NRL 2022 Round 11 – Betting tips & Predictions

As the NRL nears the midway point of its season, the ladder is beginning to take shape, though with just a game separating fourth from ninth there is plenty of scope for things to change very quickly. The round begins with an intriguing clash between the rampaging Broncos and the Knights, before Friday night is headlined by a big game between the Eels and Sea Eagles. Saturday afternoon and night should be a great few hours of footy, with all of the current top four playing against one another, first the Storm and Cowboys and then the Panthers and Roosters. Check out our preview of these games and more below.

Newcastle Knights vs Brisbane Broncos

May 19 – McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle – 7.50pm

Round 11 begins with the Knights hosting the Broncos, each of whom is coming off strong wins last weekend. The Knights enjoyed a 16-6 win, and though it was only against the lowly Bulldogs, they will be relieved to have broken a seven-game losing streak and earned their third win of the year. They can’t afford to get too happy with themselves, though; the Broncos are in some mighty good form having won four in a row, the latest of which came to the tune of 38 points against the Sea Eagles. If they continue to play the way they have been over the past month, they should be too strong in this one.

Bet on the Broncos to win @ $1.39 (PlayUp)

Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs

May 20 – Leichhardt Oval, Sydney – 6.00pm

Friday night football begins with a battle between a couple of cellar dwellers when the 15th place Tigers play host to the 16th place Bulldogs. These two sides are the only in the league to have recorded just two wins in their first ten games, and last weekend both suffered more disappointment when going down relatively comfortably. For the Tigers, the loss was to the tune of 20 points against the Cowboys, while the Bulldogs lost by ten points to the struggling Knights. There’s not likely to be too much on the highlight reel from this one, but at least it should be close. It’s hard to tip either team with too much confidence, but on their home surface the Tigers might be able to sneak over the line.

Bet on the Tigers to win @ $1.90 (Palmerbet)

Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea Eagles

May 20 – CommBank Stadium, Sydney – 7.55pm

Both the Eels and the Sea Eagles suffered disappointing losses last week. The Eels gave up a big start against the Roosters, and though they hit a purple patch in the second half, weren’t able to sustain it long enough to snatch back the lead and dropped down to sixth as a result. It wasn’t the result they were hoping for, but it wasn’t as ordinary a performance as what Manly dished up. In a game with potentially significant repercussions against the Broncos, they were completely outclassed, going down 38-0 and losing their spot in the top eight. Both these sides are in need of a win, and it’s the home side in Parramatta who should be able to get the job done.

Bet on the Eels to win @ $1.39 (Bet365)

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors

May 21 – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

The Dragons continued what has been a competitive five weeks of footy – their demolition at the hands of the Storm the lone exception – but fell four points short of a win that would have seen them outside the top eight only on goal difference. They get a great chance to keep in touch with the top half of the NRL ladder against the Warriors this week. New Zealand have now lost four of their last five after going down to the Rabbitohs last Saturday, though their incredible finish which almost saw them clock a memorable comeback win showed what they are capable of when at their best. This should be a competitive game, but the Dragons can get the win on their home turf.

Bet on the Dragons to win @ $1.73 (BoomBet)

North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm

May 21 – Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville – 5.30pm

Week after week, the Cowboys continue to prove that they are the real deal, and last weekend it was the Tigers who were the unfortunate recipients of their dominance. The 24-point win was the Cowboys’ fifth in a row and their fourth consecutive victory by 20 points or more, and has them locked into the top four by a game and a significant amount of goal difference. This week, however, they will have their work cut out in the match of the round. The Storm’s extraordinary form was brought to a rapid end by the Panthers last weekend, but the experienced Melbourne side won’t be getting too concerned just yet. They’ve been fantastic all year, and can get back on the winners’ list in an entertaining game in Townsville.

Bet on the Storm to win @ $1.50 (Palmerbet)

Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers

May 21 – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney – 7.35pm

An entertaining Saturday of footy continues with a top four clash when the Roosters welcome the Panthers to the SCG. The Roosters looked excellent in the first half last week, and though they let the Eels back into the game in the second half, they were good enough to steady and hold off a very good side to win by seven points. They are certainly a top four competitor, but the gap between the top two and the rest is significant, and the Panthers showed last week that they are the team to beat this year with an ominous win against the Storm. That 32-6 victory was one of the best performances of the year, and they can take their record to 10-1 with yet another win this weekend and solidify their position as Premiership favourites with Aussie bookmakers.

Bet on the Panthers to win @ $1.28 (BoomBet)

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canberra Raiders

May 22 – Apex Oval, Dubbo – 2.00pm

The Rabbitohs’ indifferent beginning to the year continued last week in a game which they won, but wouldn’t have left feeling particularly good about. They were great in the first half and held a comfortable 32-6 lead against the Warriors with under 20 minutes to go, before nearly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as New Zealand scored four tries in quick succession to get to within two points. Fortunately the whistle sounded just in time, but it wasn’t exactly a win they’ll have particularly fond memories of. In contrast, the Raiders will feel great about how they played, upsetting the impressive Sharks to the tune of 20 points. That was probably their best effort of the year, and a similar performance could see them cause an upset at odds.

Bet on the Raiders to win @ $2.45 (Bet365)

Gold Coast Titans vs Cronulla Sharks

May 22 – Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast – 4.05pm

The Titans have been disappointing last year, but managed to arrest a five-game losing skid last weekend when holding out the Dragons by four points. It wasn’t exactly the most impressive performance of the weekend, but perhaps it could be the catalyst they need to turn their season around. Unfortunately for them, they come up against a quality Sharks outfit likely to be looking for someone to take their frustration out on after a disappointing loss against the Raiders. That loss saw them drop out of the top four, but they can potentially jump straight back in with a win in the last game of Round 11.

Bet on the Sharks to win @ $1.45 (PlayUp)