Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders
30th May 10:35hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Raiders +4 Handicap
Bookmaker Ladbrokes
Odds: Even Money odds taken 22:07 GMT, Tuesday 26th May
This is a big clash between two teams holding down a 100% record from their two respective played fixtures. The NRL season went into lockdown after that, but will resume with Round 3 fixtures this weekend. This should be one of the highlights of the weekend.
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Can Melbourne defend home territory?
The Storm came racing out of the games to collect back to back wins in the opening rounds of action. The first of those saw Melbourne claim a good 18-4 success over the Manly Sea Eagles.
They then stepped up to edge the Sharks 12-10. Taking into consideration action from the back end of last season that is three wins in their last four NRL fixtures and six in their last eight.
So the Storm is in decent enough shape. They posted a joint-best home record last season in the NRL, with a W9 L3 record on home turf.
From their two matches played this season it has been a winning margin of 8 points on average from them.
So that could be a good line to look around for the handicap in this one to back the Storm with. But that having been said they have scored 14 points fewer than what the Raiders have managed to put on the board this season.
They are also facing a tough opponent who have matched them by taking back to back opening wins.
Can the Raiders claim a big away scalp?
So it is also two wins from two this season by the Raiders. Canberra have taken their wins convincingly against the Gold Coast Titans and the New Zealand Warriors by 24-6 and 20-6 score lines respectively.
It has been five wins in their last six NRL fixtures stretching back to last season. The stats between these two so far this early in the season are very similar. One key difference is the extra points, as mentioned, that Canberra have scored compared to the Storm.
The Raiders have won their last two meetings with the Storm, claiming 22-18 and 12-10 narrow victories over them. Their average winning points margin this season is currently at 16.
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The Canberra Raiders are only W13 L31 against the Storm since 1998 however. But do have that recent bit of momentum going so this is going to be really interesting.
Their away form in Melbourne isn’t actually all that bad. The Raiders have a 50% win rate there, from 10 previous matches. So there is every chance that they are going to be well in this fixture.
Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders Betting Advice
You scan through the bulk of the stats for this game and it is hard to find much to split them. So what that does for us is just make us lean towards the visitors coming away with something.
Key Facts – Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders Betting Tip
- Melbourne Storm have lost their last two against the Raiders
- Both teams have taken two wins from two this season
- Canberra Raiders have a 50% win rate at Melbourne
The Raiders have had a little bit of an edge in terms of scoring and have claimed back to back wins over the Storm as well. We can see any positive handicap on the Raiders as a positive and +4 at Even Money at Ladbrokes is value* (odds taken from Ladbrokes at 22:07 GMT, Tuesday 26th May).
The best betting odds for Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders
Melbourne Storm to win: 9/25 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Canberra Raiders: 11/5 at Bet365
