The Broncos may have pulled off one of the more memorable comebacks in recent history last week, but they still aren t all the way back in the eyes of those on NRL.com s tipping panel.
Heading into round nine, they ve attracted more support than usual (apart from when they took on the Bulldogs) but still head into Saturday night s match against North Queensland as outsiders.
According to the experts, the closest match this weekend should be the Wests Tigers v Titans clash at Campbelltown.
In an interesting conundrum regarding the Eels-Roosters match, just two of the 16 tipsters are backing the Tricolours but that pair (Channel Nine commentator Ruan Sims and NRL.com reporter Alicia Newton) just happen to be in first and second spot on the ladder.
The Green Machine rolls back into Wagga Wagga with Canberra playing host to the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Park on Saturday.
The Raiders were successful in their first trip to the heart of the Riverina in 2019 and will be hoping to maintain a perfect record there with the 2019 grand finalists welcoming back star prop Josh Papalii and halfback George Williams in a much-needed boost.
Newcastle will also welcome a change of scenery and with Origin fullback Kalyn Ponga leading the way, and will be looking to make a statement after being challenged by coach Adam O Brien.
But, importantly for game attendees, there s just as much to look forward to off the field with an EISS Super activation providing many fun activities.
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Andrew Johns admits Ricky Stuart s decision to leave superstar prop Josh Papalii out of his side to clash with the Rabbitohs tonight is an interesting one but says there s method to the madness.
Speaking to Brad Fittler for Wide World of Sports
Raiders star Josh Papalii. (Getty) I had a look, next week they go Newcastle at home, that s a nine-day turnaround, Johns said. Whether they thought they d rest him and freshen him up for that one.
The decision to rest Papalii gives him a 14 day period between games to freshen up, with Stuart himself admitting he d done it in an effort to bring the old Papa back .
Manly, the team that has looked as good as any over the last two weeks, faces a moment of reckoning against the unbeaten Panthers on Saturday.
Heading into the match, the experts on the NRL.com tipping panel think they aren t quite at Penrith s level just yet, with just two of the 16 panellists backing an upset in the match taken to Bathurst.
In other matches this weekend, the tipsters are suggesting the out-of-sorts Raiders aren t without a hope against the high-flying Rabbitohs while it is somewhat surprising the in-form Cowboys are still outsiders against the Warriors.
The Storm and Eels appear the two locks of the week.
The Titans have gone from a team that lost 36-0 one week to being involved in a coin-flip with a team rated a genuine premiership threat the next.
NRL.com tipsters have been quick to forgive the Gold Coast for last week s nightmare showing against Manly, giving them every chance of beating a South Sydney side minus Latrell Mitchell at Cbus Super Stadium on Friday night.
That the Titans will be without powerful forward Tino Fa asuamaleaui (who like Mitchell is suspended), hasn t changed things a great deal.
Among the other matches, the Manly-Wests Tigers and Roosters-Dragons fixtures also resulted in differing opinions.