Betfair Official Blog

Rugby league betting: a special year

The attraction of league betting has never been greater than in what should prove a massive year for the sport.

There is nothing finer in the game than a World Cup year, when adding to the prospect of making money through league odds on the NRL and State of Origin, there is the rather large matter of finding out which is the best team in the world.

Adding even greater spice in 2008 is the fact that the entire tournament is taking place on Australian soil.

Can there be any greater promise for league fans than to see the Kangaroos lift the World Cup in Brisbane on November 22? The answer must be yes - there will be many who will have fatter wallets courtesy of a successful league bet on the outcome.

This year has already seen the first State of Origin game make history by being the biggest league betting market on record.

That record is likely to come under threat during the World Cup, particularly for the clash with New Zealand on October 26 in Sydney and the game against England in Melbourne on November 2.

The Kangaroos go into the tournament having won nine of the previous 12 World Cups - being runner up twice more - and will also be defending the trophy they won in 2000.

The fact that the trophy has not been up for grabs since then makes this year's event all the more special, with league betting sure to reflect that.

So far during the NRL season, the league odds have been confounded a number of times. Not only did the Titans leap to the top of the ladder, but the Roosters, Broncos and Panthers have all travelled well.

Those four teams were outside the eight at this stage last year, showing that punters seeking a shrewd league bet can make good money by sticking with teams that are initially among the outsiders.

League odds are offered on a multitude of markets, giving the skilful punter chance to win several times over from the same game. It literally pays to study form, including selection and injury news as well as weighing up previous meetings, in order to cash in on the likes of half-time/full-time results, handicap betting, total match points and winning margin.

Total match points can be a league bet that attracts many punters, depending on the teams in question. NRL matches involving free-scoring teams like the Broncos and Sea Eagles - who racked up 284 and 265 points respectively in the first 11 rounds - tend to generate the biggest markets.