Souths should have too much top-end talent for a rebuilding Broncos team missing their big-name recruit but on home turf this won’t be a walkover.
Best Bet
Brisbane +10.5 ($1.91)
The noises out of the Broncos are positive with anything short of a return to the finals considered a failure. The club gets a brutal start though when meeting the Rabbitohs.
Souths have dominated this matchup with their last three wins coming by 18 or more points and scoring 22-plus in five of the last six. While Souths still have Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Cameron Murray, the losses of Adam Reynolds to Brisbane and Latrell Mitchell to suspension are significant, as is the departure of Wayne Bennett. This Souths team has plenty of weaknesses.
Brisbane have a strong record at Suncorp recently, at least from a betting perspective, covering 10 of 15 at the ground. An improving Broncos team can keep this one in hand.
Same Game Multi
South Sydney 1-12/Kotoni Staggs Try ($6.00)
Brisbane are capable of keeping this one close with Kurt Capewell and Ryan James significant additions while we should see further improvement from Selwyn Cobbo, Herbie Farnworth and Jordan Riki. Kotoni Staggs is an explosive centre with 13 tries in his 18 games across the last two seasons and he will likely come up against manufactured centre Jaxson Paulo.
Value Bet
Cody Walker First Try Scorer ($15.00)
Cody Walker absolutely thrives against Brisbane with six tries in 10 games against the Broncos including four in the last five meetings. He starts the season with a point to prove after his infamous Grand Final intercept. He will also be looking to alleviate pressure on rookie half Lachlan Ilias.
