Rugby League Betting & Odds

bettingodds.com

23 March 2020

BettingOdds.com features both Rugby League tips and odds for the season, which runs from February to November.

We will cover the weekly Super League match odds, NRL match odds from Down Under as well as the outright betting for the Challenge Cup, with our simplified odds grids to show you the exact percentage chance the online bookmakers rate each team for victory. We even have the odds for the post season international games too!

Popular Rugby League Competitions to Bet On

Punters can enjoy Rugby League odds on numerous tournaments across the UK and abroad. Australia has the richest variety, with the overarching National Rugby League and several smaller tournaments throughout each state. Rugby League betting odds also encompass international competitions like the showpiece World Cup. We’ll go into more detail surrounding the top Rugby League betting competitions below:

Super League

The Super League, currently sponsored by Betfred, is the top-tier of competitive British rugby league. It replaced the First Division in 1996, notably switching play from the winter to the summer. Rugby League odds on the Super League generally run from February to September and currently feature 12 teams. St Helens from Merseyside are the most successful club in the league’s history with ten titles, the most recent coming in 2022.

The regular season involves 27 games for each team, including special events like the Magic Weekend, where all fixtures are played in the same stadium over a weekend. The top six-placed teams compete in a playoff round culminating in the Grand Final for the two leading teams. Super League winners go on to play the Australian National Rugby League champions in the World Club Challenge.

Challenge Cup

Established in 1896, the Challenge Cup is the oldest competition in global rugby football, regardless of the rules. The 2023 edition featured 71 teams from all tiers of the British Rugby League pyramid, with Leigh Leopards winning the trophy for the third time. They still have some way to go to beat the all-time record-holders Wigan Warriors, who have tasted success on a remarkable 20 occasions.

The Challenge Cup is a popular competition for Rugby League odds, particularly due to the number of different teams and potential for huge upsets. Most recently, the amateur club Underbank Rangers usurped the semi-professional West Wales Raiders in 2020, demonstrating the competition’s capacity to surprise.

Australian National Rugby League

Australian Rugby League odds are plentiful, with over a thousand professional and amateur clubs currently competing. However, the official Australian National Rugby League’s history has been turbulent, to say the least. The current league launched in 1998 after a tumultuous period defined by the commercial tussle between the Australian Rugby League and Australian Super League.

Seventeen teams now compete in the Australian National Rugby League, with 16 from Australia and one from New Zealand. South Sydney Rabbitohs currently have the record for most titles, winning the trophy on 21 occasions. The teams compete in an initial league, where the leader is awarded the minor premiership titles. Afterwards, the top eight teams compete in a playoff round that finishes with the NRL Grand Final, a landmark event for Australian sports fans.

Rugby League World Cup

The Rugby League World Cup launched in 1954, the first worldwide international tournament for any type of rugby football. Sixteen teams compete in four initial groups, with the top two placed nations advancing to a knockout round. The format has evolved considerably over the years, so don’t be surprised if further tweaks are made in the future.

Australia picked up a twelfth title in the most recent 2021 edition (actually held in 2022), confirming their unrivalled dominance in the competition. The Aussies have been in the final every year other than 1954, and Great Britain (3) and New Zealand (1) are the only other nations to enjoy victory. The next Rugby League World Cup takes place in 2026, with only ten teams in the Southern Hemisphere due to financial concerns.

Pacific Championships

The Pacific Championships feature international Rugby League odds on Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga. The 2023 edition takes place from October to November in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Organisers split the tournament into three categories: Pacific Cup (Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa), Pacific Bowl (Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea), and Women (all teams).

Rugby League betting odds on the highest Pacific Cup tier will be the most exciting, featuring the world’s top three ranked teams. The 2023 Pacific Championships is the second edition, with Australia winning the first in 2019.

International Series

The rugby league international calendar has for a long while been non existent and very much make it up as they go along. However, the IRL have finally got their act together and a number of tours from Southern Hemisphere teams to the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa have now been pencilled in. Right now in late Autumn 2023, Tonga are touring England and we have tipping previews and match odds here.

Rugby League Betting Markets

Rugby League odds aren’t solely limited to outright bets. Punters can enjoy several Rugby League betting markets at the best bookmakers. Check below for a round-up:

Match Result – A straight prediction on the winner of a match.
Anytime Tryscorer – A bet on an individual player to score a try during a match.
First/Last Tryscorer – A prediction on who will be the first or last try scorer during a game.
Brace/Hat-trick of Tries – Got your eye on a specific player? With this Rugby League betting market, you can tip them to score a brace or hat-trick. This can be particularly useful combined with in-play wagering.
Handicaps – Handicap betting is great for fixtures where the Rugby League odds show a clear favourite. Better teams are given a virtual handicap, so they must win by a certain number of points to fulfil the bet. If they don’t, a bet on the losing team can still payout.
Half-Time/Full-Time – A prediction on the half-time result and full-time result. Both must be successful for the wager to payout.
Total Points – A bet on the total number of points scored during a match.
Both Teams To Score (10+/20+/30+ points) – If you fancy both teams to score over a certain number of points, this can be a great Rugby League betting option.
Accumulator – Fancy combining Rugby League odds across several fixtures? Accumulator bets can generate higher payouts, but you must correctly predict all games to be successful. As a result, they are far more risky.
RequestABets – Got a bet you want to place but cannot see it at your chosen bookmaker? The top platforms offer a RequestABet function where you can ask for odds on a specific scenario. For example, William Hill offers a streamlined #YourOdds service.

Responsible Gambling at Rugby League Betting Sites

BettingOdds takes responsible gambling very seriously. You must ensure you enjoy Rugby League odds without falling into addiction or jeopardising your financial situation. Finding yourself unable to stop betting and even having to borrow money to place wagers? These are dangerous warning signs that something must change. Check the steps below to create a safer gambling experience.

Use Trusted Websites

Enjoying Rugby League odds at trusted bookmakers is fundamental to safe and responsible gambling. These platforms offer the best odds and secure services, with regular UK Gambling Commission auditing helping to keep punters safe. Additionally, you can use responsible gambling tools like self-exclusion and deposit limits to keep yourself in line.

Use Secure Payment Methods

Never make payments using insecure methods. One of the main things to look out for is the lock icon in your browser search bar, indicating a secure connection. You must also avoid payment methods and bookmakers without sophisticated SSL encryption tools.

Set Your Own Budget

Setting a strict budget before a betting session is crucial. Without doing so, you can easily overspend and ultimately jeopardise your financial position. We highly recommend setting weekly or monthly limits and keeping your betting kitty separate from regular finances. Using e-wallets or prepaid cards is a practical way to do so.

Don’t Bet On Markets You Are Not Familiar With

Ensure you enjoy Rugby League odds on familiar betting markets rather than ones you don’t know much about. This is a key responsible gambling step, as you can easily lose money by betting without fully understanding a specific market. That’s not to say you cannot try something new, but ensure you’ve done adequate reading and research beforehand to take full advantage.

Only Bet With Money You Can Afford To Lose

It goes without saying, but never bet with money you cannot afford to lose. This is responsible gambling 101, as not doing so can have serious consequences. Gambling funds should never come before essential finances for living and planning for the future. Only bet with surplus cash after you’ve deducted your essentials and other more important leisure costs.

Don’t Try To Win Back What You’ve Lost

Chasing your losses is an easy way to fall into problematic gambling tendencies. You should never look at gambling as a way to make money. It should be for enjoyment more than anything, and you should also be prepared to lose money as it’s a natural part of the process.

How To Bet On Rugby League

Here at BettingOdds.com we give you all the tools and information you need to bet on Rugby League

Time Needed: 2 MinutesTools Needed: Laptop or MobileCompare oddsUse the odds comparison grids on this page to compare odds from the top UK bookmakers

Frequently asked questions when betting on Rugby League

What betting markets are available in Rugby League?

Winner of a match between two teams (A vs. B)
Handicap markets
Under/over a certain amount of tries or points in any given game
First, Last and Anytime tryscorers
Outright winner of a league/cup - E.G. Leeds Rhino's to win the Super League/Wigan Warriors to win the Challenge Cup
Rugby League accumulator - multiple teams to win their individual games in one bet

Which are the best rugby league events to bet on?

Super League
- The Super League season kicks off in February and plays right through until the Grand Final in October, played at Old Trafford. Sky Sports have a brilliant coverage of the sport with every match now broadcast live in some shape or form each week.
Challenge Cup
- The Challenge Cup is like the FA Cup of rugby league, with the final usually played at Wembley.

What do oddsmakers think of the 2024 Super League?

St Helens were on an unprecedented run of four Super League title wins in a row, but 2023 saw that run end and their old enemy Wigan Warriors take the title. Wigan will likely be favourites for the 2024 title after a stellar recruitment window and with a young squad getting stronger and more experienced, they deserve to head the market. St Helens will be in the mix again, while beaten 2021 and 2023 finalists Catalans must rebuild but will fancy making it third time lucky. Warrington have once again gambled and appointed rookie Sam Burgess as their head coach, while Leeds will be aiming to get back in the mix along with Hull KR and Leigh.

Salford Red Devils are usually the most appealing team to watch for the neutral and could be a good longshot for Super League glory, but with the club in dire financial straits a fire sale may not be far off and that would scupper their chances..

When is the next Rugby League World Cup?

The next Rugby League World Cup is in 2026 and is confirmed to be a Southern Hemisphere tournament.

Are Rugby League betting sites safe?

Yes. All our recommended Rugby League betting sites are completely safe. We closely examine bookmakers to ensure they abide by the rules and have UK Gambling Commission licensing.