It’s been a fairly regulation start to season 2016 with the Broncos seemingly doing things quite easily, Newcastle and the Dragons not so and the Storm quietly going about their business. The only real surprise has been Wests Tigers going two and zip to start the season and perhaps the Cowboys dropping a match against the Eels last week.
THE BIG FIVE
- $11k on Canterbury -3.5 (v Parramatta) @ $1.92
- $10k on North Queensland -12 (v Sydney Roosters) @ $1.92
- $5k on Canberra -4 (v Newcastle) @ $1.92
- $5k on Canberra (v Newcastle) @ $1.60
- $5k on South Sydney (v St George Illawarra) @ $1.48
MULTI MAGIC
- $5k on Raiders/Broncos/Rabbitohs @ $3.31
HAIL MARY
- $500 on Kane Linnett (North Queensland v Sydney Roosters) 1st try @ $12
- $500 on Moses MBye (Canterbury v Parramatta) 1st try @ $29
THE ROUND OPENER
Having dropped last week’s game to Parramatta there aren’t too many pundits who think the reigning premiers will slip up again tonight when they return home to Townsville.
The Cowboys have been very solid all week; with a handful of punters so confident they stroll past the winless Roosters, the line of -12 has been attacked with force.
One Ladbrokes customer has had $10k at the line while another has put down $5k on the Cowboys doing it ever so comfortably.
The $500 bet of Kane Linnett for first try scorer at $12 (mentioned above) certainly seems a little quirky but, then again, high risk can equal high reward. For those not so great at maths, that’s a $6k collect if Kane crosses first.
THE REST
Canberra has by far been the best backed team of the round with punters unable to see just how the Knights can get themselves on the board in 2016. So confident is one man, he has placed two seperate $5k bets on the Raiders, one at the -4 point line and another in the head to head market at $1.60. If they cover it off, he’ll pocket a cool $17,600.
If you’re looking to follow the money to a round three upset then the best backed outsider has surprisingly been Penrith to beat the Broncos. The questions marks over whether Anthony Milford will actually play have most likely played a part in many of the Panther wagers.
Not surprisingly, given how well backed the Raiders have been, the Knights have been almost friendless in the betting with Ladbrokes barely taking a bet on the cellar dwellers, while the Roosters and Sea Eagles, also at the wrong end of the table, have also had very little support.
The Storm travel across the ditch to play New Zealand and will start a slight outsider in what is a reasonably tight market. Looking long term though and their price has remained rock solid at $11 for the premiership despite Billy Slater’s season ending injury. I guess that’s an indication Billy’s best could well be behind him and Cameron Munster is a more than capable back up. We only need to look at last Sunday’s match against the Titans to see that.