- The 3rd ranked Warriors are favored by 13.5 points against the Panthers who they beat by just two points last season.
- The Dolphins score about 16 more points per game than the Newcastle Knights on average.
AUCKLAND – Round 16 of the National Rugby League has begun and there are a few notable games on the schedule this week, starting with the New Zealand Warriors against the Penrith Panthers.
Warriors vs Panthers Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warriors | -13.5 (-115) | -480 | O 44.5 (-115) |
| Panthers | +13.5 (-115) | +355 | U 44.5 (-115) |
Legal sports betting sites list the Warriors as heavy favorites in the first game on Saturday, giving them -480 odds to win outright and -115 odds to win by at least 13.5 points. The Warriors are currently 3rd in the standings while the Panthers sit at 9th.
The best play for this game is the Panthers against the 13 and a half point spread.
Despite their 5-7-1 record, the Panthers have not been as bad as one may think, as they have allowed just nine points more than they have scored. They’ve scored just five points less than the 10-3-0 Warriors while allowing 40 more total points.
The last two matchups between these two teams were split with one game going to each team, as the Panthers downed the Warriors 32-6 in their 2023 matchup while the Warriors were able to pull off a narrow 22-20 victory last season.
The Warriors are 4-1-0 in their last five games while the Panthers have gone 3-1-1, so both teams are playing some of their best rugby.
Bettors could look into laying the money with the Panthers’ moneyline at +355 for a big payout, but the game should at the very least be tightly contested.
Dolphins vs Knights Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | -11.5 (-120) | -275 | O 46.5 (-110) |
| Knights | +11.5 (-110) | +300 | U 46.5 (-120) |
The second game on Saturday features the 6th ranked Dolphins against the 15th ranked Newcastle Knights.
The Dolphins are favored by 11.5 points by rugby betting sites despite having lost their first meeting against the Knights 26-12 in March.
They have been the highest scoring team on a points per game basis, averaging 29 points per game while the Knights rank amongst the lowest in the league at just 13 points per game. Both teams allow about 18 points per game.
The Dolphins have been hot as of late, winning four of their last five matches to bring their record to 7-7-0. The Knights are just 2-3-0 in their last five and have an overall record of 5-9-0.
The offensive disparity in this game is jarring and the Dolphins should be able to dominate the ball enough to cover the 11.5 point spread, which is the best bet for this game.
