Raiders v Tigers NRL Rd 2 betting picks & odds | March 16, 2024

Raiders v Tigers NRL R2 best bets

Canberra v Wests NRL R2 match preview

Super Saturday for round two of the NRL Premiership kicks off in Canberra with the Raiders hosting the Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium. The Tigers had the bye in round one and will need to perform strongly if they are to beat this Raiders side, which will be looking to build on its win over the Knights in Newcastle.

The Wests Tigers have made sweeping changes to their starting 17, with Asu Kepaoa, Triston Reilly, Josh Feledy, Daine Laurie, Shawn Blore, Justin Matamua, Kit Laulilii, and Tallyn Da Silva all missing from the side that lost to the Sea Eagles at the end of last season.

Charlie Staines will start on the wing, while Solomona Faataape will make his NRL debut alongside Starford To’a in the centre. Lachlan Galvin has been named to start his first game in top grade at five-eighth, with former Dragon Jayden Sullivan named at halfback. Alex Seyfarth will lock the scrum, while Aidan Sezer and former Sea Eagle Samuela Fainu will come off the interchange bench.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has named an unchanged line-up following round one.

Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers predictions

The Raiders enter this match having won each of their last seven games against the Tigers, with three of the last five coming by short margins. The Tigers will be playing their first match under new coach Benji Marshall and are expected to put in a gritty performance, although they lack experience across the park. The Raiders should be able to win this match by 1-12 points at +185 with NRL betting sites.

Xavier Savage had an impressive return to first grade against the Knights, running for over 120m with two tackle breaks, one line break and a try. His form will only improve with time at the top level. Having scored a try in five of his last six matches for the Canberra Raiders, he is a great value play to score at any time (+105).

Neither the Raiders nor the Tigers are expected to contend for the top eight on the NRL ladder this season. Wests, especially, may struggle to score points as they build cohesion in their squad for future seasons. Seven of the last eight matches between these two sides have been low-scoring affairs, and this one should go under the total points line of 44.5 (-111.11).

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