GET READY FOR ROUND 15 - All You Need to Know Before Kick-off

Just five games in Round 15, thanks to Game 2 of the State of Origin being just around the corner. The Dolphins and Sydney Roosters are probably the two teams most impacted by Origin, and what do you know, they are playing each other this round! Get your fill of the latest NRL news you need to know from the BettingTop10 team right here.

The Penrith Panthers absolutely put the Wests Tigers to the sword in Round 14, beating them 68-0. Not only are they four Premiership points clear of second place on the ladder, but they have the best points differential by over 100 points!

No wonder they’re still the clear favourites for the Premiership in NRL betting odds. They have a bye this round, and it’s likely they’ll rest all their Origin stars in Round 16, when they take on the Titans. They have that sort of luxury.

The comeback trail continues on for the Melbourne Storm, who have won four of their last five games. They have a bye this round, but terrible news came out of the Storm camp, with Xavier Coates rupturing his Achilles at training. He is now out for the rest of the season.

The Dolphins are another team that has to be seriously considered for the Premiership. They have won their last four games in a row. However, they are seriously impacted by Origin, and will lose the likes of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Tom Flegler, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Max Plath for this game.

The only good news is that they are taking on the Roosters this round, who are probably the only team that has been more impacted by Origin than the Dolphins! For the Roosters, they will be without Lindsay Collins, James Tedesco, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Reece Robson, Victor Radley, and Sam Walker!

One team that doesn’t have any momentum at the moment are the Tigers. Since Jarome Luai signed with the PNG Chiefs, they’ve gone 66-226. Now, we can’t blame it all on one player, and the Tigers have been ravaged by injuries and suspensions. 

However, what I watched in their 0-68 defeat was awful, especially as a Tigers fan. That performance has been blasted as “dumb and embarrassing" by Tigers coach Benji Marshall. Remember when the Tigers were sitting second on the ladder? Yeah, I do too…

Sticking with the Tigers again, and it’s been reported that Israel Folau is linked with a shock return to the NRL. The notorious code-hopper’s manager reached out to Benji Marshall, in hopes of a train and trial deal.

The Tigers have not entertained the deal and are reportedly looking to distance themselves from the situation. Israel Folau has not played in the NRL since 2010, when he left to play AFL. He currently plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One.

Turns out, one game was all that the St. George Illawarra Dragons were capable of winning after going down to the Cronulla Sharks last time out, 12-34. They currently have four Premiership points, with the Gold Coast Titans and Parramatta Eels their closest rivals, on 10 points.

Let’s turn our attention to the Brisbane Broncos now, because what in the Grand Final hangover is this? They have lost their last five games, and it’s not that they’ve lost, it’s who they’ve lost to.

They famously gave the Dragons their first win of the season, and last time out, they lost to the Titans, who are right near the bottom of the ladder as well. The Broncos are up against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, who haven’t exactly been lighting the season on fire either.

Although the Broncos will have to do it without Kotoni Staggs, Payne Haas, and Reece Walsh. We are mid-season now, and if the Broncos want any chance of making the Finals, they’ll need to get on a run, and fast.