NRL Round 8 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends, Analysis for Week Ahead

The battle for the top spot in the National Rugby League will be on in earnest on Anzac Day as three of the top four teams feature on the traditional day of remembrance across Australia and New Zealand.

The top-placed St George Illawarra Dragons and the fourth-placed Sydney Roosters will play off in their traditional public holiday blockbuster on Tuesday. A slip-up from the Dragons could allow Melbourne Storm to reclaim the top spot when they play New Zealand Warriors later that night.

The oddsmakers have the Roosters vs. Dragons clash priced as one of the closest for the round, with the Roosters $1.62 (AUD) favourites and the Dragons $2.33 outsiders despite winning six of their first seven, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

The line in that match is at four points, reflecting the fact that three of the past four matches between these two have been decided by less than a converted try.

It's worth noting the Roosters have lost 10 of the 15 Anzac Day clashes between these two teams, including the last two, while they thrashed the Dragons when they last met in Round 24 last year.

The Melbourne Storm haven't been at their best in recent weeks but are expected to make light work of the Warriors when they meet them.

The oddsmakers have the Storm at $1.30 to win this having won their past three against the New Zealand side and their past four clashes at AAMI Park. The Warriors are $3.60 to upset the Storm on Anzac Day for just the third time in eight tries.

Four days earlier, the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles get things under way in the national capital on Friday night. The Raiders have won three straight by convincing margins to put forward their credentials for the title this year, despite sitting 4-3 on the win-loss ledger.

They are $1.25 to defeat the Sea Eagles, who are going in the opposite direction on the ladder after a narrow loss to Melbourne Storm last week. Manly are $4.10 to win this one having lost three of their past four against Canberra.

Later on Friday, the inconsistent Brisbane Broncos head to Sydney for Friday night football against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The Round 7 win over the Titans might have been the first time the Broncos had put together back-to-back wins for the season, but it was far from convincing, and after opening $1.38 for this one at the start of the week, they have now drifted out to $1.50.

Souths' hopes of winning this were boosted when Sam Burgess was cleared to play by the judiciary, and they are $2.63 to win this coming off a disappointing performance against the Bulldogs last week.

Cronulla Sharks' premiership defence is gathering momentum, and they find themselves as $1.28 favourite to win Saturday night's clash with the Gold Coast Titans, who are $3.75.

In the afternoon game, the battle of the west sees Parramatta Eels host Penrith Panthers, with the Panthers $1.65 to snap a three-matching losing streak and the 3-4 Eels $2.26 outsiders.

The North Queensland Cowboys are missing Johnathan Thurston and have lost their past two, but they aren't expected to be too worried by the Newcastle Knights. The market in that one sees the Cowboys as $1.31 favourites and the Knights at $3.50.

The lone Sunday game sees the Canterbury Bulldogs at $1.55 to beat the Wests Tigers at $2.48. The Dogs are back in form after a win over the Rabbitohs last week, while the Tigers coughed up a 12-point second-half lead against the Eels and seem to lack confidence at the moment.