Three rounds in, one team sits alone at the top of the ladder but isn’t the only undefeated side in the competition. Sounds like a riddle for a primary school maths class. Alas, it’s what happens when a round of upsets leaves punters licking their wounds. Of course Canberra couldn’t beat the hapless Knights, escaping with a draw and thus taking outright second. Melbourne is all alone on top after travelling across the ditch and extending the Warriors woes. The Broncos should really be right up there with them if not for a serious case of narcolepsy against the Panthers, who were our best backed outsider in last week’s Ladbrokes League Lowdown.
THE BIG FIVE
- $10k on Cowboys + 3.5 line (v Broncos) @ $1.92
- $10k on Bulldogs (v Rabbitohs) @ $1.55
- $5k on Gold Coast (v Raiders) @ $3.00
- $5k on Tigers (v Eels) @ $2.75
- $3k on Roosters (v Sea Eagles) @ $2.40
ROUND FOUR
The AFL took the Thursday night spot for its season opener but the NRL has Good Friday all to itself. And it looks a bloody great Friday to be honest, with a double header to park yourself in front of.
ARE THE EASTER BUNNIES COMING?
South Sydney were very popular Easter Bunnies before last weekend’s horror show against the Dragons. They were $1.87 to beat the Bulldogs before that loss and, more crucially, the loss of Sam Burgess, since then they’ve been as popular as a seagull at a picnic.
Canterbury has now launched into favouritism at $1.55 with the Rabbits on the nose and out to $2.55 with a line of 4.5.
As you can see in the big bets above, one punter has been more than happy to take the short price on the Dogs to bite the bunnies.
RIDE THOSE COWBOYS
All eyes will be on Suncorp Stadium tonight for the grand final replay and there’s been plenty of money to suggest it will be a similar result as last October.
The Cowboys will start outsiders but have been very well backed with the line shortening from 3.5 to 2.5 with one punter having a cool $10k at the former.
The Broncos have been solid at $1.70 but North Queensland is closing, in from $2.25 to $2.20.
STRENGTH IN THE TITANS
Gold Coast has been a bit of a surprise packet this season having lost only to the ladder leading Storm. Can’t help but feel they are being carried by those LADBROKES logos on the back and sleeve. Looks great, doesn’t it?
Anyway, there are plenty who think the Titans form is sustainable, at least in the short term, as the lads from the ‘Sunshine Strip’ have been our best backed outsider.
They’re $3 in to $2.65 including a ballsy bet of $5k at the $3 quote.
A DOZEN AND DONE?
I realise I am looking at it through one eye, but I can’t quite believe the Storm started outsiders against the Warriors last week. They’ve now lost 11 straight games and yet, due to the fact they are at home to the Knights, will start a red hot $1.25 favourite this round. But do you think anyone in their right mind is touching them? Nope. They have been absolutely friendless in betting and rightly so. If they lose this one, it’d be a fair bet Andrew McFadden will be scanning seek.com on Monday.