Rugby League

From The Couch: NRL Round 12

From The Couch: NRL Round 12

• 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. Abdo Out Andrew Abdo has quit as CEO of the NRL, ending his six-year run as the puppet of Peter V’Landys. Abdo is off to Tennis Australia, something that will more likely suit his sensibilities. While the game has experienced tremendous growth and significant improvement in its finances during his time in charge, it is hard to give Abdo credit for any of it given it has been…
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NRL Tips & Preview | Round 12

NRL Tips & Preview | Round 12

• Nick Tedeschi
Origin season is upon us and the first of the impacted rounds is here with just five games and all the Origin stars missing on a weekend that still holds plenty of importance to the teams still playing. Canberra Raiders vs Dolphins 9:50pm Thursday | GIO Stadium, Canberra Dolphins +3.5 ($1.90)  The Dolphins are missing a host of players to Queensland  led by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow while Herbie Farnworth was ruled out soon after teams were announced but no out will have as much significance in this one as the absence of Hudson Young for Canberra. The Raiders win at 57% and…
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NRL Refs Stats That Matter | Round 12

NRL Refs Stats That Matter | Round 12

• 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 12. Canberra Raiders vs Dolphins 9:50pm Thursday | GIO Stadium, Canberra Dolphins +3.5 @ $1.94 Todd Smith Canberra are 6-8 with a 6-8 cover record Dolphins are 7-3 with an 8-2 cover record Faves cover at just 46% The over hits at 55% in all Smith games The Dolphins have an outstanding record under Todd Smith while outsiders have a strong enough winning edge to make the Phins a play this week. Ref Lean: Dolphins +3.5 (Large)…
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From The Couch: Casey McGuire Edition

From The Couch: Casey McGuire Edition

• 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. Casey McGuire Now A Blue At 46 And Other Moronic Decisions From Laurie Daley One would have thought that losing four series out of five and guiding the Blues to their worst attacking record under any coach would have been enough to see Laurie Daley consigned to the scrapheap of history. When followed up by losing a series as a short-priced favourite when astonishingly recalled, one would have…
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NRL Tips & Preview | Magic Round

NRL Tips & Preview | Magic Round

• Nick Tedeschi
Magic Round is upon us with all eyes on Brisbane for three wonderful days of action where the Rugby League world comes together for a fiesta of football. Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury Bulldogs 8:00pm Friday | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Under 50.5 ($1.90) Two desperate teams open up Magic Round with Cronulla and Canterbury being two of the major disappointments in 2026. The Sharks sit 10th on the ladder and a team that has long prided itself on defence has conceded 20-plus in seven of nine. The Bulldogs sit 13th having conceded 28-plus in five of their last six. In such…
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Magic Eye: The Facts and Figures of Magic Round

Magic Eye: The Facts and Figures of Magic Round

• Nick Tedeschi
Magic Round is upon us and our stats team has dug through the five post-Covid editions to see what tidbits of treasure could be found. Teams That Love Magic Round The only team to win all five Magic Round games since 2021 is Ricky Stuart’s Canberra Raiders. The Raiders covered three of those. Four of those wins have been in one-score games. Unfortunately for bettors, the Raiders have a bye this week. Newcastle have won and covered three straight Magic Round games with a bye in 2023. Penrith have won and covered four of their last five Magic Round games…
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NRL Refs Stats That Matter | Magic Round

NRL Refs Stats That Matter | Magic Round

• 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 11. Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury Bulldogs 8:00pm Friday | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Cronulla -4.5 @ $1.85  Gerard Sutton  Cronulla are 11-8 with a 10-9 against the spread record  Canterbury are 5-8 with a 7-6 cover record  Favourites of 4 or more cover at 55%  Teams 13th or worse cover at 33%  Gerard Sutton is one of the biggest favourite referees in the NRL while bottom wrung teams rarely perform to market expectations on his watch.   Ref Lean: Cronulla -4.5 (Large) @ $1.85  Bet Now South Sydney…
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From The Couch: NRL Round 10

From The Couch: NRL Round 10

• 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. Best and Worst Recruits of 2026 – Early Edition We are 10 weeks into the season and it is time to pass judgment on who has recruited well and who has not. The Best Trey Mooney (New): Scored five tries, topped 115m three times and has 17 tackle breaks, a great return for a player signed from reserve grade. Kai Pearce-Paul (Tig): Flying on an edge for the…
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