The outbreak of boils at the Wests Tigers has seen a huge go for the Dragons with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au – five times the money has been popped on the Red V to win Sunday’s clash between the two sides.
With the lancing of the Tigers hopes, the Dragons are one of several teams NRL punters have labelled certainties ahead of tomorrow night’s season opener. Here’s a preview of what they’re thinking just 24 hours from kick-off.
Round 1 preview:
· Bunnies v Chooks: $2.12 outsiders when betting opened, punters have crunched the Roosters into $1.70 with three times the money on them compared to the Rabbits ($2.15)
· Bulldogs v Broncos: Money is coming in 2 to 1 in favour of the away side Brisbane despite being $2.55 outsiders. Ben Barba is the $10 first try scorer favourite
· Panthers v Knights: The Penny Panthers are the best backed side of all to make the top 8 this season. As a result, their price has shortened from $2.90 into $2.00. They’re $1.77 favourites to beat Newcastle
· Manly v Storm: Punters torn having wagered the same amount of both sides. Sportsbet has Manly clear favourites at $1.53
· Cowboys v Raiders: No takers for the Raiders, who at $3.50, are at the biggest odds of any side to win in round 1. Cowboys heavily backed and are into $1.30
· Dragons v Tigers: Dragons have ballooned from $1.64 only a few weeks ago out to $1.90, the same quote as the Tigers. Despite money 5 to 1 in their favour, Sportsbet calls it a toss of the coin match
· Eels v Warriors: Outside the Roosters, the Warriors are the only other away team to start favourites. Money 3 to 1 in their favour
· Sharks v Titans: Punters give the Titans a huge hope of an upset with money slightly in their favour. They’re $2.37 outsiders
In premiership betting, punters have opened the flood gates on the Roosters going back-to-back, with the Chooks firming from $5.00 into $4.50 but it’s the money for the Cowboys which has caught the eye with the North Queensland based side, which is paying $15, now the second best backed team to win the comp.
The Tigers, $4.25 favourites to collect the wooden spoon, continue to get backed to run last with Dragons ($5.00), Raiders ($5.00) and Broncos ($21) also on the nose with punters.
And punters have declared it a two-horse race for the Dally M between Greg Inglis ($8.00) and Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans ($9.00).
“We knew the Tigers were on the boil but this is getting ridiculous. Punters are adamant the Tigers bubble will burst as early as round 1!” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Round 1
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters
$2.15 South Sydney Rabbitohs
$1.70 Sydney Roosters
Canterbury Bulldogs v Brisbane Broncos
$1.55 Canterbury Bulldogs
$2.45 Brisbane Broncos
Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights
$1.77 Penrith Panthers
$2.05 Newcastle Knights
Manly Sea Eagles v Melbourne Storm
$1.53 Manly Sea Eagles
$2.50 Melbourne Storm
North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders
$1.30 North Queensland Cowboys
$3.50 Canberra Raiders
St. George Illawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers
$1.90 St. George Illawarra Dragons
$1.90 Wests Tigers
Parramatta Eels v New Zealand Warriors
$2.25 Parramatta Eels
$1.65 New Zealand Warriors
Cronulla Sharks v Gold Coast Titans
$1.58 Cronulla Sharks
$2.37 Gold Coast Titans
2014 NRL Grand Final winner
$4.50 Sydney Roosters (in from $5.00)
$6.00 South Sydney Rabbitohs (in from $7.00)
$8.50 Manly Sea Eagles (steady)
$9.00 Melbourne Storm (steady)
$14 Canterbury Bulldogs (steady)
$15 North Queensland Cowboys (steady)
$15 New Zealand Warriors (in from $17)
$21 Newcastle Knights (out from $19)
$21 Penrith Panthers (out from $19)
$23 Cronulla Sharks (steady)
$26 Brisbane Broncos (out from $21)
$41 St. George Illawarra Dragons (out from $29)
$41 Gold Coast Titans (steady)
$41 Parramatta Eels (steady)
$51 Canberra Raiders (steady)
2014 Dally M Medal winner
$8.00 Greg Inglis (steady)
$9.00 Daly Cherry-Evans (steady)
$10 Jonathan Thurston (steady)
$10 Sonny Bill Williams (steady)
$14 Cooper Cronk (out from $9.00)
$15 Anthony Milford (steady)
$15 Ben Barba (steady)
$15 Cameron Smith (steady)
$15 Shaun Johnson (steady)
$15 Todd Carney (steady)
—————————————————————-
$21 Sam Tomkins (steady)
$26 Albert Kelly (steady)
$34 Sam Burgess (steady)
$41 Isaac Luke (steady)
$51 Jamie Soward (steady)
$51 Will Hopoate (steady)
$151 James Tedesco (steady)
2014 NRL – Least wins
$4.25 Wests Tigers
$5.00 Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels
$6.00 St. George Illawarra Dragons
$9.00 Gold Coast Titans
$13 Cronulla Sharks
$21 Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers
$26 North Queensland Cowboys
$29 Canterbury Bulldogs
$81 Manly Sea Eagles
$81 Melbourne Storm
$101 South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney Roosters
