NRL Las Vegas Results Impact Outright Betting Odds
Just two games into the 2024 NRL, and the outright betting odds have shifted drastically courtesy of these upset results.
Heading into the season, the Broncos were second favourites and paying 4.33 at bookmaker bet365 to win the Grand Final. Now, they’re still second favourites, but odds have lengthened to 4.75 for the Brisbane side.
This has not been the only movement at betting sites. The Roosters, who were fourth favourites at 9.00 pre-season, have now leapt up the charts to sit at 7.50, coming in third favourite behind the Broncos now. Their movement comes at the expense of the Rabbitohs, whose chances of making the Grand Final have taken a big hit in the bookies’ eyes.
Sitting at 8.50 to win ahead of the weekend, the Bunnies have now slumped to 13.00 at bookmaker bet365. Manly, on the other hand, have improved from 29.00 (11th favourite) to 21.00 (8th favourite).
How the Weekend Unfolded
Despite the upset results, both matches played in Las Vegas were brilliant encounters.
The Rabbitohs got their clash against the Sea Eagles off to a strong start, scoring through Richard Kennar just seven minutes into the match. Action went to-and-fro across the opening half, with Haumole Olakau’atu scoring for the Sea Eagles and Jacob Gagai hitting back for South Sydney. When Jason Saab ran up the sideline to score—as we predicted he would—he put the Sea Eagles in front at half-time.
After the break it was all about big swings in momentum. Two quick tries for the Bunnies after half-time looked like it had swung the clash in their favour. That is, until Manly put the pedal to the medal and scored not one, not two, but four tries in the final half an hour to pull away with the match and end 36-24 victors.
The second match of the evening, while lower scoring, was just as intense. It was a clash between two finals contenders and the Roosters got off to the perfect start. Scoring early through Joseph Manu, Sydney followed up with a penalty to take a quick an 8-0 lead. Deine Mariner ensured the gap was reduced to 8-4 at the break, but the Broncos were unable to get on top of their Sydney opponents.
Tries to Junior Pauga and Victor Radley either side of a Reece Walsh stunner in the second half were enough for the Roosters to pull off an upset and come away 20-10 winners.
NRL Las Vegas a Big Success
Overall, the introduction of NRL to the American market has been viewed as a raging success. Purely based on crowd numbers the foray to Las Vegas was a triumph, with more than 40,000 people turning out for the event.
American commentators and public figures also praised the sport as the event won new fans.
“If this game came to New York, and they didn't price gouge me out of the place, I'd go and watch, no question,” said NFL and MLB commentator David Lengel.
“I friggin love NRL rugby,” declared Lou diBella, a prominent American boxing promoter. “Fast, exciting, physical and easy to understand.”
Notable figures within the sport themselves have expressed their intent to continue the push for a slice of the American market, with Peter V’landys expressing their intention to build slowly over the next five years.
“It's not going to happen in the first 12 months or the first two years — we've set ourselves a goal over five,” the ARLC chairman said.
It seems the NRL starting its season off in Las Vegas may become less of a novelty in the future, and more of a tradition that fans can look forward to.
The NRL 2024 kicked off in Las Vegas this weekend, with two high-intensity clashes. The Sea Eagles took on the Rabbitohs, while the Broncos came up against the Roosters. With both games ending in upsets, outright betting odds for the season have shifted already.
