Following Melbourne’s 18-13 triumph over Cronulla in Thursday night’s grand final rematch, the Storm have firmed as the competition’s favourites to take out the 2017 NRL premiership.
Melbourne are now $3.50 favourites with William Hill’s NRL premiership odds, given the Storm are now two games clear from the Sharks in second place.
Craig Bellamy has his Storm side well positioned for another deep finals run, as their 11-2 record through 13 games is a testament to the professionalism of the club.
According to the bookmarkers, the Roosters are Melbourne’s main challengers, with Sydney paying $7 in their quest for their 14th premiership.
After finishing last season in 15th position with just six wins, the Roosters have already won nine so far this season, and are in fourth position at the halfway mark of the year.
Brisbane and Cronulla round out the top sides in premiership betting as they both currently sit at $8.
The Sharks missed the chance to move equal with the Storm on Thursday night in the top of the table clash, and could be ruing their home form at the end of the season.
Surprisingly, Cronulla are perfect on the road in 2017, winning all of their six matches away from Shark Park.
It’s their home form that wouldn’t be impressing coach Shane Flanagan, as the Sharks have won only three matches at home, and have lost to Melbourne, Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and Brisbane on their own deck.
Despite not currently sitting inside the top eight, Canberra are the fifth favourites for the premiership at $11.
The Raiders have had an up-and-down start to 2017, with a 6-7 record after 13 games seeing them in ninth position.
It’s not a position they would have hoped they were in at this stage of the season, after a heartbreaking loss in the preliminary final last year to the Storm.
St George find themselves with a $13 price tag next to their name for the premiership, despite entrenching themselves in the top four at the halfway mark of the season.
The Dragons have got a game in hand on Cronulla in second place and have a better points differential, meaning they could find themselves in the top two after their extra game.
Penrith ($15), Manly ($17), North Queensland ($17) and Parramatta ($21) are the next sides in the pack, before the premiership odds begin to get longer and longer as the list goes down.
Gold Coast ($51), New Zealand ($51) and Canterbury ($67) are the other three sides under the triple-figure mark.
It seems as though there’s no hope for the final three teams, as South Sydney ($101), Wests ($201) and Newcastle ($1001) are all clear outsiders (especially the Knights).
While there’s still plenty of football to be played, the Storm showed on Thursday night just how good they can be.
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