The Cronulla Sharks and Auckland Vulcans have been installed as joint $4.25 favourites with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to take out the 2012 NSW Cup which gets underway this weekend.

However, the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and Illawarra Cutters are also right in contention after being opened as $5.00 and $7.00 chances respectively.

“It looks to be a battle among four before a tackle has been made,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. “The Sharks and Vulcans head the betting but it’s a tight market.”

The Newtown Jets are on the fifth line of betting at $11 followed by the Windsor Wolves and Newcastle Knights – both at $15 – with Mounties at $17 and the North Sydney Bears at $19.

The Western Suburbs Magpies are the outsiders in the market, priced at $34.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
2012 NSW Cup winner
$4.25 Cronulla Sharks, Auckland Vulcans
$5.00 Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
$7.00 Illawarra Cutters
$11 Newtown Jets
$15 Windsor Wolves, Newcastle Knights
$17 Mounties
$19 North Sydney Bears
$26 Wentworthville Magpies, Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers, Manly Sea Eagles
$34 Western Suburbs Magpies