NRL Round 8 Odds: Who Will Make a Statement and Who Will Stumble?

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We are in for another week of exciting National Rugby League action. Let’s take a quick look at some of the key upcoming NRL matches. Make sure to stay tuned for more NRL betting previews and picks over at MyBookie!

Betting Preview of the Top NRL Round 8 Games

Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels

When: Friday, April 21 at 6:00 AM EDT
Where: TIO Stadium
TV / Streaming: FOX Sports

The in-form Brisbane Broncos look to continue their amazing season form as they take on Parramatta Eels. The Eels have had an up-and-down season form and currently sit in 12th place with a 6-3 record. This will be a major test against a Broncos side that has lost one game and sits at the top of the standings.

The Parramatta Eels are coming off back-to-back wins and had an impressive defensive game this past weekend, only allowing the opposition to score four points. This will be a major hurdle to climb over, as the Broncos are efficient on every side of the game.

The Broncos enter this matchup as -2.5 favorites. This might seem like a favorable pick, given how talented their team is. The Eels have shown cracks and weaknesses in their game and will not have an easy time in this matchup.

NRL Lines | Bet Broncos vs Eels Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Gold Coast Titans vs Dolphins

When: Sunday, April 23 at 12:00 AM EDT
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV / Streaming: FOX Sports

A great mid-table matchup ahead this weekend should give fans a thrilling match to look forward to. The 10th-place Gold Coast Titans will face the 8th-place Dolphins.

Both teams have the same number of points in the table at eight each; a win for either team will further boost them in the standings.

The Titans have been in an up-and-down form as of late and will attempt to have a good run of games from here on out. The Dolphins are in the same boat as of late; having a good game here can help turn their season around.

The Dolphins enter this matchup as favorites at -151 to win the match. I do believe both teams are evenly matched, and this game could go either way. While the spreads are also very close, considering the over at Over 45.5 could be favorable as both teams score and let up high figures.

NRL Lines | Bet Titans vs Dolphins Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

New Zealand Warriors vs Melbourne Storm

When: Tuesday, April 25 at 5:00 AM EDT
Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV / Streaming: FOX Sports

The New Zealand Warriors have been having themselves a fairly decent season so far. Currently sitting in 3rd place, the Warriors have only dropped two games. Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm have also stayed fairly consistent and remain in the top 10 of the standings.

This matchup should see a clash between two heavyweights. Both teams are well matched for each other in this game. A win for the Melbourne Storm will see them climb higher in the standings and climb even higher than their opponents’ current position.

Melbourne has seen the return of one of the best players in the National Rugby League, Cameron Munster. Munster’s return should continue to help his side win games.

The Warriors are coming off a two-game losing streak and will look to climb back to form in this matchup. They enter this match as a +12.5 underdogs and could be in a great position to cover this spread.

Melbourne’s side is not the most efficient when it comes to defending and could see themselves letting up a number of points.

NRL Lines | Bet Warriors vs Storm Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

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Will anyone beat the powerful Penrith Panthers this season after the club nearly ran the table during the regular season a year ago?

Can the Parramatta Eels get a win this weekend to stay hot on Penrith’s heels in the NRL ladder? Are the Sydney Roosters a lock pick to win in Round 8 as they look to close the gap on both, Penrith and Parramatta?

With the 2021 NRL season steamrolling into Round 8, it’s time to find out which teams are in action and which teams are looking good against their Rugby odds this coming weekend.

Rugby Betting Analysis – NRL Round 8 Preview

Penrith Panthers (7-0-0) Vs Manly Sea Eagles (3-0-4)

When: Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 12:00 AM
Where: Carrington Park, Bathurst

Unbeaten Penrith is atop the NRL ladder with 184 points scored and a league-low 44 points conceded.

Penrith has gone a perfect 4-0 at home this season and comes into this matchup fresh off a commanding 24-6 home win over Newcastle on Thursday. The Manly Sea Eagles are sitting in 11th place in the NRL standings with 123 points scored and 174 points allowed. The Sea Eagles throttled the Wests Tigers 40-6 in Round 7 despite being on the road. Manly has gone 2-2 away from home this season.

Prediction: While Manly is playing better and comes into this event riding a three-game winning streak, the Sea Eagles also got smacked around by Penrith 46-6 at home in Round 4. This Round 8 matchup will be a lot closer, but Penrith comes out on top  again.

Pick: Penrith Panthers -833

Canterbury Bulldogs (1-0-6) Vs Parramatta Eels (6-0-1)

When: Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 2:30 AM
Where: Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney

Canterbury is in last place in the NRL ladder with a league-low 70 points scored and a whopping 216 points allowed. The Bulldogs are a winless 0-3 at home this season, but got their first win of the 2021 campaign in Round 7 by getting past the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 18-12.

Parramatta is sitting in third place in the NRL standings with 197 points scored and 96 points allowed. The Eels come into Round 8 fresh off a commanding 46-6 blowout win over the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday. Parramatta has gone an unblemished 3-0 on the road this season.

Prediction: Canterbury got in the win column the last time out, but Parramatta looked phenomenal in dispatching Brisbane. More importantly, the Eels want to stay within striking distance of Penrith and second place South Sydney. There is literally, no way Parramatta fails to bag the win against lowly Canterbury in Round 8, hence the huge odds of -1999.

Pick: Parramatta Eels

Newcastle Knights (3-0-4) Vs Sydney Roosters (5-0-2)

When: Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 4:35 AM
Where: Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Newcastle is sitting in 10th place in the NRL ladder with 133 points scored and 166 points conceded. The Knights have gone 2-2 at home this season and got smacked around in its 24-6 road loss against league-leading Penrith on Thursday.

Sydney is sitting in fifth place in the NRL standings with 198 points scored and 96 points allowed. The Roosters have gone 1-2 on the road this season and come into this affair fresh off a convincing 34-10 smackdown win over the St. George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday.

Prediction: Not only did Newcastle get dominated last weekend, but the Knights have gotten smacked around the last two times they’ve faced Sydney losing 48-10 in July of 2019 and 42-12 last September. I’m surprised the Roosters aren’t bigger favorites seeing as how I believe they are a lock selection to get it done this weekend.

Pick: Sydney Roosters

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Season

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The Manly Sea-Eagles and Newcastle Knights will both be looking to bounce back from round 7 losses when they throw down in their round 8 matchup on Sunday. With both teams looking to remain inside the top eight in the NRL standings, let’s find out which team is offering the best betting value against their NRL odds in this affair.

NRL Knights Vs Sea Eagles Round 8

Why Bet On The Sea Eagles

Manly is sitting in eighth place in the NRL standings with eight points. The Sea Eagles have scored 117 points while allowing 115 points this season (+2). Manly has gone 2-2 at home and 2-1 on the road this season. The Sea Eagles had their two-game winning streak snapped in their humbling 40-22 round 7 loss against the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday. Addin Fonua-Blake scored a pair of tries loss while Jorge Taufua and Tevita Funa added tries in the loss. Rebuen Garrick went 2 for 4 on conversions and added a penalty goal, but it wasn’t nearly enough as Manly allowed seven tries and six Shaun Johnson conversions in the defeat. For this round 8 matchup, Moses Suli could return from a finger injury, likely replacing Tevita Funa.

Why Bet On The Knights

The Knights are sitting in sixth place in the NRL standings with nine points. Newcastle has scored 169 points this season while allowing 120 points defensively (+49). The Knights have gone 2-1 at home and 2-1 on the road this season. Newcastle has alternated wins and losses over their last four games and comes into this contest off a humbling 32-20 road loss against the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday. Tex Hoy, Hymel Hunt, Kurt Mann and Gehamat Shibasaki all scored tries while Kalyn Ponga went 2 for 4 on conversions. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Knights gave up five tries, five conversions and a penalty goal in the loss. Now, heading into round 8, center Bradman Best is set to return after self-isolating for a week due to breaking COVID-19 protocols. Lock Tim Glasby will be monitored after a head knock.

General Match Info Newcastle Knights (4-1-2) vs. Manly Sea Eagles (4-0-3)

When: Sunday, July 5, 2020 at 1:05 AM AEST
Where: Lottoland, Sydney
Knights Vs Sea Eagles Live: Nine/Fox Sports

Expert Analysis and Prediction

Manly has won two straight and three of the last five meetings against Newcastle including an emphatic 30-6 spanking the last time they met on August 3, 2019. However, this time around, the Knights are the much better offensive team in this pairing and nearly as good defensively.

Manly might be playing at home in this affair, but there’s a reason why Newcastle is favored despite being on the road and it’s because they are the slightly better team in this round 8 matchup. While I’m expecting this one to be a knock-down, drag-out kind of street brawl, in the end I’m going with the Knights to squeak by to cover the chalk as a slight 1.5-point road favorite.

Pick: Knights 26 Sea Eagles 22

Previous Betting News

Two of the best teams in the National Rugby League will be going all-out for the big victory when the Melbourne Storm host the visiting Sydney Roosters in a matchup of legitimate championship hopefuls on Thursday. With Melbourne coming off an emphatic win the last time out and Sydney riding the wave of a fantastic winning streak, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NRL odds in this affair.

NRL Roosters Vs Storm Round 8

Why Bet On The Storm

Melbourne is sitting in fourth place in the NRL standings with 10 points. The Storm have scored 148 points this season while allowing 83 points defensively (+65). Melbourne has gone 2-1 at home and 3-1 on the road this season. Melbourne has won three of their last four and got back in the win column in round 7 by smacking the New Zealand Warriors senseless in their 50-6 blowout win on Friday. Suliasi Vunivalu led the way to victory by scoring three tries while Paul Momirovski and Ryan Papenhuyzen both added a pair of tries in the win. Brandon Smith and Josh Addo-Carr also scored tries in the completely dominating win. Cameron Smith went 7-for-9 on conversions and the Storm allowed just one scoring try in the win. Cameron Munster’s absence with a knee injury means that either Ryley Jacks or Cooper Johns will be called up to partner with Jahrome Hughes in the halves. Tui Kamikamica has recovered from a back injury while Josh Addo-Carr, Christian Welch and Kenny Bromwich will be monitored after head knocks last week.

Why Bet On The Roosters

The Roosters are sitting in third place in the NRL standings with 10 points. The two-time defending champs have scored a league-high 201 points while allowing just 69 points defensively to own the league’s best point differential total (+132). Sydney has gone an identical 3-1 at home and 2-1 on the road this season. The Roosters have won five straight and come into this contest off a solid 26-12 win over the St. George Dragons on Friday. Brett Morris scored a trio of tries to lead the way to victory while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary added scoring tries. Kyle Flanagan went 3-for-5 on conversions while the Roosters limited the Dragons to a pair of tries and one conversion. Victor Radley and Sam Verrills are out after rupturing their ACLs. Isaac Liu is also expected to be sidelined with a broken rib. Nat Butcher will likely replace Radley at lock while Jake Friend will power through 80 minutes in Verrills’ absence. Josh Morris (calf) and James Tedesco (head knock) will also be on the pitch.

General Match Info Sydney Roosters (5-0-2) vs Melbourne Storm (5-0-2)

When: Thursday, July 2, 20202 at 4:50 AM AEST
Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Roosters Vs Storm Live: Nine/Fox Sports

Expert Analysis and Prediction

While these two rivals have identical records coming into this matchup, Sydney is playing much better as the defending champs have clearly found their form in recent weeks following a slow start. The Roosters have won three of the last five meetings in this series including a hard-fought 14-6 home win the last time they met on September 28. Three of the last five meetings has been decided by two points or less, so I’m expecting another knock-down, drag-out street brawl in this matchup. I’m going with streaking Sydney to get it done because they have the far more dangerous offense and the statistically better defense as well.

Pick: Roosters 24 Storm 20

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The New Zealand Warriors and Brisbane Broncos will both be desperate to get back in the win column when the two struggling teams square off in their round 8 matchup on Saturday. Can the Warriors bounce back from two straight embarrassing losses or will the Broncos finally snap out of the ugly funk they’ve been in since their last game before the break? Let’s find out now which team is offering the best value in this matchup, along with their NRL odds.

NRL Broncos Vs Warriors Round 8

Why Bet On The Warriors

New Zealand is sitting in 14th place in the NRL standings with four points. The Warriors have scored just 79 points this season while allowing a generous 182 points defensively (-103). New Zealand has gone 2-1 at home, but a winless 0-4 on the road. The Warriors come into this contest off a humbling 40-12 road loss against the Rabbitohs in round 6 and they looked even worse in their abysmal 50-6 road loss against the Storm on Friday. New Zealand got a try from Patrick Herbert but the Warriors gave up nine tries and seven conversions in the loss.

For round 8, team captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will head to the judiciary on Tuesday night to fight a one-match ban for an alleged shoulder charge. The Warriors have temporarily gained another forward in Penrith’s Jack Hetherington. Lachlan Burr, Karl Lawton and David Fusitu’a will be monitored after head knocks. Jazz Tevaga could return from a calf injury.

Why Bet On The Broncos

Brisbane is sitting in 15th place in the 16-team NRL standings with an uninspiring four points. The Broncos have been limited to 92 points while allowing a league-worst 209 points defensively (-117). Brisbane has gone an uninspiring 1-3 at home and 1-2 on the road this season. Heading into round 8, forward Joe Ofahengaue has accepted a two-match ban for a shoulder charge. Prop Matt Lodge suffered a knee injury last week but should suit up in this one while Cory Paix (pectoral) and Kotoni Staggs (hamstring) could both return.

General Match Info Brisbane Broncos (2-0-3) vs. New Zealand Warriors (2-0-4)

When: Saturday, July 4, 2020 at 2:30 AM AEST
Where: Central Coast Stadium, Central Coast
Broncos Vs Warriors Live: Nine/Fox Sports

Expert Analysis and Prediction

This matchup between two of the worst teams in the NRL this season is a simple pick between the lesser of two evils for me. New Zealand has looked completely and utterly awful the last two weeks, but Brisbane has looked as equally inept in dropping five straight including an unfathomable, record-setting 59-0 shellacking at the hands of the defending champion Roosters in round 4. I’m going to say Brisbane keeps it close to cover the 4.5-point spread in what looks like an ugly affair just waiting to happen!

Pick: Warriors 22 Broncos 20

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The Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks will both be looking to build on their round 7 wins when they square off in their round 8 clash on Saturday. With both teams desperate to make a move up the NRL standings to get inside the top 8, let’s find out which team is offering the best betting value in this pairing so you can plan ahead your bets against their NRL odds.

NRL Sharks Vs Titans Round 8

Why Bet On The Titans

Gold Coast is sitting in 13th place in the 16-team NRL standings with four points. The Titans have been limited to 96 points while allowing 193 points defensively (-97). Gold Coast has gone 1-2 at home and 1-3 on the road this season. The Titans were averaging a paltry 11 points per game before exploding on Brisbane in their 30-12 round 7 win on Saturday. Ashley Taylor, Anthony Don, Sam Lisone, Anthony Don and Phillip Sami all scored tries in the win while Taylor went 3-for-5 on conversions and 2-for-2 on penalty goals. For this matchup, Tyrone Roberts could see action after sitting out last week. Outside of that, no changes are expected.

Why Bet On The Sharks

Cronulla is sitting in 11th place in the NRL standings with four points. The Sharks have scored 146 points while allowing 148 points defensively (-2). Cronulla-Sutherland has gone 1-2 at home and 2-2 on the road this season. Cronulla comes into this matchup riding a two-game winning streak that includes a narrow, 20-18 win over the Bulldogs in round 6 and an emphatic 40-22 blowout win over the Sea Eagles on Sunday. Sione Katoa scored two tries to lead the way to victory while Braden Hamlin-Uele,, Jesse Ramien, Josh Dugan, Bryson Goodwin 49 and Blayke Brailey all added scoring tries in the win. Shaun Johnson went 6-for-7 on conversions and the Sharks never looked back after taking an 18-6 halftime lead.  For this matchup, Josh Dugan will likely be available after being taken off the pitch late against Manly.

General Match Info Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (3-0-4) vs. Gold Coast Titans (2-0-5)

When: Saturday, July 4, 2020 at 12:00 AM AEST
Where: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sharks Vs Titans Live: Nine/Fox Sports

Expert Analysis and Prediction

The Sharks have won three straight in this rivalry including a 26-18 road win the last time they met last season. More importantly, Cronulla has the much more potent offense in this matchup, not to mention the fact that they’re riding a two-game winning streak while taking three of their last four overall. Gold Coast’s win last weekend hasn’t convinced me that they can consistently score against Cronulla in this one. Take the Sharks for the outright win in round 8!

Pick: Sharks 26 Titans 20