This week features 2 games of interest with the Knights & Titans both in big need of a win to keep their finals hopes alive. Plus a great game of rugby between the Storm & Sharks.
Margins betting is a popular way to bet on Rugby league tipsters matches. This involves picking the team that you think will win by a certain margin. The margin can be a full, half or quarter of a point.
Origin Round
The NRL premiership season runs from March to September each year, with twenty-seven rounds of competition. Teams receive two competition points for a win and one point for a draw; winning teams are ranked higher on the ladder. Special themed rounds are held throughout the season including ANZAC Round, Heritage Round, Women in League, Retro Round and Beanies for Brain Cancer. The NRL also holds a three match State of Origin series and a number of test matches.
All games are broadcast live in Australia on the Nine Network and simulcast on Fox League and Kayo. In New Zealand, the NRL is available on Sky Sport 4 and on Prime. The NRL also broadcasts live games in Pacific nations on Mai TV and TVWan. All televised games are free-to-air. The NRL has a partnership with telecommunications giant Telstra through 2027. This includes the rights to broadcast Thursday Night Footy, the first Friday night game and the last Saturday 7:30pm game of the season.
Round 23
The battle for the top four takes centre stage this week, with almost every game in Round 23 having some finals relevance. There’s also the intriguing match-up between the Knights and Dragons who are both battling to stay in the top eight.
Kalyn Ponga and Newcastle’s red-hot back five look a huge threat to the Dragons who have struggled defensively of late. The Dragons will be looking to make amends after their last-gasp defeat against Cronulla, but it’s hard to see them keeping up with the Knights at home.
St George will be boosted by the return of Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell against a Canberra team that is struggling for form. The Raiders have won their past seven games as away favourites and are 5-2 against the line, but this looks like a game that the Sharks should win easily.
Round 18
The 2022 regular season is down to its final third and this is a crucial game for both teams as it sees the winner likely secure their top eight spot. Melbourne’s depth is starting to show and despite missing key players in this one, they should be too good for the Titans.
Manly’s late lapse against the Dragons last week was disappointing, but they should be much sharper here at home. They have been a trustworthy betting proposition as home favourites and can be backed here at -19.5.
Newcastle’s resounding win over the Cowboys may have given them some confidence, but they will be feeling under pressure with Adam O’Brien’s job on the line. They are a bad betting proposition as away underdogs but thrashing the Bulldogs 66-0 a fortnight ago should give them some momentum. Tesi Niu returns to the wing for the Raiders and could make the difference. He is a try scoring threat and should be able to handle the extra work required by the Dogs.
Round 19
The Warriors will be hoping to bounce back from last week’s drubbing by the Roosters and they have an excellent chance of doing so against an under-strength South Sydney team. Both teams are dripping with attacking firepower (New Zealand lead the NRL in post-contact metres while the Souths are fifth), but whoever can tighten up defensively will win this game.
Wests are licking their wounds after their cricket score drubbing at Townsville and they host third placed Cronulla in Round 19. Few teams give up cricket scores for two weeks in a row and this is another game that will be won by the Sharks.
Canberra are snaking their way towards the top eight and a win over the hapless Dragons will keep them in contention. They’re a different side at home and they should be too good for the sloppy Dragons.
