Super Saturdays are back! Arguably the best day for rugby league viewing, NRL fans are treated to 3 games back-to-back.
The first game is on the northern beaches of Sydney featuring the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs, two sides with renewed hope this season after poor finishes in 2022. A lot has changed from players to coaching staff at each club and they will both be out to prove a point.
The second game heads up to Townsville in what promises to be hot conditions as the Cowboys host the Raiders. These conditions are sure to favour the home team, but the Raiders cannot afford to use this as an excuse.
Finally, one of the games of the round has the Sharks hosting the Rabbitohs. The Rabbitohs eliminated the Sharks from the Finals last year and with positive developments heading into this season for both teams, there is no reason why either side should not feature again in the Finals.
So, get comfortable, read the NRL Saturday previews, and hopefully add some money into your account to add to your enjoyment.
You can now add our NRL best bets to your bet slip with a single click with thanks to the fantastic BoomBet Betshare feature. Just click the button below and our best bets for Saturday's slate will be automatically added to your BoomBet bet slip!
NRL Round 1 Saturday Preview & Betting Tips
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Saturday 4th March, 4 Pines Park, 3pm (AEDT)
The Sea Eagles biggest change heading into this season is the hiring of coach Anthony Seibold. Without going into too much detail, he is one man who has a lot to prove after a disastrous time at the Broncos. Many have a high opinion of him as a coach but the unique club that is the Sea Eagles is sure to post multiple challenges. As has been the case for the past few years, their hopes rest on the health of Tom Trbojevic; he takes his place at fullback, and he too has a few points to prove. The Bulldogs also have a new coach in Cameron Ciraldo, along with a host of recruits to form a far stronger team than previous seasons. They are still without a couple of regular starters due to injury, but hopes are far higher at Belmore this season. On paper, the Sea Eagles appear to be the stronger side. The Bulldogs are still vulnerable in a few positions (1, 7, 8, 10 and their bench); this isn’t to doubt their chances of winning, but the Sea Eagles are stronger in these areas. In three of those areas, the Sea Eagle have Tom Trbojevic, DCE and Jake Trbojevic. It is no surprise then that Manly are listed as the favourites ($1.60 vs $2.35) for this game. They should win. You can expect the Bulldogs to rely on their defensive structure, but they will also need to score points to be competitive. As it is still early in the season, it’s recommended to lower your investment, but the Sea Eagles should have enough quality to cover the line.
Prop Bet
Sea Eagles -5.5/Over 42.5 @ $3.30 – 0.5 units
Sea Eagles -4.5
$1.95 (1.5 Units)
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders
Saturday 4th March, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 5:30pm (AEDT)
The Cowboys enter season 2023 in a great position. While disappointed with how 2022 ended (eliminated in the Preliminary Final), they have relatively the same squad of players and have just extended the contract of coach Payten. Their home ground advantage is also crucial to their success and with humid conditions expected, it should assist them here. The Raiders scraped into the Finals in 2022 and caused an upset (vs the Storm). This summed up their season; they were a capable team but displayed inconsistencies which limited their success. There is every chance they could perform well and make the Top 8 but could also miss it altogether. Sticking with a trusted formula, the Cowboys should perform well at home. It is a tough task for the Raiders to head north and perform well in conditions they are not accustomed to. They are also without Savage (fullback) and Papalii (prop), while Levi will debut at hooker. He has proven capable of filling a role in the past at other clubs (he’s had a few), but questions remain about his long term effectiveness and what he brings to this team. The Cowboys will want a strong start after a poor showing against the Bulldogs in their first game of 2023. The line (8.5) has been well set but that appears to be the ideal option, with a small investment to start the season.
Prop Bets
Taulagi & Holmes to score @ $4.70 – 0.5 units
Cowboys -8.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Saturday 4th March, PointsBet Stadium, 7:35pm (AEDT)
Both sides are expected to finish towards the top of the ladder. This was the case last season and little change over the off-season places them in a great position to build on that success. The chance of winning this game was swung heavily in favour of the Rabbitohs when teams were named, and the Sharks were without Nicho Hynes. The reigning Dally M winner will again be crucial to their success this year but he will need support. In his absence, players like Moylan, Kennedy and Brailey will need to take responsibility and build of the platform which their forwards are able to establish; this is an ideal opportunity to do that. The Rabbitohs have a host of talented players they look capable of handling the Sharks in Round 1. It may be a different outcome towards the end of the year (with various factors impacting the result) but the odds ($2.50 vs $1.53) appear to be right. Expect the Sharks to rely heavily on their defence. The Rabbitohs proved last year that mistakes will come if they are pressured. Cody Walker will have plenty of defenders around him when he gets the ball, so they will need several options to combat this tactic. There is no shortage of players capable of leading this team, which further supports the position that the Rabbitohs are best placed to win and cover the line.
Prop Bets
Rabbitohs (H2H), Total Points Under 42.5 & Johnston to score @ $4.50 – 1 unit
Rabbitohs -4.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
