BRONCOS fans will be hoping expected wet weather can bring a change of fortunes for Brisbane when they take on the high-flying New Zealand Warriors in Auckland tomorrow.
Interestingly, Wayne Bennett-coached teams have an excellent record in the wet, so there’s a chance of a late move in the betting market for the Broncos.
However, at least one Ladbrokes punter doesn’t think Brisbane have much hope, placing $ 5000 on the Warriors to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Elsewhere, the North Queensland Cowboys ($ 1.30) are clear favourites to beat the Canterbury Bulldogs ($ 3.70) but punters are treating the struggling Cowboys with caution and the early money has been for the Bulldogs.
Melbourne Storm may have lost two games on the trot in what has been their worst start to a season since 2004 but one Ladbrokes punter remains confident they can become the first team to win back-to-back premierships in the NRL era.
The punter plonked $ 10,000 on Melbourne to win the competition at $ 8 and he will be keen to see the Storm return to winning form against Newcastle tonight.
It hasn’t taken long for punters to regain their faith in Canberra following their win over the Bulldogs last weekend, with the Raiders the best-backed side in the NRL this weekend.
AFL
GEELONG are sitting at 1-2 after three rounds but Ladbrokes customers still believe the Cats can win the AFL premiership.
They were surprisingly the most popular side in premiership betting after last weekend despite going down to the West Coast Eagles and losing a few key players, including Gary Ablett, to injury.
Punters are confident the Cats will return to winning form this week, with Geelong at $ 1.25 to account for a struggling St Kilda, who have drifted out to $ 4.15.
Tonight Adelaide and Collingwood do battle in a rematch of last year’s infamous draw and punters who believe a repeat is on the cards can score juicy odds of $ 34.
The Crows ($ 1.19) are very short to win at home but the early money with Ladbrokes has been for the Magpies ($ 5) to cause an upset and they will likely start shorter than their current odds.
The game of the round promises to be Sunday’s clash between Hawthorn ($ 2.15) and Melbourne ($ 1.73) at the MCG.
SUPER RUGBY
THE Waratahs have won their past seven games against the Reds but the early money suggests that Brad Thorn’s men can end that drought tomorrow night.
NSW are clear favourites at $ 1.30 for the encounter at the SCG but more than 90 per cent of the money has been for the Reds, who have come into $ 3.50 from $ 4.
The Rebels have won their past four games as home favourites.
They are at $ 1.25 to maintain that record when they host the Jaguares tomorrow afternoon.
The Brumbies are massive outsiders at $ 6 to upset the Highlanders ($ 1.13).
The Hurricanes ($ 2.50) top the Ladbrokes Super Rugby betting market from the Crusaders ($ 4), Chiefs ($ 7) and Highlanders ($ 7), before a big gap to the Lions ($ 13) and Waratahs ($ 15).
A-LEAGUE
THE race to the finals is still red-hot heading into the last round of the A-League regular season, with Western Sydney, Brisbane and Perth all still a chance to claim the final top six spot.
The Wanderers host Adelaide United in a match that doesn’t mean a whole lot for the Reds, given they’ve locked in their place in the six and will finish fifth unless the Wanderers are able to beat them by three goals or more.
It should come as no surprise that the Wanderers are the favourites to get the win. Western Sydney have been $ 1.87 into $ 1.73 with Ladbrokes since the start of the week.
Perth, who are $ 3.60 to make the six, host Brisbane tomorrow night in a match both teams need to win to put maximum pressure on the Wanderers.
The Glory are $ 2 to win, having won their past five games as home favourites, while the Roar are at $ 3.25.
Sydney FC are still the favourites in the A-League Championship betting market at $ 1.67, while Newcastle have eased to $ 5.50 following poor results in recent weeks.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
IT HAS already been a wave of gold medals for Australia at the Commonwealth Games and the success should continue when the team sports are decided over the weekend.
The struggles for New Zealand have seen the Diamonds backed into $ 1.05 to win the netball gold medal, with England on the second line of betting at $ 12.
The Boomers ($ 1.05) and the Opals ($ 1.01) are both unbackable favourites to claim their basketball events.
The Boomers were given a genuine scare by New Zealand in the pool stages and the Tall Blacks may represent a touch of value at $ 5.
There isn’t much between Australia ($ 1.60) and New Zealand ($ 2.20) in women’s Rugby Sevens betting, while Australia are on the fifth line of betting at $ 8 in an open men’s Rugby Sevens tournament.
Best bets
Horse racing: Topweights don’t have a great record in the Sydney Cup but Almandin will still be tough to beat. Excellent in the Tancred Stakes, he is the class galloper in this field and he maps to get a lovely run in transit with Damien Oliver.
NRL: The Warriors have won four of their past six games as home favourites and the home side has won 10 of the past 12 between these two teams. The Broncos have won only one of their past six as away underdogs.
AFL: The Swans have won six of their past nine games as away favourites and they have covered the line in each of these wins. The Western Bulldogs beat Essendon last weekend but consistency has been an issue for them.
A-League: Sydney FC have had a clear edge over the Victory and the Victory have failed to win the past seven games played between the two sides. The Sky Blues have won 11 of their past 16 games as home favourites.
