NRL 2025 Premiership Winner Prediction
The 2025 NRL Season is here and the Betr team is here to look into the future with our NRL 2025 Futures betting preview. Can the Panthers win a record 5th straight Grand Final? Let's find out.
Melbourne Storm ($3.75) - They come off losing the Grand Final to the Panthers but 2024 was a positive year for the Storm. I expect them to be right in the thick of things again. Their spine is arguably the best in the comp with Hughes, Grant and Munster. They also got Ryan Papenhuyzen back after it looked like other teams were circling. I also think they've got a lot of depth in most areas, such as Tyran Wishart and Sualauvi Faalogo. Adding Stefano Utoikamanu from the Tigers is a great signing and will offset the loss of Welch in the forward pack. It's hard to back against the Storm making another GF, especially with revenge on their minds.
Penrith Panthers ($4.50) - The Panthers are going for 5 straight Grand Final victories and it's going to be extra challenging this year. They've lost James Fisher-Harris and Jarome Luai, their experience will be missed in the big finals. Their home ground is also under construction so they'll have to play in Parra, which may impact them. To top it off, they start off the season in Las Vegas and that wasn't a great experience for the 4 teams that did it last year. In saying all that, the Panthers lineup is still very strong and I expect them to make the top 4 with Nathan Cleary hopefully fit from a shoulder issue last year.
Brisbane Broncos ($8.00) - The Broncos had a poor season in 2024 after expectations were right up there. They were 20 minutes away from beating the Panthers in the 2023 decider but finished with just 10 wins and in 12th position last year. Now, they've got Michael Maguire as head coach and I think he'll get them back up into the top 4. It all depends on injuries to their key players like Adam Reynolds, Walsh and Haas. They've also added the experience of Ben Hunt, which will help while Ezra Mam is out with a long suspension. But how they handle Mam's will be interesting. I think that a top 8 spot is a reasonable expectation but I don't think they can beat the top-tier teams in the big games.
Cronulla Sharks ($10.00) - Addin Fonua-Blake is a big addition to a Sharks side that is very dangerous. He adds some real go-forward in the middle of the park for the Sharkies and that gives Nicho Hynes plenty of space to do his thing. I think if they can upset the Panthers in Las Vegas, it will give them a lot of confidence too. I just think their performance in finals is a bit shaking, highlighted last year as they lost 37-10 against Melbourne and 26-6 against Penrith.
Canterbury Bulldogs ($12.00) - I think the Doggies will build nicely after 14 wins and a 6th finish last season. They have a good mix of experience and youth. Such as Crichton in the centres, Kikau in the forward pack and Matt Burton is a quality 5/8th. If they can get some decent play out of the halfback position, I think the Dogs can challenge for a top 4 finish.
Manly Sea Eagles ($17.00) - The story of last season was the form and injury status of Tom Trbojevic. In 2025, I don't think it will be any different. He is the key to this team, if he's fit and firing, the Sea Eagles are dangerous. But the question is whether his body can hold up for the entire season. I think they have a soft start to the season with 4 home games out of 5. Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks will have another preseason under their belts and that should help their combinations. So I think they'll make the finals fairly easily.
Best Bet
NRL 2025 - Top 4
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks - In my view, the Sharks are the 3rd best in the NRL behind the Panthers and Storm. So I think they offer good odds to finish in the top 4. As I mentioned above, Addin Fonua-Blake is a nice addition and should fit the Sharks needs of Craig Fitzgibbon. They play well at home and have a settled squad. Their bench looks strong too with McInnes, Talakai and Kaufusi all bringing good experience and depth. Trindall had a great finals series for the Sharks and hopefully, Hynes can recapture his Dally M form after struggling a bit after his Origin inclusion/injuries.
Best Bet
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks ($2.62)
NRL 2025 - Top 8
Parramatta Eels - I think the Eels can have a good season in 2025. New coach Jason Ryles will bring some Melbourne Storm influence and standards into the club. You have to remember that Moses was injured for a lot of 2024 as the Eels won just 7 games. Moses had a great Origin series and hopefully, he stays fit now. They've added some attacking weapons in the backline with Lomax and Addo-Carr. Junior Paulo looks fit and J'maine Hopgood has been impressive since moving from the Panthers. Dylan Brown is the x-factor and if he sorts out his future contract, that should help him focus on getting the Eels into the finals.
Best Bet
NRL 2025 - To Miss Top 8
Sydney Roosters - It's been a tough offseason for the Roosters and I think they'll struggle to get into the top 8. They've lost a wealth of experience around the park, such as Joseph Manu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Gun halfback Sam Walker is also coming back from an ACL injury. Not the most value at $1.75 but I think it's a solid safe bet.
Best Bet
NRL 2025 - Most Losses
Canberra Raiders - I can see the Raiders struggling this season. First off, they're heading to Las Vegas and that's not an easy start to the season. To make matters worse, they're talking about selling home games away from Canberra. There goes their home-ground advantage. They've also lost a lot of experience in the offseason, headlined by Elliott Whitehead. I also think their backline looks weak and scoring points will likely be an issue.
Best Bet
