TAB’s 2025 NRL premiership betting markets tip Bulldogs surge, Roosters collapse, Tigers for fourth straight wooden spoon

The 2025 premiership betting markets are almost open and the bookies are set to make some surprise selections, with the Bulldogs surging ahead, while the Roosters are set for a deep dive.

The TAB has released its first betting market on next year’s NRL, installing the Canterbury Bulldogs as a shock third favourite to win the title.

The Dogs have opened at $11 – their shortest price in years – behind only grand finalists Melbourne and Penrith.

Who would have thought this club would be a shorter price than glamour clubs such as the Roosters or Broncos going into an NRL season?

Such are the expectations on Gus Gould and Cameron Ciraldo, the two men who have lifted Canterbury from being the premiership’s easybeats into a genuine contender.

Can Stephen Crichton lead Canterbury to a title next year? The bookmakers certainly think so after ranking the Bulldogs third on the early premiership market for next year. Picture: Getty Images

The major points are:

● Wests Tigers will start as favourites to win a fourth straight wooden spoon.

● Sydney Roosters are their longest price in years at $12.

● Brisbane Broncos might have got Madge Maguire, but are still a $17 outsider.

● Supercoach Wayne Bennett is only a $21 chance of having title success in his new gig at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The TAB’s Rohan Welsh says it will be the first time in four years Penrith will start a season not as title favourite.

“They have remarkably covered for the departure of star players in the past, but the loss of (Jarome) Luai and (James) Fisher-Harris will have to have an impact,” Welsh said.

Not even the arrival of Jarome Luai can save the Tigers in 2025 according to bookmakers. Picture: Getty Images

“Now the Cleary-Luai combination is split, the Storm have arguably the best spine in the comp when healthy.

“The side we expect to fall away is the Roosters. They’ll go up at $12, but with the loss of so many stars, and key players rehabbing over summer, they could easily drift further.”

Welsh says the TAB expects a lack of interest among punters for the Roosters.

“It’s the longest opening price they’ve been since going up at $15 in 2017,” he said.

“That’s when they were coming off a wooden spoon.

“The jury is out on whether a few glamour clubs will rocket back into contention or implode.”

As for the poor Tigers … “We don’t think Luai’s recruitment is enough to help the Tigers avoid another wooden spoon, let alone inspire a miracle run to a title,” Welsh said.