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Author: Mick Gannon
Sep 07, 2018 07:48 AM
AAP
The race to the big dance heats up
With the regular season now done and dusted, we've cast our eye over the latest NRL futures betting markets to find the best value for punters ahead of the finals series.
It's been a topsy turvy season with only two points separating the top-eight, and this finals series is set to be the most hotly contested in years.
NRL Odds: Futures Market
| Team |
Premiership |
Prediction |
Odds |
| Roosters |
$3.25 |
Premiership Winner |
$3.25 |
| Storm |
$4.50 |
Preliminary Final (Week 3) |
$2.25 |
| Rabbitohs |
$4.75 |
Preliminary Final (Week 3) |
$2.40 |
| Sharks |
$6.50 |
Semi-Final (Week 2) |
$3.75 |
| Broncos |
$9 |
Qualifying (Week 1) |
$3.75 |
| Warriors |
$17 |
Runner-Up |
$15 |
| Panthers |
$21 |
Qualifying (Week 1) |
$2.15 |
| Dragons |
$31 |
Semi-Final (Week 2) |
$4.25 |
Sydney Roosters
Prediction: Premiership Winner
The premiership favourites have all the attributes to take them to Grand Final glory.
Blessed with exceptional outside backs and arguably the best halves combination in the league, the Roosters are a force to be reckoned with.
Coach Trent Robinson has taken the club to its fourth minor premiership in six years, and the inclusion of the classy Cooper Cronk to this season's line-up will take them a long way in the pressure-cooker of finals footy.
The bookies' NRL odds of $3.25 look spot on.
New Zealand Warriors
Prediction: Runners-up
The Warriors were the most in-form team in the league throughout the first five rounds of the season and then they had a mid-season lapse.
This was mostly attributed to injuries to key players Isaac Luke, Shaun Johnson and Blake Green. Since their return in the back half of the season however, the Kiwis have rediscovered their mojo.
Now injury-free, the Warriors should be the surprise package of the NRL finals series and their new-found patience is the key. They have shown the ability to hang in there when the going gets tough, yet they haven't lost the ability to blow teams off the park.
Don't be surprised to see the Warriors come Grand Final day and they're well worth a throw at the stumps at the juicy NRL odds of $15 for runner-up.
Melbourne Storm
Prediction: Preliminary Final (Week 3)
The Storm will need to break a long-standing record if they are to win back-to-back premierships. Not since the 1992-93 Brisbane Broncos side has a team claimed the coveted prize in consecutive years.
The loss of Cronk to the Roosters is likely to hit the Storm hardest as they enter this finals series, with huge uncertainty over who will play as their first-tier half-back.
The big three in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cameron Munster will take them deep into September, however it will take a monumental effort for them to win the premiership.
Coming off some average form in recent weeks, it's fair to say the Storm will need to ramp it up a gear or two to make the big dance.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Prediction: Preliminary Final (Week 3)
If there is one side in the NRL you don't want your club to face, it’s the blockbusting Bunnies.
Blessed with the strongest ball running forward pack in the game, Souths will leave their mark on you, win, lose or draw.
Off the back of strong running forwards, hooker Damien Cook has come into his own this season and is set to be rewarded for his efforts, with the Kangaroos number 9 jersey all but his.
The biggest worry for Bunnies fans is that their team shows vulnerability in switching off at vital times in those big games.
Their weakest link? Halves Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker are very inconsistent and have struggled to produce the goods in games when their forwards have not been effective.
Cronulla Sharks
Prediction: Semi-Final (Week 2)
The Sharks are arguably the in-form team of the competition. However, with seven of their last ten games against teams outside of the top-eight, it's fair to say they've had a soft run into the finals.
They are one win and two losses against top-eight sides, falling to the Broncos in round 15 and round 20, only to bounce back and defeat the Storm in round 22.
The Sharks' biggest problem is that if they lose to the Roosters this weekend, they will have to face either the Warriors or the Panthers who play a completely different brand of footy.
Cronulla is much better suited to match-ups against the structured Storm, Brisbane or Souths than they are against the flare and unpredictable style of the New Zealand Warriors.
St George Illawarra Dragons
Prediction: Semi-Final (Week 2)
Here is a prediction that even the most die-hard Dragons fan wouldn't make! There is plenty of merit to the Dragons' chances of defeating the Broncos in week one of the finals.
The return of Gareth Widdop is a massive boost for the Red-V. Add to that the opportunity for their big-name forwards to showcase their skills on the big stage and this could be the upset of the finals series.
The Dragons are renowned for huge performances as the underdog in big games. Think ANZAC Day against the Chooks where they won convincingly 24-8 and you’ll know what I mean.
The State of Origin series certainly took the wind out of their sails, but you can be sure the Saints will be right up for this one.
Expect them to serve it right up to a young Broncos side who have been vulnerable when favourites this year.
Take the $4.25 NRL odds on offer for them to be elimintated in week two.
Brisbane Broncos
Prediction - Qualifying (Week 1)
The Broncos are on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Roosters, Souths and then Manly last week, showing they have what it takes to match it with the best in the competition.
Coach Wayne Bennett has a proven track record in plotting his the way to Grand-Final glory, with seven premierships to his name.
Bennett will need to produce the most impressive effort of his coaching career this season to get his young team to win the premiership.
Penrith Panthers
Prediction - Qualifying (Week 1)
The Panthers have been destabilised in recent weeks, with the sacking of Anthony Griffin taking a far greater toll than anyone imagined.
It has severely affected their run to the finals and whether or not the sacking was warranted, the timing was not great and may well cost the Panthers a shot at premiership glory.
Their only saving grace is the ability of James Maloney to get the job done. The Panthers' star five-eighth has managed to take three separate teams to a Grand Final, and it wouldn't surprise to see him do the same at Penrith.
But don’t hold your breath Panthers fans, the $2.15 NRL odds on offer for them to be knocked out in straight sets looks the best bet.
