Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 3 match is between Wests Tigers and Brisbane Broncos. The opening kick is set to commence at 20:05 local time with the game to be played at Campbelltown Stadium. The home team Wests Tigers are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Wests Tigers and Brisbane Broncos.

When: 20:05 | Friday 23/03/2018

Where: Campbelltown Stadium

Preview:

The Wests Tigers’ fairy-tale shows no signs of fading but they’ll face a stern test against the rejuvenated Brisbane Broncos who have a spring in their step after claiming the scalp of the Cowboys.
Sitting at an unlikely 2-0, the Tigers are one of just five undefeated teams through two rounds of the season.
Captain Russell Packer has been inspirational for Ivan Cleary’s men while veteran Benji Marshall has perfectly executed his role in the team as a ‘game manager’.
The Broncos have suffered a big blow with Jordan Kahu sustaining a broken jaw and he’ll be replaced by Tom Opacic.
In better news for Wayne Bennett’s men, Blues star Jack Bird, while not named on the interchange bench, has been named as a reserve.
As underdogs, the Tigers have a 36-48-2 (43 percent) line record playing within their home state in night matches since 2011.
Brisbane are 26-65 (28 percent) as an away team from 2011 in the “Either team by 6 or less (tribet)” market.

The Verdict

Brisbane have had the wood on the Tigers in recent times and lead 7-2 since 2010 and have won 5 of the last 6 and all four of their last four road games against the Tigers.
The Broncos are 18-11-0 at night since 2016 while the Tigers are 4-7-0.
Tough match to pick, but we’ll stick with the more experienced Broncos to snatch a tough win at Campbelltown.

Unibet Odds: Wests Tigers 2.20 Brisbane Broncos 1.68

Odds:

OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!

Tip: Wests Tigers at $2.20

Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Corey Thompson at $13.00

More Info:

Teams:

Tigers:

1 Corey Thompson, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 6 Benji Marshall (c), 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Pita Godinet, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence, 12 Robbie Rochow, 13 Matthew Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14 Matt McIlwrick 15 Alex Twal, 16 Michael Chee Kam, 17 Josh Aloiai

Reserves: 18 Tyson Gamble, 19 Sauaso Sue, 20 Tim Grant, 21 Taane Milne.

Broncos:

1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Tom Opacic, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Tevita Pangai Jnr, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Josh McGuire

Interchange: 14 Sam Thaiday, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Korbin Sims, 17 Jaydn Su’A

Reserves: 18 Sam Tagataese, 19 Jack Bird, 20 Jonus Pearson, 21 Todd Murphy.

NRL News:

Benji Marshall insists the Wests Tigers aren’t deliberately giving away penalties on their own line in a bid to reset their defence.

The Tigers have given away a competition-high 24 penalties this year. The 18 they gave away against Melbourne was the most by a team in any game since 2002, according to NRL.com figures.

It’s in stark contrast to the Tigers’ figures from last season, when they were penalised an average of 5.3 times per match – the equal lowest in the competition.

However it’s done little to hurt their defence, given the Tigers conceded just one try to the Sydney Roosters and Storm in each shock victory.

Marshall has since praised the determination of the team, noting the Tigers of old would not have had the resolve to turn away teams after giving away penalties at their own end.

But he scoffed at any suggestion it was a deliberate ploy from his side used to help reset their defensive line while under the pump.

“We’re not giving them away intentionally,” Marshall said.

“It’s not a tactic. We’re not giving them away on purpose. If we have to defend a penalty on the tryline, we’ll defend it.”

The majority of the Tigers’ penalties came in clumps on Saturday night against Melbourne.

Luke Brooks and Elijah Taylor gave away a combined four in two minutes and 45 seconds early in the first half against the Storm.

There were also two back to back later in the half, while eight were blown between the 57th and 70th minutes – four of them while Ben Matulino was in the sin-bin for a professional foul.

Of the 18 penalties, seven were for offside or ruck infringements within their own 20m zone. In fairness, most of those came at the back end of the second half as the Tigers were scrambling with 12 men.

But fellow co-captain Chris Lawrence sided with Marshall’s claims there was nothing intentional in the count.

“A number were 50-50 calls and, in games sometimes, they go your way. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t,” Lawrence said.

“There were a number of penalties that were just ill-disciplined and, obviously, we were trying to slow the Melbourne ruck down (but not concede penalties).

“Just little things that were poor discipline areas – they’re the type of ones we can get out of the game and, obviously, those 50-50 calls sometimes you’re going to get.”