Brisbane Broncos shorten for top four spot
The Brisbane Broncos remain $21 outsiders to win the minor premiership but have tightened into $1.15, with Sportingbet Australia, in the race to secure a top four finish and home final after missing the top 8 last year.
Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said he had already marked defending premier St George and recent grand final winners Manly and Melbourne as top four certainties.
With Johnathan Thurston recently confirming his leg injury will keep him sidelined until the second last or last round of the minor premier, the Cowboys chances of holding off the in-form Broncos, back to full strength with all their Origin stars back on the deck and Darren Lockyer firing, are drifting.
“The Broncos are two points clear of the Cowboys and six clear of the Warriors so they are certainly well placed at the moment,” Sullivan said.
“The Cowboys will need to keep winning without Thurston and the round 23 clash between the two Queensland sides shapes as a very pivotal match in their top four quest.
“The Cowboys are quoted at $4.50 to make the four but their inability to win without Thurston in the past hurts their chances significantly.”
Sullivan said with the top four looking close to settled, a huge gap had opened in the Premiership market between the top four sides and the rest.
“The Dragons remain $3.25 favourites for the Premiership with Brisbane fourth picks at $6.00 and then you go all the way out to $17 to the Warriors and Cowboys as joint fifth favourites,” said Sullivan.
“Melbourne and Manly are both at $4.50 and along with St George and Brisbane, look to be in a different class to the rest of the competition.”
NRL PREMIERSHIP
Sportingbet Australia Market
St George Dragons 3.25
Melbourne Storm 4.50
Manly Sea Eagles 4.50
Brisbane Broncos 6.00
New Zealand Warriors 16.00
North Qld Cowboys 17.00
Wests Tigers 21.00
Penrith Panthers 34.00
Newcastle Knights 51.00
Others 67.00 Plus
NRL TOP 4 (Excluding Finals)
Sportingbet Australia Market
Brisbane Broncos 1.15
North Qld Cowboys 4.50
New Zealand Warriors 29.00
Wests Tigers 67.00
Penrith Panthers 101.00
Newcastle Knights 126.00
