NRL finals Footy Form: The stats that matter, what’s been backed
THE Paul Gallen-less Sharks are winless in finals away from home but their recent record in Canberra gives them a shot at adding to the Raiders’ own string of finals flops.
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Check out all the best stats, what’s been backed and where the money is going in order to find a winner.
Canberra V Cronulla, Saturday 5:35pm, GIO Stadium
SHARKS FINALS CURSE
The Sharks have never won a finals match outside of Sydney, losing six from six. In week two last season they were thumped 39-0 by the Cowboys in Townsville; their biggest-ever finals defeat.
STAGE FRIGHT
The Raiders have an awful recent finals record, winning just two of their past 11, with six of those losses by 16 points or more.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Sharks have a great recent record in the nation’s capital, winning nine of 12 since 2005 (Raiders last win was in the 2012 finals), the equal second-best record of any team over this period with Melbourne.
COACHING SUCCESS
Ricky Stuart has won 12 of his 18 matches against the club he formerly coached. His 66.7 per cent win record against the Sharks is his second best against any opponent.
Betting summary: Early money is running 4:1 in Canberra’s favour.
Melbourne V North Queensland, Saturday 7:55pm, AAMI Stadium
MELBOURNE HOODOO
These two teams have met twice previously in finals with the Cowboys winning on both occasions, however, they struggle in Melbourne winning just three of 12 matches there.
WEAK STORM
Melbourne has won just one of five finals since winning the 2012 Premiership, a 20-18 win against the Roosters in Sydney in Wk1 last season. Three of these losses have come at AAMI Park.
MILESTONE
Craig Bellamy will become just the third coach since compulsory Grand Finals were introduced in 1954 to coach in 30 finals matches, behind Tim Sheens (32) and Wayne Bennett, who coached his 60th finals match on Friday night.
STORM WARNING
Melbourne has a strong record against the Cowboys, winning 22 of the 32 matches, including both meetings this season,
Betting summary: In the Head To Head market, 75 per cent of the early money is for the Storm.
Panthers V Bulldogs, Sunday 4:10pm, Allianz Stadium
UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
This is the first meeting between these two sides away from either ANZ Stadium or Penrith since the 2004 Preliminary Final. The Bulldogs have won three of their past five games at Allianz Stadium, with Penrith winning just two of their past five at the venue.
BUILDING MOMENTUM
The Panthers have won eight from 14 matches away from Penrith this season, including their past two and are now chasing three straight wins away from Pepper Stadium for the first time since 2014.
SECOND WIND
The majority of the Bulldogs points this season have come in the 20 minutes before half-time, scoring the most points in this period (187) and conceding the second fewest (90).
BREAKING RECORDS
This is Des Hasler’s 12th straight finals series. He is the first coach in history to make five consecutive finals series with different teams.
Betting summary: Money is running fairly even for this game with Penrith slightly favoured over the Bulldogs.
Originally published as NRL finals Footy Form: The stats that matter, what’s been backed
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