The Tigers have been battered by injury and suspension and look hard-pressed to match it with the red-hot Dolphins.
Best Bet
After a positive start to the season, the Tigers have faded badly.
Benji Marshall’s team have lost their last six and notably they have scored more than 18 just once this season and not more than 14 in their last five.
The Dolphins, by contrast, just keep on getting it done despite a big injury toll.
The Phins are in the Top 4 with just two losses since an embarrassing Round 1 showing. Their success has come on the back of a fabulous attack that has seen them top 26 in six of their last eight.
These teams met in Round 5 at this very venue and the Dolphins won 26-16.
Losing Isaiah Papalii and John Bateman really takes out a lot of the Tigers’ workrate and makes them incredibly vulnerable defensively. Bottom four teams against Top 8 sides cover just 40%.
The Dolphins have covered just four of five when favoured by at least a try. They are 14-9 ATS in Queensland and 13-7 ATS at night.
Chips in the Dolphins.
Insights
📉 Recent Performance Trends for Wests Tigers: Wests Tigers have maintained a pattern of low scoring in recent games, with unders achieved in all but one of their last 9 games, highlighting a trend towards low-scoring outcomes.
🏆 Dolphins’ Success as Favourites: The Dolphins have maintained a perfect record in their last 3 games as favourites, securing wins each time.
🆚 Wests Tigers’ Challenges Against Top 8 Teams: Wests Tigers have struggled to cover the spread against top 8 teams, managing only 3 covers in the last 15 games against such competition.
Same Game Multi
The Tigers right edge is horrific defensively so putting the two left-edge Dolphins players in an SGM.
Jack Bostock has eight tries in nine games this year and he is a quality finisher.
Herbie Farnworth has 26 tries in his last 43 games.
Value Bet
Connelly Lemuelu has absolutely thrived since shifting to both the Dolphins and the backrow. He is a quality line runner who crossed last week. He has seven tries in 20 starts and he is expected to start this week. The loss of Papalii and Bateman really hurt the Tigers edge.
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