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NRL betting: Remember the Titans

The recent fortunes of the Titans is a classic case of how the mighty have fallen, writes Nick Tedeschi.

Less than two months ago the Titans stood atop the NRL table and seemed destined for a deep September run. Having been ravaged by injury since, wins have been very hard to come by and this week's clash with the Roosters will prove no exception.

The Gold Coast team, only two years in existence, burst from the blocks this year, winning seven of their first nine matches to sit at the top end of the NRL ladder.

And then the rugby league gods frowned, with injury to key personnel the prime reason behind a drop in form that has seen the club lose five of its last six.

Captains Scott Prince and Luke Bailey, the chief Titans playmaker and go-forward man respectively, have probably played their last game for the season.

Origin backrower Ashley Harrison has also been sidelined, as has the dangerous and in-form Mark Minichiello along with fellow big-bopper Aaron Cannings.

The injury crisis is so dire that coach John Cartwright has had to name two second-rowers to play in the centres this week to cover for the loss of injured regulars Brett Delaney and Luke O'Dwyer.

The Roosters, conversely, are in good form, having won seven of their last eight and will only be without Anthony Minichiello, who has missed much of the 2008 season already, and Nate Myles, who was suspended for a brutal spear tackle in Origin III.

This young, inexperienced and makeshift Titans team appears to be totally outclassed. They lack the creativity to penetrate the fourth best defense in the league while defensively, they lack the hardness to worry a dangerous Roosters attack.

A simple examination of personnel suggests the Roosters will win this Friday night match with ease.

When the Titan's appalling road record (1-5 this season) and the Roosters ability to cover the assigned handicap (10-5 this season and 5-3 at home) is considered, the result of this one seems a fate accompli.
The Roosters can be bet with total confidence in the match odds market and the half-time/full-time double market. The Roosters can also be bet heavily in the handicap market.

In the other Friday night game, the Knights appear to have a slight edge over the Panthers on the basis of having won 13 and lost only four in the last 18 matches played between the two clubs.

Newcastle are 4-3 in handicap betting on the road this season while the Panthers are a shocking 2-5 at home. Kurt Gidley playing hooker should be the key to the Knights success as he should have few problems slicing open the lumbering Panther forwards. Bet the Knights in the match odds and handicap markets.

In the first of the Saturday night matches, the Warriors should have little trouble disposing of a Cowboys team that has lost nine straight and has shown few signs of turning things around.

The Warriors were strong in defeating the Tigers in Sydney without star duo Steve Price and Brent Tate before the bye and that form should see them run rampant over the hapless Cowboys.

The two late games should be much closer affairs. The Sharks have a dominant record against Manly at Shark Park, having lost only once over the last 20 years, and can be speculated on as an outsider.

This will be a dour, low scoring affair so bettors should look to play switched half-time/full-time doubles (Manly-Cronulla and Cronulla-Manly).

The Parramatta-South Sydney match should be just as close though it will most likely be a try fest with both teams ranking in the bottom half of the NRL in defence. Souths are in hot form at the moment but the Eels are a giant waiting to be awoken and with Michael Hagan keen to defeat hated rival Jason Taylor, this looks to be the week that the Eels finally fire.

The first Sunday game sees the Raiders take on the Dragons in Wollongong. The Raiders showed glimpses of real quality against Melbourne last Sunday and if they maintain that effort for eighty minutes, they are more than capable of upsetting the Dragons with a bet at the big plus a sound investment.

The Raiders have won seven of their last eight against the Nathan Brown coached team and a win as an underdog would not surprise in the slightest.

In the late game, the Broncos should have few problems disposing of the out-of-form Bulldogs. The Dogs will be mentally scarred by their blown lead to Souths last Monday while the Broncos will be improved by Darren Lockyer's return. Brisbane can be taken in match odds betting as well as in margin betting to win by 13 plus.

In the Monday Night Football clash, the Melbourne Storm travel to Campbelltown to take on the Wests Tigers. The Tigers have a surprisingly good record against the Storm in Sydney, winning four of the last five matches between the two teams in the capital of rugby league, but they appear to be severely outmatched this time around.

The Tigers are missing a lot of size and the Storm should have few problems getting on top. The Storm should win well and can be bet to win by a margin of more than 12 ½.