NRL round 8: Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders betting tips
Round eight of the National Rugby League kicks off on Thursday night with the crucial Wests Tigers v Canberra clash at Leichhardt Oval, and the Tigers will be desperate to bounce back from their heartbreaking 21-20 loss to the defending premiers Brisbane last weekend.
An Adam Reynolds field goal was all that stopped the Tigers joining Penrith at the top of the NRL ladder but Benji Marshall’s newly resurgent side can’t afford another loss against Canberra in front of their likely sold-out crowd.
The goods news for Tigers fans is that their playing roster is in great shape. The bad news is that Wests Tigers have won only one of their past 11 matches against the Raiders. That was a 48-24 win at Campbelltown in round 16, 2024.
And Ricky Stuart’s Raiders, who finished on top of the ladder last season at the end of the regular season before a straight-sets exit from the finals in excruciating circumstances, will be fired up to spoil the Tigers’ love-in.
They have started the season in less than stellar form, but a couple of wins in a row against the Rabbitohs and Storm have put them back in the mix. They have not quite recaptured the unstoppable scoring momentum of last season but have shown tremendous fight in their past couple.
The Tigers are around $1.55 favouries with Australian betting sites to win this match, which is fair enough given the strong home-ground advantage they enjoy for this blockbuster.
Wests Tigers v Raiders team news
For the Wests Tigers, Marshall has included centre Starford To’a for his first NRL appearance of the season as well as winger Luke Laulilii. The pair replaces Heamasi Makasini and Patrick Herbert, who moves to the interchange.
The Raiders have lost two heart-and-soul players for this clash in back-rower Hudson Young (suspension) and evergreen prop Josh Papalii (calf injury). Noah Martin comes into the starting side for Young.
2026 NRL Premiership betting movers
Sydney Roosters were the big movers in NRL title betting with Ladbrokes Australia after overwhelming the Knights last Sunday, moving into fifth place on the table and around $7.50 to to snare the title behind hot favourites Penrith.
The Roosters and Panthers are the only teams in single figures in that market, but given the long season ahead and the punishing Origin period to navigate, we think it would be madness to back those teams as yet.
If you are eager to have a bet on the season-long option, one of the teams on the outer but with players due to return would better fit the bill for now. The Raiders, for example, are out to $34 and if they can upstage the Tigers that will seem like a great price.
Read on for our Wests Tigers v Raiders tips and winner prediction for their round-eight NRL clash.
Wests Tigers v Raiders match information
- Kick-off: 7.50pm AEDT, Thursday, April 23
- Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
- Head to head odds: Tigers $1.55, Raiders $2.45
- Line betting: Tigers (-4.5 points) $1.90, Raiders (+4.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 49.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$2.50 Penrith Panthers
$7.50 Sydney Roosters
$9 Brisbane Broncos
$11 New Zealand Warriors
$17 Canterbury Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks, South Sydney Rabbitohs
$19 Melbourne Storm
$26 Wests Tigers
$34 North Queensland Cowboys, Canberra Raiders, Manly Sea Eagles
$51 Redcliffe Dolphins
$67 Parramatta Eels
$81 Newcastle Knights
$101 Gold Coast Titans
$501 St George Illawarra Dragons
Wests Tigers v Raiders betting tips
Nine of the past 10 night matches between the Wests Tigers and Canberra have gone under the total match points line, which is set at 49.5 points for this clash.
With clear weather expected and two teams that really know how to attack, we think they will buck that trend and fancy the overs for this this one.
Tigers whiz Jahream Bula has scored seven tries in eight games at Leichhardt Oval, and the mighty fullback did the right thing and scored for our followers last week against the Broncos, and we will stick with him to do it again. He has been a standout in the Tigers’ exciting start to the NRL season.
Tigers by 4 points.
- Jahream Bula to score a try / match total over 49.5 points at around $3.50 with Australian betting sites.
NRL round 8, 2026
- Thursday, April 23: Wests Tigers v Raiders, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney | 7.50pm
- Friday, April 24: Cowboys v Sharks, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville | 6pm
Broncos v Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 8pm - Saturday, April 25: Dragons v Roosters, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Auckland | 4pm
Warriors v Dolphins, Hnry Stadium, Wellington | 6.05pm
Storm v Rabbitohs, AAMI Park, Melbourne | 8.10pm - Sunday, April 26: Knights v Panthers, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | 2pm
Sea Eagles v Eels, 4 Pines Park, Sydney | 4.05pm
* Titans have the bye
