First try odds & match specials, NRL Friday Broncos vs. Panthers

TENSION is rife in both camps this week as the Broncos and the Panthers find themselves in precarious positions after 19 rounds in the NRL.

Brisbane started the season on fire, picking up the 2015 form that saw them all the way to the final, but have since dropped to sixth on the ladder.

After tough games against the Storm and the Bulldogs, however, the Broncos found their early season form by beating the Rabbitohs 30-10.

The Panthers looked good in the second half against the Eels and that momentum should continue on in the remaining weeks of the home and away season.

For a team littered with representative players, however, Penrith certainly haven’t hit the high notes in 2016.

Sitting on only eight wins for the season, the Panthers are facing must-win situations more often than they would have hoped for. Recent wins have come against the Rabbitohs and Eels, with losses coming to the Sharks and the Tigers.

A much better effort is needed to beat the Broncos at Suncorp – a venue the Panthers have won only won at three times from 10 attempts.

Broncos vs. Panthers first tryscorer market

Odds by Sportsbet.com.au

Broncos confirmed team and odds:

1. Darius Boyd – $14
2. Corey Oates – $6
3. Tom Opacic – $15
4. James Roberts – $11
5. Lachlan Maranta – $10
6. Anthony Milford – $10
7. Ben Hunt – $23
8. Josh McGuire – $51
9. Andrew McCullough – $34
10. Adam Blair – $51
11. Alex Glenn – $21
12. Sam Thaiday – $26
13. Corey Parker – $41
14. Jarrod Wallace – $41
15. Jai Arrow – $26
16. Herman Ese’ese – $51
17. Joe Ofahengaue – $51

Panthers confirmed team with odds:

1. Matt Moylan – no quote available
2. Josh Mansour – $13
3. Waqa Blake – $20
4. Tyrone Peachey – $17
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak – no quote available
6. Bryce Cartweight – $26
7. Nathan Cleary – $34
8. Leilani Latu – $81
9. Peter Wallace – $41
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard – $81
11. Isaah Yeo – $41
12. James Fisher-Harris – $31
13. Trent Merrin – $41
14. Suaia Matagi – $81
15. Sitaleki Akauola – $41
16. Chris Grevsmuhl – $34
17. Zak Hardaker – $26

The best try-scoring betting options for the Broncos are Corey Oates and Anthony Milford. Current favourite Oates ($6 at Sportsbet) is enjoying a stellar season, having played 13 games for 12 tries.

The Queensland and Broncos winger has been doing plenty of the dirty work up front as well, which makes him an attractive betting prospect. Oates has had a team-high 15 line breaks so expect another big effort from him again.

Milford is also having a good season, with 11 tries to his name. The talented five-eighth has been terrorising defences, but he has committed 22 errors this season – although that is to be expected at his position.

Darius Boyd has committed only four errors, which puts him among the very best in the fullback ranks. Opposing fullback Matt Moylan has made 13 errors, by contrast, and Boyd has scored five more tries than his counterpart.

That makes the Maroons star a try-scoring threat again and he’s currently $2.50 at CrownBet to score at any time during the match.

On the Panthers side we like the look of Josh Mansour, who has scored nine times this season. The Origin player has 15 line breaks for the year and could make his way through a battling Broncos defence which has looked shaky in recent games.

We can also find room for Leilani Latu at massive odds. The Penrith prop is $81 to score first and $12 to score at any time with Sportsbet. He has scored four times this season and we just have a feeling he could sneak over the line late in the game.

Broncos vs. Panthers game tips

We think the Panthers have enough to stick with a Broncos outfit that doesn’t look good enough to defeat a top-eight side at the moment.

The Panthers currently sit in ninth position, but they should make it into the finals and the +11.5 at Sportsbet.com.au is a generous line.

This game could be decided in the last 10 minutes so expect a Friday night thriller.