The ladder-leading Penrith Panthers must be careful not to fall into a trap game in their NRL schedule against Wests Tigers in Saturday’s round 18 rugby betting predictions.
At 15-1, the Panthers would seem to run away with this match against the last place Wests Tigers (3-13) – but that’s why they play the game.
NRL Score Records
The Panthers bring a seven-match win streak into Saturday’s meeting and are coming off a bye last week. That ups the degree of difficulty a bit for the Wests, who lost a close 28-20 contest to the Eels last week, their fifth straight defeat.
West Tigers vs. Panthers betting stats show that overall, Penrith has come out on top in 10 of the last 13 head-to-head meetings.
West Tigers vs. Panthers Stats
Wests Tigers Stats
If you are going to be rugby betting, know the Tigers put up a valiant effort vs. Parramatta last Saturday but still ultimately tasted defeat for the fifth straight time in a 28-20 loss to the Eels. Despite showing decent form, Brett Kimmorley is making some changes this week.
Adam Doueihi moves into the halves with Jackson Hastings going to lock. Joe Ofahengaue goes to the front row, and the team welcomes back James Tamou from a calf injury. Justin Matamua is up to the starting side after his debut against the Eels.
Kimmorley is hoping these changes breathe some life into his team that is dead last in the NRL in scoring with 218 points.
Ken Mamalou is the West Tigers leading scorer with 40 points, but that’s just the 31st best mark in the league.
Tigers Season Series Recap
Wests Tigers were actually able to get a split of the season series in 2021, winning 26-6 in Sydney, one of only three defeats for the 2021 premiers.
The Wests also won 30-4 in 2019, although that was more of a down year for Penrith. Does that still give the Wests Tigers some value in round 18 rugby betting picks?
Perhaps luckily for the Tigers, this will be their only matchup against Penrith this year. The head-to-head series is not as lopsided as one would think, with the Panthers going 24-14 since 2000.
West Tigers vs. Penrith Panthers Betting Stats show that overall, Penrith has come out on top in 10 of the last 13 head-to-head meetings.
Panthers Stats
Panthers should have an easy go of things this Saturday, and Ivan Cleary is acknowledging that by resting each of his seven Origin players.
That means no co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, as well as:
- Jarome Luai
- Liam Martin
- Brian To’o
- Api Koroisau
- Stephen Crichton
All sitting.
The Panthers do have arguably the best depth in the NRL, and they are coming off an idle week. That being said, resting those seven players has to put a dent in the league’s leading scoring team with 482 points. It makes the rugby betting predictions a bit more difficult.
As one would expect in a match between two teams at opposite ends of the ladder, the point differential is quite different in 2022 for these two squads.
Penrith, for example, is +306 against their opponents this season, while the Wests Tigers have a -196 margin on the season.
Tigers vs. Panthers Betting Trends
- Panthers have won 18 of the last 19 overall
- Tigers have last 8 of last 9 overall
- 6 of the last 7 head-to-head contests have gone under 40.5 points
- Panthers are 10-3 last 13 head to head
Tigers vs. Panthers Betting Prediction
When looking at NRL odds, it’s good to know a few things first. Penrith has by far a less than full squad for Saturday’s rugby betting picks, but they still are the superior team.
When you throw in the fact that the Panthers are coming off a bye and have had an extra week to prepare for Cleary’s decision to bench his seven Origin stars, this is still going to be a well-adjusted squad.
If you are looking at rugby odds, know that the Tigers have made some changes of their own for this week, too, and they didn’t look bad last round against a good Parramatta team.
Who to Bet On?
Rugby betting trends show the Tigers pulled off an upset in a very similar fashion last season, and who knows how seriously Penrith is taking this game with a three-win advantage over second-place North Queensland?
The Panthers are -7.5 favorites in round 18 rugby betting odds, a number that could have been -26 if the likes of Cleary and Luai were playing for Penrith. That point spread being lowered by that much gives the value to Penrith.
NRL Pick: Panthers -7.5
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