Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au may need to reach for the tissues to wipe the egg off its face if the Newcastle Jets can escape the A-League wooden spoon this weekend.
When Nathan Tinkler put the broom through the Jets roster and coaching staff earlier this year, Sportsbet paid out in full all bets on the Jets to run last.
The problem is, they might not finish on the bottom. If the Jets can beat Brisbane on Friday night, the Wanderers will collect the spoon if they can’t beat Perth on Saturday, meaning Sportsbet will also have to pay out anyone who backed Tony Popovic’s side.
As it stands, the Jets are priced at $1.11 to win the spoon, but the Wanderers are still in the running at $6.00.
“When Nathan Tinkler sacked 5 players and 3 of his coaching staff, we thought it was safe to pay out on the Jets to win the spoon but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Punters who’ve taken the Wanderers to come last will certainly be hoping we were wrong,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Christian Jantzen.
Newcastle are $3.75 outsiders against the Roar while the Wanderers are $2.20 favourites up against a Glory side with nothing to play for.
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au:
A-League Wooden Spoon
$1.11 Newcastle Jets
$6.00 Western Sydney Wanderers
Brisbane v Newcastle
$1.80 Brisbane Roar
$3.70 Draw
$3.75 Newcastle Jets
Western Sydney v Perth
$2.20 Western Sydney Wanderers
$3.40 Draw
$3.10 Perth Glory
