NRL Betting Preview
The Broncos have clearly been the best backed side in NRL premiership betting with the losing grand finalists a clear favourite at $4.60 shortening up from $5.50 following the signing of flyer James Roberts.
Defending premiers North Queensland are on the second line of betting at $7.00 while Manly have been the other big shortener coming in from $15 to $9.00 following a host of off season signings.
Of the others, there have been nibbles at good odds for the Warriors ($9.00), Cronulla ($14) and Parramatta ($17) with all recruiting some big name stars.
NRL Betting Round 1
Thursday March 3
Eels ($2.40) v Broncos ($1.60) at Pirtek Stadium (8.05pm)
The Premiership favourites travel to Pirtek Stadium to kick off round one and punters are tipping the season will kick off with an upset with the Eels well supported here. Brisbane are short enough away from home having travelled to the UK already in the preseason and although punters want to be on them to hold the trophy aloft in September, they haven’t been prepared to put down their cash on them to get the season off to winning start. The fitness of key off season recruit Kieran Foran will have a huge impact on late betting here though.
Friday March 4
Sea Eagles ($1.64) v Bulldogs ($2.30) at Brookvale Oval (8.05pm)
Punters have been a lover Manly for weeks both to win the NRL Premiership and to get their season off to a winning start against the Bulldogs. There has been good support for Manly to win 13+ at $3.25 and to cover the line of -3.5 at $1.91. Manly have a number of new players and how they gel with have a big impact on their start to the season. The Bulldogs have lost Brett Morris for much of the season but are well covered with recruit Will Hopoate and their key combinations staying together from last year gives them a hope here at good odds.
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Saturday March 5
Raiders ($1.61) v Panthers ($2.36) at GIO Stadium (3pm)
Punters aren’t too sure what to make of this one with little money for either side. There has been very good money for the raiders to improve this year and make the 8 with one bet of $8,000 at $2.30 struck on them to make the finals. The Panthers have a new coach in Anthony Griffin and they will be looking to take the next step after some promising performances in recent years.
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Tigers ($2.95) v Warriors ($1.41) at Campbelltown Stadium (5.30pm)
Two teams couldn’t have had more contrasting off seasons than the Tigers and Warriors. Warriors fans will be full of hope following the recruitment of Isaac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck while Tigers fans are preparing for another season of woe following infighting. The Warriors are third favourites for the competition while the Tigers are the second roughest at $67. The Warriors aren’t traditionally the fastest starters to the season but with the coach under massive “Cherry Mescia” with Ivan Clearly waiting in the wings. The Warriors haven’t won their opening round clash since 2009 but they should do the job here against an undermanned Tigers and the $2.64 for 13+ looks fairly attractive.
Cowboys ($1.38) v Sharks ($3.10) at 1300SMILES Stadium (7.30pm)
The defending premiers gave Leeds a hiding in England and should be ready to get the season rolling with a win. They are short enough at $1.38 against a Cronulla side who there is a lot to like about in 2016 but if they play like they did in the run home last year, they should get the job done here. The line of 8.0 looks big enough though with Sharks made of pretty stern stuff.
Sunday March 6
Roosters ($2.10) v Rabbitohs ($1.76) at Allianz Stadium (4pm)
The local rivals have both had their dramas in the off season with the Mitchell Pearce saga the headline. Punters are however happy enough to be on the Roosters as outsiders here with Souths having some dramas of their own. This clash is generally a very tight one and it is understandable why punters are happy to take the value about the Roosters. We do expect the see late money for Rabbitohs with Roosters round one team missing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Michael Jennings, Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney, Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves from last year.
Titans ($2.00) v Knights ($1.85) at Cbus Super Stadium (6.30pm)
This is a battle of the wooden spoon favourites with the Titans ($126) and Newcastle ($67) to win the title. Both sides are short on star factor but have some good young players who could perform well early in the season. The Titans look the value at home here at $2.00 but it is unlikely to be a game that will attract huge punter interest.
Monday March 7
Storm ($1.39) v Dragons ($3.05) at AAMI Park (7pm)
The Storm have never lost an opening round clash under Craig Bellamy and St George don’t look like the team to break the streak. The Storm are just rock solid and hard to beat and while the Dragons did get off to a flyer last year, the Storm look to have too many big guns and travelling to AAMI Park is one of the hardest assignments in the NRL. There has been some early money for the Storm at -7.5 in what has been a fairly quiet betting affair to this stage.
