It’s the moment rugby league fans have been waiting for the last five months. This weekend, the NRL returns. As the world’s biggest rugby league competition with 16 teams from Australian and one from New Zealand, the NRL encompasses more than half the year and is well loved across the globe.
The Panthers have been on a hot streak in recent times, making the last three Grand Finals and winning the last two titles in a row. Can they do what hasn’t been done since 1983 and win three consecutive NRL Premierships? We’ll know in about seven months time, but for now, there are 16 other teams that will be trying their best to stop them.
Ahead of Round One kicking off this weekend, we break down all the best bets to make on the 2023 NRL season with odds from bookmaker William Hill.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: March 2nd, 2:30 A.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright betting odds from William Hill, it’s the Penrith Panthers who are yet again favourites to win the NRL 2023. With odds of 3.75, they lead the Sydney Roosters at 5.50, who are the only other team that are somewhat close to the Panthers in the odds. After this, odds slip to 8.00 for the Melbourne Storm then 10.00 and 11.00 for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys.
Given that the Storm, Roosters and Rabbitohs finished fifth, sixth and seventh on the ladder last year, it’s a big jump for these three sides to become the most likely challengers to the Panthers in 2023. The Sharks, who finished second on the ladder, are only rated as sixth favourites now at 13.00 after having a poor post-season in 2022 that saw them lose both games.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: March 2nd, 2:30 A.M. (GMT)
The big question is whether or not any side can stop the Panthers. Betting on the Panthers to win in 2023 may seem like the conservative bet to make, but there’s a reason why it’s been 40 years since a side last won three in a row. It’s simply difficult to maintain such a high level.
Looking at alternatives to the Panthers, the Roosters have to be considered as a strong threat this year. Last year, they finished the season strong, winning eight games on the bounce to qualify for the playoffs in sixth place. Many expected them to carry on their momentum into a deep run, but they were stunned by a Rabbitohs side they’d beaten just a week prior.
This season, however, the Roosters have acquired Brandon Smith, a world-class hooker from the Melbourne Storm. We say his addition will give the Roosters what they need to put together a deep run this year and possibly even go all the way to claim their first title since 2019. A bet on the Roosters to win the NRL Premiership 2023 at 5.50 is our recommendation.
