NRL Telstra Premiership 2020 Finals Week 2 Expert Analysis

NRL Telstra Premiership 2020 Finals Week 2 Expert Analysis

Written by on October 15, 2020

With only four teams remaining in the race for this year’s 2020 Telstra Premiership championship, it’s time to take a look at both Week 3 preliminary Finals and the two teams that are offering the best value against their respective NRL odds.

Rugby Betting | NRL 2020 Finals Week 2 Odds & Predictions

Melbourne Storm Vs Canberra Raiders

  • When: Friday, October 16, 2020 at 3:50 AM 
  • Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 

Melbourne finished second in the NRL standings in the regular season by going 16-0-4. The Storm took out Parramatta 36-24 in their qualifying and elimination round win on October 3 as Ryan Papenhuyzen scored a pair of tries and Suliasi Vunivalu, Josh Addo-Carr, Jesse Bromwich and Brenko Lee all added solo scoring tries. 

Canberra finished the regular season  in fifth place by going 14-0-6. The Raiders got past two-time defending champion Syndey 22-18 in their semifinals clash on Friday as Josh Papalii, George Williams, Joseph Tapine and Jack Wighton all scored tries while Jared Coker went 3-for-4 on conversions. 

While Canberra recorded an emphatic 22-6 road win on May 30, Melbourne got some revenge in their 20-14 road win on July 11. Five-eighth Cameron Munster also looks like he’ll be fit for duty after suffering a minor knee injury in Melbourne’s qualifying final win over the Eels.Tom Eisenhuth replaces Chris Lewis on the bench while Ryley Jacks and Lewis were cut from the extended squad. 

For Canberra, the Raiders will use the same 17 players that triumphed over the Roosters the last time out. Hooker Tom Starling and prop Sia Soliola are scheduled to start in place of Siliva Havili and Hudson Young. Centre Jordan Rapana is expected to play despite a sternum injury. Ryan Sutton and Michael Oldfield were cut from the reserves. 

Prediction

While winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 12 tries in his past eight games at Suncorp Stadium, Melbourne has not lost at home against Canberra since 2010. Melbourne has gone 9-1 at home this season while Canberra has gone 8-2 on the road. The Storm scored almost 100 points more than the Raiders this season while also allowing almost 40 fewer points than the Raiders. Melbourne takes care of business in this one to advance to the grand finals.

Pick: Storm 24 Raiders 16 

Penrith Panthers Vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

  • When: Saturday, October 17, 2002 at 3:50 AM
  • Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Penrith finished the regular season atop the NRL ladder by going a stellar 18-1-1. The Panthers got past the Sydney Roosters 29-28 in their elimination finals matchup on Oct. 2 as Nathan Cleary scored a trio of tries while Josh Mansour and Stephen Crichton both added solo tries in the win. Cleary also went 4-for-5 on conversions to help the Panthers advance to the preliminary finals. Kurt Capewell is set to start in the left second-row position after being named in place of the suspended Viliame Kikau. Mobile forward Spencer Leniu has joined the bench.

South Sydney finished the regular season in sixth place by going 12-0-8. The Rabbitohs got past Parramatta 38-24 on Saturday as Jaxson Paulo scored two tries while Liam Knight, Cameron Murray, Bayley Sironen and Damien Cook all added scoring tries. The Rabbitohs will be unchanged from last week’s win over the Eels. 

Prediction

Penrith beat South Sydney 20-12 at home on June 25 and I like the Panthers to repeat that win with another against a Siuth Sydney team that has far exceeded their expectations following a modest regular season. While the Rabbitohs have won seven of their last eight against the Panthers at ANZ Stadium, Penrith has won 16 straight games and has the look of a team destined to win it all if you ask me.

Pick: Panthers 26 Rabbitohs 118

 
 

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