Cowboys, Panthers & Storm head up 2017 NRL title betting

PENRITH Panthers are the big bolters in the early betting for the 2017 NRL Premiership.

They roared into the 2016 finals series with seven wins from their last eight games before falling to Canberra Raiders in the semis.

Punters saw enough in that run to back the Panthers into $8 for the title at CrownBet.com.au.

Sharing that quote are perennial title fancies Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys, just ahead of Brisbane Broncos and the Raiders on $9 apiece.

Not in single figures are the reigning premiers, Cronulla Sharks, who sit mid-pack on $12 alongside Sydney Roosters.

Canterbury, Gold Coast, Parramatta and South Sydney (all $17) are considered outside chances to push into the upper reaches of the NRL ladder.

Even after securing the services of Ben Hunt on a big-money deal, St. George Illawarra Dragons are way out in the boondocks at $101 for the title.

But the irrefutable favourites for the wooden spoon are Newcastle Knights, who are paying $251 for the flag and a whopping $501 to take out the minor premiership.

2017 NRL outright betting markets

All odds provided by CrownBet.com.au

Outright winner

Cowboys, Panthers, Storm – $8

Broncos, Raiders – $9

Warriors – $11

Roosters, Sharks – $12

Bulldogs, Eels, Rabbitohs, Titans – $17

Sea Eagles – $21

Tigers – $29

Dragons – $101

Knights – $251

Top four

Cowboys, Storm – $2.10

Panthers – $2.20

Broncos – $2.35

Raiders – $2.45

Sharks – $3

Roosters – $3.25

Warriors – $3.50

Bulldogs, Eels, Rabbitohs, Titans – $5

Sea Eagles – $5.25

Tigers – $7

Dragons – $11

Knights – $21

Most losses

Knights – $1.55

Dragons – $5

Tigers – $11

Eels, Sea Eagles – $21

Bulldogs, Titans – $26

Rabbitohs – $31

Roosters, Warriors – $41

Sharks – $51

Broncos, Raiders – $81

Cowboys, Panthers – $101

Storm – $151

Top points scorer

Jarrod Croker – $2.50

Jordan Kahu – $6.50

James Maloney – $7

Johnathon Thurston – $8

Shaun Johnson – $9

Nathan Cleary – $10

Jordan Rankin, Adam Reynolds – $17

Anthony Milford, Dylan Walker – $26

Michael Gordon – $31

Kerrod Holland, Mitchell Moses – $34

Corey Norman, Cameron Smith, Ashley Taylor – $51

Clint Gutherson, Moses Mbye – $67

Tyrone Roberts – $81

Gareth Widdop – $101

Trent Hodkinson – $151

Round 1 NRL match odds

Online bookmaker Sportsbet already has match betting markets up for round one, which kicks off on March 2 with a big clash between the Sharks and the Broncos.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Cronulla Sharks $1.80 – Brisbane Broncos $2

Friday, March 3, 2017

Canterbury Bulldogs $2.05 – Melbourne Storm $1.75

South Sydney Rabbitohs $1.48 – Wests Tigers $2.65

Saturday, March 4, 2017

St. George Illawarra $2.60 – Penrith Panthers $1.50

North Qld Cowboys $1.50 – Canberra Raiders $2.60

Gold Coast Titans $1.80 – Sydney Roosters $2

Sunday, March 5, 2017

New Zealand Warriors $1.15 – Newcastle Knights $5.50

Manly Sea Eagles $1.67 – Parramatta Eels $2.20

Match markets provided by Sportsbet.com.au