NRL 2024: Broncos hold more money to win 2024 title than Penrith

They say you need to lose one to win one and punters have clearly heard the old adage with an enormous amount of money already placed on the 2023 runners up.

NRL 2023 Grand Final, Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium – Penrith Panthers celebrations after the game .Picture: NRL Photos

The release of the 2024 NRL season draw has triggered an avalanche of money by punters who are tipping a grand final rematch between Penrith and the Broncos.

The two NRL heavyweights are dominating premiership betting with Australia’s biggest punters predicting a repeat of the 2023 classic.

“Penrith are the second best backed team behind the Broncos,” TAB’s Rohan Welsh said.

“Losing Stephen Crichton (to the Bulldogs) is a massive blow but the same was said about Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau and the Panthers were just as dominant last season as they were in 2022.

“If you look through their rivals, it’s probably only the Broncos and maybe a revitalised Rabbitohs that can go with them, unless there’s a dramatic rise from one of the outsiders.

Can any team stop the Penrith juggernaut in 2024? Picture: NRL Photos

“TAB punters loaded up on the Broncos on grand final night with the adage that you have to lose a grand final to know how to win one.

“They opened at $5.50 but we trimmed them in to $4.50 within the first 24-hours after several large outlays.

“Up until the draw was released, they held close to 70 per cent of TAB investments, but with a tough start to the season unveiled that has been reduced to 46 per cent.

“They’ve lost Tom Flegler up front but have good middles with Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan still showing upside, and Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam will only get better, so this is the team posing the biggest threat to the Panthers.”

At the opposite end of the ladder, the Dragons, Wests Tigers, Raiders and Bulldogs have all been backed to struggle in 2024.

The level of support across all the major futures markets by punters for all 17 clubs ahead of the 2024 season has been provided by the TAB.

Lack of depth in the halves at St George-Illawarra and the unknown impact of Benji Marshall coaching in the NRL for the first time at the Wests Tigers has prompted punters to believe the two huge Sydney clubs will accrue the most amount of losses.

“The Dragons were opened at $67 to win the premierships and have already blown out to $81,” the TAB’s Rohan Welsh said.

“But while they are at the longest odds to win the premiership, they’re not the worst backed.

“That mantle belongs to Canberra, at the moment, who have drifted from $41 to $51.

“In fact, the Dragons have yet to have a decent nibble in the Most Losses market with the Bulldogs best backed over the Tigers there.”

Welsh added that punters were treating the star-studded Rabbitohs with caution.

“There is almost always a team from outside the eight that shines the following season,” Welsh said.

“We believe Souths are that team if Latrell Mitchell can stay fit and Cody Walker, Cam Murray and Jack Wighton do their bit.

“TAB priced them as third favourites at $9 but so far punters aren’t convinced.

“They are the tenth best supported and have so far attracted around two per cent of the money, compared to Brisbane (46 per cent), Penrith (33 per cent), Storm (10 per cent) and Roosters (nine per cent).

“The Bunnies are friendless in TAB’s top four market so far.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Broncos hold more money to win 2024 title than Penrith