NRL | Round 7

alphr.com.au

NQL
Cowboys
VS
MAN
Sea Eagles
QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM, TOWNSVILLE • THURSDAY 16 APR, 7:50 PM

Win Probability

AI Game Review

Sea Eagles defied the model's 59% prediction for Cowboys, a notable result. The margin model missed here, predicting 5.6 but the actual margin was 32 points. Total score prediction of 44 was close to the actual 44, within 0 points. Sea Eagles led 6–22 at the break and pulled away in the second half to win by 32. The model went 3/17 on this match. The under 53.5 total call was correct.

Model vs actual outcomes • Post-match analysis

🏁

AI Referee Insights

Gerard Sutton officiated this match (361 career games). The 44-point combined total was right in line with Gerard Sutton's career average of 42. Sea Eagles bucked the trend, Cowboys historically win 55% of games under Gerard Sutton, but couldn't convert that edge today. Despite Gerard Sutton's 56% career home-team win rate, the away side Sea Eagles prevailed.

Based on referee career statistics • Post-match analysis

Momentum Replay
Beta
80', Sea Eagles firmly in control (99%)
COW6
1%80'99%
38SEA
HT100%50%0%0'20'40'60'80'
Sea Eagles momentumMomentum -14Cowboys momentum →
Next Try (within 10 min)
AI Model
86% none
COW 4%No try 86%SEA 10%
Biggest Swings

AI Win Probability

59%CowboysFavourite

Cowboys

59%

Sea Eagles

41%

AI Match Overview

Cowboys hold the advantage at 59% win probability, though Sea Eagles are far from out of this at 41%. The model sees Cowboys ahead on 7 of 7 key factors including ELO Difference, Forward Pack and Backline Quality. Recent form favours Cowboys with 4 wins from their last 5 compared to 2 for Sea Eagles. The margin model predicts Cowboys by 5.6 points with a combined total of 44.

Generated from model features • Pre-kick-off analysis

Edge Analysis

Each market is predicted by an independent model, H2H, margin, and totals may occasionally disagree.

H2H Recommendation

Cowboys to Win @1.59

Lost ✗

Edge

-1.2%

Line / Spread

Cowboys -4.5 @1.91

Lost ✗

Edge

+0.0%

Margin Band

Cowboys 1-12 @2.55

Lost ✗

Edge

+0.0%

Total Points

Under 53.5 @1.91

Winner ✓

Edge

+0.0%

Form & History

TeamLast 5Avg Pts
Cowboys
R2026-R2L
R2026-R3W
R2026-R4W
R2026-R5W
R2026-R6W

older → newer

28.2
Sea Eagles
R2026-R1L
R2026-R2L
R2026-R4L
R2026-R5W
R2026-R6W
28.0

Avg Conceded

23.0

Cowboys

26.8

Sea Eagles

Avg Margin

5.2

Cowboys

1.2

Sea Eagles

Run Metres

1917

Cowboys

1704

Sea Eagles

Line Breaks

7.2

Cowboys

4.8

Sea Eagles

Referee Indicator

Favours Cowboys

Gerard Sutton

361 career games · since 2012

AI Analysis

Win rate when Gerard Sutton refs each team (vs any opponent)

Cowboys
27W – 22L
55%
Sea Eagles
21W – 23L
48%

Cowboys hold a 7-point edge: 27W–22L (55%) vs Sea Eagles's 21W–23L (48%). Home teams win 56% of his matches (vs ~52% league avg).

Avg Total

41.9 pts

Home Win %

56%

Home Bias

Leans home

Penalty & Discipline

Pen / Game

5.4

Sin Bins / Gm

0.07

SB Away %

50%

Avg Penalties Per Game

vs Home Teams3.1
vs Away Teams2.3

Penalty Advantage Under This Ref

Positive = opponent penalised more than your team

Cowboys
+3.5
Sea Eagles
+0.0

Gerard Sutton averages just 5.4 penalties per game, well below average. He lets the game flow. Penalises home teams more, 3.1 against home vs 2.3 against away. Cowboys get a +3.5 penalty advantage under Gerard Sutton vs Sea Eagles's +0.0.

H2H History (Last 5)Sea Eagles lead 3-2
May 2025NQL 6 - 24 MAN
Mar 2025NQL 12 - 42 MAN
Jul 2024NQL 20 - 21 MAN
Jul 2023NQL 19 - 8 MAN
Jun 2022NQL 28 - 26 MAN
Prediction BreakdownPure Alpha Model

📊Team ELO Ratings

NQL
1488Overall1473
MAN
ELO difference: +15 in favour of Cowboys

🏈Positional Matchups

Player ELO aggregated by position group, higher = stronger unit

958Forwards970
MAN +12
993Backs980
NQL +12
981Halves939
NQL +42
954Hooker987
MAN +33

📈Recent Form (Last 5)

NQL
Stat
MAN
4.0
Wins (Last 5)
2.0
28.2pts
Avg Score
28.0pts
23.0pts
Avg Conceded
26.8pts
5.2pts
Avg Margin
1.2pts
1917.4m
Run Metres
1704.4m
7.2
Line Breaks
4.8
312.2
Tackles
330.4
11.2
Errors
10.6

🔑Key Prediction Factors

What the model weighted most in this prediction

1
ELO Difference14.0%
Cowboys
2
Forward Pack12.0%
Cowboys
3
Backline Quality10.0%
Cowboys
4
Halves Control9.0%
Cowboys
5
Recent Win Rate9.0%
Cowboys
6
Referee Tendency7.0%
Cowboys
7
Venue Advantage7.0%
Cowboys

Model Confidence

59%

Cowboys predicted to win by 6 points

Predicted total: 44 · Line: +5.6

1/4 match predictions correct2/13 scorer picks correct
Scorer Markets

Anytime Try Scorer

Model probability vs Sportsbet overlay, ranked by edge.

8 Plays
Tolutau KoulaSea Eagles
backFair 1.212+ 53%
$2.08
+34.9% edge
Model
83%
Market
48%
Confidence
83%
Haumole Olakau'atuSea Eagles
forwardFair 1.622+ 25%
$2.55
+22.7% edge
Model
62%
Market
39%
Confidence
62%
Lehi HopoateSea Eagles
backFair 1.482+ 31%
$1.89
+14.6% edge
Model
68%
Market
53%
Confidence
68%
Tom TrbojevicSea Eagles
backFair 1.542+ 28%
$1.89
+11.9% edge
Model
65%
Market
53%
Confidence
65%
Jaxon PurdueCowboys
backFair 1.942+ 16%
$1.72
-6.7% edge
Model
51%
Market
58%
Confidence
51%
Braidon BurnsCowboys
backFair 2.032+ 15%
$1.66
-11.0% edge
Model
49%
Market
60%
Confidence
49%
Scott DrinkwaterCowboys
backFair 2.742+ 8%
$1.98
-14.1% edge
Model
36%
Market
51%
Confidence
36%
Jason SaabSea Eagles
backFair 3.902+ 4%
$2.15
-20.9% edge
Model
26%
Market
47%
Confidence
26%
Scorer Markets

First Try Scorer

Team-normalised first-try share using the current lineups and opposition defence profile.

5 Plays
Tolutau KoulaSea Eagles
backFair 5.042+ 53%
$11.00
+10.8% edge
Model
20%
Market
9%
Confidence
20%
Lehi HopoateSea Eagles
backFair 7.922+ 31%
$11.00
+3.5% edge
Model
13%
Market
9%
Confidence
13%
Haumole Olakau'atuSea Eagles
forwardFair 9.232+ 25%
$13.00
+3.1% edge
Model
11%
Market
8%
Confidence
11%
Tom TrbojevicSea Eagles
backFair 8.542+ 28%
$10.00
+1.7% edge
Model
12%
Market
10%
Confidence
12%
Jaxon PurdueCowboys
backFair 8.802+ 16%
$9.50
+0.8% edge
Model
11%
Market
11%
Confidence
11%