NRL 2022 – Best Outsiders to Make the 2022 NRL Grand Final

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It’s easy enough to take a look through the favourites to win the 2022 NRL Grand Final and pick one of them to win it, but what’s a little harder is finding a diamond in the rough – a team a little less fancied with a chance to rise from obscurity, not dissimilar to the Raider sudden and unexpected ascent in 2019. They were paying $17 to win the Grand Final prior to the start of that season, so are there any teams at similar odds this season who could upset the apple cart?

In this article, we take a look at some of the teams which might offer up a little value in the 2022 NRL Grand Final market.

Penrith Panthers –$5.00

Melbourne Storm– $5.50

Sydney Roosters – $6.00

Manly Sea Eagles –$8.50

South Sydney Rabbitohs – $9.00

Parramatta Eels – $15.00

The Titans have had a big couple of years in terms of recruiting, and at times last season it appeared to be paying dividends. At their best they are brilliant to watch and nearly unstoppable from an offensive perspective, but both defensively and from a consistency standpoint they have some work to do. All that means, however, is that their scope for improvement is significant, much more so than a team who consistently plays to a decent level but is incapable of matching the best teams. The Titans certainly have some work to do to get close to the likes of the Storm and the Panthers, but there’s no doubt that the switch is there – the only question is whether or not they can flick it.

Perhaps this tip is a product of the Raiders’ aforementioned performance in 2019 in which they defied the odds to just barely fall short of a remarkable Premiership, but the team from the Australian capital did begin to show some signs of life towards the end of last season. It was their poor start to the year which played the most significant role in their tenth place finish, and given that they still have plenty of the pieces which took them to a Grand Final in 2019 and the experience that comes with it, perhaps they could be a chance of springing a surprise in 2022.

The Eels have been loitering around the top four for a while now, and have made it past the first week of the finals in four of the past five seasons. Unfortunately, in each of those four seasons, that’s where it’s all ended. Semi-final losses have become almost an annual tradition for Parramatta, and they’ll be desperate to break that curse in 2022. Last season they appeared destined for a top four finish for much of the season until a poor few weeks sent them tumbling to sixth, but if they can maintain their consistency throughout 2022 and earn themselves a double chance, anything can happen.

Maybe tipping a team coming off a three-win season to win the Premiership the next year is a little hopeful – in fact it almost certainly is. But if anyone was going to do it, it would be the Bulldogs this year. Canterbury was destined for the Wooden Spoon last season, and that didn’t bother them at all, with the side clearly having their sights set on 2022. They’ve signed a raft of talent, including Matt Dufty and Josh Addo-Carr to name just a couple, so there’s no doubt that they’ll improve significantly. Whether it’s enough to make any significant noise is another question, but there’s no doubting that they’ll win a lot more than three games.

Recent upset Grand Final winners

• 2016 – Cronulla Sharks 14 Melbourne Storm 12
• 2015 – North Queensland Cowboys 17 Brisbane Broncos 16
• 2001 – Newcastle Knights 30 Parramatta Eels 24
• 1999 – Melbourne Storm 20 St George Illawarra Dragons 18

Recent upset losing Grand Finalists

• 2019 – Canberra Raiders
• 2017 – North Queensland Cowboys
• 2011 – New Zealand Warriors
• 2005 – North Queensland Cowboys

Current clubs yet to play in an NRL Grand Final

• Gold Coast Titans – 2007 to Present

When looking for an outsider to cause an upset, it’s never a bad idea to focus on teams with a high ceiling, even if they also have a low floor. After all, at least that means that the potential for rapid improvement is there. The Titans certainly fall into this category, with their at times awe-inspiring offence the primary reason for their prospects as a surprise contender. There’s no doubting that plenty will have to go right for them to get near the best teams, but if anyone is going to cause an upset in 2022, Gold Coast might just be the best chance.

The Gold Coast Titans – best outsiders to win the 2022 Grand Final