Defending Premiers Penrith host Manly in a blockbuster to open the season. Nathan Cleary is out but the Panthers remain value.
BEST BET
Penrith ($2.00)
Both Penrith and Manly finished Top 4 last season but the Panthers were significantly better defensively.
They have taken some blows to their depth but will start close to healthy in Round 1 while Manly have lost both Josh Schuster as well as suspended prop Josh Aloai.
The Panthers have covered 19 of 25 when playing at night at home.
Manly have traditionally started seasons poorly under Des Hasler and they have covered just three of 11 as a road underdog.
Same Game Multi
Penrith Win/Viliame Kikau Try/Tom Trbojevic Try ($10.25)
Penrith are expected to be too strong for the Sea Eagles even with Nathan Cleary sidelined.
Trbojevic scored a remarkable 28 tries in 18 games last year and has now scored 76 in 114 NRL appearances. He has scored in 4 of 8 against the Panthers.
Kikau scored a double early against Manly last year and now comes up against an inexperienced edge opponent.
Value Bet
Api Koroisau Try ($6.00)
Api Koroisau does not score a lot of tries but when he does he scores against quality teams.
All three of his tries last year came against teams that finished in the Top 6.
The year prior he scored a try against former team Manly. Hookers like to make their mark early in the season so expecting the Panthers rake to have a few cracks at the Sea Eagles line.
