NRL Odds: The Favourites For The Finals
May 1st, 2014 by TJ DilferRound Eight of the 2014 NRL season is done and dusted, and there’s a collective breath to be taken this week, with fans, management and players all taking the chance for an assessment of the campaign so far. Of course, there’s still representative rugby to keep you on your toes, and the small matter of a Test Match on Friday night, but the NRL is on hold for a well-earned week off. What better time to take a look over the NRL odds for the season, including some great specials from Sportsbet?
The opening salvos of the 2014 campaign have been fired, and it’s the Bulldogs who are sitting at the top of the ladder after eight rounds of intense action. And deservedly so, thanks to a great run of wins behind them that stretches back to Round Three and a close defeat to the Panthers. And Canterbury-Bankstown are sitting at the top of the Power Rankings this week, too, ahead of the surging Sea Eagles, as we go into the break. With the chance to regroup and get some players back to fitness, and then a couple of winnable games, you could see the Bulldogs making themselves comfortable at the top of the ladder. But they’re not the favourites for the Premiership in 2014, according to the bookies. You’ll get odds of $8.50 for the Bulldogs to end up as Grand Final winners, but there are three sides on shorter odds: the Rabbitohs are a $6.00 bet, and both the Roosters and the Sea Eagles are getting odds of $5.00.
It’s well worth taking a look over the NRL odds we’ve got for you, and also at some interesting Sportsbet specials. We like the Premiership Belt markets: the Belt starts in Round One with the reigning Premiers, and it’s claimed by any side who beats them – and passed on in turn if that side is then beaten. The current holders are the Titans: they’re at odds of $7.00 to still hold it after 10 rounds, and $17.00 to hang on to it until the end of the regular season. It won’t just be Rabbitohs fans who’ll be tempted by their $2.30 odds to take it from them and hold it at the Round Ten mark, but it’s a $6.00 bet for the Rabbitohs to hold the Belt at the end of the regular season – they’re the second-favourites behind the Roosters at $5.00…
And then there’s the State of Origin on the horizon, already starting to stimulate some debate, and no doubt on its way to being the focus of attention for the fans and the players. The first clash is set for May 28th, and Queensland are getting the shorter odds this far out at $1.50 over the $2.50 you’ll see for NSW. There’s plenty of time for that to change as the teams get firmed up, but we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on things – and expecting to see some tasty markets and perhaps the odd special to tempt us!
- 2023
- 2022
- - June
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2000