Eels vs. Rabbitohs betting lines and exotics for NRL Friday

Friday, June 17 from 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium

Ladder position:
Rabbitohs: 12th
Eels: 5th

Season record:
Rabbitohs: 5-8
Eels: 8-5

Head-to-head odds:
Rabbitohs: $2.25
Eels: $1.67

Points start line:
Rabbitohs +2.5 ($1.91)
Eels -2.5 ($1.91 at Sportsbet.com.au)

There isn’t much to get excited about if you’re a Rabbitohs fan this season. The South Sydney side looked to have its NRL campaign back on track after consecutive wins, including a last-gasp win over the Eels, but since the bye week, it has lost to the Titans and the Tigers.

The loss last week came by 14-30 and it wasn’t pretty to watch. The Rabbitohs still had star players such as Greg Inglis, the Burgess brothers and Adam Reynolds, but two of those players are out with Origin duty this week which doesn’t make for good reading. Greg Inglis and Adam Reynolds are missing this Friday, along with Bryson Goodwin.

The Eels side has won its last two games with a bye week in between and its team looks set for a big clash. The Parramatta side is without Michael Jennings on Origin duty, but it still has Michael Gordan, Corey Norman and Semi Radradra in the lineup.

Semi Radradra is a player we want to focus on this week as he has been money for try-scoring punters this season.

Get the best try-scoring odds at Crownbet which is running a big special in round 15. Crownbet will match your stake as a bonus bet if your try-scoring option doesn’t score first, but scores in the first half. That’s a great promotion so get involved.

Rabbitohs vs. Eels first try-scorer market

South Sydney Rabbitohs team and odds:

1. Alex Johnston – $12
2. Dane Nielsen – $13
3. Kirisome Auva’a – $18
4. Siosifa Talakai – $18
5. Aaron Gray – $8.50
6. Cody Walker – $26
7. Luke Keary – $26
8. Thomas Burgess – $51
9. Cameron McInnes – $26
10. David Tyrell – $51
11. Paul Carter – $26
12. Kyle Turner – $34
13. Sam Burgess – $26

The best hope for the Rabbitohs is winger Aaron Gray. He has scored five tries in 10 games which isn’t the most in the team, but as a winger he usually gets given more opportunities. Gray is the $8.50 favourite with the Rabbitohs, but the value could be with Alex Johnston.

Johnston plays the fullback position in the absence of Greg Inglis and he has scored six tries in only seven games this season. He is currently paying $12 at Crownbet which looks much better value than Aaron Gray.

Parramatta Eels team and odds:

1. Michael Gordon – $20
2. Semi Radradra – $5
3. Clinton Gutherson – $15
4. Vai Toutai – $18
5. Bevan French – $11
6. Kenny Edwards – No odds available
7. Corey Norman – $23
8. Daniel Alvaro – $41
9. Isaac De Gois – $34
10. Danny Wicks – $56
11. Manu Ma’u – $26
12. Beau Scott – $26
13. Tepai Moeroa – $34

Semi Radradra is on a try-scoring tear with nine already this season. The Fijian/Australian winger has been a force with 10 line breaks which makes him a very dangerous try-scoring threat.

The negative aspect of his game is the error count. He leads the team with 14 errors, but he also leads the team with 189 runs, so he’s doing plenty of the dirty work and he gets rewarded by scoring the majority of the tries.

Radradra is short at $5 to score first in the game, but that’s worth taking because of the lack of experience around him. Vai Toutai and Bevan French are having just their third game of the season which will mean Big Semi will have to do more work than usual. To their credit, both Toutai and French have scored twice this season, but play Radradra for the more sensible option.

$5 at Crownbet and if he doesn’t score first, but scores in the first half, you get your money back.

Rabbitohs vs. Eels game tips

This is a tricky game for punters as neither side can be relied on. The Rabbitohs have a good side on paper with many scoring threats, but can the forwards show any muster this week? They have looked weak this season, the Burgess brothers included, and a better performance will be needed.

The Eels have put off-field interruptions behind them, but it could start taking its toll now. The backline looks much different and losing Jennings to Origin will be a big loss. They are travelling better this season which is why they are the favourites, but the Rabbitohs need to start winning to make the playoffs and it could start here.

Our tip: Rabbitohs to win ($2.25) at Sportsbet.com.au