The Touchie’s Call

By The Touchie

The Touchie has plenty of time to watch the game and not a lot to do. He has put his time to good use by delivering Making The Nut his weekly selections. 

Cronulla, at $1.60 with the TAB, are lay-down certainties against an understrength Brisbane side. The Broncos, $2.35 with Luxbet, have lost four players to Origin as well as Jack Reed. Brisbane have been poor as outsiders and have struggled with their halves all year. With the Sharks getting Michael Gordon back and at near full-strength, they should win with a leg in the air. 

Parramatta, coming off a heinous 40-point loss to the Sea Eagles, are not without a chance against fellow western Sydney side Penrith. The Eels, at $3.00 with the TAB, are value. Teams getting more than 8 points at home are 22-4 against the line over the last three seasons and have their share of outright wins. The Panthers, at $1.40 with Luxbet, have been largely unreliable as favourites.

The Bulldogs and Storm meet in the Grand Final replay and it is the lower-placed Canterbury who go in as big $1.20 favourites with the TAB. The Storm are $4.50 with Luxbet. The Storm will be without their five best players while the Bulldogs could have Josh Reynolds available, as he is expected to be cut from Laurie Daley's squad. The Bulldogs need this and should win well.

North Queensland, $2.75 with Luxbet, are not without a show against Manly at home, The Sea Eagles, $1.45 with the TAB, have been decimated by injury. Thw Cowboys have lost plenty of talent to Origin but still have a solid side and at home, can get the coin.