Distance, a steep learning curve and time-zone differences have made it hard for Australian sports to make an impact in the United States, but there’s been some gathering momentum in the past few years.
The Australian Football League (AFL) and cricket have slowly but surely begun to find footholds in the U.S., and this weekend the National Rugby League (NRL) is opening its season with a doubleheader at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The NRL is the most popular rugby league in Australia and differs slightly from Rugby Union.
Rugby League is a quicker, more pace-oriented game compared to Union, which focuses on physicality and tactics.
There are differences in scoring, too.
A try is worth four points in League, the conversion (basically a PAT) is worth two, and a drop-kick is worth one.
Callum Gromek of the Roosters celebrates scoring a try during the NRL Pre-season challenge match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters. Getty Images The doubleheader gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET with two Sydney clubs, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, doing battle before the Brisbane Broncos take on the Sydney Roosters at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET.
This is the opening weekend of a new season played in a neutral site halfway around the world, so there should be plenty of variance in these matchups.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
However, ELO ratings (a catch-all stat used to create power ratings) from Massey Ratings suggest there’s slight value on the Over 41.5 and the Rabbitohs moneyline in the first leg of the twin bill.
The ELO models like the Sydney Roosters and Over 39.5 in the second game.
The plays: Rabbitohs (-120) over Sea Eagles; Roosters (+150) over Broncos.
Tickets for the NRL matches are available and can be purchased through Ticketmaster, with the prices starting as low as $19 Seats in the lower tier start from $39 and go up to $189 for club seats.
The first of the two matches begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time and can be seen on “Watch NRL,’’ a streaming app.
The doubleheader will be shown in the U.S. on FS1.
