NRL Betting: St. George Illawarra Dragons can edge home against Gold Coast Titans

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St. George Illawarra Dragons to win @ 1.8 with bet365

St. George Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans meet in Round 19 of the NRL Premiership at the Kogarah Oval in Sydney, with both teams still very much in the race for a Top 8 finish and a place in the Finals Series with them currently being 8th and 9th in the table respectively (following the stripping of 12 competition points from Parramatta Eels).

Despite being in the top-half of the Premiership table, only bottom of the pile Newcastle Knights have scored fewer points and has a worse overall points differential than the Dragons this season.  They had a bye in the last round, but they suffered a hefty 36-6 drubbing at the hands of Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in their last match.  They have been a tad fortunate in terms of their current standing in having played and beaten North Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm when both teams were missing key players due to the Origin series.

The Titans are not in the best form themselves, having only won just one of their last four matches and conceding 22 points or more in five of their last six games.

The Dragons can welcome back their star player, Josh Dugan, and Tyson Frizell from State of Origin III duty.  Kurt Mann has been chosen ahead of Tim Lafai in the centres, with Frizell moving to the front row, Jacob Host in the second row and Leeson Ah Mau dropping to the bench.  

The Titans didn’t have anyone away at Origin III, but they welcome back the impressive Ash Taylor at half-back for Cameron Cullen, Konrad Hurrell in the centres and David Mead returns from a knee injury at full-back, with Chris McQueen moving to the back-row.

The Dragons won the reverse fixture 19-14 in Round 7 at the Cbus Super Stadium and have history on their side with 11 wins from the 16 previous meetings.  With both teams having tough looking run-ins, the result here could be crucial to both of their Top 8 ambitions.

This looks likely to be close, but the Dragons just look to have the edge.