National Rugby League (NRL) Betting

In the 1990s, the NSWRL club competition expanded into a national competition and became the National Rugby League (NRL) in 1998. The NRL now includes teams from NSW, Queensland, New Zealand and Victoria thanks to the Melbourne Storm.The 2003 NRL season was one of the most successful since the league began. The Penrith Panthers went from last place to winning the Premiership and the Brisbane Broncos returned to Suncorp Stadium.

The 2004 season was even more successful with the North Queensland Cowboys rising from 11th place in 2003 to 3rd in 2004 just missing the Grand Final.Attendance records were broken in 2003, 2004, and 2005. By 2005, the NRL reached peak popularity with crowd numbers nearing those of 1995, before the Super League war. In 2005, a record 4.1 million viewers watched the Grand Final between the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys.The 2006 Grand Final was won by the Brisbane Broncos, defeating the Melbourne Storm 15-8. This was the first time two teams from outside New South Wales contested the Grand Final, with TV ratings in Melbourne surpassing those in Sydney.

Some of the greatest players to grace the NRL over the years are Full-back: Clive Churchill Ken Irvine, Brian Bevan, Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga, Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns and John Raper. All of these players were included in the NRL Team of the Century. The popularity of the NRL was not only evident with the crowd attendances but betting on the league skyrocketed as well. Mzansibet has widespread betting markets for all of the matches in the NRL.

Why Bet on National Rugby League (NRL)

The National Rugby League in Australia has surpassed all expectations as rugby league has overtaken rugby union in terms of crowd and viewership numbers. The higher tempo 13 man game appeals more to the players and fans which has seen many of the top school boy talents switch from union to league. Punters likewise seem to enjoy the faster speed of the league game and are not afraid to place wagers on their favourite teams.

The league code has seen some great rugby union stars make the switch. This list includes Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams, Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor and Brad Thorn. Though not all the players who come from union are successful in the league game, there is huge appeal for these players to try their hand in the 13-man game. Fans of these players naturally continued following them when they joined the NRL and this is another reason why betting on the NRL has also become so popular. It goes without saying that when you have a wager on a match, the excitement levels reach new heights.

Popular Betting Markets for National Rugby League (NRL)

Mzansibet has well in excess of a hundred bets on each rugby league match. This includes matches from the different competitions as well as all international rugby league games. While it's great to have so many options, it won't help much if you don't understand what each bet means. We've put together a list of the most popular bets and explained each one in detail so you can understand them better before placing a bet.

Match Winner: The most self-explanatory of bets to take on a rugby league match. This is the most common and oldest type of rugby bet in which you select Team A or Team B to win. The odds on this type of bet may be low especially if your team is the favourite.

Draw No Bet: The draw is quite rare in Rugby League, but it does happen from time to time. If you’re worried about the draw messing up your bet then take a Draw No Bet market. Your bet will be refunded if the match result ends in a draw.

Handicap Betting: One of the most popular bets on rugby are handicap bets. This is often where some of the best value is to be found. The handicap is an advantage that bookmakers give one team to make the game more balanced. The team given the positive handicap can win, draw or lose the game by less than the handicap to cover the bet and win. The team with the negative handicap must win the match by more than the points set out in the handicap to win their bet.

Total points over/under: The over/under betting market involves predicting whether the total number of points scored in a match will be above or lower than a certain predetermined number. For instance, if you bet on the over/under 50 points market and you bet on under, the combined score of the two teams shouldn’t exceed 50.

First Try Scorer: Rugby league fans know the excitement that comes when a player breaks through the defence to score the first try. Betting on the first-try scorer is about predicting which player from either team will cross the try line first. This bet type carries higher odds as it’s challenging to predict, making potential payouts more lucrative.

Anytime Try Scorer: Less specific than the first-try scorer bet, the anytime try scorer wager involves picking a player you believe will score a try at any point during the match. The odds are typically lower than for the first-try scorer but offer a better chance of a payout.

Most Tries: This market is more challenging as it requires picking the player who will score the most tries in a game, but the higher odds make it attractive. If your chosen player scores two or three tries, you have a strong chance of winning outright. However, in many games, no player scores multiple tries, leading to several players being tied as top try-scorers. In such cases, the payout is split among all who scored the most tries. For example, if your player was the sole top scorer, you could win R100, but if three players share the top spot, you'd receive R25.

Rugby betting is most enjoyable when the punter is familiar with all the different types of bets available. Rugby league is faster than union so there are more attacking plays which makes the Over Points Total a winning bet more often than not.

Tips and Strategies for Betting on National Rugby League (NRL)

The NRL offers plenty of opportunities for punters to profit. Markets range from straight match bets to handicap markets, first try scorer and Total Points. Rugby league betting is very different to other sports betting as there are multitude of aspects that include the weather conditions that impact the strategy to adopt before placing your bet. Here are some tips that coils assist you with winning more often.

Know the teams and players: Know which team is favoured to win and why. Research the players and their strengths and weaknesses. If you can't find this information easily, there are plenty of websites and forums that discuss rugby league betting. The better you know the teams and players, the more informed your bet will be. And remember, don't just bet on your favourite team.

Monitor injuries of the teams: It’s easy to stay on top of who’s fit and who’s facing a spell on the sidelines in the digital age we live in. Stats are easily available that you can use to find out about the availability of each squad while there are other apps and sites that you can use for real-time updates. One or two injuries or suspensions can drastically harm a team’s chances of winning and maybe turn their scintillating run of form into a desperate scramble to pick up points

Look at the recent form: As well as knowing which team is favoured to win, you should also look at their recent form. This will give you an idea of how they have been playing and whether they are likely to win your bet. Look at the last few games played by each team and see how they fared. If one team has been winning consistently while the other has been losing, then this is a good indication of who is likely to win.

Check out the current score: Live betting is very popular in rugby league. If you are betting on a match that has already begun, then you will need to look at the current score and how each team is performing. This will give you an idea of which team is likely to win and by how much. If a team is losing by a large margin, then it is unlikely they will be able to come back and win the match. However, if the score is close then anything could happen.

Observe weather conditions: You should also pay attention to the weather conditions, as this can affect how a team plays. For example, if it is raining then the team that is used to playing in wet conditions is likely to have an advantage. Home ground form: Rugby league like most other sports, suggest that home advantage plays a huge role in a team’s season. Taking advantage of the noise of fans in their stadium and becoming used to familiar surroundings is important for a club’s success and this is usually reflected in the odds.

Don't bet with your heart: If you want to win your rugby league bets, use your head instead of your heart. Always check the team's recent performance and how they play at home and away. Some teams consistently perform well against certain opponents and you can find this information in the head-to-head records.

It's important to be aware of how much money you're spending on betting. Set a budget for yourself and make sure you stick to it.If you're losing more than you can afford, then it's time to take a step back and reevaluate your betting strategy.

Top Teams and Players in National Rugby League

When you look at the most successful teams to have played in the NRL, it is difficult to look past The Sydney Roosters. They have won 4 premierships with their most recent win coming in 2019. They have also been runners-up on 4 occasions. Sydney’s sustained success can be attributed to their ability to recruit and develop top-tier talent and the leadership of their long-serving coach Trent Robinson. They have also won the Minor Premiership (awarded to the team that finishes the regular season with the most points) 5 times.

The Melbourne Storm is considered one of the most dominant NRL teams of the past 20 years. They have won 4 premierships in their history and have consistently made it to the playoffs, missing the finals only three times since they started in 1998. If they hadn't been punished for breaking the salary cap rules between 2006 and 2010, they would have been credited with 2 more premierships they won in 2007 and 2009.

One of the most watched players for the current season is undoubtedly rugby union convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. The major question will be can he return to the form that he showed before his three year departure to the Blues.One thing is for certain, you can't take your eyes off this man when he has the ball.Will Penisini was one of the standout performers of last season and If the Eels are to overcome last year's fall from grace, they are going to need more magic from the 21 year old fleet-footed centre.

One of the highlights of the season will see the long-running rivalry between the Dragons and the Rabbitohs continue. The two clubs are the most dominant in rugby league with the rivalry dating back to the 1950s. The rivalry has been immortalised with the annual pre-season Charity Shield clash between the clubs. Mzansibet will have in-depth betting markets for all the NRL matches, including all the knockout games.

Promotions and Bonuses for NRL Betting

Mzansibet offers a wide range of betting options for all NRL matches and plenty of promotions for punters. Watch out for special offers on big games, like boosted odds and deposit match bonuses. New players can enjoy a R100 welcome bonus when they join for the first time. Players can use this bonus to bet on rugby league matches or any of their favourite sports. Look out for other promotions like our Birthday Bonus where you can get a free bet and free spins.

Conclusion

Betting on the NRL can be fun and profitable if you bet wisely. It's important to understand the game, the teams and the different types of bets. By learning the basics and using smart strategies, you can boost your chances of winning while enjoying this exciting sport. At Mzansibet, we value our customers. To show our appreciation, we offer new players a R100 welcome bonus when they join us. Don't miss out on this great opportunity, sign up today!