The regular season is over, and we are now heading into the Finals of the NRL, which will run for 4 weeks.
If this is your first time checking out the Finals, you might need a bit of an overview as to how it all works, as it’s a little convoluted.
My Analysis for the Finals Week 1 NRL
The 8 teams are split into 2 distinct groups, with the top 4 teams going into one group and the other 4 teams into another.
A loss in the top group does not mean immediate elimination, which is the one advantage those teams get.
Home field advantage is up for grabs here as the tournament moves on, so while a loss is not the end of the world for the top 4, it does make things a little more difficult.
With all of that said, let’s look at the 4 games in the NRL Finals Week 1.
^Penrith Panthers -263 vs Sydney Roosters +211
Friday, September 13, 5:50 AM | There was very little separating these two teams at the end of the regular season, with the Panthers finishing in 2nd place, a mere 2 points ahead of the Roosters.
I think it’s fair to suggest that this is one of the better matchups in Week 1 of the Finals.
The Panthers have the benefit of playing at home, where they went 9-3 this season, but let’s not forget that the Roosters were able to pick up 8 road wins, which is certainly not too shabby.
The Panthers are favored by 8 ½, but I think it will be a good deal closer.
^Melbourne Storm -345 vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks +255
Saturday, September 14, 2:05 AM | The Storm ended the season as the #1 team in the NRL, putting together an impressive 19-5 record along the way.
The Sharks finished 16-8 in the regular season, 6 points off the pace set by the team at the top.
As good as that was, this is going to be a tough opening game for the Sharks, as they are set to face a team that went 10-2 on home field this season.
That is not to say that the Sharks can’t get the win, since they were more than decent away from home, going 8-4.
Still, they head into this game as an 8 ½ point underdog, and it seems like a bridge too far to pick them to win.
^North Queensland Cowboys -233 vs Newcastle Knights +183
Saturday, September 14, 5:50 AM | It went all the way down to the wire for the Knights, as they had to wait until the final week of the regular season to nab the #8 spot on the ladder.
They are, though, a dangerous proposition in the Finals, as they have been hot of late, winning 4 of their last 5 games.
That said, they are just 5-7 on the road. The Cowboys barely missed out on the top 4, so they will be looking to make the most of being in the lower seeded group. They are 7-5 at home this season and won 4 of their last 4 games.
The Cowboys are favored by 6 ½ and look a good bet to win.
^Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs -106 vs Manly Sea Eagles -115
Sunday, September 15, 2:05 AM | This is, according to the bookies, the most evenly matched game on the schedule this weekend, with the Sea Eagles in as a modest ½ point favorite, which essentially makes this a pick play.
The Bulldogs finished 1 point ahead of the Sea Eagles to nab the #6 seed and were tied for the best home record of the season at 10-2.
It is worth noting, though, that the Sea Eagles have won both previous meetings with the Bulldogs, with both wins coming away from home, so I am following that trend.
^#NRLFinals… where some teams crack under the pressure, and some are just getting warmed up.
— NRL (@NRL) September 11, 2024
Let's Go! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/hcA6ad1cln
Rugby League NRL Odds To Reach the Grand Final
- Melbourne Storm -181
- Penrith Panthers -133
- Sydney Roosters +181
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks +350
- North Queensland Cowboys +700
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs +900
- Manly Sea Eagles +900
- Newcastle Knights +2200
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2023 Finals Week 1 Top Games
The National Rugby League is in the playoff period where the top eight teams will play against each other, and the winners of these rounds will have the opportunity to advance to the preliminary finals in week three and will rest for a week.
Below are the matches between the top eight teams and the information needed ahead of the Finals Week 1 matchups with the top NRL odds offered by MyBookie Sportsbook.
NRL Betting Picks and Analysis for Finals Week 1 Top Games | MyBookie Rugby Betting Preview
2023 National Rugby League | 116th season of professional rugby league in Australia
When: Friday, September 8th – Sunday, September 10th, 2023
Betting Week: Finals Week 1 of the NRL season
Brisbane Broncos vs. Melbourne Storm
NRL Odds: Broncos -4.5; Storm +4.5 / Broncos -169; Storm +147 / O/U 42.5
Friday, September 8th, 2023 at 12:00 a.m. EST
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
The Brisbane Broncos are set to take on the Melbourne Storm as part of the NRL top ladder’s top eight teams in a four-week series of playoffs about to kick off in September.
The home team finished 2nd in the regular season after playing 24 matches, earning 42 points behind the Penrith Panthers on the log.
On the other hand, Melbourne Storm finished 3rd in the regular season after playing 24 matches, earning 38 points behind Brisbane Broncos.
This match is set to be held on the 8th of September, 2023, at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with a capacity of 52,500 spectators. The kickoff time is 7:50 AM EST.
NRL Finals Week 1 | Bet Broncos vs. Storm Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
Penrith Panthers vs. New Zealand Warriors
NRL Odds: Panthers -12.5; Warriors +12.5 / Panthers -526; Warriors +526 / O/U 40.5
Saturday, September 9th, 2023 at 12:00 a.m. EST
BlueBet Stadium, Penrith, Australia
The Penrith Panthers are set to take on the New Zealand Warriors teams as part of the NRL top ladder’s top eight teams in a four-week series of playoffs.
The Penrith Panthers finished as the best team in the regular season, finishing 1st on the log with 42 points, while the New Zealand Warriors team finished 4th after playing 24 matches, earning 38 points.
Penrith Panthers dominated the NZ Warriors teams in their last three meetings, so we expect them to win this game.
This game is set to be held on Saturday, 9th of September, 2023, at the Panthers Stadium, Penrith, Australia. The kickoff time of this game is at 01:00 AM EST.
NRL Finals Week 1 | Bet Panthers vs. Warriors Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
Cronulla Sharks vs. Sydney Roosters
NRL Odds: Sharks -1.5; Roosters +1.5 / Sharks -125; Roosters +105 / O/U 40.5
Saturday, September 9th, 2023 at 3:50 a.m. EST
Pointsbet Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters are among the teams that made it into the top eight teams to play in the four-week playoffs series. Cronulla Sharks finished the regular season with 34 points and holds the 6th position on the log, while Sydney Roosters holds the 7th position with 32 points.
The last time both teams met was on the 14th of April, 2023, when Cronulla hosted Sydney at their home ground, and they won the game by 22-12. Before that, they met once last year, and Sydney Roosters won the game.
This match will be held on Saturday, 9th of September, 2023, at Gerard Park, and the kickoff time is set at 4:50 AM EST.
NRL Finals Week 1 | Bet Sharks vs. Roosters Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders
NRL Odds: Knights -12.5; Raiders +12.5 / Knights -500; Raiders +361 / O/U 42.5
Sunday, September 10th, 2023 at 12:05 a.m. EST
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders are among the teams that finished in the top eight in the National Rugby regular season, and they are set to face each other in the four-week playoffs series.
The Newcastle Knights finished 5th, earning 35 points after they played 24 matches, while Canberra Raiders finished 8th, earning 32 points.
Newcastle Knights dominated the Canberra Raiders in their last two meetings, so we expect an exciting and challenging game from both teams.
This game is set to be held on Sunday, 10th of September, 2023, at the Ashley Klein Stadium, and the kickoff time is set at 01:05 AM EST.
NRL Finals Week 1 | Bet Knights vs. Raiders Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
2023 NRL Finals Week 1 Schedule
| Date | Time | Home | Away | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 8 | 3:50 a.m. | Brisbane Broncos | vs. | Melbourne Storm |
| Saturday, September 9 | 12:30 a.m. | Penrith Panthers | vs. | New Zealand Warriors |
| Saturday, September 9 | 3:50 a.m. | Cronulla Sharks | vs. | Sydney Roosters |
| Sunday, September 10 | 12:05 a.m. | Newcastle Knights | vs. | Canberra Raiders |
|
Bet NRL Finals Week 1 Games |
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NRL Premiership Odds to Win
The NRL final standings of the competition will be determined by the results of the remaining rounds of the regular season and the final series.
2025 National Rugby League Season Odds
The NRL Telstra Premiership season will kick off on American soil on Saturday, March 2, 2025 at Allegiant Stadium.
| NRL Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Storm | +300 |
| Penrith Panthers | +300 |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | +1000 |
| Brisbane Broncos | +1100 |
| Sydney Roosters | +1500 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | +1500 |
| Manly Sea Eagles | +1500 |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | +1600 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | +1700 |
| Parramatta Eels | +2500 |
| Newcastle Knights | +3000 |
| New Zealand Warriors | +3000 |
| Dolphins (Nrl) | +3300 |
| Wests Tigers | +5000 |
| St George Illawarra Dragons | +5000 |
| Canberra Raiders | +6000 |
| Gold Coast Titans | +6600 |
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