Australian National Rugby League returns – Sean Miller previews the week kicking off with Storm vs Rabbitohs

Have you ever won money overnight?

Sure, all of us have won bets during the afternoon on an NFL game or NCAA contest, or maybe in the evening.

Some of you have probably stayed up late to watch a West Coast Pac-12 contest, willing your bet on to victory.

But there is no satisfaction like waking up to money in your account from a bet you made before you went to sleep.

Productivity while catching Zs: there is nothing better as a bettor.

Well guess what? The Australian National Rugby League (NRL) returns next week, and if you followed this site last year, you know we did pretty well betting on this competition.

Last year, Penrith stormed through the regular season with just one loss and one draw from 20 games, only for the Storm to beat them in the 2020 Grand Final. Melbourne Storm, who finished second in the regular season with a 16-4 record, beat the Panthers 26-20 to claim the title in a fantastic contest. The Storm stormed out to a 22-0 lead at the break, only to have to hold on at the end as the Panthers clawed back with a 20-4 run in the second half.

Melbourne has been in the Grand Final in four of the last five seasons, winning two (2017, 2020), so the Storm will be a good bet each week again in 2021.

But it is Penrith that comes in with the best odds (+400) to win the 2021 Grand Final, ahead of Sydney (+500), Melbourne (+550), and South Sydney (+550). Canberra is the line other team to have odds below 10/1 (+900).

The schedule kicks off early Thursday morning Eastern Time with a doozy: Melbourne hosting the Rabbitohs, in an early top four battle.

Here is the Week 1 schedule, with early odds on each game. Make sure to check back next week as we start picking overnight winners.

NRL WEEK 1 DRAW

Thursday, March 11

Melbourne Storm (-124) vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs (-103), 4:05 a.m. EST

Friday, March 12

Newcastle Knights (-215) vs. Canterbury Bulldogs (+165), 2 a.m. EST

Brisbane Broncos (+230) vs. Parramatta Eels (-315), 4:05 a.m. EST

New Zealand Warriors (+135) vs. Gold Coast Titans (-175), 11 p.m. EST

Saturday, March 13

Sydney Roosters (-305) vs. Manly Sea Eagles (+230), 1:30 a.m. EST

Penrith Panthers (-315) vs. North Queensland Cowboys (+235), 3:35 a.m. EST

Sunday, March 14

Canberra Raiders (-315) vs. Wests Tigers (+240), 12:05 a.m. EST

St. George Illawarra Dragons (+123) vs. Cronulla Sharks (-155), 3:15 a.m. EST