Will Evans, Author at Ladbrokes Blog

Rugby League's Disastrous Premiership Defences

Brisbane Broncos are in the midst of the most catastrophic premiership defence of the NRL era – and among the worst in the competition’s history. Already out of finals contention – the first premiers to miss the playoffs in 21 years – the star-studded Broncs have won just six of their 19 games. They sit 15th with five rounds remaining and are on track for the lowest ladder finish ever for a reigning champion. This week we look back at other teams down the years who endured an immediate, ungracious fall from rugby league’s summit. Western Suburbs (1953) A controversial 22-12 win over South Sydney in the 1952…

2026 NRL Round 23 Predictions

5 Aug • Will Evans

NRL Round 23 is headlined by a top-four blockbuster in Auckland and Sydney Roosters’ showdown with fellow in-form outfit Canterbury Bulldogs. Meanwhile, four Top 8 teams and a couple of fringe sides get an ideal opportunity to boost their finals prospects when they take on opponents currently languishing in the bottom seven spots. Read on for our complete 2026 NRL Round 23 predictions, tips and best bets and don’t forget to check out our exclusive NRL Round 23 betting specials open now! 0 Days 0 Hours 0 Mins 0 Secs NRL Cbus Super Stadium • Thursday 6th Aug Gold Coast Titans $2.25 vs…

2026 NRL Round 22 Tips & Predictions

30 Jul • Will Evans

The whips are cracking with only six weeks of the NRL regular season remaining – and Round 22 features a host of critical encounters. The in-form Cowboys and Roosters get proceedings underway on Thursday, while the Bulldogs and Raiders have big road trips to keep their Top 8 pushes alive. The Warriors will be eager to bounce back on the Gold Coast, and there’s plenty at stake for both teams when the Sharks and Rabbitohs square off on Sunday. Read on for our expert 2026 NRL Round 22 tips, predictions and best bets before you have a punt on the…

Caretaker Coaches Getting The Fulltime Gig

24 Jul • Will Evans

Manly and St George Illawarra swung the axe on under-pressure coaches Anthony Seibold and Shane Flanagan, respectively, earlier this season – pitching Kieran Foran and Dean Young into the caretaker hotseat. Against the odds, Foran and Young have both turned the ailing clubs’ fortunes around to varying degrees to secure permanent head coach roles. Most mid-season sackings result in recruiting the next cabs off the coaching rank for the following season, so we’re pinpointing every interim mentor to have been promoted to the fulltime gig. Ray Stehr Manly’s inauspicious 0-5 start to their inaugural 1947 campaign saw the club make…

2026 NRL Round 21 Tips & Predictions

22 Jul • Will Evans

The NRL pressure valve cranks up in a massive Round 21, with seven matches – including two fierce derbies – to have a monumental impact on the Top 8 race, while the eighth clash is crucial in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon. Read on for our complete 2026 NRL Round 21 tips, predictions and best footy bets of the week! Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers Predictions 0 Days 0 Hours 0 Mins 0 Secs NRL CommBank Stadium • Thursday 23rd Jul Parramatta Eels $5.40 vs Penrith Panthers $1.16 NRL odds correct as of 22/07/2026 and subject to change.…

Every NRL Club's Worst Loss

16 Jul • Will Evans

Every team has an off day every now and then – and sometimes those 80-minute aberrations earn an unwanted place in the record books. The NRL’s youngest club suffered one of the biggest defeats in premiership history on Saturday, with the previously in-form Dolphins obliterated 66-0 by Cronulla. We’ve chronicled the days every NRL outfit would probably prefer to forget. Brisbane Broncos – 59-0 vs Sydney Roosters (2020) Less than six months after suffering the heaviest defeat in finals history – a 58-0 loss to Parramatta in a 2019 elimination final – the Broncos pipped their own club record via a 59-0 capitulation to the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium. Fortunately, there were no home fans there…

2026 NRL Round 20 Tips & Predictions

15 Jul • Will Evans

NRL Round 20 features two Top 8 showdowns, a couple of apparent mismatches – and a host of last-chance assignments for teams in the bottom half of the ladder. Read on for our expert 2026 NRL Round 20 tips, predictions and best SGM bets to place on the footy this weekend! Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos Predictions 0 Days 0 Hours 0 Mins 0 Secs NRL CommBank Stadium • Thursday 16th Jul Penrith Panthers $1.20 vs Brisbane Broncos $4.60 NRL odds correct as of 16/07/2026 and subject to change. Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos Thursday 16th July 2026 7:50 PM (CommBank Stadium) Panthers…

Daily Tennis Tips & Predictions - Wimbledon Women's Final

10 Jul • Will Evans

Ladbrokes Daily Wimbledon Tips & Predictions deliver expert analysis, match previews and up-to-date tennis betting odds, giving tennis fans trusted Wimbledon predictions throughout the tournament. Read on for our 2026 Wimbledon Women’s Final preview and best bets! 0 Days 0 Hours 0 Mins 0 Secs Wimbledon – Ladies' Singles Centre Court • Saturday 11th Jul Karolina Muchova $1.83 vs Linda Noskova $1.96 Wimbledon – Ladies' Singles odds correct as of 10/07/2026 and subject to change. KAROLINA MUCHOVA VS LINDA NOSKOVA BACK MUCHOVA TO WIN @ $1.83 There will be a first-time grand slam winner for the second straight major after Czech…

Daily Tennis Tips & Predictions - Wimbledon Men's Semi-Finals

9 Jul • Will Evans

Ladbrokes Daily Wimbledon Tips & Predictions deliver expert analysis, match previews and up-to-date tennis betting odds, giving tennis fans trusted Wimbledon predictions throughout the tournament. Read on for our 2026 Wimbledon Men’s Semi-Finals preview and best bets! 0 Days 0 Hours 0 Mins 0 Secs Wimbledon – Men's Singles Centre Court • Friday 10th Jul Arthur Fery $5.25 vs Alexander Zverev $1.15 Wimbledon – Men's Singles odds correct as of 09/07/2026 and subject to change. ALEXANDER ZVEREV VS ARTHUR FERY ZVEREV TO COVER THE GAMES HANDICP (-5.5) @ $1.73 Second seed Alexander Zverev is searching for a second straight grand…

Daily Tennis Tips & Predictions - Wimbledon Women's Semi-Finals

9 Jul • Will Evans

Ladbrokes Daily Wimbledon Tips & Predictions deliver expert analysis, match previews and up-to-date tennis betting odds, giving tennis fans trusted Wimbledon predictions throughout the tournament. KAROLINA MUCHOVA VS COCO GAUFF OVER 22.5 TOTAL GAMES @ $1.85 A maiden Wimbledon final appearance awaits former French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova, or US and French Open winner Coco Gauff. Muchova is the narrowest of favourites in the Wimbledon betting markets on this match, despite Gauff’s 6-1 advantage in the rivalry. All of the American’s wins were on hard-courts – including this season at the Australian Open and Miami Masters. But Czech Muchova chalked up…