Despite it being a replay of last season’s Grand Final, unbeaten Melbourne Storm have been priced at $1.26 by online bookmaker sportsbet to beat the Bulldogs ($3.80) to open round three.
In Friday night’s all Sydney showdown, the Wests Tigers are favoured to improve to 2-1, priced at $1.68 against the Parramatta Eels ($2.18), while the Dragons horror run of losses in the nation’s capital looks set to extend to a 13th year with Steve Price’s men opened at $2.30 against the Raiders ($1.60).
The Cowboys have been installed as narrow $1.85 favourites for their away Monday night football clash against Newcastle ($1.95).
Remaining round three favourites are the Manly Sea Eagles ($1.57), Sydney Roosters ($1.57), Cronulla Sharks ($1.43) and South Sydney Rabbitohs ($1.22).
“You’d generally see Grand Final replays being a toss of the coin job but with the form the Storm are in you can’t disagree with them being so short to roll the Bulldogs,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes.
Unsurprisingly, the Storm have shortened further to make it back-to-back premierships and are now at $4.00, ahead of the Bunnies ($6.50), Bulldogs ($8.00) and Manly ($10). The Warriors and Dragons, both at $67, are at the biggest odds.
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
2013 NRL Odds Round 3
$1.26 Melbourne Storm
$3.80 Canterbury Bulldogs
$1.68 Wests Tigers
$2.18 Parramatta Eels
$2.40 Gold Coast Titans
$1.57 Manly Sea Eagles
$1.57 Sydney Roosters
$2.40 Brisbane Broncos
$1.43 Cronulla Sharks
$2.85 New Zealand Warriors
$4.25 Penrith Panthers
$1.22 South Sydney Rabbitohs
$1.60 Canberra Raiders
$2.30 St. George Illawarra Dragons
$1.95 Newcastle Knights
$1.85 North Queensland Cowboys
2013 NRL Premiership
$4.00 Melbourne Storm (in from $5.00)
$6.50 South Sydney Rabbitohs (out from $6.00)
$8.00 Canterbury Bulldogs (in from $9.00)
$10 Manly Sea Eagles (in from $12)
$10 North Queensland Cowboys (out from $9.00)
$13 Newcastle Knights (out from $10)
$14 Sydney Roosters (steady)
$15 Cronulla Sharks (out from $13)
$17 Brisbane Broncos (steady)
$26 Wests Tigers (steady)
$27 Parramatta Eels (in from $29)
$41 Canberra Raiders (out from $26)
$41 Gold Coast Titans (out from $51)
$51 Penrith Panthers (out from $41)
$67 New Zealand Warriors (out from $41)
$67 St George Illawarra Dragons (steady)
