The 2024 NRL season is right around the corner with Round 1 kicking off in Vegas on March 3rd.
On the back of last year’s memorable Grand Final comeback, the Panthers are out to create further history this season by winning a fourth straight Premiership under Ivan Cleary.
Brisbane Broncos are hoping to avoid the dreaded hangover that often follows Grand Final heartache, but with a handful of familiar faces departing for other clubs, the pressure is now on the youth to push forward for another top four spot.
There’s no better time to get some futures bets on before the season kicks off, so if you’re after some analysis and a bit of a refresher on who’s playing where, check out entire 2024 NRL Season Preview below.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
In: Fletcher Baker (Roosters), Jaiyden Hunt (Dragons)
Out: Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Keenan Palasia (Titans), Tom Flegler (Dolphins), Logan Bayliss (unsigned), Kurt Capewell (Warriors)
- 2023 Finish: 2nd (grand finalists)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 4th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 20-7
- Home: 9-5
- Away: 11-2
- Against The Line
- Overall: 18-9
- Home: 7-7
- Away: 11-2
Premiership Odds: $4.50
Glass half-full, the Broncos made monumental progress in 2023 after three seasons out of the finals and went within five minutes of winning the premiership with a squad brimming with explosive talent. On the flipside, the impact of grand final heartbreak remains an unknown, four key members of the 17 that night have departed and a drunken tussle between two of their leaders was hardly a welcome pre-season headline. There’s every reason to expect young gamebreakers Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and co. will continue to flourish, while the club’s excellent depth should adequately fill any gaps – though Selwyn Cobbo at centre seems a risk. Anything less than another grand final appearance will be a bitter disappointment after the dizzying heights of last season and they’ll be looking to reproduce the same exuberant offence that troubled every team in the NRL last year, including the Panthers. The Broncos play each of the other top-five teams in the premiership market during the first five rounds – a brutal start that could be the difference between another top-four finish and scrambling for a place in the Top 8. Easy to make a case for going one better in 2024 but a drop-off is a genuine danger.
Tip: Top 4 @ $1.60
CANBERRA RAIDERS
In: Simi Sasagi (Knights), Kaeo Weekes (Sea Eagles), Morgan Smithies (Wigan Warriors), Zac Hosking (Panthers)
Out: Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Matt Frawley (Leeds Rhinos), Jarrod Croker (retired), Clay Webb (unsigned), Harley Smith-Shields (Titans)
- 2023 Finish: 8th (elimination finalists)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 15th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 13-12
- Home: 7-6
- Away: 6-6
- Against The Line
- Overall: 10-15
- Home: 4-8
- Away: 6-7
Premiership Odds: $51
Canberra is chasing three straight NRL finals appearances for the first time in 20 years…but not many are prepared to back the Green Machine to do it. Amazingly, the Raiders went 13-11 last year despite finishing with a dreadful -137 points differential and failing to win a game by more than 12 points. A depleted, out-of-form team’s gutsy elimination final performance in Newcastle underlined the spirit still present in the capital under Ricky Stuart, but with marquee man Jack Wighton departing and a modest contingent of recruits, it’s debatable whether they possess the overall class to compete with the top sides. The fact Jamal Fogarty is comfortably the biggest name and most experienced player in the Raiders’ spine does not bode well, with the fullback and five-eighth spots something of a mystery at this stage. Joe Tapine, Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh are in their prime but several other members of a fine pack have moved into their twilight seasons. Mid-table would be an admirable result and it’s not hard to see why some are predicting the Raiders’ first wooden spoon since their 1982 debut campaign.
Tip: To Miss Top 8
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
In: Bronson Xerri (return from ban), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Josh Curran (Warriors), Drew Hutchison (Roosters), Kurt Mann (Knights), Jake Turpin (Roosters), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins)
Out: Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Tevita Pangai Junior (retired), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs NSW Cup), Declan Casey (Wests Tigers, train and trial), Michael Gabrael (Sharks), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Dragons), Zac Montgomery (released – player request)
- 2023 Finish: 15th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 11th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 7-17
- Home: 4-8
- Away: 3-9
- Against The Line
- Overall: 10-14
- Home: 4-8
- Away: 6-6
- Premiership Odds: $41
Improvement expectations are certainly a little lower out Belmore way than they were 12 months ago. Despite pockets of promise early in Cameron Ciraldo’s first year at the helm, the Bulldogs managed just two wins after May and limped to a 15th-place finish with by far the NRL’s worst defensive stats, leaking 32 points a game. It’s prompted another cleanout and the continuation of an aggressive recruitment spree. And while it’s true the club has signed an inordinate number of utilities, all them offer something that wasn’t at the club previously. Meanwhile, Stephen Crichton is another genuine top-tier player – adding to a blue-chip group including Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney – and Josh Curran and Connor Tracey shape as excellent additions. Ciraldo will be desperate for someone to nail down the halfback and fullback spots, but there’s no getting around the fact that the Bulldogs are desperately short up front. A finals spot is by no means out of the question but this rebuild feels like it still has a ways to go.
Tip: No Bet
CRONULLA SHARKS
In: Billy Burns (Dragons), Michael Gabrael (Bulldogs)
Out: Wade Graham (retired), Jensen Taumoepeau (unsigned), Matt Moylan (Leigh Leopards), Connor Tracey (Bulldogs)
- 2023 Finish: 6th (elimination finalists)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 7th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 14-11
- Home: 7-6
- Away: 7-5
- Against The Line
- Overall: 14-11
- Home: 8-5
- Away: 6-6
Premiership Odds: $21
Craig Fitzgibbon’s Sharks did not deteriorate to the same degree as the Eels or Cowboys, but 2023 was nevertheless a marked decline for a stable roster that had a relatively gentle run with injury. The most glaring element of Cronulla’s campaign – which netted a sixth-place finish and a week one exit via a home loss to the Roosters – was their inability to foot it with their rival Top 8 sides, suffering a string of confidence-sapping beatdowns during the second half of the campaign when they faced anyone of a high standard. Capturing Addin Fonua-Blake is a huge coup for 2025, but that doesn’t help a squad that has added very little for 2024 and has farewelled a couple of its most experienced players. Nicho Hynes will keep doing what he does, they have a quality fullback and hooker, the backline is dripping with scoring strike and there’s more than enough engine-room grunt and variety to have the Sharks challenging for the top four again – but it’s tough to shake the feeling 2023 was a flash in the pan. Meanwhile, the club has lost eight of nine finals matches (and the last six straight) since carrying off the 2016 premiership, which is sure to weigh on the Sharks’ minds…if they do manage to make it as far as September this year. A favourable draw ensures they probably will.
Tip: Top 8 @ $1.90
DOLPHINS
In: Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Thomas Flegler (Broncos), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs), Oryn Keeley (Knights)
Out: Brenko Lee (released), Herman Ese’ese (Hull FC), Poasa Faamausili (Bulldogs), JJ Collins (unsigned)
- 2023 Finish: 13th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 8th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 9-15
- Home: 5-7
- Away: 4-8
- Against The Line
- Overall: 14-10
- Home: 7-5
- Away: 7-5
Premiership Odds: $51
The Dolphins exceeded all expectations in their NRL debut season just by finishing above the bottom four – but they were better than their 9-15 record and 13th-place finish would suggest. A lowly-rated foundation squad got off to a roaring start and sat in the Top 8 for much of the season, before injuries, suspensions, rep duty and the rigours of the premiership for a new team took hold, resulting in just two wins from their last 12 games. On top of creating new top-shelf stars such as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jeremy Marshall-King, and reviving the careers of the likes of Jamayne Isaako, the Wayne Bennett-helmed Dolphins have bought brilliantly for 2024. Herbie Farnworth, Jake Averillo and Tom Flegler add class, youth and strike to the line-up, while Queensland forward Tom Gilbert’s return from injury will be important for a team that hasn’t lost anyone they would have wanted to keep. The halves remain an issue, but there’s enough depth and quality across the board to have the Dolphins knocking on the door of a maiden finals appearance before Bennett hands the reins to Kristian Wolff.
Tip: Top 8 @ $4.00
GOLD COAST TITANS
In: Keenan Palasia (Broncos), Harley Smith Shields (Raiders)
Out: Kruise Leeming (Wigan Warriors), Treymain Spry (released), Joe Vuna (unsigned)
- 2023 Finish: 14th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 14th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 9-15
- Home: 6-6
- Away: 3-9
- Against The Line
- Overall: 11-13
- Home: 5-7
- Away: 6-6
Premiership Odds: $41
Des Hasler has been widely hailed as the long-suffering Titans’ potential saviour, but is a coach with a 33-38 record in his last three seasons what the club really needs? The crusty mentor has stacks of attacking talent to work with in his first gig outside Sydney, but top priority will be shoring up a defence that gave up 27.2 points per game in 2023. Last season was a rollercoaster – balancing boilover wins
against Melbourne and Brisbane with the equal-biggest collapse in premiership history and the midyear sacking of coach Justin Holbrook – and question marks remain around the overall quality of the spine. But handing the No.1 jersey to Jayden Campbell shapes as a key move (notwithstanding AJ Brimson’s ability to adjust to centre), and the addition of Keenan Palasia and Beau Fermor’s return from injury bolsters a pack that already boasts blue-chip trio Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita and Moeaki Fotuaika. A return to the finals is certainly not beyond the Titans, but there’s a feeling too much has to go right for that to happen and the early-season absence of Fifita and Campbell doesn’t help.
Tip: No Bet
MANLY SEA EAGLES
In: Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Tommy Talau (Wests Tigers), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Aitasi James (Wests Tigers), Corey Waddell (Bulldogs).
Out: Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers), Kelma Tuilagi (Eels), Morgan Harper (Eels), Kaeo Weekes (Raiders), Sean Keppie (Rabbitohs), Morgan Boyle (unsigned), Christian Tuipulotu (released)
- 2023 Finish: 12th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 12th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 11-1-12
- Home: 6-1-5
- Away: 5-7
- Against The Line
- Overall: 12-12
- Home: 6-6
- Away: 6-6
Premiership Odds: $26
Perhaps the only team in the NRL you could envisage charging into the top four or spiralling to finish in the bottom four, after a middling campaign under incoming Anthony Seibold in 2023. The Sea Eagles’ salary cap is more top-heavy than most – but if Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake and Tom Trbojevic, Haumole Olakau’atu and Josh Schuster fire and remain injury-free, they could return to the finals. The latter point is one hell of a question mark when it comes to marquee fullback ‘Turbo’, however, given he’s played just 55 of the club’s last 121 games. Luke Brooks’ acquisition is a gamble but should see Manly better serviced in the halves than last year, while also giving the gifted Schuster a chance to recalibrate his career in the back-row. But the squad looks light in the front-row and out wide, and on face value they start 2024 a long way behind the competition’s big dogs.
Tip: To Miss Top 8
MELBOURNE STORM
In: Shawn Blore (Wests Tigers)
Out: Tariq Sims (Catalans), Jayden Nikorima (Catalans), George Jennings (unsigned), Jordan Grant (unsigned), Tom Eisenhuth (Dragons), Justin Olam (Wests Tigers)
- 2023 Finish: 3rd (preliminary finalists)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 5th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 17-10
- Home: 10-3
- Away: 7-7
- Against The Line
- Overall: 13-14
- Home: 7-6
- Away: 6-8
Premiership Odds: $11
Despite farewelling four international forwards and missing Ryan Papenhuyzen for virtually the entire 2023 season, the Storm won more games, finished two places higher on the ladder and lasted two weeks longer in the finals than the previous year. Yet there was something distinctly un-Melbourne-like about the inconsistent flow of their campaign, while it was close enough to the worst defensive season in Craig Bellamy’s 21 years at the club. Gun trio Cam Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant were arguably down a touch form-wise behind a weakened pack – which looks virtually the same on paper and needs rapid improvement from the tyros blooded in the past couple of seasons. Papenhuyzen’s fitness could be a make-or-break factor and the Storm have made fools of many a pundit who had predicted the belated decline of a modern-day juggernaut…but this does shape as a campaign where they may slip back to the middle of the pack.
Tip: T Miss Top 4
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
In: Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants), Jack Cogger (Panthers), Jed Cartwright (Rabbitohs), Tom Jenkins (Panthers)
Out: Dominic Young (Roosters), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Warrington Wolves), Simi Sasagi (Raiders), Lachlan Miller (Leeds Rhinos), Fa’amanu Brown (Hull FC), Oryn Keeley (Dolphins), Kurt Mann (Bulldogs), Dane Aukafolau (unsigned), Hymel Hunt (unsigned), Jack Johns (unsigned)
- 2023 Finish: 5th (semi-finalists)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 9th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 15-1-10
- Home: 10-3
- Away: 5-1-7
- Against The Line
- Overall: 16-10
- Home: 9-4
- Away: 7-6
Premiership Odds: $26
Adam O’Brien was strongly rumoured to be one loss away from getting the sack at Newcastle before his team embarked on a Kalyn Ponga-inspired nine-match winning streak to climb from 14th to a fifth-place finish. The Knights ran out of puff in the playoffs – squeaking past the battling Raiders at home before getting thrashed in Auckland – but the season was overwhelmingly regarded as a success. Replicating that charge, which was aided by a handy draw, will prove difficult. Dom Young and Lachlan Fitzgibbon are big losses, the spine looks mediocre unless Ponga fires and the Newcastle pack is short on impact, as the Warriors exposed during the finals. The Knights’ schedule doesn’t appear to be as kind in 2024 – they need to make hay during the first six rounds with four games at home, because in the ensuing four months they play in Newcastle just four times.
Tip: To Miss the Top 8
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
In: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (rugby union), Chanel Harris-Tavita, Kurt Capewell (Broncos)
Out: Viliame Vailea (Cowboys), Bayley Sironen (Catalans Dragons), Brayden Wiliame (retired), Josh Curran (Bulldogs), Ronald Volkman (Dragons), Valingi Kepu (released)
- 2023 Finish: 4th (preliminary finalists)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 2nd
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 17-10
- Home: 9-4
- Away: 8-6
- Against The Line
- Overall: 16-11
- Home: 7-6
- Away: 9-5
Premiership Odds: $21
The undisputed fairytale story of 2023, the Warriors are bullish about their prospects of pushing for a maiden title this year. Certainly the window is ajar – but it won’t be for long, with Addin Fonua-Blake heading off at the end of 2024, and Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris in vintage form but nearing the end of the road. The Warriors’ first top-four finish since 2007 and first prelim in 12 years bore little resemblance of the club’s successful sides of yesteryear, trading in the flamboyance for grit under rookie coach Andrew Webster, who did a phenomenal job of squeezing every drop of potential out of what looked at the time like a middle-of-the-road squad at best. Career-best seasons and renaissances were in abundance. And the roster is even stronger this year with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Chanel Harris-Tavita returning, and Kurt Capewell coming on board. The Warriors are deep in every position – though losing SJ or AFB would likely see a line drawn through their chances – and comfortably the best value in the pre-season premiership market.
Tip: Top 4 @ $4.00
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
In: Viliami Vailea (Warriors), Thomas Mikaele (Warrington Wolves)
Out: James Tamou (retired), Peta Hiku (Hull KR), Mitch Dunn (retired), Ben Hampton (unsigned), Brendan Elliot (unsigned) Riley Price (Panthers), Gehamat Shibasaki (unsigned), Jake Bourke (unsigned), Taniela Sadrugu (Brive rugby)
- 2023 Finish: 11th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 10th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 12-12
- Home: 8-4
- Away: 4-8
- Against The Line
- Overall: 11-13
- Home: 5-7
- Away: 6-6
Premiership Odds: $21
The Cowboys have bookended their superb 2022 season – in which they finished third and reached a prelim – with two disappointing campaigns in Todd Payten’s three years in charge. It’s a make-or-break season for the coach and a good chunk of his squad. Injuries and suspensions weren’t kind last year and a 2-5 start ultimately proved insurmountable, petering out after rallying into the Top 8 with a six-match winning streak. The Cowboys have the bones of an excellent line-up courtesy of Tom Dearden, Scott Drinkwater, Valentine Holmes, Reece Robson, new skipper Reuben Cotter and a host of gifted young back-rowers. But Jason Taumalolo’s decline has been alarming, Chad Townsend’s best days are apparently behind him and the club has allowed its front-row stocks to dwindle in favour of hanging onto their bevy of second-rowers. They leave Queensland just seven times in 2024 but don’t get a bye until Round 16 and they might have too much ground to make up by the time they play six of their last eight fixtures in Townsville.
Tip: Cowboys to Miss the Top 8
PARRAMATTA EELS
In: Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles), Morgan Harper (Sea Eagles)
Out: Jack Murchie (Huddersfield Giants), Josh Hodgson (retired), Andrew Davey (retired), Waqa Blake (St Helens), Samuel Loizou (Wests Tigers, train and trial)
- 2023 Finish: 10th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 13th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 12-12
- Home: 7-5
- Away: 5-7
- Against The Line
- Overall: 9-15
- Home: 4-8
- Away: 5-7
Premiership Odds: $21
Rivalled North Queensland as the most disappointing slider of 2023, missing the playoffs for the first time in five years a season after making the grand final. The Eels struggled to adjust to the departure of a clutch of key performers and lost four of their first five games, before Dylan Brown’s suspension and a few injury woes threw another spanner in the works. Somehow, they still managed to beat Penrith twice. The Gutherson-Moses-Brown triumvirate, a good (but ageing) starting front-row pair and a couple of decent back-rowers masks some huge roster holes at Parramatta – and there’s very little to get excited about on the recruitment front for 2024. Maika Sivo’s finishing ability aside, the three-quarter line is one of the NRL’s least effective, there’s a question mark at hooker and their forward depth will get found out again if injuries hit. Another mid-table finish looms for a side that looks very overvalued in the premiership market.
Tip: Eels to Miss Top 8
PENRITH PANTHERS
In: Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Brad Schneider (Hull KR), Paul Alamoti (Bulldogs)
Out: Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Spencer Leniu (Roosters), Jaeman Salmon (Bulldogs), Jack Cogger (Knights), Tom Jenkins (Knights), Chris Smith (unsigned), Eddie Blacker (unsigned), Zac Hosking (Raiders)
- 2023 Finish: 1st (premiers)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 1st (premiers)
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 21-6
- Home: 12-3
- Away: 9-3
- Against The Line
- Overall: 14-13
- Home: 9-6
Away: 5-7
Premiership Odds: $3.75
After achieving the first premiership threepeat in 40 years, Penrith has the opportunity to further establish itself in the rugby league immortality by becoming the first team win four titles in a row since St George’s iconic streak of 11 straight from 1956-66. Following each of their 2020-22 grand final appearances, the Panthers lost two key players – yet moved on seamlessly with tyros rolling off the production line, the team only getting better. There’s no reason to think they won’t do the same with Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu departing, while Jarome Luai’s impending exit is likely to provide
inspiration rather than distraction. Up there with the most ruthless defensive units of the 10-metre era and easily the most clinical attacking side in the competition, the Nathan Cleary-led Panthers need only to maintain those standards to catapult this current dynasty into the all-time greatest team conversation.
Tip: Back Penrith to Win the Grand Final @ $3.75
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
In: Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Kyle Flanagan (Bulldogs), Tom Eisenhuth (Storm), Corey Allan (Roosters), Jesse Marschke (Bears NSW Cup), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Bulldogs), Christian Tuipulotu (Sea Eagles)
Out: Jayden Sullivan (Wests Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Warrington Wolves), Billy Burns (unsigned), Tyrell Fuimaono (unsigned), Jaiyden Hunt (Broncos), Nick Lui-Toso (Wests Tigers, train and trial), Tautau Moga (unsigned), Talatau Amone (deregistered by NRL)
- 2023 Finish: 16th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 17th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 5-19
- Home: 5-7
- Away: 12-12
- Against The Line
- Overall: 13-11
- Home: 7-5
- Away: 6-6
Premiership Odds: $101
Almost inevitably, St George Illawarra’s 2023 campaign was an embarrassing mess on and off the field. Equally predictably, Anthony Griffin was punted before the halfway mark and the Dragons finished with just five wins in easily their worst season as a joint venture. The hire of the controversial Shane Flanagan is about as good as the Saints could hope for – but the premiership-winning mentor has been out of the head coaching game for five seasons and has a bombsite of a roster to work with. The club’s cleanout and subsequent purchase of a host of mid-to-low-range players seems a textbook example of shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic. Top-level players have rejected the Dragons for 2025 and beyond en masse. The fledgling combination of Kyle Flanagan and Ben Hunt in the halves, and where Zac Lomax and Jack Bird play are make-or-break line-up talking points. But when wholehearted big bopper Blake Lawrie is easily your most appealing forward, you know something’s gone terribly wrong in the recruitment and retention department. Hunt and the new coach factor notwithstanding, the Saints
look like wooden spooners-in-waiting with the Charity Shield performance surely ringing early alarm bells.
Tip: Most Losses @ $3.00
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
In: Jack Wighton (Raiders), Sean Keppie (Sea Eagles)
Out: Hame Sele (Dragons), Blake Taaffe (Bulldogs), Jed Cartwright (Knights), Terrell Kalo Kalo (unsigned)
- 2023 Finish: 9th
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 6th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 12-12
- Home: 4-8
- Away: 8-4
- Against The Line
- Overall: 9-15
- Home: 2-10
- Away: 7-5
Premiership Odds: $9
On the back of an over-inflated appraisal of their late-2022 flourish, I billed Souths the most overrated team in the premiership market prior to 2023. And so it proved – despite being regarded as the Panthers’ biggest threat for a good chunk of the year, the Rabbitohs imploded with just four wins from their last 13 games and an internal blow-up that saw club legend Sam Burgess abruptly leave the coaching staff, missing the finals for the first time since 2017. Latrell Mitchell’s rough trot with injuries and suspension stymied Souths again, but therein lies part of the team’s problem: if the brilliant fullback is absent or not firing, the Rabbitohs flounder. Souths are elite in almost every position – only added to by the arrival of Jack Wighton, while Sean Keppie is a good pick-up – besides halfback, and the acid is really on Lachlan Ilias in his third season as an NRL No.7. If they get a good run health-wise (and 2024 is not off to a good start with Campbell Graham slated to be out until the latter rounds, on top of Wighton’s late club debut due to suspension), the Rabbitohs could be in minor premiership calculations – but the equal-third title favourites appear more likely to have to fashion a trademark deep finals runs from the bottom half of the Top 8.
Tip: To Miss Top 4
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
In: Dominic Young (Knights), Spencer Leniu (Panthers)
Out: Fletcher Baker (Broncos), Jaxson Paulo (Sea Eagles), Paul Momirovski (Leeds Rhinos), Drew Hutchison (Bulldogs), Jake Turpin (Bulldogs), Corey Allan (Dragons), Nathan Brown (Sea Eagles, train and trial), Ben Thomas (unsigned)
- 2023 Finish: 7th (semi-finalists)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 3rd
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 14-12
- Home: 8-4
- Away: 6-8
- Against The Line
- Overall: 12-14
- Home: 5-7
- Away: 7-7
Premiership Odds: $9
A courageous late charge to reach the finals – where they were only a defused cross-field kick away from a preliminary final appearance – glossed over what was largely a flummoxing 2023 campaign for Trent Robinson and the star-studded Roosters. Inconceivably, the firepower-laden line-up finished 15th in the NRL for points scored per game, while blue-chip players Brandon Smith, James Tedesco, Sam Walker and Joseph Sua’ali had largely underwhelming seasons – though all eventually played key roles in the resurgence. Walker’s lower-grade reset should result in long-term gain for the Roosters, however, and the addition of Spencer Leniu and Dominic Young to an already mouth-watering roster should have the club aiming for a top-four return. The Tricolours are deep across the board, though the impending rugby union departure of Sua’ali and now Joey Manu (as well as Angus Crichton potentially) could prove somewhat disruptive. Big threat if it all clicks.
Tip: Top 4 @ $2.15
WESTS TIGERS
In: Latu Fainu (Sea Eagles), Samuela Fainu (Sea Eagles), Jayden Sullivan (Dragons), Aidan Sezer (Leeds Rhinos), Solomon Alaimalo (Super Rugby), Solomona Faataape (Brisbane Tigers), Justin Olam (Storm)
Out: Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles), David Nofoaluma (released), Tommy Talau (Sea Eagles), Daine Laurie (Panthers), Aitasi James (Sea Eagles), Rua Ngatikaura (North Sydney Bears), Tuki Simpkins (Dolphins,
train and trial), Brandon Wakeham (Blacktown Workers), Triston Reilly (released), Brandon Webster-Mansfield (released), Shawn Blore (Storm)
- 2023 Finish: 17th (last)
- 2024 Predicted Finish: 16th
2023 Betting Statistics
Head To Head
- Overall: 4-20
- Home: 3-9
- Away: 1-11
- Against The Line
- Overall: 11-13
- Home: 7-5
- Away: 4-8
Premiership Odds: $101
On the surface, rookie coach Benji Marshall has been thrown a veritable hospital pass – taking the reins of the two-time wooden spooners a year early after his transition phase under Tim Sheens was aborted. But despite the Tigers’ obvious shortcomings, the reality is the club may be in its best position in a decade following a boardroom and front office cleanout, and the arrival of master administrator Shane Richardson. Football-wise, there’s a few positives: a top-five hooker, a potential gun at fullback and a well-balanced pack stacked with rep players. Justin Olam is a quality pick-up. New halves pairing Aidan Sezer and Jayden Sullivan are adequate placeholders until Jarome Luai arrives in 2025, but without a particularly high ceiling. Top-tier talent out wide and depth are set to prevent the Tigers from moving out of the bottom four, but they should improve on 2023’s five-win tally and generally improve on their performances in losses.
Tip: No Bet