RUGBY LEAGUE expert Kaine Greenwood (@KaineG23) highlights the best try-scoring value from the weekend’s action in both the north and south hemispheres.
Super Try Scorers | Friday-Monday
It's safe to say We Love Betting but what we often really watch sport for is the action.
For me at least, the sport, whatever it be, (though rugby league mostly) has drawn me in with some of the incredible skills on offer.
Those skills can be a lovely dummy, a chip-and-chase, the odd 40-yard run by a prop or a bit of ‘biff' – I love a bit of it all – but nothing beats a winger flying over, the full-back taking it 90 or the prop taking a crash ball in 79th minute to seal victory.
This new feature will pick out my views on who could well cross the try line each week in any of those ways and have us jumping out of our seats for at least two reasons!
Hopefully it is enjoyable and profitable, so here goes…
Hull FC v Castleford Tigers | Friday 20.00 | Sky Sports 2
Despite the Tigers downturn in results that saw them end the regular campaign in seventh, on a run of four defeats in six – added to a Challenge Cup exit – they still have a number of players who threaten, none more so than the league's most prolific scorer: Denny Solomona.
Solomona's explosive exploits often take headlines but perhaps the Tigers' most valuable asset is experienced full-back Luke Dorn.
Dorn, who is set end his illustrious career in Super League at the end of the Super 8s, has been a top performer throughout his career with a number of clubs, especially in the last three seasons for the Tigers.
There's a saying about players making others better players and the 34-year-old Aussie is one example; on the occasions he has been missing from the backline Daryl Powell's side have really struggled to reproduce cohesive attacking patterns.
The former Northern Eagles rookie is also no stranger to being on the end of routines having produced 10 four-point efforts in his 13 games in 2016.
Despite conceding just one try in the first 15 rounds to a full-back, FC appear to have become more vulnerable to opposition in the #1 jersey and will have to keep an eye on the Castleford man.
Four instances in just the last eight games – including an effort from Dorn at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in June – make me think this is a serious area of interest.
As we enter this mini-league setup all clubs will be looking for players to raise their level and two-time Tiger, Dorn, has form: he produced five tries in the same amount of Super 8s fixtures in 2015 so 2/1 with William Hill to make it 6/6 is just too good to ignore.
Wests Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys | Sunday 07.00 | Premier Sports
I may have trouble saying or spelling this guy's name but I have no issue with backing him to reach over the line each week.
David Nofoaluma is on a hot run, scoring five times in six.
Nofoaluma grabbed himself a try on his home debut for Wests back in 2013 – ironically against the Cowboys – and has been a producer on the wing ever since, although not often lauded.
Last week saw the 22-year-old Newcastle native make a team-leading contribution in metres and opened the scoring for Wests – part of a crucial 23-8 victory over Parramatta.
Outside ‘the 8′ on points difference, Wests will look to their strike men to produce in turning over the NRL champs New Queensland as all eyes are on keeping their own dreams alive.
As mentioned, the 2016 City Origin pick is certainly on of those players (especially without half Luke Brooks) and his tally of 11 in 17 is a career-best effort to date.
Nofoaluma tops big names such as Semi Radradra and the Cowboys' own Kyle Feldt in 2016 charts and yet is being offered at a price those two rarely reach.
There is certainly scope to believe the team's leading scorer will be bringing up the dozen at Leichhardt, improving his career stats to 33 in 59.
Take the 31/20 chance to roar the Tigers' man on at Ladbrokes.
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters | Monday 10.00 | Premier Sports
The Roosters have had something of a tough season since day one.
An opening round defeat against city rivals Souths kicked-off a run of five-straight defeats that immediately put hopes of a fourth-straight Minor Premiership on the back-burner.
Now, Round 22 is here, going into this week Roosters are second-bottom on the ladder and face the prospect of visiting a Penrith side who still need points to lock-up a play-off spot.
So on the whole, not a lot has improved; last week's victory over Brisbane though was a reminder of what the Sydney locker room holds.
For that reason I wouldn't really like to call this match, however, the Roosters did show signs of the consistency with the ball we are use to when rolling over the Broncos and have put on three-score efforts in 13/19 this season – so while the results aren't there, the points are.
New Zealand international Shaun Kenny-Dowall was a regular contributor to the Rooster cause on the wing in 2015 (17 tries in 20) yet this year has seen more time in the centres, limiting his output in their struggles.
That said, ‘SKD' did cross for Sydney against the Broncos, as well the previous week in defeat to the Melbourne Storm.
I sense Trent Robinson's men are beginning let loose the frustrations on such a disappointing year in these last few rounds, free of concern, and producing better rugby.
On that basis, I'm happy to snap-up 2/1 (Paddy Power) on Kenny-Dowall improving his try stats for a third consecutive week here.
*The above treble pays out at handsome 15.83/1 odds with Ladbrokes*
Best Bets
Hull FC v Castleford Tigers – Luke Dorn to score a try at anytime (2/1 William Hill)
West Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys – David Nofoaluma to score a try at anytime (31/20 Ladbrokes)
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters – Shaun Kenny-Dowall to score a try at anytime (2/1 Paddy Power)
