Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders
16th October 0950hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Canberra +6 handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: Even money odds taken 02:17 GMT, Thursday, 15th October
We have hit the Preliminary Finals stage of the NRL season and the first match up to look at is Melbourne v Canberra.
The winner will move ahead to the Grand Final on October 25th to face either this season’s minor premiers Penrith or the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Canberra Raiders pulled off a big underdog success in the last round by eliminating the two-time defending champions the Sydney Roosters.
Can they knock down the powerful Melbourne Storm as well.
Table of Contents
Melbourne Storm Preview – Storm favourites for Raiders duel
Melbourne finished second in the regular standings of the NRL in this campaign.
That saw them open the Qualifying/Elimination round of the bracket against third-place Parramatta.
The Storm breezed through that match with a 36-24 win, which put them straight through to the Preliminary Finals.
So here they are and the Storm are the 4/8 odds-on favourites to pick up the victory* (odds taken 02:17 GMT, Thursday, 15th October).
The Storm have won six of their last eight matches.
The only ones that they dropped in that sequence was when they were injury-hit against the Eels during the regular season and then on the final day of the campaign when they rested players to face the Dragons.
Melbourne have not lost any of their last 19 matches in Queensland now, so they are rock solid at the Suncorp Stadium.
This is not Melbourne’s home ground, this is neutral territory for both of them
There have been some concerns over the fitness of one of their big key players, five-eighth Cameron Munster.
He is one of the big cogs in their back-line machine and the Storm would love him to be fully fit.
In looking for a bit of tryscorer value options for NRL betting, Josh Addo-Carr is worth a look as he has touched down 12 times in his last eight games at the Suncorp Stadium.
Addo-Carr is a 4/5 option in the anytime tryscorer market* (odds taken 02:17 GMT, Thursday, 15th October).
The last meeting between the two teams was back in mid-July with the Storm collecting a 20-14 victory in a road fixture.
Prior to that, the Raiders had beaten them at the end of May, a convincing 22-6 win that Canberra put on the board in that one.
In the last seven meetings, the Storm are W4 L3 against Canberra Raiders so things are really right between them.
Canberra Raiders Preview – underdogs not to be dismissed
It has been a very strong run of form from the Canberra Raiders. They finished the regular season on a three-match winning streak.
That put them through to an elimination match in the first week of the NRL finals where they comfortably beat Cronulla 32-20.
So that secured a semi-final match against the reigning champions the Sydney Roosters.
Canberra were underdogs there, but prevailed.
Impressively so as well, taking a 22-18 upset victory to move through to the Primary Finals for the second season running
That was a good revenge win for Canberra actually, which shows that they are up for this. They lost last season’s NRL Grand Final against the Roosters.
The Raiders will be facing underdog status once again for Saturday as they go at a current 15/8 quote* (odds taken 02:17 GMT, Thursday, 15th October).
One very important factor to note. Canberra had the extra game at the semi-final stage, whereas Melbourne skipped that week because of winning in the first week of the NRL Finals.
So that is a bit of extra workload that the Raiders have had to endure.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Canberra Raiders do look in fine fettle at the moment and Raiders +6 handicap is at even money which highlight that* (odds taken 02:17 GMT, Thursday, 15th October).
The Suncorp Stadium though hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for them as they have won only 2 of their last 13 visits there.
But they are a form team with five wins on the bounce.
However, we look at the points recorded by both across the regular season. Canberra averaged 22 per game.
The Melbourne Storm averaged almost 27 per game. Those are the kind of narrow margins which can make all the difference at the end of the day.
Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders Betting Advice
This should be a fantastic match. We are going with the Melbourne Storm to take the victory in this match, however.
They have had an extra week of rest between matches and that could be so telling for fitness in the latter stages of this intense fixture.
Melbourne have the extra scoring power and we think that is going to help them get across the line as well.
Key Facts – Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders Betting Tip
- Melbourne Storm finished second in the regular seasons, Raiders 5th
- Melbourne Storm and Canberra traded wins this season
- Canberra Raiders were runners up in last season’s Grand Final in the NRL
In the handicap market, we would just swing with a Raiders +6 though at even money because they do look a dangerous side at the moment* (odds taken 02:17 GMT, Thursday, 15th October).
Digging around for a little bit longer value in NRL betting on this match, we would select the Storm 1-12 winning margin at 7/4* (odds taken 02:17 GMT, Thursday, 15th October).
Things are even in the recent head to head between these two. Will the Raiders return to the Grand Final, or will it be Melbourne’s day?
The best betting odds for Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm to win: 4/9 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Canberra Raiders to win: 15/8 at Bet365
