Confidence is high that the Eels will back-up their strong pre-season and be NRL premiership contenders.
Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au has the Broncos as $5.00 favourites for the title.
The Brisbane outfit is the best backed, but the Eels, despite being down the list at $15, are the second best backed side overall – attracting more money than Premiers North Queensland – and are nearing a $400,000 loser for Sportsbet.
The Broncos are $1.65 favourites to beat the Eels ($2.30) in the season opener on Thursday, with 41% of the money on the Eels to cause the upset.
The Rabbitohs may be out of debt, but the money is not pouring in to support their title quest, with 92% of money on wagered on their season wins market going on under 13.5.
“The Eels always promise plenty, but rarely deliver and it appears their supporters have fallen into the trap again attracting more money than defending champions the Cowboys,’’ said sportsbet.com.au’s Will Byrne.
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Grand Final Winner
$5.00 Brisbane Broncos
$8.00 North Queensland Cowboys
$8.00 New Zealand Warriors
$9.00 Manly Sea Eagles
$13 Sydney Roosters
$14 Melbourne Storm
$15 Cronulla Sharks
$15 South Sydney
$15 Parramatta Eels
$17 Canterbury Bulldogs
$21 Penrith Panthers
$26 Canberra Raiders
$34 St. George Illawarra Dragons
$81 Newcastle Knights
$101 Wests Tigers
$201 Gold Coast Titans
South Sydney Season Wins
$1.80 Under 13.5
$1.95 Over 13.5
