New South Wales can stew on team selection all they want, Queensland will make it eight straight State of Origin series wins this year. That’s the opinion of punters with online bookmaker sportsbet who’ve started backing the Maroons in droves.

Opened at $1.90 each to win the 2013 series, a tide of money for Queensland in the last week has seen them firm into $1.80 and the Blues drift out to $2.00.

“Bets are now coming in 8 to 1 in favour of Mal Meninga’s men. Punters aren’t concerned with what Laurie Daley is doing or saying about his team selections and are snapping up the value price before it’s too late,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

Punters are even more confident about the result of Friday’s Test match between Australia and New Zealand, backing the Kangaroos from $1.18 into $1.12 and causing the Kiwis to balloon out to $6.20.

“In a two-horse race, it simply doesn’t get any more one-sided from a betting perspective. Bets of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,000 were coming in for the Aussies yesterday, while the biggest wager we’ve written for the Kiwis so far is $50,” Hawes added.

Sportsbet.com.au has also opened betting on Saturday’s clash between Tonga and Samoa, installing both sides at $1.90.

Markets courtesy of NRL Odds
2013 State of Origin series winner
$1.80 Queensland (in from $1.90)
$2.00 New South Wales (out from $1.90)

Australia v New Zealand
$1.12 Australia (in from $1.18)
$6.20 New Zealand (out from $4.75)

Tonga v Samoa
$1.90 Tonga
$1.90 Samoa