Round 15 is done and dusted and once again it was a great one! The Rabbitohs almost pulled off one of the best comebacks, despite not having Latrell Mitchell or Cody Walker while the Storm thrashed the Sharks and put Nicho Hynes out of an Origin Jersey. This week we are back with just 5 games this round due to State of Origin Game 2 being next Wednesday at Suncorp Stadium.
NRL 2023 Round 16
Cowboys vs Panthers
Kicking off the round we have the Cowboys hosting the Panthers. The Cowboys will be well rested after the bye, while the Panthers will be in good spirits after a 30-6 win over the Roosters without star man Nathan Cleary. The Cowboys will be without Taulagi, Holmes, Nanai, Cotter or Robson this week while the Panthers will be without To’o, Luai, Yeo and Martin.
Both sides are depleted, and I expect this game to be an extremely close one. The Cowboys are missing firepower across the park but keep their spine besides Robson who can be replaced by the experienced Granville. The Panthers have a new look halves, expect them to be clunky in attack but great goal line defense as always.
| Bookmaker | Daniel’s Tip | Odds |
 | Either team by 6 or less | $2.86 |
 | Cowboys +6.5 | $1.87 |
 | Cowboys to win either half | $1.72 |
Predicted Squads
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Robert Derby 4. Peta Hiku 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Reuben Cotter 9. Jake Granville 10. Coen Hess 11. Heilum Luki 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 15. Mitch Dunn 16. Griffin Neame 17. Jordan Mclean
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Tyrone Peachey 5. Jesse Mclean 6. Jaeom Salmon 7. Jack Cogger 8. Lindsay Smith 9. Soni Luke 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Soni Luke 15. Eddie Blacker 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner
Knights vs Roosters
Kicking off Super Saturday, we have the Knights hosting the Roosters. The Knights are coming off a tough 4-point loss away to the Broncos, showing their ability to compete with the top sides. The Roosters on the other hand were embarrassed by the Panthers, continuing a tough season for them. The Knights miss just Frizell to Origin while the Roosters lose James Tedesco and Lindsay Collins.
The Roosters will shuffle Manu to fullback, likely earning Sandon Smith his first start in the halves. While Manu may be the spark at fullback the Roosters need, based on their recent form, against a new look Knights with Ponga at fullback, I think this one will be a tough ask. I think the Knights will be too good here for a struggling Roosters defense.
| Bookmaker | Daniel’s Tip | Odds |
| Halftime/Fulltime double – Knights/Knights | $2.20 |
| Knights -3.5 | $1.83 |
| Knights -0.5 first ten minute | $3.25 |
Predicted Squads
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jack Johns 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliot 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Mat Croker 17. Jack Hetherington
Roosters: 1. Joey Manu 2. Junior Pauga 3. Corey Allan 4. Jaxson Paulo 5. Daniel Tupou 6. Sandon Smith 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Matt Lodge 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Sitili Tupouniua 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Nathan Brown 16. Angus Crichton 17. Fletcher Baker
Eels vs Sea Eagles
Our second game of Super Saturday sees the Eels hosting the Sea Eagles. Both sides are coming off impressive games last week, with the Eels beating the Bulldogs 34-12 while the Sea Eagles battered the Dolphins 58-18. The Eels fine performance saw Mitchell Moses play his way into the NSW side, joining teammate Junior Paulo while the Sea Eagles will be without Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans.
While both sides are losing key men, I think the Eels have more leaders to step up. Without their starting halves, King Gutherson will have a big task ahead of him, but such an experienced fullback, coming off a first half hat-trick should rise to the occasion. The Sea Eagles are left with youth to replace their Origin Stars and I think this will show, expect a classy Eels performance.
| Bookmaker | Daniel’s Tip | Odds |
| Halftime/Fulltime double – Eels/Eels | $2.25 |
| Eels -3.5 | $1.87 |
| Eels to win | $1.65 |
Predicted Squads
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Jordan Rankin 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Ofahiki Ogden 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryan Matterson 15. Brendan Hands 16. Matt Doorey 17. Makahesi Makatoa
Sea Eagles: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7Jake Arthur 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Sean Keppie 14. Karl Lawton 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Benjamin Condon
Tigers vs Storm
Ending off Super Saturday we have the Tigers hosting the Storm. The Tigers had their moments but failed to compete with a stronger Titans outfit while the Storm bounced back from an embarrassing loss to absolutely thrash the Sharks at home. The Storm now sit in 3rd place but will be without many of their sparks with Harry Grant and Cam Munster out for Origin duty while Welch and Remis Smith could be out due to suspension and injury. The Tigers have their own issues with Luke Brooks and Api Korisau out to injury while Utoikamanu has been called into the NSW side.
With both missing key players, I am expecting this one to be close. The Tigers will likely welcome back Daine Laurie back into the squad with Simpkin playing dummy half, while Wishart likely fills in for Grant and Nikorima in for Munster. Both sides still have a lot of excitement across the park but I expect the Storm to come out on top, with the Tigers missing direction without Brooks or Api.
| Bookmaker | Daniel’s Tip | Odds |
| Storm 1-12 | $2.90 |
| Storm to win | $1.45 |
| Tigers +12.5 | $1.50 |
Predicted Squads
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 6. Daine Laurie 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Alex Twal 9. Jake Simpkin 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’I 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Brent Naden 16. Asu Kepaoa 17. Alex Seyfarth
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Will Warbrick 3. Justin Olam 4. Marion Seve 5. Grant Anderson 6. Jayden Nikorima 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Tyran Wishart 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eli Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Aaron Pene 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Tariq Sims
Sharks vs Bulldogs
For our final game of the round, we have the Sharks hosting the Bulldogs. The Sharks are coming off a tough 54-10 loss but luckily due to their poor performance, Nicho Hynes has missed Origin selection and will be available this week. The Bulldogs lost 34-12 to the Eels and sit in 15th position. The Sharks are one of the few top teams who are unaffected by Origin while the Bulldogs miss Josh Addo-Carr.
With the Sharks being untouched by Origin, I expect them to be far too good for the Bulldogs. 2022 Dally M winner, Nicho Hynes should have a point to prove after being dropped for game 2, despite barely being given a chance in game 1. This one should be comfortable for the Sharks, who are always excellent against bottom 8 sides.
| Bookmaker | Daniel’s Tip | Odds |
| Sharks -9.5 | $1.90 |
| Sharks to win | $1.30 |
| Sharks 13+ | $2.10 |
Predicted Squads
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron Mcinnes 15. Wade Graham 16. Jack Williams 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele
Bulldogs: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Blake Wilson 6. Karl Oloapu 7. Matt Burton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Jayden Okunborl 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harrison Edwards 14. Khaled Rajab 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Chris Patolo 17. Corey Waddell
