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Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos NRL Betting Tips - Broncos backed to cover in Round 25

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Ryan Tucker
Editor
Last updated: Wed 19 Aug 2026 17:04
The Canberra Raiders face the Brisbane Broncos in a matchup expected to be closer than the odds suggest, with the Broncos given a +10.5 underdog line. Historically, four of their last five encounters have been decided by 11 points or fewer. Despite Brisbane's poor form, their matches remain competitive, and the Raiders also tend to win by narrow margins. Betting value lies with Brisbane +10.5, under 51.5 points total, and anytime tryscorer markets: Jed Stuart (Canberra) and Xavier Willison (Brisbane).
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Ryan Tucker 19 Aug 2026
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  • Broncos recommended at +10.5 as most recent games are close
  • Under 51.5 total points suggested, given both teams' records
  • Jed Stuart (Raiders) & Xavier Willison (Broncos) are strong anytime tryscorer picks
brisbane broncos
Brisbane Broncos to cover the line (Getty Images)

Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos Verdict


The Broncos have a +10.5 start on the line and they are value to stay within that. The Raiders rarely blow opposition away and if they do win it could be by 10 points or less once again. 

  • Brisbane have lost 12 of their last 13 games, but 6 of their last 10 matches have still finished with a margin of 10 points or fewer, making the +10.5 head start a genuine number play.
  • Canberra are alive in the finals race after beating Cronulla 24-20, but 6 of their 10 wins this season have also stayed inside a 10-point margin.
  • Jed Stuart has scored 5 tries in his last 5 games.
  • Brisbane were held to 6 points last week despite 41 tackles in the opposition 20, so the attacking execution has to improve, but Walsh's absence also supports a more conservative under 51.5 game script.

Head to Head


Canberra have won two of the last five games against Brisbane, but the margins tell the better story for this betting angle. 

Four of those five meetings have been decided by 11 points or fewer, including a 29-28 Brisbane win in Canberra last season and a 32-22 Raiders win earlier in 2025.

The Broncos smashed the Raiders 34-10 in 2024, but that is the only recent blowout in this matchup. 

Canberra Raiders Form


Canberra kept their season alive with a 24-20 upset over Cronulla last week, and it was one of their better grind-out performances of the season. 

They led 18-14 at halftime, then Joseph Tapine pushed through five defenders in the second half to score the try that ultimately gave them the win.

The concern with Canberra is consistency. They have averaged 31.2 points scored across their last five games, but that is dragged up by one huge win, and they rank only 11th in points scored and 13th in Run Metres. 

The defence is also middle of the pack, ranking 11th in points allowed, so laying a big number still feels dangerous.

Brisbane Broncos Form


Brisbane's 40-6 loss to the Warriors last week was another low point in a nightmare premiership defence. 

They trailed 20-0 at halftime, were down 36-0 before Xavier Willison scored in the 64th minute, and lost Reece Walsh to a syndesmosis injury that leaves them reshuffling again.

The weird part is that Brisbane actually created enough field position to be better than the final score. They had 41 tackles in the opposition 20 and an expected set points figure of 28.7, yet only scored once. 

That points to poor execution, but it also suggests the Broncos are not as hopeless in yardage and territory as the scoreboard made them look.

Verdict

Take Brisbane +10.5 and the Game Total under 51.5. Jed Stuart is the Canberra tryscorer play, while Xavier Willison is the Brisbane anytime option after crossing in three of his last five games.
Best Bet1: Brisbane +10.5 Line @9/10 at bet365 - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Under 51.5 Game Total @8/9 at dabble - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Jed Stuart Anytime Tryscorer @21/20 at Star Sports - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Xavier Willison Anytime Tryscorer @11/2 at Ken Howells - 1 Unit
Brisbane +10.5
Line
@9/10 - 3 Units
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Bet at bet365
Under 51.5
Game Total
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Jed Stuart
Anytime Tryscorer
@21/20 - 1 Unit
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Xavier Willison
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ryan-tucker
Ryan Tucker

Sports Editor & Betting Analyst • Australian Sports Specialist & Betting Model Expert

Ryan's love for sport traverses many countries and cultures. From humble beginnings in Western Sydney growing up playing and refereeing Rugby League to running European wide Australian Rules Football tournaments there is a mountain of experience in between. 


Multiple trips to North America has also deepened the love for the four major US sports and a continuing dream to catch as much live action as possible.

Stats and data analysis has now outgrown the hobby tag and the countless models and simulations are now being put to good use writing previews and predictions for NRL.

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