NRL Sunday: Roosters v Dragons betting tips, prediction & odds, round 7, 2021
Read on for our Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra match preview, prediction and odds update for their NRL clash at the SCG on Sunday, April 25.
This was the pick of the Anzac Day clashes as it has taken pride of place on the day for the NRL for the past 20 years. The Dragons hold the overall edge in the Anzac Day match-ups but will go into this as outsiders.
The other matches on Sunday are the Wests Tigers v Manly Warringah from 1.45pm at BankWest Stadium, Parramatta, and the Melbourne Storm v NZ Warriors at 6.15pm at AAMI Park, Melbourne.
READ: NRL match betting previews and tips
NRL round 7 schedule, 2021 title odds update
NRL Friday: Gold Coast Titans v South Sydney free tips, betting preview
NRL Saturday: NQ Cowboys v Canberra Raiders free tips, preview
Sydney Roosters have won their past five matches in a row against the Dragons, with all bar one win coming by 10 points or more. In their only meeting in 2020, the Tricolours won 24-16 in round 13 in Wollongong.
These teams are sitting fifth and sixth on the NRL ladder with 4-2 records, so this match takes on great importance in the early jostling for spots in the top four.
The Roosters have done OK since the loss of star half Luke Keary to a season-ending knee injury, with young gun Sam Walker doing an admirable job despite his tender years.
Roosters v Dragons team news for round 7
Try-scoring freak Brett Morris (calf) is back in action for the Roosters in this one after being a late withdrawal last week against the Storm. Matt Ikuvalu makes way for the NRL’s leading try-scorer this season.
The Roosters finally welcome back promising hooker Sam Verrills, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in round seven last season and has had several setbacks delay his return this season. Fill-in hooker Ben Marschke moves back to the pine.
Props Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (shoulder) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (ribs) have been cleared to play, while hard-hitting lock Victor Radley rolled the dice at the tribunal on Tuesday night and won.
St George named captain Ben Hunt (fibula) among the reserves and the crafty playmaker could be a late inclusion. Five-eighth Corey Norman (shoulder) has been named in the starting side.
Read on for our Roosters v Dragons tips and winner prediction for their NRL clash on Sunday, April 25.
Roosters v Dragons
Kick-off: 4.05pm local time
Venue: SCG, Sydney
Head to head odds: Sydney Roosters $1.45, St George Illawarra $2.85
Line betting: Sydney Roosters (-6.5 points) $1.85, St George Illawarra (+6.5 points) $1.95
Match total: 41.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
Roosters v Dragons free betting tips
Below our NRL betting expert has highlighted free Roosters-Dragons tips for Sunday’s game.
Zac Lomax to score a try
The Dragons centres is one of the quietly rising stars of the game and is a wonderful all-round footballer. He particularly excels setting up tries and he looks good value to score at any time at $3.10.
St George Illawarra to win at $2.85
Roosters have been a powerhouse of a side but they have really had their depth tested in the first part of this season. They are missing so manly players including Keary and captain Body Cordner (concussion issues). They have question marks over quite a few players for this game so we think these teams should be much closer together in betting. In which case the $2.85 for the Dragons is tempting.
Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra prediction 25-4-2021
This match always brings out the best in these teams and this should be a good edition with fine weather forecast. The Dragons can announce themselves as a serious finals contender with a scalp such as that of the Roosters. They are in good form overall and have enough experience and strength in the pack to hold their own. There should be not much between these teams for most of the contest so we ill stick with the outsiders. Our Roosters v Dragons prediction: Dragons by 8 points.
Roosters v Dragons lowdown
Nine, Fox League and KAYO will telecast the game.
All of the top International betting sites will offer markets on the NRL.
The match kicks off at 4.05pm aest
