With the NRL 2010 campaign due to kick off on March 12th Sportsbet.com.au have installed the Parramatta Eels as their favourites to win the Grand Final.

The Eels, who finished eighth on the ladder after the regular rounds, before going on a superb run in the play-offs which saw them fall at the final hurdle as they went down 23-16 to the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final.

Parramatta (5.50A$ to win the Grand Final) have recruited well in the off-season with coach Daniel Anderson swooping for Justin Poore from St George Illawarra, Shane Shackleton from Sydney Roosters and Timana Tahu from the NSW Waratahs rugby union club.

Last year’s champions the Melbourne Storm, who defeated Super League club Leeds Rhinos on Sunday night in England to win the World Club Challenge, are second favourites to retain their crown at 7.00.

St George, who won the Minor Premiership in 2009 but failed to spark in the play-offs, are fourth favourites at 9.00 to win the competition, but they could struggle this season following the departures of Poore, Chase Stanley (Melbourne) and the retirement of legend Wendell Sailor.

At the other end of the spectrum the Cronulla Sharks and Canberra Raiders are joint-favourites to collect the wooden spoon at 6.00, while the Sharks are 41.00 to win the tournament with the Raiders on offer at 34.00.

A dark horse for the Grand Final this season has to be the Wests Tigers, with the news that Benji Marshall has signed a contract for life and with Gareth Ellis firing on all cylinders the Tigers are a good bet at 13.00 to win the tournament they won for the first and last time in 2005.

For a list of all NRL odds go to Sportsbet.com.au.