Finals football may be a whole new competition but according to online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au you need to be in the top 4 to have a chance at premiership glory.

Sportsbet is offering $1.28 for any of the top 4 teams (Roosters, Manly, Rabbitohs, Panthers) to take out the title, with $3.50 for a side outside the top 4 (Cowboys,Storm, Bulldogs, Broncos) to become the first team to win the Grand Final from that position under the current finals format.

The Roosters remain premiership favourites at $3.00 ahead of the Rabbitohs ($3.50) and Manly ($7.00). All three will get a second bite at the cherry having finished in the all-important top 4.

“For a team outside the top 4 to win the comp, they’ll need to win 4 matches in a row against quality opposition. Clearly that’s not an easy assignment but the Storm and Cowboys appear the best equipped to make a run in September,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Christian Jantzen.

Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

Premiers Top 4 or Bottom 4

$1.28   Top 4 (Roosters/Manly/Rabbitohs/Panthers)  

$3.50   Bottom 4 (Cowboys/Storm/Bulldogs/Broncos)

Grand Final Winner

(prices in brackets from 10/9/14)

$3.00   Roosters         (out from $2.90)

$3.50   Rabbitohs        (in from $3.75)

$7.00   Manly              (out from $6.00)

$7.50   Cowboys          (out from $5.50)

$8.00   Storm              (out from $7.50)

$15      Panthers          (steady)

$34      Broncos           (out from $26)

$41      Bulldogs          (out from $34)