Looking for a way to get into this weekend’s NRL action, but don’t have the time to examine the form guide, Facebook pages, Fox Sports website, or watch the Channel Nein Sports news to help with your selections? Just for a Sunday…. Of course you can always try the excellent NRL Tipping Club. But if none of those work for you The Gurgler website is nothing if not helpful, so to help the keen NRL punter we offer up our 2026 NRL Round 8 Bets & Best Bets.
We’ve done the math and the homework of all our stats and offer up just our favourite suggested bet in each game. Then roll them up in a mega multi at the end.
2026 NRL Round 8 Bets & Best Bets
Here is our one betting special for every game this weekend.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbet and correct at time of use.
THU 7:50PM – WESTS TIGERS v CANBERRA @ Leichhardt Oval
BEST BET: Total Match Points – Over 48.5 Points @ $1.90 or 61 Points or More @ $4.40
Lots of games at Leichhardt have featured 60 points or more. Last two between Tigers and Canberra, the last two on a Thursday, and five of the last seven at Leichhardt v all opposition.
FRI 6PM – NORTH QUEENSLAND v CRONULLA
BEST BET: Cronulla to win @ $1.73
Now that the Cowboys are off a winning streak and another coach has been sacked, pressure will rise on Todd Payten, and the visit of Cronulla doesn’t help. North Queensland have lost 14 of the last 16 and have only won once in their last seven home games v Cronulla.
FRI 8PM – BRISBANE v BULLDOGS
BEST BET: Brisbane to win @ $2.32
Between the Bulldogs record on a Friday (five straight losses), record v Brisbane (lost 7/8, 4/5 on a Friday), record v Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium (lost 8/9) and the fact that the Bulldogs struggled against injury depleted Parramatta and Broncos have nearly as many out this weekend you have to give Brisbane every chance. But the points start is a bit of insurance.
SAT 4PM – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v ROOSTERS @ Allianz Stadium
BEST BET: Roosters – 8.5 start second half @ $1.92
Dragons might get some new coach bounce, and the Dragons have been in games up until half time and a little beyond. But the Roosters produced a red hot second half last weekend, and with the Dragons averaging less than four points in the second halves this season, we’ll got with the Roosters flying home. Roosters are +10 for average for and against in the second half this season, while Dragons are -7.5.
SAT 6:05PM – WAHS v DOLPHINS @ Hnry Stadium, Wellington
BEST BET: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score 1+ Tries @ $TBC
He has five tries in five games v Dolphins and is fun to watch.
SAT 8:10PM – MELBOURNE v SOUTH SYDNEY
BEST BET: Melbourne to win @ $1.64
The Storm have 20 wins in a row in Melbourne v Souths. Surely it’s stats v form this time. Take the odds, $1.64 despite being on the verge of the longest losing streak ever.
SUN 2PM – NEWCASTLE v PENRITH
BEST BET: Penrith to win @ $1.29
Penrith have such a great record v Newcastle it seems pointless to bet on anything else. Maybe you could stretch some value to taking a smaller 1-12 win ($3.10). Panthers might be tired after a golden point game in the heat of Darwin, and despite winning eight in a row in Newcastle, five of the margins were under 12 points.
SUN 4PM – MANLY v PARRAMATTA
BEST BET: Pick your own line – Manly -7.5 start @ $1.72
Can the injured slammed Eels do it twice in a row? Manly are still flying on the superpowers of Kieran Foran and have won six of their last seven at home to Parramatta with coaches with inferior form.
2026 NRL Round 8 Bets MMMMMega Multi
Add all the specials together for turning $1 into plenty. But gamble responsibly, by betting within your limits and ignoring our tips all together.
$1 for $160
All odds correct from Sportsbet as of Monday 13 April.
READ MORE ON THIS WEEKEND’S NRL
The Gurgler’s Round 8 NRL Predictions
The NRL Donkey’s Round 8 Expert Tips and Opinion
NRL Results – R7 One Minute Match Review
NRL Results – Team of the Week
