Rugby League

2026 NRL Round 3 Preview

2026 NRL Round 3 Preview page

• Will Evans
NRL Round 3 gets underway with three bona fide blockbusters before we even hit the weekend, including a showdown between last season’s two top-four straight-sets losers and a grand final rematch.   Meanwhile, there’s a clash between two injury-hit, unbeaten teams on Saturday, and a Sydney grudge match on Sunday.   Canberra Raiders vs Canterbury Bulldogs Thursday 19th March 2026 7:00 PM (GIO Stadium) Tip: Back the Raiders to Win @ $1.80 After enjoying watershed 2025 campaigns that ended with backdoor finals exits, Canberra and Canterbury are both striving for some early-season traction in this Thursday night encounter in the capital.   FORM: The Raiders won a golden…
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Rugby League's Surprise Minor Premiers

Rugby League's Surprise Minor Premiers

• Will Evans
The opening fortnight of the 2026 NRL premiership has given every indication that we’re in for another wild regular season ride, with shock bolters and surprise sliders galore.   The competition’s history is littered with teams who seemingly had little prospect of finishing anywhere near top of the table before a ball was kicked, yet spurned reputations to carry off the minor premiership – as recently as last season.   Western Suburbs Magpies (1961)  During its iconic run of 11 straight grand final wins from 1956-66, St George failed to collect the minor premiership just once – in 1961, when Western Suburbs edged the Red V on for-and-against.   Recruiting Australian internationals Noel Kelly and Don Parish, the ‘Millionaires’ ended an eight-match losing…
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2026 NRL Round 2 Preview

2026 NRL Round 2 Preview page

• Will Evans
NRL Round 2 kicks off with a clash between two chastened first-up losers, is headlined by the premiership’s marquee grudge match and includes a showdown between 2025’s beaten preliminary finalists.   Meanwhile, Wests Tigers get their 2026 campaign underway after cooling their heels on the bye.   Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels Thursday 12th March 2026 7:00 PM (Suncorp Stadium) Tip: Back the Eels to Cover the Line (+13.5) @ $1.90  Thursday night can’t come soon enough for the Broncos and Eels, who both fell pancake flat in Round 1. But which side has the greater propensity for a bounce-back?   FORM: After Jason Ryles’ rebuilding team’s strong…
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2026 NRL Round 1 Preview

2026 NRL Round 1 Preview page

• Will Evans
After last Sunday’s Las Vegas extravaganza, the rest of NRL Round 1 unfolds with six intriguing match-ups.   A Thursday night grudge match in Melbourne gets things underway, before four of 2025’s finalists do battle on Friday – headlined by a Brisbane-Penrith blockbuster.   Manly move into a new era on Saturday with the club’s new linchpin facing his former team, while the Dolphins host former mentor Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs in Sunday’s sole fixture.   Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels Thursday 5th March 7:00 PM (AAMI Park) Tip: Back the Storm to win by 1-12 @ $2.75  The Zac Lomax saga has put the storied Melbourne-Parramatta…
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Rugby League's Second-Year Syndrome

Rugby League's Second-Year Syndrome

• Will Evans
A bumper crop of newcomers burst onto the NRL scene in 2025, with Roosters centre Robert Toia dux of the class to take Dally M Rookie of the Year honours ahead of Warriors game-breaker Leka Halasima, gifted Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi and Raiders rake Owen Pattie.   But the spotlight will intensify on the breakout stars this season as they look to avoid the dreaded ‘second-year syndrome’.   The modern era is littered with brilliant tyros who struggled to back up their rookie-season heroics. These are the most noteworthy cases.   Jim Leis  The first Dally M Rookie of the Year recipient in 1980,…
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Hendo's Hoodoos - Saturday's Best Omen Bets

Hendo's Hoodoos - Saturday's Best Omen Bets

• Lucy Henderson
Looking for Saturday’s best hoodoo racing bets? Ladbrokes have you covered with our insider weekly omen tips! Welcome back punters to the second edition of Hendo’s Hoodoo Bets – our weekly deep dive into the statistically superstitious world of “omen betting.” Ladbrokes’ own “Value Whisperer”, Lucy Henderson, is a gun for tipping roughies in her Hendo’s Hopefuls and now she’s here for your best weekly hoodoo bets on Saturday. This week punters are perfectly positioned to capitalise on a massive crossover weekend of sports and racing as we prepare for the NRL season launch in Las Vegas! The 2026 NRL…
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