Anzac day in Australia today which means a big day of sport and despite the AFL taking most of the headlines there are two very good NRL matches on the day which kick off Round 7 of the NRL 2013 season. We take a look at both of the matches including the game between Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons and the second match between Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors.

Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons

Round seven kicks off on Thursday with the traditional Anzac clash between Sydney Roosters and St. George Illawarra Dragons.

The Dragons have won the past two Anzac Day matches (28-24 and 24-10 in 2011) however the Roosters have kept the ledger tied up since the two sides met in the 2010 Grand Final, by also winning two.

The Roosters have won four from six this season with their losses coming in the opening round against the well performed South Sydney (28-10) and to Canberra where, after leading 16-0 nil at halftime, somehow found themselves on the wrong side of a 24-22 final score.

That effort aside, their form over the past month has been first rate and they’re defence exemplary in keeping Parramatta, Brisbane and Bulldogs scoreless.

It was a slower start to the season for the Dragons who lost their first three matches to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra (all away), before beating the Sharks in round four and
toughing it out well to record narrow victories over Newcastle and last week, by a single point over West Tigers.

The Roosters have undergone a major transformation in the off season under new coast Trent Robinson and have staked their claim as genuine title contenders, where they are currently on the fourth line of betting at $7.50, in the first two months of the competition.

The Dragons are $34.00 chances in Premiership betting and have been sluggish but, with this game full of emotion and tradition and some big off-field announcements during the week
regarding next year’s playing roster, we can expect an improved effort but doubt that will be enough to stop the Roosters in their current form.

Tip: ROOSTERS 13+ $2.20

Odds Comparison:

Sydney Roosters	1.36	1.35	1.33	1.35	1.36	1.36
St George Illawarra Dragons	3.20	3.25	3.35	3.25	3.20	3.20

Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors

Second game in round seven and on Anzac Day, sees the unbeaten Melbourne Storm host the New Zealand Warriors.

Around their three champion play-makers – Cam Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk, Melbourne continue to produce disciplined, professional and effective performances and find themselves the only unbeaten team in the competition after six rounds.

Last week they faced their toughest test to date when coming up against South Sydney and they displayed all the facets of a champion side in recording a 17-10 win.

The Warriors have shown improvement each week but that wouldn’t be hard given their efforts in the first few rounds and registered their first win in round four over the Cowboys (20- 18).

Their last two matches, despite losing both (24-22 South Sydney and 20-16 Raiders) have been better again for mine but the face the toughest test in the NRL this week – Melbourne at home.

The Warriors do hold one of the better records of any club against the Storm in recent years and interestingly, only one match in the past six between the two clubs, has produced a total match score in excess of 34 points.

Tip: TOTAL MATCH POINTS UNDER 40.5 @ $1.90

Odds Comparison:

Melbourne Storm	1.16	1.16	1.14	1.16	1.16	1.16
New Zealand Warriors	5.50	5.35	5.75	5.35	5.50	5.50

St George face Anzac Day test

St George Illawarra veteran Nathan Fien admits the Dragons face an Anzac Day moment of truth – with the Sydney Roosters clash to determine the bona fides of their NRL resurgence.

After starting the season 0-3 to be labelled 100-1 title contenders by bookmakers, the Dragons have recovered to win three straight games.

But without disrespect to Cronulla, Newcastle and Wests Tigers, the Roosters before a packed Allianz Stadium is a different beast.

“For us, it’s a big test – it’s probably our biggest test this year,” Fien said.

“It will definitely give us a true indication of where we are at.

“It’s probably fallen at a good time for us … we’ve found a bit of form over the past few weeks.

“But what we’ve done over the past three weeks doesn’t guarantee anything on Thursday.”

Veteran Fien – along with halves partner Jamie Soward – copped the brunt of criticism over the slow start to the year, in particular over the side’s misfiring attack.

The Dragons tinkered with a few game plans in an attempt to right the ship.

But the biggest difference between now and then?

“Winning,” said Fien.

“The last three weeks we’ve been winning and we’ve been getting the pats on the back, me and Sowie.

“But to be honest, I don’t think that we’ve played that differently (from the opening three rounds).

“It’s just that we’re getting the wins now.

“That’s how footy goes – it’s cut-throat, it’s results based.”

Which is why the Anzac Day match could not have come at a better time for a Dragons side which has won the past five clashes on the public holiday.

The Roosters can’t claim they’re not prepared to play on the big stage, having already been involved in two blockbuster clashes over the opening six rounds.

Caught off guard in a season-opening loss to South Sydney, the Roosters responded in the much-hyped clash with Canterbury in their last start, when Sonny Bill Williams played against his former club for the first time.

Williams, who is expected to overcome a knee injury which kept him out of last week’s Test match, will be playing his first Anzac Day match – a game skipper Anthony Minichiello admits is no ordinary fixture.

“It’s definitely got a finals feel about it,” Minichiello said.

“It’s early in the season but the build-up is big – it’s an emotional day for Australia and the Kiwis.

“It brings out the best in both the sides.”

With both teams in form and fine weather forecast, officials are expecting a crowd in excess of 30,000 for the game.