2023 NRL futures bets, premiership tips & predictions

The 2023 NRL season is just around the corner, and with the Pre-Season Challenge already completed, a picture has been painted of what is to be expected for the upcoming season. Let’s look at some of the best futures bets for the 2023 NRL Premiership campaign.

To miss the top eight

Brisbane Broncos

The Brisbane Broncos are paying $2 to miss the top eight in the 2023 NRL season, and the case can be made easily for why there is great value to be had. Captain and halfback Adam Reynolds has already been held back from trial matches with various injury niggles to be fit for round one. Reynolds was targeted consistently by opposition sides last season, and if this trend continues in 2023, he will likely spending more time on the sideline, making winning for the Broncos that much more difficult.

The Broncos can often be their worst enemy off the field, with both star and fringe players making headlines for the wrong reasons. This issues have already flared up in the off-season, with no guarantees more won’t arise during the season proper.

The Broncos recently re-signed head coach Kevin Walters for two years. However, it has been reported that there are multiple ‘get out’ clauses for Brisbane to terminate Walters’ employment during the season. A poor start to the 2023 NRL season could see Walters sacked, making it almost impossible for the Broncos to play finals football.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are valued at $2.90 to miss the top eight in the 2023 NRL season – another case that can be argued easily. While the Souths squad is stacked with representative talent, their depth is rather lacking. Injuries in key positions to players like Damien Cook, Cody Walker or Latrell Mitchell would heavily impact their playing style and gameplan, as well as derailing their chances of making the top eight.

To miss the top four

Melbourne Storm

The Melbourne Storm have long been the side touted for a slump after mass changes in the off-season. This year could be the biggest challenge, on paper, the club has faced.

Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen destroyed his knee in the 2022 NRL season, with no clear date for return to play, nor any guarantee he will be even half the player that the club re-signed until 2025. This creates a conundrum for head coach Craig Bellamy about how he restructures one of the most talented spines in the NRL.

Further, the club has lost veteran forward Jesse Bromwich, brother Kenny and Felise Kaufusi. The trio boast a total of 685 games NRL games for the Storm, including a total of seven NRL premierships, and 73 representative games for New Zealand, Tonga, Australia and Queensland. The Storm will need to develop a whole new gameplan and identity, and if they do not succeed, they will likely miss the top four.

Most losses in NRL 2023

St George Illawarra Dragons

The $7 on offer for the St George Illawarra Dragons to rack up the most losses for the 2023 NRL season could be the safest bet punters could place. A combination of poor off-season recruiting, multiple off-field incidents at the club, instability within the coaching ranks and an average top 30 makes for brilliant value in this price.

Any success the Dragons have on the field is directly linked with the performance of halfback Ben Hunt, and only eventuates when the players around him actually perform as they’re expected to. A poor start to the season could see the departure of head coach Anthony Griffin, and with him a number of young stars that have already shown in the last 12 months they are unhappy at the club. The Dragons appear to be in a very bad place.

To make the 2023 NRL Grand Final

Sydney Roosters

With the Dolphins being added to the competition, and the vast amount of roster changes for clubs in the off-season, it is incredibly tough to anticipate exactly how the year will play out. However, it is easy to see the Sydney Roosters filling one of the two spots in the 2023 NRL Grand Final.

Adding Brandon Smith to a side that already has James Tedesco, Joseph Manu, Joseph Suaalii, Daniel Tupou, Sam Walker, Luke Keary and Victor Radley makes the Roosters one of the most talented and exciting sides this season. Barring some unforeseen calamity, Sydney will be there or thereabouts come October.

2023 NRL top try-scorer

Brian To’o

With Panthers left winger Taylan May having been ruled out of the 2023 NRL season with an ACL injury, Brian To’o will once again become the main target in attack.

To’o will be playing inside Jarome Luai, who grew and matured immensely on the field during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup for Samoa; former Tigers back-rower Luke Garner, who is one of the best line-runners in the NRL with the ball-handling skills of an outside back; and Izack Tago, who will only improve from his first full season in the NRL.

It is yet to be seen whether he is on the left or right of the field for the Panthers, but should he line up on the left, there is incredible value in the $15 price with online bookmakers.

2023 NRL top point-scorer

Nicho Hynes

Nicho Hynes represents incredible value when looking at the $15 quote to be the league’s leading point-scorer. Hynes will only improve as a player in his second full season at halfback for the Cronulla Sharks as he continues to build game plans and combinations with those around him. He will be the Sharks’ goal-kicker but is just as dangerous with the ball in his hands, having scored six tries in 2022.

The stocks of Hynes in this market will only be boosted should players such as Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic be fully fit for the 2023 State of Origin series. Add into the equation players such as Matt Burton, Mitchell Moses, Scott Drinkwater, Clint Gutherson and Jack Wighton, and Hynes may find himself well outside the Blues squad and playing more for the Sharks in the regular season when others are absent.

2023 NRL Grand Final winner

Penrith Panthers

Despite losing Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau to the Tigers and Bulldogs, along with Taylan May to injury, the Penrith Panthers still look like the team to beat when it comes to the 2023 NRL premiership. Although the Roosters are littered with talent, the Panthers have established systems that are proven to be successful, a number of young players and new signings who are on the up, and some of the best players in the league in their side.

The 2023 season will be all about Nathan Cleary and how he adapts to Penrith’s new playing style. The halfback will rely more heavily on stars like To’o, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris on the field to get the team where it needs to be to win games of football. Should the Panthers make it to the decider, their wealth of experience in the league’s biggest match in recent years will give them the best opportunity of winning a third-straight NRL premiership.

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