Eels come into the game on a fine run of form, having won their last four Premiership games on the spin and six of their last seven. With the Broncos having won four of their last five Premiership matches, this is game between two in-form teams both battling for a play-off place as a bare minimum in the regular campaign, but with both believing that they can go beyond that.
Last week the Eels secured a narrow 17-16 win at Wests Tigers on Sunday, as a Corey Norman field goal just cleared the crossbar to see them home. Meanwhile the Broncos enjoyed a far more comfortable 42-12 win at home to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
In terms of the head-to-head record, the Broncos hold a 31-19 advantage overall in the 51 previous meetings and have come out on top in each of the last three clashes. The last meeting was nearly a year ago, when the Broncos romped home 38-16 at the Suncorp Stadium.
In terms of NRL team news, the Eels are expected to name Bevan French at fullback after Clint Gutherson was ruled out for the year with a season-ending knee injury.
Captain and fullback Darius Boyd is likely to return from a broken thumb for the Broncos. With Anthony Milford returning last week, it means the Broncos have their top players back in tándem. Utility Kodi Nikorima (hip) could be ruled out for the Broncos after he missed training at Red Hill on Tuesday.
The Broncos come into the game as the league’s top point scorers this term, with their 419 to date (one better than Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and eight ahead of the table-topping Melbourne Storm) coming at a healthy average of over 23 per game.
With Boyd set to be back in the starting line-up and given their potent attack, the Broncos look the bet here and backing them with a Winning Margin of 1-12 points at 2/1 (3.00) with bet365 looks a decent NRL betting tip.
