Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos
18th September 1055hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Broncos +18 Handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: Even money odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th
Parramatta have a little work to do to try and hold on to a top four finish to get better positioning in the postseason of the NRL.
They were beaten last weekend in a top clash with the ladder leaders Penrith. But they will be expected to bounce back here.
The Broncos remain in danger of falling to the wooden spoon and getting any change out of this away game is going to be tough.
Table of Contents
Parramatta Eels Preview – Eels need a response
The Parramatta Eels came up a long way short last weekend as they were beaten 2-20 by the leader Penrith Panthers.
Their form has been slipping away a little bit as Parramatta are only W2 L3 in their last five games.
Only once in their last five games have the Eels managed to score more than 12 points in a game and that lack of attacking threat is a concern for them ahead of the postseason.
In two of their last three games, they were kept off the scoreboard in a 0-38 loss against the Rabbitohs and then only got those two points against the Panthers last weekend.
So they are limping towards the finish line a little bit, moving on to a W13 L5 record for the season.
Parramatta Eels are the lowest scoring team in the top nine of the ladder at the moment.
Overall, across the course of the season Parramatta have averaged 18 points per game, which isn’t great compared to most of those heading to the postseason.
But across their last five games Parramatta have averaged just 10 points per game. So we can’t even throw a lot of weight at a big handicap for them.
An Eels -16 handicap looks a mightily risky wager for Friday’s game at a short-change 8/11* (odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th)
Brisbane Broncos Preview – Can Broncos pull off an upset?
Brisbane are W3 L15 for the season and are just two points above the bottom side Bulldogs with two to play.
So the risk of the wooden spoon for the NRL season is still there, which would be astonishing for a team of their stature.
Anyway, there was a 6-18 loss for them last weekend against the Titans who themselves are a bottom-five side.
In that loss against the Titans, the Brisbane Broncos were condemned to a record losing streak.
That is nine defeats in a row now for the Broncos and it was also the first time ever that the Broncos had lost twice in a single season to Gold Coast.
That losing streak may well get extended as they still have this tough match on Friday to try and get through.
It was just another massive error-strewn game from the Broncos in the last round and the Broncos +16 is an 11/10 handicap option* (odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th).
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Brisbane Broncos have the worst defensive record in the NRL ladder, the only team to have shipped more than 500 points.
It has been a staggering average of 31 points per game this season that the Broncos have conceded at.
The season is just a total wash for them now and they are one point away from having the worst defensive record in a single season in their club’s history.
Looking at them it is just so hard to see where their next win will come from. Maybe next weekend against the Cowboys, but probably not in this one.
Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos Betting Advice
The Eels have had some wobbles recently, but they have to be dialled in for what appears to be an easy game for them.
There has been a lack of scoring threat from the Eels, they have been lacking some creativity and clinical finishing recently.
But the Eels have won the last two meetings between the two clubs, conceding just six points in total across the two matches.
Key Facts – Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos Betting Tip
- Parramatta Eels have won the last two against the Broncos
- Parramatta Eels have only averaged 10 points per game in their last five played
- Brisbane Broncos are on a club record nine-match losing streak
The Eels will be meeting the Broncos at the best possible time here as they look for points to confirm a top four finish.
We are going to play slightly conservatively with an 1-12 winning margin for the Eels at 11/4 just because Parramatta have been a little rocky recently* (odds taken 02:02 GMT on Thursday, September 17th)..
The best betting odds for Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos
Parramatta Eels to win: 1/10 at Bet365
Draw: 28/1 at Bet365
Brisbane Broncos to win: 13/2 at Bet365
