We are yet to see a side make a break for it at the top of the table but one feels the Broncos can gain a nice little kicker to their point differential against the Dragons at Suncorp tonight. There’s been more than a fair share of upsets this season, while the continued good form of the Titans has been a surprise in itself. Form, however, can be fleeting and that’s why we have the Ladbrokes Lowdown here, to help you follow the money.
THE BIG FIVE
Quite often we see a large number of the bigger bets for the weekend come for Thursday night footy, which is largely a by-product of writing this column on a Thursday afternoon when the focus of punters is on the next match. With a potential rout and subsequent short quote for Brisbane tonight, said punters have decided to look further ahead – the biggest bet here aside, of course.
- $15k on Brisbane (v St George) @ $1.18
- $11k Manly +8.5 line (v NZ Warriors) @ $1.90
- $5k Manly (v NZ Warriors) @ $3.20
- $5k Wests Tigers (v Newcastle) @ $1.87
- $3k on Rabbitohs 13+ margin (v Roosters) $2.60
MULTI MAGIC
- $10k on Broncos/Cowboys @ $1.95
DRAGON SLAYING AT SUNCORP
Upsets happen in football; it’s part of the game, but even the most ardent St George supporter would be fearful of what might happen to the Dragons at the hands of the Broncos tonight. Ladbrokes has barely taken a bet on the visitors whilst the Broncos have been backed and backed and backed again. Head to head, line, at the 13+ and as an anchor in multis; you name it, the punters have wagered on it. While the line has remained solid at 14 all week, I can almost guarantee the continued stream of money will see it edge even further out by kickoff.
And what might happen immediately after the kickoff? Well, one punter is hoping Ben Hunt can cross first having wagered $500 on him to do so at $17. A little quirky and a lot ballsy. I like it.
SEA EAGLES TO TAKE FLIGHT ACROSS THE TASMAN?
Because it would make this long and a little boring, we don’t touch on every game across the weekend here at the Ladbrokes Lowdown, but we do generally like to include the best matches with the biggest betting fluctuations, the best back teams and the best backed outsiders. Well, this week, the League Lowdown will be shorter and potentially sweeter if they pull it off because Manly accounts for almost all three of those categories. With the exception of the Broncos tonight, the Sea Eagles, having narrowly missed taking the points against the Bunnies last week, have been sensationally backed to upset the ever wobbling Warriors across the ditch.
Courtesy of a great record over there, the Sea Eagles have been $3.20 in to $2.90 and continually shortening while, like a seagull on a hot chip, the line has also been attacked by savvy punters, firming from +8.5 to its current mark of +6.5.
RAIDING FULL POINTS TWO WEEKS IN A ROW?
Having stunned the ladder leading Bulldogs on Monday night, Canberra has been backed to cause another boiler this weekend against the Eels. Having gone up as $2.80 outsiders, the Raiders have firmed to $2.55 and have been far more attractive to punters than Parramatta which, given the price and effort on Monday night, is hardly surprising.
BARELY A CRUMPET ON CRONULLA
For the second week in succession, Ladbrokes punters are keeping clear of Cronulla. Well, to be more specific, the match they are involved in. Last week, people were very wary of placing some hard earned either way in the match between the Sharks and Tigers and this week, up against the Titans, it’s a case of history repeating with neither side attracting a great deal of interest.