NRL betting in Australia
National Rugby League (NRL) betting can be done all season long, with all decent sports betting sites featuring odds on Australia’s top-flight rugby league competition. NRL betting is prominent in Australia, and online bookmakers will have individual and multiple match betting and outright odds for things such as winning the premiership and making the finals. The top NRL betting sites have odds well in advance of each round’s matches. You can navigate our NRL betting guide here or sign up at one of these NRL bookmakers to see the latest odds:
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NRL betting – An Introduction
The National Rugby League of Australia is the top rugby league competition in the world, with its 2026 season due to start on March 1 with a double-header played in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The NRL is contested by 17 teams with 10 based in NSW, four in Queensland and one each in the ACT, Victoria and New Zealand.
The Australian season in a normal year runs from March to October, with three separate representative State of Origin matches between NSW and Queensland among the most popular fixtures.
The NRL is the premier rugby league competition globally, with the only comparable league being Britain’s Super League competition.
The defending NRL champions in 2026 are the Brisbane Broncos, who defeated Melbourne 26-22 in the 2025 NRL grand final at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
The Broncos’ showstopper was fullback Reece Walsh with the dynamic playmaker lighting up both the State of Origin and NRL finals series in 2025.
The Panthers had won four titles in a row up until the Broncos’ success, with the Panthers’ dominant run spearheaded by young superstar Nathan Cleary, the son of the team’s coach Ivan Cleary.
Best NRL bookmakers 2026
All of our recommended NRL bookmakers will offer extensive markets on National Rugby League matches, as well as on season-long outcomes such as which team will win the NRL title and which player will score the most tries.
NRL betting is highly regulated and the game is widely televised, making it a good product to bet on wherever you are in the world. Obviously being an Australian domestic sport, the NRL is covered extensively by Australian betting sites, and it is illegal for Aussies to bet with overseas bookmakers that are unlicensed in Australia.
The top NRL bookmakers in Australia will feature extensive betting markets on many different aspects of the game, including top match-day markets, such as try-scorers, total tries scored, total points scored, winner and much more.
The best NRL bookmakers will also look further ahead, offering betting markets on things such as premiership winner, which teams will make the finals and top four, and even awards such as the league best and fairest – the Dally M Medal. It’s worth noting that NRL bookmakers will only have Dally M medal betting available before the season, because up until a certain point in the regular season the points tally is open to the public.
Unfortunately NRL bookmaker will not yet allow Australians to bet live online on games, with this banned under the Interactive Gambling Act Amendment Act, which stops most forms of in-play bets. Many NRL betting sites will offer a phone service that does allow live betting though.
Top 10 NRL bookmakers
History of the National Rugby League
The National Rugby League held its inaugural season in 1998 after being formed in the aftermath of the Super League war of the mid-1990s when for a year there were two opposing competitions: the Australian Rugby League and News Corps’ Super League. Most of the clubs which played in the long-standing NSW Rugby League competition (founded in 1904) now compete in the NRL. In the NRL era Penrith have been the most successful club with five titles (2003, 2021-24), followed by the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos with four each.
NRL bet types
Many of the leading sportsbooks in the world will offer hundreds of markets and different odds on each game. But if you are serious about finding a winner in a rugby league game, most of these markets can be safely ignored without compromising your objective.
We will provide a rundown of the major markets, while the ones we personally avoid are those which rely more on guesswork than skill; bookies like to tempt you into trying “same-game multipliers’’ and the like which generally help swing the odds well into their favour.
Our leading NRL betting sites will offer all of the following markets and many more.
- Head to head NRL betting: As the name suggests this is simply backing Team A to beat Team B, with no points spread. You will see some extremely short prices in this market as powerhouse such as Melbourne host minnows such as the Wests Tigers. Upsets, though, are not uncommon in this sport.
- Line betting or handicap betting: The NRL bookmakers will handicap the teams to make the dividend as close to an even bet as possible. For example, their $1.90 offering may be Melbourne Storm (-17.5 points) v Wests Tigers (+17.5 points). This means if you want to bet on the Storm they must win by 18 points or more for your bet to be a winner.
- Match total points over/under: This is a good option if you are unsure which team will win but are confident in the style of game. You can bet on whether it will be a high-scoring contest or a low-scoring contest. For example, the NRL betting site may set the mark at 40.5 points, leaving you to decide whether the total scores of both teams added together will exceed that mark or fall short. A good bet for the neutral fan.
- First try-scorer betting: This is a simple bet in which you simply bet on the player you think will score the first try, but given the 13 players a side that are on the field at any one time, it’s pretty difficult to find a winner.
- Same-game NRL multis: Same-game multis are a relatively new phenomenon for NRL punters. These same-game multis are available on NRL matches at online bookmakers. You can essentially put multiple bets on the same ticket, creating a “multi-bet”. For instance, you can take the Broncos to win and Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh to score a try. These things happen, and you’re set for a decent payout.
Is NRL betting legal in Australia?
Many Australian bookies are ”betting partners” to the NRL, and the Australian gambling industry is heavily regulated. Betting on the NRL, you can be sure it is always a fair contest with nothing underhanded going on from a betting perspective.
NRL betting laws are governed by the overarching sports wagering laws in Australia, with these part of the Interactive Gambling Act. The basic principal of the IGA is that Australians must bet with licensed bookmakers and offshore betting sites are illegal. It’s also illegal to promote offshore online bookmakers to Australian citizens, even if they offer betting on the NRL.
Several of the prominent NRL betting sites we promote on the World Gambling List are official ‘betting partners’ of the top-flight competition.
Where can I watch the NRL?
In Australia and New Zealand you can watch all matches on Fox Sports and stream them on KAYO, and many of the matches are on free-to-air television on Channel Nine and its app 9Now. This is also the case for many of the rugby league-mad Pacific islands.
A large percentage of the NRL’s player base is made up of players from Pacific islands such as Fiji, Tonga and Samoa; they are perfectly suited to a game which demands large and explosive athletes capable of great endurance.
Outside Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands, matches can be watched on the NRL’s Watch NRL streaming service available from watchnrl.com.
WGL’s 2026 quick guide to the NRL’s 17 teams
Brisbane Broncos
- Coach: Michael Maguire
- Premierships: 7 Most recent: 2025
- Finishing position in 2025: Winner
- Unibet title odds: $5.50
WGL says: The northern giants of the competition ended their uncharacteristic drought to land a memorable title in 2025. With a powerhouse pack led by the game’s best prop Payne Haas and with young superstar Reece Walsh spearheading a dynamic back-line, they are right in the mix to go back to back.
Canberra Raiders
- Coach: Ricky Stuart
- Premierships: 3 Most recent: 1994
- Finishing position in 2025: 5th
- Unibet title odds: $13
WGL says: “Sticky” Ricky Stuart’s team had a wonderful regular season in 2025 to claim the minor premiership but simply had no luck in their finals. Had a call or two gone their way they might easily have won the title. The Raiders have lost halfback Jamal Fogarty but they should be able to cover that loss and be contenders again.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
- Coach: Cameron Ciraldo
- Premierships: 8 Most recent: 2004
- Finishing position in 2025: 6th
- Unibet title odds: $11
WGL says: The once-mighty Dogs are on the rise again under their young coach. Their rapid improvement is a warning to the rest of the comp that they are coming, but now they need to back up their strong showing in 2025. Young half Lachlan Galvin has had more time to form a combination with Matt Burton and this team is stacked for a tilt at the title in 2026.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
- Coach: Craig Fitzgibbon
- Premierships: 1 Most recent: 2016
- Finishing position in 2025: 4th
- Unibet title odds: $19
WGL says: The joy of winning their first premiership seems a long way away for the Sharks faithful, but they were around the mark last season and should be again. They have one of the most settled line-ups in the comp, and powerful prop Addin Fonua-Blake made a huge difference to their pack. The loss of flamboyant winger Ronaldo Mulitalo to an ACL injury robs the Sharks’ attack of a genuine strike weapon.
Dolphins
- Coach: Kristian Woolf
- Premierships: 0
- Finishing position in 2025: 9th
- Unibet title odds: $21
WGL says: This team is stacked with point-scoring potential and gets a big boost this year with fit-again prop Thomas Flegler and back-rower Tom Gilbert. The Dolphins have finished 13th, 10th and ninth in their three seasons in the comp and we are betting that they will make their first finals appearance come September. Should be one of the most exciting teams to watch.
Gold Coast Titans
- Coach: Josh Hannay
- Premierships: 0
- Finishing position in 2025: 16th
- Unibet title odds: $51
WGL says: It’s hard to get too excited about the Titans in 2026 but the low expectations will suit coach Josh Hannay now that he has the reins for a whole season. They will be looking for the likes of Klese Haas to step up, while Cooper Bai, son of legendary flyer Marcus, should add some excitement. It’s hard to see them challenging for the finals though..
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
- Coach: Anthony Seibold
- Premierships: 8 Most recent: 2011
- Finishing position in 2025:10th
- Unibet title odds: $41
WGL says: Manly used to be the team all rival fans loved to hate, but that fades somewhat if they are among the also-rans of the comp. The Sea Eagles have farewelled long-serving halfback Daly Cherry-Evans but welcome in Jamal Fogarty from Canberra. Many have written off the Sea Eagles for 2026 but if things go right they can play finals. Chief among those things is having a fit and firing Tom Trbojevic for the whole season.
Melbourne Storm
- Coach: Craig Bellamy
- Premierships: 4 Most recent: 2020
- Finishing position in 2025: Runners-up
- Unibet title odds: $6.50
WGL says: A juggernaut since Craig “Bellyache’’ Bellamy took over as coach and their record would be a whole lot more impressive if they didn’t lose a couple of titles for rorting the NRL salary cap. The Storm have released flying fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen but have a ready-made replacement in the quick-stepping Sualauvi Fa’alogo. They have also suffered a big blow with superstar back-rower Eliesa Katoa ruled out for the year after suffering bleeding on the brain while playing for Tonga. But the Storm keep on keeping on and will regroup quickly.
Newcastle Knights
- Coach: Justin Holbrook
- Premierships: 2 Most recent: 2001
- Finishing position in 2025: 17th
- Unibet title odds: $61
WGL says: Any team that has Kalyn Ponga will always bring the entertainment but the question is whether there is enough support for him to make the team a challenger in 2026. The Knights have a new coach but all eyes will be on playmaker Dylan Brown, who has signed a massive contract to make the move from Parramatta. Having also added Roosters utility Sandon Smith, we think the Knights will cause a few upsets but finish in the nine to 12 range on the table.
New Zealand Warriors
- Coach: Andrew Webster
- Premierships: 0
- Finishing position in 2025: 7th
- Unibet title odds: $26
WGL says: It’s a tough gig playing rugby league in the rugby union-mad home of the All Blacks but the Warriors have been a consistent finals contender for a few years now. They limped into the finals somewhat in 2025 and their start to the season may also be hampered by long-term injuries to the likes of prop Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf. We think the Wahs face a tough task to make the finals this time around.
North Queensland Cowboys
- Coach: Todd Payten
- Premierships: 1 Most recent: 2015
- Finishing position in 2025: 12th
- Unibet title odds: $31
WGL says: The Cowboys have lost momentum in recent seasons, making the finals in just two of the past eight years. The Cowboys have not been big players in the transfer market in the off-season but their major signing Reed Mahoney from the Dogs is an 80-minute player and should add some real punch around the ruck. Finals contenders.
Parramatta Eels
- Coach: Jason Ryles
- Premierships: 4 Most recent: 1986
- Finishing position in 2025: 11th
- Unibet title odds: $21
WGL says: All the Eels’ success came in the 1980s, so they are more than overdue for some glory. The Eels will be hoping Jonah Pezet, signed from the Storm, can form a lethal combo with Mitchell Moses as the team readies for life after Dylan Brown, who has moved to the Knights. The Eels, despite signing veteran forward Jack de Belin, will rely on a string of youngsters to emerge over the next few seasons and revitalise their fortunes. Not contenders this season though, in our opinion.
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Penrith Panthers
- Coach: Ivan Cleary
- Premierships: 6 Most recent: 2023
- Finishing position in 2025: 3rd
- Unibet title odds: $5.50
WGL says: The four-time defending champions overcame a slow start last season to come so close to making it five titles on end. There is no doubting their ability to unearth young talent from their vast junior rugby league network in western Sydney. Also, despite shedding so many quality players over the past few years due to salary cap restrictions, the Panthers still have many of the key figures around which their success has been built. Top four contenders.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Coach: Wayne Bennett
- Premierships: 21 Most recent: 2014
- Finishing position in 2025: 14th
- Unibet title odds: $21
WGL says: The Rabbitohs shape as the team that could be the biggest surprise packets of 2026. They had the season from hell in 2025, with few big names escaping the injury curse. But when you look at the potential starting line-up for this season, and consider that they have the legendary Wayne Bennett steering the ship, you wonder how the Bunnies can be anything but contenders. A team to watch for sure, and adding powerhouse second-rower David Fifita just adds to the intrigue.
St George-Illawarra Dragons
- Coach: Shane Flanagan
- Premierships: 15 Most recent: 1979
- Finishing position in 2025: 15th
- Unibet title odds: $61
WGL says: A proud club fallen on hard times, with almost five decades passing since they last tasted premiership success. Their best team is handy but we suspect they will fit into the range of teams battle for the places between 12th and 15th. They have plenty of experience so will cause upsets but we will not be betting on them to make the top eight.
Sydney Roosters
- Coach: Trent Robinson
- Premierships: 15 Most recent: 2019
- Finishing position in 2025: 8th
- Unibet title odds: $8.50
WGL says: The team everyone loves to hate and that sits well with their fans. They remain a powerhouse on and off the field and Robinson’s players have a cult-like reverence for the coach. Seven years without a title is starting to feel like a drought for the tri-colours. They have pinned their faith in Daly Cherry-Evans, the Manly legend who will be 37 by the time the season starts, to deliver them a title. It helps that they have also added gun hooker Reece Robson to a team already stacked with representative players. They are old but they are contenders, for sure.
Wests Tigers
- Coach: Benji Marshall
- Premierships: 1 Most recent: 2005
- Finishing position in 2025: 13th
- Unibet title odds: $41
WGL says: Renowned entertainers, none more so than their coach, but success has been fleeting from the boys from the inner west. They are a club formed by the merger of the successful Balmain Tigers and less successful Western Suburbs Magpies but as West Tigers they have always had a distinctive free-flowing style. They need to show some signs of improving this season but that will mostly have to come from their exciting crop of youngsters gaining in experience and confidence. They are always watchable but need to dig in harder in defence. No finals this season, IMHO.
