The NRL resumes on Thursday night with the Chooks hosting the Broncos at the SCG, where the home side will be looking to stake their claim for premiership favouritism.
On Friday, both the Warriors and Titans are in desperate need for a win when they face off across the ditch.
Then, both the Panthers and Tigers will be keen to bounce back after demoralizing defeats in Round 3.
Read our NRL betting tips before having a punt this weekend.
Two of the pre-season premiership favourites in the NRL odds market lock horns to kick-start Round 4.
After they were slow out of the blocks, the Tri-colours have looked impressive over the past two weeks, winning both clashes fairly comfortably.
They have better form than the Broncos, who were lucky to even get within a point of the Dragons last week after a poor performance.
Why Roosters can win
Even with club veterans Jake Friend and Jarrad Waerea-Hargreaves ruled out, the Roosters have all the experience and toughness to grind out a win here.
This experience leads to good decision making, and someone who has really made that skill his own is Cooper Cronk.
Cronk hasn't featured for the Roosters since their round one loss to the Rabbitohs, after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Alongside an in-form Luke Keary in the halves, he will look to orchestrate a victory through his clinical kicking game.
With Latrell Mitchell set to move back to his more-favoured centre position and James Tedesco hitting top form, look for them to cause havoc against a back line which has been leaking points.
Why Broncos can win
Brisbane were off the boil from the start against the Dragons last week. They lacked direction and were often caught moving the ball from sideline to sideline without making inroads.
If they try to go around the Roosters, they stand no chance of securing the two points here, especially considering speedster James Roberts is out with an achilles injury.
For the Broncos to win, it will need to be off the back of the hard running and determination of their young and damaging forward pack.
Matt Lodge retuns from suspension which will bolster their go forward. If the Broncos can win the arm wrestle in the middle of the park, it will allow the likes of Milford and Nikorima to pose a threat around the ruck.
The Broncos must reduce their errors if they have any intentions of competing here, after they recorded a woeful completion rate of 69% against the Dragons.
Key NRL Stats
Latrell Mitchell has been the first try-scorer in each of Sydney's past 3 Thursday night matches as a favourite: Mitchell to score first try @ $11
The Broncos have covered the line in each of their previous 8 games as an underdog against Sydney: Brisbane to cover the +4.0 point line @ $1.90
Brisbane have won 3 of their last 4 interstate night games as an underdog: Broncos to win @ $2.50
NRL Betting Tip: Roosters to cover the -4.0 point line @ $1.90
Reasoning: They weren't even in top gear when they put Parramatta away last week.
With plenty of room for improvement, and Cronk coming back in, the Roosters look the goods.
Two teams that have been very ordinary in 2019 face-off here, with neither side wanting to be on the end of another defeat.
The Titans are still searching for their first win of the campaign, but will be boosted by the return of both of their first-choice halves.
And after the performance the Warriors dished up last week, they better watch out, because Gold Coast will be hungry for the win.
Why Warriors can win
Even though last week's 34-point drubbing at the hands of Manly was played across the ditch, it was in Christchurch and not the Warriors usual home ground in Auckland.
Back at Mt Smart Stadium where they have a good record, look for a big improvement from the home side.
If the Warriors can sort out their defence, then they have more than enough points in them.
Look for young five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita to provide a spark. He comes in for Adam Keighran was dropped by Stephen Kearney.
Why Titans can win
Gold Coast's start to the season hasn't been as bad as it looks on the ladder.
They tasted defeat against three teams who will be there or thereabouts come September, while playing with a line-up missing both of their first-choice halves.
Against an underwhelming Warriors side, and with Ash Taylor and Tyrone Roberts both named to start, then the Titans are looking like specials to pull off the upset.
Especially given the quality of their forward pack, which is one of the best in the league on paper.
Key NRL Stats
The Titans have covered the line in all of their past 7 games following an away loss: Gold Coast to cover the +4.0 line @ $1.90
New Zealand have won all of their previous 7 night matches against the Titans: Warriors to win @ $1.55
Solomone Kata has scored at least 1 try in the Warriors' past 3 games at Mt Smart Stadium: Kata to score a try @ $2.20
NRL Betting Tip: Gold Coast to cover the +4.0 point line @ $1.90
Reasoning: The team news and key NRL stats both point to this being the smartest bet.
The West Tigers were handed a reality check in Round 3, where they were humbled by the bottom-of-the-table Bulldogs by 14 points.
It's never easy going to Panthers Stadium, but based on the form Penrith are in, the Tigers will be confident of returning to winning ways.
The Panthers will need to show a massive form reversal to get the win, after they were thumped by 30 points against the Storm.
Why Panthers can win
Penrith's pack has been chopped and changed by Ivan Cleary following the loss to the Storm, with both Isaah Yeo and Villiame Kikau named to make their return.
Kikau showed in 2018 just how damaging he can be, and if he gets on a roll, the Panthers forward pack will simply smash through the Tigers.
With a great spine to work off the back of these metre-eaters, the home side really do have the ascendancy in terms of personnel.
The query is whether they all turn up. Based on what we've seen in 2019 so far, the jury is still out.
Why Tigers can win
Despite losing Benji for this clash, Josh Reynolds will come in.
The ex-Bulldog has been carving them up in reserve grade and he's the type of player who can bring energy into the side and spark a turnaround in form.
They need to get back to the hard-running, error-free game that saw them brush aside the Sea Eagles and Warriors so comfortably in their opening two matches.
Reynolds is certainly direct, and if he and Luke Brooks can get some second-phase ball off the back of their forwards, then the Tigers will go close.
It will all come down to the forwards, and with a strong pack of their own, don't dismiss the Tigers here.
Key NRL Stats
Penrith have won 8 of their past 9 night matches at Panthers Stadium: Penrith to win @ $1.55
The Tigers have failed to cover the line in 24 of their previous 31 night games following a home loss: Panthers to cover the -4.0 point line @ $1.90
Josh Reynolds has scored a try in 2 of his last 3 night games at Panthers Stadium: Reynolds to score a try @ $4.50
NRL Betting Tip: Tigers to cover the +4.0 point line @ $1.90
Reasoning: It's hard to tip the Panthers after what we've seen from them in 2019 so far.
If the Tigers return to the form of their first two games, then they'll win again.
Apr 04, 2019 07:01 PM
AAP
Key NRL Stats
NRL Betting Tip: Roosters to cover the -4.0 point line @ $1.90
2018 media tipster champ: Roosters
