The Cowboys opened round 20 with a clinical performance dismantling a wretched Dogs defence last night and tonight, the Broncos will attempt to keep their top four chances alive. Some heavy favourites will take the field this weekend and punters aren’t expecting too many upsets. Let’s follow that money.
THE BIG FIVE
- $41k Raiders (v Warriors) @ $1.45
- $20k on Broncos -10 (v Panthers) @1.92
- $5k on Penrith Panthers +10 (v Broncos) @ 1.92
- $3k on Storm (v Roosters) @ $1.25
- $2.5k on Broncos (v Panthers) @ 1.30
MULTI MAGIC
- $500 on Cowboys /Broncos/Storm @ $2.36
- $1300 on Broncos / Storm / Sharks / Sydney Swans / West Coast Eagles / Hawthorn @ $2.27
- $615 on Sea Eagles / Broncos / Storm / Cowboys / Raiders / Sharks / Wests Tigers / Highlanders / Crusaders / Titans / Collingwood / Gold Coast Suns / Adelaide Crows @ $912.89
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Last week, the Broncos finally returned to looking a little like the team which for the first part of the season most thought would be premiers. Most punters think they’ll hold that form for at least another round too. Brisbane has been $1.28 out to $1.30 but with a $20k bet on them to beat Penrith by 10 or more, the weight of money is slightly in their favour. The Panthers certainly have their supporters at the head to head ($3.50) and at the +10 line. For me, home ground advantage would have me betting on the Broncos.
CAPITAL GAINS
The Green Machine from the nation’s capital is very well fancied to keep its quest for a top four finish rolling, despite being slightly easy in the market. One punter is so keen on the Raiders, he unloaded $41k on them to beat the Warriors at $1.45, only to see them ease to $1.50. New Zealand has been $1.75 to $1.65 and, while they haven’t attracted a heap of interest, there is a reasonable number of punters who think they are capable of causing an upset.
STORMING HOME
Vying with the seemingly unstoppable Cronulla for the minor premiership, the Storm has a tougher run home than the Sharks but this one looks one of the easier matches. For that reason, Melbourne has been the most popular team with punters this round. There has been plenty of punters happy to take the short odds in the head to head ($1.22 out to $1.25) but it’s multi betting where they are seen as the banker. The Storm has been taken through 90 per cent of NRL multis this weekend, with the Roosters not attracting a lot of interest despite firming ever so lightly from $4.25 to $4.10.
FIRE WITH NO FARAH
Robbie Farah has been dumped and, while not a massive betting match to date, his axing has seen money come for Wests. The odds might suggest it has gone the other way, with the Dragons $2.60 into $2.55 and the Tigers $1.50 out to $1.53, but I can assure you the weight of money, while not earth shattering, is indeed in the Tigers favour.
RABBIT HUNT
The Rabbitohs season has gone from bad to worse to terrible this season and, after being beaten up by Brisbane last round, have been friendless in betting for their match up with Manly, who sit one spot ahead of them on the NRL ladder. The Sea Eagles have been $2 out to $2.20 with a small move for Manly seeing them firm up from $1.82 to $1.70. The Bunnies have been the least backed team of round 20. Not at all surprising.
SMALL HITS
Cronulla expected to continue its winning ways against the Knights but, in a low interest game in terms of punting, there are a number who have been happy to take the $11 on offer for the Knights.
Money split 50/50 early on in the Eels versus Titans match, but with even more going wrong for Parramatta, it would be a brave punter who sided with Parra this weekend.