NRL | Round 9

alphr.com.au

CBY
Bulldogs
VS
NQL
Cowboys
ACCOR STADIUM, SYDNEY • FRIDAY 1 MAY, 6:00 PM

AI Win Probability

58%BulldogsFavourite

Bulldogs

58%

Cowboys

42%

AI Match Overview

Bulldogs hold the advantage at 58% win probability, though Cowboys are far from out of this at 42%. Cowboys are stronger on paper across 5 of 7 key factors — including ELO Difference, Forward Pack and Backline Quality — but Bulldogs counter with Referee Tendency and Venue Advantage which tips the scales. Cowboys carry a 45-point ELO rating advantage (1476 vs 1430). Recent form favours Cowboys with 4 wins from their last 5 compared to 2 for Bulldogs.

Generated from model features • Pre-kick-off analysis

Edge Analysis

Each market is predicted by an independent model — H2H, margin, and totals may occasionally disagree.

H2H Recommendation

Bulldogs to Win @1.74

Edge

+2.8%

Line / Spread

Cowboys +2.5 @1.91

Edge

+0.0%

Margin Band

Cowboys 1-12 @2.55

Edge

+0.0%

Total Points

Under 50.5 @1.91

Edge

+0.0%

Form & History

TeamLast 5Avg Pts
Bulldogs
R4L
R5L
R6W
R7L
R8L

older → newer

21.2
Cowboys
R4W
R5W
R6W
R7L
R8W
26.2

Avg Conceded

24.0

Bulldogs

21.8

Cowboys

Avg Margin

-2.8

Bulldogs

4.4

Cowboys

Run Metres

1743

Bulldogs

1946

Cowboys

Line Breaks

5.2

Bulldogs

7.0

Cowboys

Referee Indicator

Favours Cowboys

Peter Gough

180 career games · since 2012

AI Analysis

Win rate when Peter Gough refs each team (vs any opponent)

Bulldogs
10W – 18L
36%
Cowboys
16W – 9L
64%

When Peter Gough officiates, Cowboys have won 16 of 25 games (64%) — significantly stronger than Bulldogs's 10 from 28 (36%).

Avg Total

44.3 pts

Home Win %

53%

Home Bias

Leans home

Penalty & Discipline

Pen / Game

13.1

Sin Bins / Gm

0.43

SB Away %

60%

Avg Penalties Per Game

vs Home Teams6.1
vs Away Teams7

Penalty Advantage Under This Ref

Positive = opponent penalised more than your team

Bulldogs
-0.6
Cowboys
-0.5

Peter Gough averages 13.1 penalties per game — above the league norm. Expect frequent stoppages. Penalises away teams more — 6.1 against home vs 7 against away.

H2H History (Last 5)Cowboys lead 3-2
Jul 2025CBY 12 - 8 NQL
Sep 2024CBY 6 - 44 NQL
Jul 2024CBY 18 - 20 NQL
Apr 2023CBY 15 - 14 NQL
Aug 2022CBY 14 - 28 NQL
Prediction BreakdownPure Alpha Model

ELO–Market Disagreement

Cowboys hold the ELO advantage (1476 vs 1430), but the market favours Bulldogs (@1.74).

The model sides with the market — other factors override the ELO gap.

📊Team ELO Ratings

CBY
1430Overall1476
NQL
ELO difference: -45 in favour of Cowboys

🏈Positional Matchups

Player ELO aggregated by position group — higher = stronger unit

901Forwards1001
NQL +100
921Backs1009
NQL +87
961Halves994
NQL +33
929Hooker947
NQL +18

📈Recent Form (Last 5)

CBY
Stat
NQL
2.0
Wins (Last 5)
4.0
21.2pts
Avg Score
26.2pts
24.0pts
Avg Conceded
21.8pts
-2.8pts
Avg Margin
4.4pts
1742.6m
Run Metres
1945.8m
5.2
Line Breaks
7.0
300.0
Tackles
300.0
12.0
Errors
12.0

🔑Key Prediction Factors

What the model weighted most in this prediction

1
ELO Difference14.0%
Cowboys
2
Forward Pack12.0%
Cowboys
3
Backline Quality10.0%
Cowboys
4
Halves Control9.0%
Cowboys
5
Recent Win Rate9.0%
Cowboys
6
Referee Tendency7.0%
Bulldogs
7
Venue Advantage7.0%
Bulldogs

Model Confidence

58%

Bulldogs predicted to win by 0 points

Predicted total: 46 · Line: -0.5

Scorer Markets

Anytime Try Scorer

Model probability vs Sportsbet overlay, ranked by edge.

8 Plays
Braidon BurnsCowboys
backFair 1.602+ 26%
$1.88
+9.2% edge
Model
62%
Market
53%
Confidence
62%
Jaxon PurdueCowboys
backFair 1.832+ 19%
$2.12
+7.4% edge
Model
55%
Market
47%
Confidence
55%
Scott DrinkwaterCowboys
backFair 2.062+ 14%
$2.20
+3.2% edge
Model
49%
Market
45%
Confidence
49%
Jacob PrestonBulldogs
forwardFair 2.142+ 13%
$2.12
-0.5% edge
Model
47%
Market
47%
Confidence
47%
Tom ChesterCowboys
backFair 3.722+ 4%
$2.90
-7.6% edge
Model
27%
Market
34%
Confidence
27%
Bronson XerriBulldogs
backFair 3.342+ 5%
$2.55
-9.3% edge
Model
30%
Market
39%
Confidence
30%
Jonathan SuaBulldogs
backFair 2.492+ 9%
$1.76
-16.7% edge
Model
40%
Market
57%
Confidence
40%
Enari TualaBulldogs
backFair 4.012+ 3%
$1.82
-30.0% edge
Model
25%
Market
55%
Confidence
25%
Scorer Markets

First Try Scorer

Team-normalised first-try share using the current lineups and opposition defence profile.

5 Plays
Braidon BurnsCowboys
backFair 5.682+ 26%
$10.00
+7.6% edge
Model
18%
Market
10%
Confidence
18%
Jaxon PurdueCowboys
backFair 7.042+ 19%
$12.00
+5.9% edge
Model
14%
Market
8%
Confidence
14%
Scott DrinkwaterCowboys
backFair 8.352+ 14%
$13.00
+4.3% edge
Model
12%
Market
8%
Confidence
12%
Jacob PrestonBulldogs
forwardFair 8.182+ 13%
$11.00
+3.1% edge
Model
12%
Market
9%
Confidence
12%
Bronson XerriBulldogs
backFair 14.452+ 5%
$14.00
-0.2% edge
Model
7%
Market
7%
Confidence
7%