NRL Round 22 betting preview: A Bulldog to strike first, while Teddy shines in milestone match

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A blockbuster between Penrith and Melbourne gets round 22 underway on Thursday, with Ivan Cleary’s men boasting an impressive recent record against the Storm. In a sequence that's perhaps gone under the radar, the Panthers have won five of their last eight against Craig Bellamy's side. 

Elsewhere, Parramatta host South Sydney in another mouth-watering clash, while the Sydney Roosters will hope to still have the wood over the North Queensland Cowboys having beaten them four times in a row by an average margin of 20 points per game.

Canberra will attempt to put a week of controversy behind them when they host the Dragons on Sunday. The Raiders will be without their coach Ricky Stuart in a clash both teams know they must win, if they are to stand any chance of making the finals.

Here’s Sporting News’ betting predictions for this round of NRL action.

Odds courtesy of TAB.

Bulldog in the corner

Josh Addo-Carr has scored the first try of the game on five separate occasions so far this season, which is more than any other player in the NRL.

The Bulldogs have become one of the league’s most entertaining side's to watch and their brand of attacking footy should prove too much for New Zealand Warriors, who seemed unwilling to commit defensively during their last round loss against the Rabbitohs.

The partnership between Addo-Carr and Matt Burton has been blossoming all season, with no team able to work out how to keep the both of them quiet during Canterbury's revival under Mick Potter. 

1st try-scorer Josh Addo-Carr - $7.50 

Rabbitohs continue momentum

South Sydney have won their last five against Parramatta, by an average margin of 23 points per game.

However, the Eels are a different proposition at CommBank Stadium having won eight of their last ten games at their home ground.

Their big Fijian winger Maika Sivo has made a successful return from an ACL injury, which ruled him out for most of the year, and has scored two tries in each of his last three appearances.

Sivo's exploits may not be enough to get the Eels the two points though, with Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray pulling the strings for the Bunnies.

Maika Sivo to score a try, Souths by 1-12 margin$5.50 

Teddy shines in milestone match 

James Tedesco is set to make his 200th appearance in the NRL and is in red-hot form post-Origin.

The fullback has been laying them on a platter for his teammates over the last month, while also grabbing three tries for himself.

Against the Cowboys – who the Roosters have won their past four games against – Teddy has claimed five try assists in three matches.

In his milestone game, expect the No.1 to be heavily involved in the action as the Chooks attempt to keep their late surge up the ladder going.

Player exact number of tries: Tedesco / Drinkwater 2 tries - $4.25

Broncos & Knights rack up points 

Brisbane have struggled in the past few weeks, so may be thankful that they have a meeting with the Newcastle Knights at Suncorp this week.

The Broncos have averaged 40 points per game across their last five meetings with Adam O’Brien’s men in Queensland. 

Although you can’t write the Knights off just yet, as Newcastle have won seven of their last ten matches played north of the border.

8 to 9 tries - $3.20

Saab to sprint away

What can be said about the Gold Coast Titans’ edge defence that hasn’t already been said?

They are a certainty to concede some tries on Sunday against a Manly side who still have a small chance of playing finals footy this year.

The Titans are on a 10-game losing streak, while the Sea Eagles have won their past three meetings with them by an average margin of 25 points per game.

Jason Saab has hit a little bit of late-season form having notched five tries in his past four appearances. The winger loves playing the Titans too, having scored five tries against them in his career so far.

To score 1st, 2nd or 3rd try: Jason Saab - $2.80 

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Mark Molyneux is a content producer for Sporting News Australia.