NRL Round 14 odds, schedule and times

NRL Round 14 starts on Thursday night, August 14, and finishes on Sunday afternoon. Our NRL betting expert has examined the odds in our usual Monday column highlighting what rugby league action is on for the week ahead. 

Things are getting serious now with just a 20-round season scheduled, with a clear top eight and possibly only three other clubs a realistic chance of playing finals football.

And round 14 begins with a blockbuster between two of the teams expected to make it right to pointy end of the finals.

Leading bookmaker Unibet has priced fourth-placed Sydney Roosters at $1.35 to knock off second-placed Melbourne Storm ($3.15) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

At first glance the Roosters seem ridiculously short, but they have obviously factored in that the Storm will be without superstar playmakers Cameron Smith (shoulder) and Cameron Munster (knee).

---

More: NRL betting guide

---

New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra will be fighting to keep their finals hopes alive on Friday night in their respective matches against high-flyers Penrith and Parramatta. The odds are stacked against them but an upset in either of those matches would really put a scare through the teams in the bottom half of the eight.

That list includes South Sydney, who are rated $1.34 favourites against North Queensland ($3.30) in Townsville, and Cronulla.

The Sharks are in a precarious eighth place on the ladder and face the improving Gold Coast in the first match on Saturday. They are priced at $1.27 against the Titans ($3.75).

Manly need to overcome a crippling injury list to chalk up a win on Sunday against Newcastle in Newcastle or risk their finals hopes slipping away. The Sea Eagles are likely to lose props Addin Fonua-Blake (knee) and Martin Taupau (head knock) for the clash and are $3.05 outsiders against the Knights ($1.38).

NRL Premiership odds prior to Round 14

Title favourites Roosters have firmed into $3.50 from $3.75 with some betting sites.

But the biggest movers near the top of betting have been the rampaging Panthers, who are second favourites to land the title after firming from $5 to $4.25 with Unibet after their eighth straight victory at the weekend.

Bookmakers believe there are only four genuine contenders for the title, with the Melbourne Storm and Parramatta the only other teams under double-figure odds.

The Canberra Raiders are fifth in betting and have drifted all the way out to $13 after their loss to the Panthers at the weekend.

There were some long-priced moves with the Knights $41 to $23 after a 44-4 win against the Wests Tigers, while the Rabbitohs are also in to $23 after brushing aside the dismal Brisbane Broncos.

Manly’s hopes of a title look forlorn and you can get $41 if you want to bet that they can turn things around and win the 2020 NRL Premiership.

NRL title odds 2020

$3.50 Sydney Roosters
$4.25 Penrith Panthers
$4.50 Melbourne Storm
$4.75 Parramatta Eels
$13 Canberra Raiders
$23 Newcastle Knights, South Sydney Rabbitohs
$34 Cronulla Sharks
$41 Manly Sea Eagles
$201 Wests Tigers
$301 St George Illawarra Dragons, New Zealand Warriors
$501 Gold Coast Titans
$1001 Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys
$2501 Canterbury Bulldogs

---

NRL Round 14 fixture, odds and times

Thursday, August 13

• 7:50PM: Sydney Roosters $1.35 v Melbourne Storm $3.15

Friday, August 14

• 6PM: New Zealand Warriors $6.25 v Penrith Panthers $1.12
• 7:55PM: Parramatta Eels $1.25 v St George Illawarra Dragons $3.95

Saturday, August 15

• 3PM: Cronulla Sharks $1.27 v Gold Coast Titans $3.75
• 5:30PM: North Queensland Cowboys $3.30 v South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.34
• 7:35PM: Canberra Raiders $1.15 v Brisbane Broncos $5.50

Sunday, August 16

• 2PM: Newcastle Knights $1.38 v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles $3.05
• 4:05PM: Wests Tigers $1.44 v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs $2.80

Relevant news