As we head into Round 18 of the NRL season, things are beginning to look clearer at the top, with the Storm beginning to open up a lead after picking up their 4th straight win.
It’s a full schedule in the NRL, but we are focusing on the 4 games that we think are the pick of the bunch, so let’s get to it.
My Analysis for Round 18 top games
They cannot lose the top spot this week, as their lead is now at 4 points, but things are still tight below them, so it is possible that the ladder will look a little different once we get done with this week’s action.
There are a lot of big games coming this week, with just 1 team having a bye this weekend.
^Broncos +146 vs Panthers -175
Friday, July 5, 4 AM | Down by the cut line, things remain as tight as ever, so while the Broncos are currently sitting in 10th, they are just 2 points back of the final playoff spot.
A win could move them back into the top 8, but that is going to be tough to get against the team that is #2 on the ladder at the moment.
It certainly doesn’t help that the Broncos have lost 3 in a row ahead of this one. The Panthers are sitting 4 points out of the lead, but they are not in great form, going 2-2 in their last 4 games.
They have been good in road games this season, going 5-3 away from home.
^MyBookie NRL Betting Lines to Win
Cowboys -143 vs Sea Eagles +113
Saturday, July 6, 5:35 AM | There is just a single point separating these two teams, but that point is huge, as it is the difference between being in or out of the playoffs.
The Cowboys are on the #7 spot on the ladder heading into this weekend, and they have won 3 of their last 4, although they are just .500 when playing at home.
The Sea Eagles are just below the cut line and are 1-2 in their last 3 games. Where things become problematic is with their play on the road, where they are just 1-5 this season.
^Roosters -476 vs Dragons +321
Saturday, July 6, 12:00 AM | Another matchup between a pair of teams that are very much in the playoff conversation.
The Roosters are sitting in 4th place on the ladder, 6 points out of the top spot. They have won 3 of their last 4 games and have been decent at home, going 5-3.
The Dragons are holding onto the final playoff spot down in 8th, but they are just 1 point up on the chasing pack.
They have been in good form over the last month or so, winning 3 of their last 4 games. Road games have been tough, with the Dragons going 3-5 away from home.
^Raiders +125 vs Knights -159
Sunday, July 7, 2:05 AM | It is beginning to reach critical mass for the teams sitting outside the top 8, which is exactly where both of these teams are right now.
Both of these teams are just a point out of the final playoff spot, so this one is crucial for both.
Camberra and Knights have the same record over the last 4 weeks, going 1-3.
The Raiders have home field advantage here and are 4-3 in their own building. The Knights are 3-4 away from home, so tough to say how this one might go.
^Rugby League NRL Winner Odds
- Penrith Panthers +204
- Sydney Roosters +340
- Melbourne Storm +370
- Brisbane Broncos +960
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks +970
- North Queensland Cowboys +1950
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs +2800
- Manly Sea Eagles +2900
- Dolphins +3200
- New Zealand Warriors +3400
- South Sydney Rabbitohs +7500
- St George Illawarra Dragons +8000
- Newcastle Knights +12000
- Canberra Raiders +14000
- Gold Coast Titans +30000
- Parramatta Eels +46000
- Wests Tigers +150000
Some huge games comin' up in Round 18! 🏉 pic.twitter.com/I9Mwjjow9b
— NRL (@NRL) July 2, 2024
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