NRL Round 16 Betting Preview: Game Odds, Trends, Analysis for Week Ahead

The battle of the top two teams, Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters, is the highlight of a tricky NRL Round 16 for bettors with six of the seven games having a line of less than a converted try, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

Melbourne, minus their Origin stars, overcame a major scare last week when they needed a field goal in golden-point extra-time to defeat the North Queensland Cowboys.

They remain four points clear on top of the table, but the Roosters can close the gap to just two points with a win in this match, which will be held at Adelaide Oval.

The market has the Storm, who have won their past three matches against the Roosters, at $1.75 AUD, with the "home" side at $2.10, and a line of just two points.

That market could change depending on how many players back up from Origin 2. The Storm have five players involved there, while the Roosters have four.

Third-placed Cronulla Sharks have won five of their past six matches and are favored to continue in that vein when they face Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon at Shark Park.

The Sharks are $1.61 to prevail, but do not have a good record against the Sea Eagles having lost 13 of their past 15 against them. Manly, currently fifth and four points adrift of the reigning premiers, are $2.35 to cause the upset.

The round kicks off Friday night in Auckland when the New Zealand Warriors host the Canterbury Bulldogs. Currently 11th and 12th, respectively, on the ladder, these two teams are just two points out of the eight. The Warriors are $1.51 favorites having won five of seven matches at home this season, with the Bulldogs at $2.60.

The Wests Tigers can get off the bottom of the ladder if they can overturn odds of $2.20 to defeat Gold Coast Titans ($1.68) when they host them at Campbelltown on Friday night.

The Saturday afternoon matches between North Queensland Cowboys ($1.60) and Penrith Panthers ($2.38) and the Canberra Raiders ($1.66) and the Brisbane Broncos ($2.25) are both expected to be close.

The Cowboys and the Panthers are separated by just one spot on the ladder with the Cowboys favored because the match is in Townsville and they are likely to have Johnathan Thurston back for what will be his 300th game.

The market in the Raiders vs. Broncos match is another that is likely to be impacted by who backs up for Origin. The Broncos have win their past four matches against Canberra but are outsiders here.

The most lopsided match of the round sees St George Illawarra Dragons, who have lost five of their past seven, $1.20 picks to knock off Newcastle Knights, who are $4.65 on Sunday afternoon.