NRL – Top 8 NRL 2022 Betting Odds & Expert’s Predictions

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There are a handful of teams that, barring a complete disaster, will almost certainly be playing finals footy in 2022. The likes of the Penrith Panthers and the Melbourne Storm will be a feature of September, and there’s little point betting on it because the odds on offer are little better than bank interest.

There are, however, a number of teams for whom the value is significantly better, and who could spring a surprise and make an appearance in the NRL Finals Series.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of those teams who might not be expected to feature in the top eight, but who we think are a sneaky chance of climbing their way up the ladder.

• Gold Coast Titans – $2.10 
• Canberra Raiders – $2.10
• Newcastle Knights – $2.50
• Canterbury Bulldogs – $2.75
• Brisbane Broncos – $2.80
• New Zealand Warriors – $3.75
• North Queensland Cowboys – $4.50
• West Tigers – $5.00
• St George Illawarra Dragons – $3.75

The Titans did some fantastic recruiting prior to the 2021 season, and at stages throughout the course of the year it certainly showed. When it’s humming their offence is one of the most well-oiled machines in the NRL, and though they have plenty of work to do to match that level on defence and perform consistently on a weekly basis, the foundation is there for a high-quality team. There’s little doubt that they have the talent to make their way into the top eight, but whether they can actually deliver on that is another question.

Heading into the 2021 season the Raiders were expected to fairly comfortably make the eight, but courtesy of a range of issues encompassing form, injuries and State of Origin, they underperformed significantly throughout major portions of the season. Towards the end of the season they began to show some signs that they were returning to life, however, and if they can find a way to enjoy a little bit more smooth sailing in 2022 they are every chance of making playing finals footy.

There is plenty of reason to see a little bit of value in the odds on offer for the Newcastle Knights to play finals in 2022, not least of which the fact that they finished in seventh place last year. They have a host of experienced veterans on their team, the presence of whom means that they will at the very least be competitive throughout the year. Add to that a number of talented youngsters such as Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best, and there’s no doubting that this team is capable of playing finals this season.

If you looked exclusively at the 2022 ladder, you might think that we’re crazy for including the Bulldogs in this list, particularly given they are paying just $2.75 to make the finals. There is, however, a reason for those seemingly low odds, as there always is. The Bulldogs never had much interest in competing last year, and with a number of valuable recruitments organised partway through the season, it was clear that there eye was on 2022. That season is now upon us, and if the Bulldogs can show the kind of improvement that many expect them to, it would be no surprise to see them make an appearance in the finals.

All four of the aforementioned teams are good chances of playing finals in 2022. The Bulldogs, however, have the best odds of all of those listed, and will be buoyed by the arrival of a number of boom recruits. The likes of Josh Addo-Carr and Matthew Dufty, to name just a couple, will no doubt have a significant influence on the fortunes of Canterbury in 2022, and last year’s Wooden Spooners might just be able to go from a three-win team last season to a finalist in the space of a year.

Bulldogs– best outsiders to Make the Top 8 in 2022