NRL round 9: Bulldogs v Cowboys betting tips
Your Friday night NRL double-header kicks off with what should be a cracking encounter between the Bulldogs and Cowboys, two teams who still harbour serious ambitions of challenging in 2026.
Both teams have played dazzlng football at times, but both have also disappointed when expected to win so far this season, and neither can afford too many more slip-ups if they want to challenge for the top four.
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Canterbury, who upset hot title favourites Penrith just three weeks, have been woeful in losses to Parramatta and a weakened Brisbane since, but bookies have them as $1.83 favourites to win this round-nine clash on their home turf.
The Cowboys won a try-fest last weekend against the Sharks. While their ability to rack up tries is not in question, coach Todd Payten will be alarmed at their soft defence, statistically the worst of any team in the top eight.
The Bulldogs-Cowboys line has been set at 1.5 points with Australian betting sites for this match, which seems about right given this is seen as close to a 50-50 match by many pundits.
Bulldogs v Cowboys team news
The Bulldogs have been dealt a massive blow with game-breaking second-rower Viliame Kikau (pectoral) likely to miss three months with his serious injury. He has been replaced for this clash by Sitili Tupouniua. The Dogs have also lost Harry Hayes to suspension, but have Enari Tuala back on the wing after recovering from a hamstring injury. Marcelo Montoya drop to the bench for the Bulldogs.
On the other hand the Cowboys’ roster is in good shape, with winger Murray Taulagi, who suffered concussion against the Sharks, the only front-liner unavailable. Teenage whiz Mason Barber has been named on the bench and could make his NRL debut.
2026 NRL Premiership betting movers
Defending premiers Brisbane Broncos have been the big movers in premiership betting with Ladbrokes Australia this week after they scored an against-the-odds win against the Bulldogs last weekend.
Missing a host of stars, the Broncos prevailed 32-12 against the Dogs, prompting sportsbooks to slash their odds of landing a second title in a row. Penrith remain hot favourites at $2.50 but the Broncos have moved to outright second in the market at $7, after around $10 was bet about them a week earlier. Roosters retain the third line of betting at $7.50.
South Sydney firmed from $17 into $11 with Ladbrokes after their stunning 48-6 win against the ailing Storm, who are friendless in title betting at around $34. With ace halfback Jahrome Hughes (concussion) now sidelined, things are lookng bleak for the Melbourne side, who have lost six matches in a row.
Wests Tigers are a team on the up, sitting in third place on the table with five wins from seven matches. Bookies have slashed their odds of a title to around $21.
Read on for our Bulldogs v Cowboys tips and winner prediction for their round-nine NRL clash.
Bulldogs v Cowboys match information
- Kick-off: 6pm AEDT, Friday, May 1
- Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
- Head to head odds: Bulldogs $1.83, Cowboys $1.98
- Line betting: Bulldogs (-1.5 points) $1.90, Cowboys (+1.5 points) $1.90
- Match total: 51.5 points: over $1.90, under $1.90
2026 NRL premiership betting
$2.50 Penrith Panthers
$7 Brisbane Broncos
$7.50 Sydney Roosters
$11 New Zealand Warriors, South Sydney Rabbitohs
$21 Canterbury Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks, Wests Tigers
$26 Manly Sea Eagles
$34 Melbourne Storm
$51 North Queensland Cowboys, Canberra Raiders
$67 Redcliffe Dolphins
$81 Newcastle Knights
$101 Gold Coast Titans
$126 Parramatta Eels
$1001 St George Illawarra Dragons
Bulldogs v Cowboys betting tips
There has not been a lot between these teams when they have clashed in recent years. Last season they met once, with the Bulldogs prevailing 12-8 in a dour contest in round 19 in Townsville. We expect this one to be a little more free-flowing, though both coaches will likely have put their attention on defence in the lead-up.
The under 50.5 points total line is tempting given the fact that five of the past six matches between these teams have gone under the points line. Also the Bulldogs’ attack has been among the worst in the league this season, so they will try to turn this into more of an arm-wrestle until their attack finally starts to click.
This is a genuine eight-point game between two teams likely to be fighting for spots at the bottom end of the eight this NRL season.
Cowboys by 2 points.
- Cowboys to win/ Match total under 50.5 points at around $3.90 with Australian betting sites.
- Cowboy Jeremiah Nanai to score a try. He’s fit again and a real weapon. Nanai to score a try is north of $3 with Australian bookies.
NRL round 9, 2026
- Friday, May 1: Bulldogs v Cowboys, Accor Stadium, Sydney | 6pm
Dolphins v Storm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 8pm - Saturday, May 2: Titans v Raiders, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast | 3pm
Eels v Warriors, CommBank Stadium, Sydney | 5.30pm
Roosters v Broncos, Allianz Stadium, Sydney | 7.35pm - Sunday, May 3: Knights v Rabbitohs, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | 2pm
Sharks v Wests Tigers, Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney | 4.05pm
Panthers v Sea Eagles, CommBank Stadium, Sydney | 6.15pm
* Dragons have the bye
