Rugby League Archives - TAB NZ Punters Lounge

2026 State Of Origin Game III | Preview & Tips

Match Preview The trading team have finally got it right by installing Queensland as favourites for the decider – but even still they have not gone short enough on the Maroons. The starting point has to be the fact that Queensland are up 64 points to 28 this series when they have had 13 players on the field. Kalyn Ponga’s send off in the opener with 23 minutes remaining has had a monumental impact on this series. Not only did it gift the Blues a win in the opener, it really suckered the Blues into thinking they were in any…

From The Couch: NRL Round 18

Yesterday • Nick Tedeschi

This is your weekly dose of NRL truth-telling, as tipster and rugby league raconteur Nick Tedeschi tears through the good, the bad and the indefensible, with absolutely no regard for bruised egos. The Early Dally Ms We are two-thirds of the way through the season and here is the very, very, very early forecast of who will win the awards: Player: Nathan Cleary (Penrith)Coach: Justin Holbrook (Newcastle)Rookie: Zane Harrison (Gold Coast)Captain: Nathan Cleary (Penrith)Tryscorer: Tom Jenkins (Penrith)Pointscorer: Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)Fullback: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)Wingers: Tom Jenkins (Penrith) and Selwyn Cobbo (Dolphins)Centres: Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins) and Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney)Five-eighth: Braydon…

NRL Tips & Preview | Round 18

5 Jul • Nick Tedeschi

Round 18 will proceed without those slated for Origin duty but shapes as an important week with six Top 8 teams in action, given the chance to put a gap between the haves and have nots in 2026. Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs 10:00pm Friday | CommBank Stadium, Sydney Under 45.5 ($1.98) With both teams missing so much key talent, it very much shapes as a defensive battle when the two top attacking teams in the NRL open up Round 18. Penrith have Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo on Origin duty along with Liam Martin while Souths have just…

NRL Women Tips & Preview | Round 1

5 Jul • Nick Tedeschi

The NRLW season kicks off on Thursday night and what a stellar season we have to look forward to with plenty of player movement making 2026 one of the most exciting yet. Cronulla Sharks Women vs Newcastle Knights Women 9:45pm Thursday | Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney Under 38.5 ($1.90) The NRLW season opens up with the Sharks hosting the Knights and it is a match that should be a hard-fought defensive battle. Teams were generally very slow to fire with their attack in Round 1 last year with only one match topping 38 points. The Sharks and Knights have met…

NRL Refs Stats That Matter | Round 18

5 Jul • Nick Tedeschi

If you’re not factoring in the referee, you’re missing an edge. Nick Tedeschi breaks down the key officiating trends that matter for Round 18. Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs 10:00pm Friday | CommBank Stadium, Sydney Penrith -4.5 @ $1.98 & Under 45.5 @ $1.98 Adam Gee ● Penrith are 19-2 with a 16-5 cover record ● Souths are 8-8 with a 9-7 cover record ● The under is 12-3 in 2026 ● The under hits at 56% when there is a favourite of 4 or more Penrith have an incredible record under Adam Gee and are a bet purely…

Podcast: The Advantage Line | 2026 audio

3 Jul • TAB Staff

Listen to the latest episode of The Advantage Line or check out our earlier episodes. Listen ↑ Watch ↓

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From The Couch: NRL Round 17

1 Jul • Nick Tedeschi

This is your weekly dose of NRL truth-telling, as tipster and rugby league raconteur Nick Tedeschi tears through the good, the bad and the indefensible, with absolutely no regard for bruised egos. We Will Never Forget Laurie Daley Few television programs in history were as poignant or as poetic as the classic coming-of-age drama The Wonder Years. Long after the show ended – and it has almost never been repeated because of the prohibitively high licensing costs of its iconic soundtrack – I still recall the final line soliloquy: “Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you’re in diapers,…

NRL Tips & Preview | Round 17

27 Jun • Nick Tedeschi

We have a full slate of games with all the State of Origin stars on hand and it is a compelling weekend of games that will have a major bearing on the finals hopes of a number of teams including Melbourne, Canterbury and Brisbane sitting out of the Top 8 and looking in. Parramatta Eels vs South Sydney Rabbitohs 9:50pm Thursday | CommBank Stadium, Sydney South Sydney -6.5 ($1.96) Parramatta have been far more resolute of late but it is impossible to look past South Sydney’s domination of the Eels when tackling this game. Souths have won the last three…

NRL Refs Stats That Matter | Round 17

27 Jun • Nick Tedeschi

If you’re not factoring in the referee, you’re missing an edge. Nick Tedeschi breaks down the key officiating trends that matter for Round 17. Parramatta Eels vs South Sydney Rabbitohs 9:50pm Thursday | CommBank Stadium, Sydney Souths -5.5 @ $1.85 & Under 48.5 @ $1.90 Gerard Sutton The Eels are 5-10 with a 6-9 cover record Souths are 11-9 with a 13-7 cover record Road faves cover at 57% The under is 13-7 in Souths games The under is 7-1 in his last eight games Gerard Sutton is an elite front-running referee with road favourites having a particularly strong record.…

From The Couch: NRL Round 16

25 Jun • Nick Tedeschi

This is your weekly dose of NRL truth-telling, as tipster and rugby league raconteur Nick Tedeschi tears through the good, the bad and the indefensible, with absolutely no regard for bruised egos. The First Change That Should Be Made For Origin III Is A New Coach The decision to rehire Laurie Daley was an objectively moronic decision by the NSWRL and one that should have immediately seen the entire board sacked and Dave Trodden driven to the Victorian border and warned that there would be dire consequences if he was to ever find himself north of the Murray. Daley was…