NRL Preliminary Finals Betting Preview: North Queensland, Melbourne Favorites

The season's top four ranked sides have all made it through the maze of playoffs to face off against each other in the NRL Preliminary Finals this week.

Form sometimes has no bearing, as with any knockout competition season, but the top performing teams throughout the year have continued to put in incredible performances. The Storm, Raiders, Sharks and Cowboys are each only two wins away from an NRL Premiership title.

North Queensland overcame a determined Brisbane side last week in an epic match that went all the way to extra time. It took a bit of Johnathan Thurston magic to seal the win despite the heavy physical toll that match must have taken on the Cowboys players, in particular the forwards.

The Cowboys are betting favorites to make back-to-back Grand Finals, priced at $1.78, according to website AustralianGambling. Their opponent, Cronulla, will have an eye on an upset as they host the Cowboys. If they can keep the tempo of the game high, they may be able to take full advantage of their week off compared to a bruised and battered Cowboys side. Cronulla will look to overturn a price of $2.16.

Melbourne are heavy favorites to make it to the Grand Final. They are priced at $1.44 to beat the Raiders at home. The Storm have been sublime at AAMI Park so far this season and it is hard not to see them continuing that form. They have had the benefit of a week off in preparation for this match, whilst the Raiders had to overcome Penrith after a hard-fought loss to Cronulla in Week 1.

Canberra stand at $3.01 and will be hard pressed to overturn those odds. They showed throughout the year that they have the ability in their squad to mix it with the best teams in the league on their day but do they have one final effort to get themselves into the Grand Final?

As the Cowboys go looking for a second Grand Final appearance in two years, these matches have all the hallmarks to be classics. With such a massive prize on the line, it will come down to which side has the grit to battle through these Preliminary Finals.