The Tigers odds of causing an upset over the Knights have shortened with TAB after Newcastle confirmed the loss of star fullback Kalyn Ponga to a hip injury.
The Knights remain favourites with Tex Hoy to cover Ponga’s absence but have drifted from $1.50 to $1.67 with the Tigers now $2.20, in from $2.55, for the opening match of Magic Round in Brisbane.
In other NRL news from TAB:
- Punters haven’t been fazed by the Storm losing Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Brandon Smith against the Dragons. St George Illawarra’s odds were almost cut in half following the team announcements, tightening from $10 into $5.50 Head-to-Head, but with the possibility of Ryan Papenhuyzen’s return Melbourne has moved only slightly from $1.05 to $1.11.
- Sunday’s other match has also been affected by a big name absentee with Gold Coast now a $7.50 hope against the unbeaten Panthers following David Fifita’s suspension. They had been $5.25 on Monday. Penrith has moved from $1.15 into 1.08 while TAB also took a $3,000 bet on them to win the premiership at $3.
- Parramatta have been popular this week, with a $4,000 Head-to-Head bet on the Eels to beat the Warriors at $1.38
- One punter has outlaid $2,250 @ $7.50 on a Parramatta / Penrith Grand Final
Friday
$2.20 Wests Tigers (were $2.55)
$1.67 Newcastle (were $1.50)
$1.32 Manly (were $1.45)
$3.30 Brisbane (were $2.70)
Saturday
$5.50 Bulldogs (were $4.20)
$1.14 Canberra (were $1.22)
$3.70 Cronulla (were $2.80)
$1.27 Souths (were $1.42)
$1.23 Roosters
$4.00 North Queensland (were $4.20)
Sunday
$3.00 Warriors (were $3.10)
$1.38 Parramatta (were $1.36)
$1.14 Melbourne (were $1.05)
$5.50 St George Illawarra (were $10)
$7.50 Gold Coast (were $5.25)
$1.08 Penrith (were $1.15)
$3.00 Penrith
$4.00 Melbourne
$5.50 Souths
$7.00 Parramatta
$10 Roosters
$21 Manly
$34 Canberra
$41 Gold Coast
Newcastle
$51 St George Illawarra
$67 Warriors
$101 North Queensland
$201 Cronulla
$251 Brisbane
Wests Tigers
$751 Bulldogs