Storm new favourite to win NRL after Panthers surprise loss

Rugby league bookmakers have swiftly adjusted their odds after a surprising weekend of NRL action that saw the Penrith Panthers take a shock loss to the Canberra Raiders on Saturday.

The loss means Penrith drop to fourth on the ladder and are no longer favourites to win the competition in 2024.

The Panthers led outright betting for the first 24 rounds of the season.

However, with Saturday night’s result, their odds lengthened to $3.50 behind the Melbourne Storm, who are the new favourites to win the Premiership at $3.25.

The Sydney Roosters are hot on Penrith’s heels as well in the third line of betting at $3.75, before a big drop off to the rest of the pack.

Penrith stunned by Raiders in Canberra

Few expected the Raiders to have any luck against the Panthers on Saturday at GIO Stadium.

The home side were paying $3.30 for a win with Neds, while Penrith sat at $1.35.

Canberra drew first blood, however, with a brilliant effort by Xavier Savage, who caught a high ball and dashed to the try line five minutes into the match.

The Panthers responded soon after with a sniping dummy half run by Luke Sommerton extracting four points, but were denied 10 minutes later when Daine Laurie was bundled into touch just short of the line.

Laurie did cross later in the first half, but not before Kaeo Weekes added to the Raiders’ tally.

Penrith even took a lead into half-time, which they added to soon after through James Fisher-Harris.

That was to be their final score, as the Raiders put on a strong defensive effort in the second half coupled with two tries to claim the match 22-18.

The win means Canberra keeps their own finals hopes alive, with the club sitting two points adrift of eighth place, in a four-way deadlock on 26 points.

After they were thrashed 42-4 by the North Queensland Cowboys last week, the turnaround is remarkable for the Raiders.

“Last week was not us and I don’t know where it comes from,” said Raiders’ coach Ricky Stuart after the match.

“I don’t think I’ve been as embarrassed last week as I have all the times I’ve coached here.

“All week I’ve told them you owe this club and this jumper a performance.

“I must say they paid the fans back, they paid the club back 10-fold in their performance.”

The Raiders still face a tough path to make the post-season, with matches against the second-placed Roosters and eighth-placed Dragons to come.

Penrith, meanwhile, will be seeking redemption – and to secure their top four spot – with big wins over the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Gold Coast Titans in their final two matches of the regular season.

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