$3.55 THE HUSSLER - STORM DOUBLE ON CENTREBET!

* Bookmaker Centrebet has launched a special two-leg bet, coupling racing superstar Weekend Hussler into both NRL Grand Final combatants!

Punters can take Weekend Hussler to win Saturday's Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington into Manly winning the NRL showdown at $3.00, or the Hussler with the Melbourne Storm at $3.55!

"It gives punters another way to load up on the Hussler," Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said. "I'm tipping a lot of punters will take both combinations. After the Hussler wins on Saturday, they can sit back and know they're on a winner, regardless of which club takes the premiership on Sunday night!"

Victorians, in particular, will love the pro-Melbourne combination, Evans added!

OCT 1, 2008

MANLY & STORM $4.00 IN '09, WHILE COWBOYS SHORT AT $9.00, AND RABBITOHS AND RAIDERS BRING UP THE REAR!

* Bookmaker Centrebet has opened Sunday's grand final combatants Manly and Melbourne $4.00 equal favourites to win the NRL in 2009!

* The biggest shock is the NQ Cowboys posted on the third line at $9.00 behind the Sharks at $6.50, while Souths and Canberra are the cometition's co-outsiders at $41.00!

* Meanwhile, big punters are starting to steam into Melbourne, despite being a $2.15 outsider against Manly ($1.70) on Sunday night.

* Centrebet's Neil Evans said a rush of money has come for the Storm today, from both sides of the country, including wagers of $10,000.00, $6,000.00 and two each at $5,000.00!

Blow that whistle ref: Punters back 10 or more in NRL showdown!

In a bizarre betting move, punters are convinced there’s an old-fashioned “softening up” period coming in Sunday’s NRL decider, backing the OVER 9.5 penalty option at $1.90 in a novel market with leading bookmaker Centrebet!

As part of a record number of markets on the NRL Grand Final, punters were offered an Over/Under Penalty line set at 9.5, and according to Centrebet media chief Neil Evans, they’re exclusively going one way!

“Tony Archer better do a few extra laps of the block, and make sure the pea in the whistle is working well, because virtually every bet that’s arrived – from $5.00 up to $1,000.00 - has been for 10 penalties or more,” Evans said.

“I reckon they’re banking on the penalties being dished out early to keep these teams apart before the football is played. There’s some bad blood in the forward packs, and deep down I suspect the Storm really believe Matt Orford is about as dangerous as a one-legged man in a bum-kicking competition, so look out!”

In match betting, Manly continues to hold sway at $1.70, with the Storm a narrow $2.15 outsider, although bet numbers are running 2:1 Melbourne’s way! But in the margin betting, the Storm by both 1-12 and 13+ is proving popular with tens of thousands of dollars traded already! The $1.91 Line remains at 2.5 points.

“Despite the Storm’s volatile build-up to the Grand Final, it seems punters are far from convinced Manly has the cavalry to upset the team that’s been the attacking benchmark for three seasons,” Evans added!

SEPT 26, 2008

CATS & STORM HEAD MULTI CHARGE ON CENTREBET!

* Big multi players are starting to charge into the favourites in tomorrow's AFL Grand Final and the GF qualifiers in the National Rugby League!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said a short time ago a big Melbourne punter had nearly $30,000.00 on Geelong at $1.45 into the Melbourne Storm at $1.60 - and all-up price of $2.32!

Evans said another punter from Sydney's west has had $10,000.00 on Geelong, the Storm and Manly all winning this weekend at a combined price of $3.14!

Another punter from Melbourne has gone for the giant collect, investing $1,000.00 on Geelong into seven different legs of UK and European football games on the weekend - which would net him a near $200,000.00 if he pulls its off!

But the most alarming bet of the day belongs to a Centrebet client from provincial Japan who's outlayed the equivalent of $3,000.00 in $US on the Cats to win at $1.45. "Now it's the Land of the Rising Cat!"

GF Special: 5:1 money for Geelong as big bets roll in! Big punters declare the Cats will go back-to-back!

Every big punter in the country with leading bookmaker Centrebet is declaring Geelong will establish itself as one of the finest teams in the modern AFL era by winning back-to-back flags – and some say they’ll do it comfortably!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said that while Hawthorn was matching the Cats in actual bet numbers, the money was running 5:1 Geelong’s way – as they threaten to take a vice-like grip on favouritism for tomorrow’s showdown!

“We’ve taken a Victorian plunge of $100,000.00 at $1.45, nearly $50,000.00 from an Adelaide client at the same price, $20,000.00 from Melbourne early at $1.43, and a spread of $10.000.00 wagers from ‘smart’ operators across Sydney and Melbourne,” Evans said. “To date, $5,000.00 at $2.90 on Hawthorn is our biggest bet!”

“The staggering thing is that of nearly 1000 bets made already, half are for the Hawks, proving all the smaller punters and sentimental followers are with the underdogs, but the big pro’s want nothing but Geelong!”

Evans said nearly one-quarter of a million had been traded on the AFL grand final so far, with nearly $200,000.00 of that on Geelong! “We’ve even had several four-figure bets for the Cats to cover a 15.5 Line at $1.92, and nearly $20,000.00 has been bet both ways on Geelong winning by 1-39 and even 40 +! The big statements have been made – maybe they’ve got a loop tape of the 1989 grand final doing the rounds 24-7 down at Skilled Stadium on a big screen”!

One punter has had nearly $10,000.00 on the Cats by 25 or over at $2.25, but another has boldly put $500.00 on the match finishing in a draw at $56.00, and will collect nearly $30,000.00 if the teams are locked up at the final siren!

Geelong’s on-ball pair Gary Ablett ($7.00) and Jimmy Bartel ($8.00) still head Centrebet’s Norm Smith Medal market ahead of Hawks duo Lance Franklin ($9.00) and Luke Hodge ($11.00)!

SEPT 25, 2008

CAT CARNAGE!

* An Adelaide punter has poured nearly $50,000.00 into Geelong at $1.45 winning Saturday's AFL premiership with bookmaker Centrebet as the money around the country continues to pile for back-to-back Cats supremacy!

Centrebet's Neil Evans said the money was pouring in at a rate of 9:1 for Geelong to beat outsiders Hawthorn ($2.85), despite most tipsters predicting a tightish game!

"I'm staggered by the early weight of money for Geelong," Evans said. "This punter wagered in two separate bets to win over $20,000.00 - and we also took $10,000.00 from a Melbourne punter, just under $10,000.00 from Victoria, and a Sydney man got on at $1.43 for nearly $7,000.00. It's a big early "go" - and a few thousand is the biggest lone bet on the Hawks so far!"

Evans said the 15.5 $1.92 Line is in danger of being pushed out already because of the big backing for Geelong!

Another Sydney punter had also wagered $10,000.00 on the Cats with 24.5 start at $1.13!

SEPT 23, 2008

THE US HOT-BEDS AS EVERY STATE OPENS FOR BETTING!

* The American states of Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia could hold the key to who takes power in the White House, according to leading election bookmaker Centrebet who has released its watershed markets for every state going to the polls, as well as special party and leader break-out markets!

Centrebet media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said this was the most comprehensive assessment of an American presidential contest in history, and punters would take to the state-by-state assessment with a "fine tooth comb!"

"There's obviously a lot of cut-and-dried states on both the Republican and Democratic sides, but Nevada looks the biggest melting pot, with both parties priced at $1.87, while the Republicans are $1.77 to win crucial Virginia and the Democrats right in the hunt at $1.99!"

In New Hampshire, the Democrats are a $1.58 favourite ahead of the Republicans at $2.30, Ohio has the Republicans a narrow $1.74 favourite against the Democrats ($2.03), while the Democrats are a narrow $1.70 fancy to win Colorado against $2.10 for the Republicans!

Wyoming is considered the safest Republican seat at $1.005 (1/200), with the Democrats at $15.00!

In 2004 Retroactive betting, Obama is a $1.25 fancy to win all the John Kerry states, but McCain is a long $8.00 shot to be successful in all the George Bush states!

US PRESIDENTIAL - THE STATES! ALABAMA $1.01 REP $14.00 DEM ALASKA $14.00 DEM $1.01 REP ARIZONA $1.06 REP $8.00 DEM ARKANSAS $1.06 REP $8.00 DEM CALIFORNIA $1.05 DEM $9.00 REP COLORADO $1.70 DEM $2.10 REP CONNECTICUT $1.02 DEM $12.00 REP DELAWARE $1.05 DEM $9.00 REP DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA $1.01 DEM $14.00 REP FLORIDA $1.47 REP $2.58 DEM GEORGIA $1.04 REP $9.50 DEM HAWAII $1.01 DEM $14.00 REP IDAHO $14.00 DEM $1.01 REP ILLINOIS $1.01 DEM $14.00 REP INDIANA $3.20 DEM $1.33 REP IOWA $1.16 DEM $4.85 REP KANSAS $14.00 DEM $1.01 REP KENTUCKY $12.00 DEM $1.02 REP LOUISIANA $12.00 DEM $1.02 REP MAINE $1.05 DEM $9.00 REP MARYLAND $1.02 DEM $12.00 REP MASSACHUSETTS $1.01 DEM $14.00 REP MICHIGAN $1.45 DEM $2.65 REP MINNESOTA $1.22 DEM $4.00 REP MISSISSIPPI $12.00 DEM $1.02 REP MISSOURI $3.35 DEM $1.30 REP MONTANA $4.25 DEM $1.20 REP NEBRASKA $14.00 DEM $1.01 REP NEVADA $1.87 DEM $1.87 REP NEW HAMPSHIRE $1.58 DEM $2.30 REP NEW JERSEY $1.07 DEM $7.50 REP NEW MEXICO $1.36 DEM $3.00 REP NEW YORK $1.01 DEM $14.00 REP NTH CAROLINA $3.50 DEM $1.28 REP NTH DAKOTA $5.50 DEM $1.13 REP OHIO $2.03 DEM $1.74 REP OKLAHOMA $14.00 DEM $1.01 REP OREGON $1.14 DEM $5.25 REP PENNSYLVANIA $1.28 DEM $3.50 REP RHODE ISLAND $1.01 DEM $14.00 REP STH CAROLINA $9.50 DEM $1.04 REP STH DAKOTA $6.00 DEM $1.11 REP TENNESSEE $12.00 DEM $1.02 REP TEXAS $10.50 DEM $1.03 REP UTAH $14.00 DEM $1.01 REP VERMONT $1.01 DEM $14.00 REP VIRGINIA $1.99 DEM $1.77 REP WASHINGTON $1.12 DEM $5.75 REP WEST VIRGINIA $4.85 DEM $1.16 REP WISCONSIN $1.22 DEM $4.00 REP WYOMING $15.00 DEM $1.005 REP US PRESIDENTIAL - SPECIALS POPULAR VOTE - DEM PARTY $1.75 50 % OR OVER $1.88 UNDER 50 % POPULAR VOTE - REP PARTY $1.82 48 % OR OVER $1.82 UNDER 48 % CONFUSED YANKS - RECOUNT IN ANY STATE? $4.50 YES $1.14 NO ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES $2.40 OBAMA WINS 270-310 $2.50 OBAMA WINS 311-338 $2.75 McCAIN WINS 270-315 $5.00 OBAMA WINS 339-383 $11.00 OBAMA WIN 384 OR MORE $11.00 McCAIN WINS 370 OR MORE $11.00 TIE 269 - 269 $15.00 McCAIN WINS 316-340 $17.00 McCAIN WINS 341-369 2004 RETROACTIVE - OBAMA WINS ALL KERRY STATES $1.25 YES $3.25 NO 2004 RETROACTIVE - McCAIN WINS ALL BUSH STATES $8.00 YES $1.03 NO US PRESIDENTIAL - WINNER $2.47 JOHN McCAIN (REP) $1.52 BARACK OBAMA (DEM)

SEPT 22, 2008

BARTEL'S LATE CHARGE!

Defending Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel is making a storming late run with punters, firming from 4.25 equal second favourite into $3.65 with leading bookmaker Centrebet after a flurry of bets!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said nearly $35,000.00 had arrived for Bartel today, completely dominating the countdown to tonight's medal!

"He's the only one they wan t late - we took $10,000.00 from an astute Melbourne client, $8,000.00 from Sydney, another $5,000.00 from Melbourne, and plenty more around it," Evans said. "Gary Ablett's moved out from $2.20 to $2.35, and there's been very little today for the Kangaroos' great hope Brent Harvey ($4.25)!"

Evans said the only other player to attract good money today was Geelong on-baller Joel Corey who had firmed from $21.00 into $17.00 to cause the upset.

Evans said Adelaide's Scott Thompson, Collingwood's Dane Swan, Carlton's Chris Judd and West Coast's Dean Cox had all been heavily backed to be the top vote-getter at their respective clubs!

Centrebet has offered a record number of Brownlow markets this year, including individual markets for the highest vote-getter for each club, team markets, as well as a range of player v player markets.

Brownlow: Punters want the Cats, despite Harvey charge!

Punters are again warming to Geelong’s defending Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel swooping late to steal “Charlie” from under team-mate and perennial favourite Gary Ablett’s nose, despite Kangaroos’ veteran Brent Harvey boasting his greatest chance of winning the AFL’s top individual honour!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said a surge of money had arrived for Bartel today, pushing him in from $4.25 into $4.00, with Ablett easing slightly from $2.20 to $2.25. Harvey is a rock-solid $4.25 third-elect!

“I like Harvey to defy all the Cats tonight,” Evans said. “And he can do us a big favour by winning. Harvey’s a great result for us, but any of the Cats, Ablett, Bartel – even Joel Corey who’s firmed from $21.00 into $17.00 today – aren’t so. But I think it will be very competitive all the way to the final rounds. Certainly, Ablett will get out in front, and they’ll have to run him down!”

Centrebet has offered a record number of Brownlow markets this year, including individual markets for the highest vote-getter for each club, team markets, as well as a range of player v player markets.

Meanwhile, punters have taken an early fancy to Geelong in the Grand Final, with one Melbourne punter investing $10,000.00 on the Cats at $1.42, while a Sydney client had $5,000.00. Scores of other smaller bets have arrived for Geelong as well, but little early on the Hawks who opened $2.90 on Centrebet.

"Early indications are this will be a sensational betting showdown," he said. "These two teams were ear-marked for the last Saturday in September way back in April, and I expect there'll be huge money both ways, especially for Hawthorn from $2.90. I'm sure some punters will think the odds are too big for the Hawks, but the smart ones would have taken $4.00 in flag betting before they easily disposed of St Kilda!"

Ablett is the early $7.00 favourite to win the Norm Smith Medal on Saturday, ahead of Bartel ($8.00) followed by the Hawthorn pair Lance Franklin ($9.00) and Luke Hodge ($11.00).

BYE-BYE BROOKE: $15.00 INTO $3.00 TO BE ELIMINATED IN SENSATIONAL IDOL PLUNGE!

* Perth-born Melbourne schoolgirl Brooke Addamo has been sensationally backed with leading entertainment bookmaker Centrebet to be eliminated from Australian Idol tonight!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said several "smart" punters had "banged down the door" today to back Addamo to go, she's firmed dramatically from $15.00 into $3.00!

"It's not something you see too often," Evans said. "Thousands of dollars from nowhere arrived for Addamo from $15.00 down, and she's the only one they want to back to be eliminated tonight!"

Addamo is now $3.00 to get the boot ahead of Thanh Bui ($4.00) and Tom Williams ($5.00)!

* Ironically, though, Addamo is not the roughest in the Idol winner's market, quoted at $14.00 behind favourite Wes Carr ($3.75) but shorter than the rank outsider Luke Dickens at $21.00!

SEPT 19, 2008

LATE PLUNGE ON THE WARRIORS!!!

* A Sydney punter - in the midst of a big winning streak - has wagered $60,000.00 on the NZ Warriors at $1.63 to beat the Roosters in Auckland tonight and reach the last 4 in the NRL!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said the punter placed the headline bet in and around a sustained rush of money for the Kiwis with the bookmaker since lunchtime today!

"After the money was both ways earlier in the week, they've really climbed into the Warriors this afternoon," Evans said. "Nearly $100,000.00 has arrived for the Kiwis from both sides of the Tasman - and they're dominating big bet numbers by 3:1 against the Roosters!

The Warriors are still at $1.63 on Centrebet, with the Roosters easing out to $2.30! A further $30,000.00 has been wagered on the Warriors to cover a - 3.5 Line at $1.92!

* Meanwhile, the Melbourne Storm continues to be well backed to beat the Broncos in Brisbane tomorrow night!

Evans said the Storm had firmed from an opening $1.57 into $1.50, while the scandal-hit Broncos had eased from $2.40 out to $2.65.

SEPT 16, 2008

STORM $1.57 FAV ON CENTREBET TO PUT AWAY EMBATTLED BRONCOS!

* The Melbourne Storm has opened a $1.57 favourite to beat scandal-hit Brisbane Broncos ($2.40) in this weekend's NRL sudden-death showdown!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said that while official police investigations were continuing over the sexual assault allegations, the Broncos would have an enormous task to pick themselves up and beat a Storm side, carrying a wealth of punters' premiership money, and still smarting after the shock loss at home to the Warriors on Sunday!

"Brisbane has named the players in question in the side, and they have to start this one the clear outsider, but where there's so much money and emotion involved, I'm expecting the Broncos to be backed at that price," Evans said. "I think by kick-off they'll be a lot closer together in the market, but I'll be stunned if Brisbane claims favouritism!"

Evans said many punters were backing the winner of this match - the most anticipated of the season - to go on and claim the premiership! "This is the tough side of the draw, and punters know it," he said.

"This game could well be a record hold for the season.

In the other sudden-death semi-final, the rejuvenated Warriors back at home have opened up a $1.65 favourite, with the Roosters a $2.25 outsider! "Despite the Roosters strong record against NZ, I'm tipping the Warriors could shorten a whole lot more," Evans said.

COALITION SHORTENS TO $3.25 AFTER TURNBULL TAKES CONTROL!

* Leading election bookmaker Centrebet has significantly trimmed up the Coalition bid to win government at the next Federal Election after Malcolm Turnbull stormed to the Liberal leadership, shortening the Opposition from $4.00 into $3.25!

Centrebet media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said Turnbull had always been earmarked by long-term Coalition strategists to the man to lead the embattled party to the next election, and his 45-41 partyroom victory over Brendan Nelson was "no surprise"! "We had Turnbull around $1.65 and Nelson $2.25, so we're not surprised. Dr Nelson was always a stop-gap "re-build bridges" leader, Evans added!

Evans said even though the election was not scheduled for 2010/11, several thousand dollars had arrived for the Coalition in the last few weeks, including one bet of $1000.00 overnight! "It will still be a long road back, but waves of anti-Labor sentiment are definitely starting to resonate with punters, and that will only grow under a Turnbull reign! The Coalition has shortened from an opening price of $4.50 when the market first opened 10 months ago to $3.25, while Labor has eased from an opening $1.18 to $1.30 - and taken very little money!

AUST FED ELECTION (Sch: 2010/11)

$1.30 LABOR (out from $1.23) $3.25 COALITION (in from $4.00)

SEPT 15, 2008

Broncos out to $7.00 as NRL betting resumes with Storm on top!

Leading bookmaker Centrebet has resumed betting on the NRL premiership, with the scandal-plagued Brisbane Broncos out to $7.00 and the Melbourne Storm reclaiming favouritism from Manly!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said despite police investigations continuing this afternoon with three Broncos players allegedly involved in a weekend sexual assault, the bookmaker had re-opened the market with the Storm back in to $2.65 favourite (from $2.90) displacing Manly at the top who ease from $2.85 to $2.90!

“A formal complaint has been made - and if resulting charges occur - Brisbane would be likely to head into the biggest game this season without some of their biggest names,” Evans said! “The betting world had been on hold all day because the Storm and the Broncos have been the heaviest backed sides all season, and this is tipped to be the biggest betting match of the season!”

Evans said the revised market showed this latest scandal could be the break to get Melbourne’s back-to-back title challenge back on track after yesterday’s shock loss to the Warriors!

“The entire NRL season could swing on the result of this investigation because many punters believe the winner of this match will go on to take the title!”

When the police investigation broke last night, the Storm had lost favouritism for the first time this season, at one stage out to $3.15 before a flurry of money late last night pushed them back in to $2.90, just behind Manly!

“The longer this drags on, the more the Storm will be fancied, and I understand the allegations are very serious! We took a bet of $20,000.00 last night on Melbourne, only moments after news of the controversy first came out!”

NRL – PREMIERSHIP

$2.65 MELBOURNE (in from $2.90) $2.90 MANLY (out from $2.85) $7.00 BRISBANE (out from $6.00) $7.00 SHARKS $15.00 WARRIORS $15.00 ROOSTERS

Betting suspended as police probe Broncos – and Storm lose favouritism!

Leading bookmaker Centrebet has suspended all NRL premiership betting after police began an investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving three Brisbane Broncos players on Saturday night!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said the entire NRL season could swing on the Broncos-Storm blockbuster this weekend, so the market was taken down until police completed investigations into an incident in the toilet of a Fortitude Valley venue on Saturday night!

At the time, the Storm had lost favouritism for the first time this season, at one stage out to $3.15 behind new premiership favourite Manly ($2.85) before a flurry of money late last night pushed the Storm back in to $2.90!

“The Broncos had firmed to $5.50 to win the title before easing to $6.00 after the money for Melbourne, but with a home semi now, Brisbane is well placed to make a surge for another title,” Evans said. “Outside of Melbourne, they’re the best-backed side in premiership betting so the fall-out from this investigation is critical!”

Evans said the Storm’s shock 18-15 loss to eighth-placed Warriors had blown the competition wide open, and the NZ side had charged from an unwanted $67.00 hope into $13.00 to win the title before easing slightly overnight to $15.00!

"The Storm has been a clear and heavily-backed favourite all year, and were odds-on coming into the first week of the finals. Manly was the closest at $5.50 and the Broncos $8.00," Evans said. "So as far as the betting markets go, this result is probably the biggest finals upset in the 11 seasons of the NRL - and proves the Storm can be beat!"

Evans said the "betting blow" against Melbourne was partly due to the fact they must beat the rampaging Broncos in Brisbane next weekend - possibly without forwards Ryan Hoffman and Jeff Lima - just to stay alive!

NRL – PREMIERSHIP (when betting was suspended)

$2.85 MANLY (in from $5.50) $2.90 MELBOURNE (out from $1.75) $6.00 BRISBANE (in from $8.00) $7.00 SHARKS (in from $11.00) $15.00 WARRIORS (in from $67.00) $15.00 ROOSTERS (out from $11.00)

SEPT 11, 2008

CENTREBET INTEREST RATES LEAD///CENTREBET INTERESTS RATE LEAD///

* PUNTERS HAVE CONTINUED TO SWARM TO BACK RBA OFFICIAL RATES STAYING THE SAME NEXT MONTH!!!

* NEARLY $25,000.00 HAS NOW BEEN STAKED ON THIS OPTION - AND IT HAS SHORTENED ALARMINGLY FROM $2.40 INTO $1.90 IN THE LAST 48 HOURS.

* THIS FOLLOWS MORE BETS TODAY, INCLUDING ONE OF $3,000.00 AT $2.40 FROM A PUNTER IN SYDNEY'S NORTH!

* RATES STAYING THE SAME IS NOW INTO THE "RED" AT $1.90 (FROM AN OPENING $5.00), WHILE THE 0.25 % CUT HAS DRIFTED OUT FROM AN OPENING $1.22 TO $1.75!!!

CURRENT MARKET ON RBA OCT DECISION///

$1.75 OFFICIAL CUT OF 0.25 % (out from $1.50) $1.90 OFFICIAL RATE STAYS THE SAME (in from $2.40) $15.00 OFFICIAL CUT OF MORE THAN 0.25 % (out from $13.00) $201.00 ANY OFFICIAL INCREASE

SEPT 10, 2008

PUNTERS HOP ON THE BRONCO WAGON AGAINST ROOSTERS!

Nearly $60,000.00 has been wagered today with Centrebet on the Broncos to beat the Roosters this weekend, including one bet a short time ago from a regular Sydney punter of $30,000.00 at $1.75!

Broncos have now firmed from $1.75 into $1.70, while Roosters have eased from $2.08 to $2.15!!!

* Centrebet punters in the city and the bush are piling into the Broncos to have the first say in the NRL Qualifying Finals weekend, snapping up the $1.75 offered to beat the Roosters this weekend!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said scoers of bets had arrived for Brisbane since the market went up last night, including $3,000.00 from a Sydney punter at $1.91 (- 2.0), a similar bet from the state's north, just under $2,500.00 from another Sydney client at $1.75, and even $2,000.00 from a punter in the NSW central-west at $1.75!

"They like the Broncos price, despite the fact, the Roosters ($2.08) preparing for payback after a controversial Friday night loss to Brisbane at the SFS a few months back," Evans said. "It will be very interesting to see if this trend continues through the day, especially with NSW punters right around the state prepared to back the visitors from north of the border!"

* In other qualifying finals, $1.38 favourite Cronulla has taken the early money against Canberra, particularly at the $2.10 price giving up 9.5 points, Manly is holding its $1.42 favouritism at home against the Dragons, while several thousand dollars has already been invested on minor premiers Melbourne Storm ($1.15) to beat the NZ warriors convincingly!

PUNTERS HOP ON THE BRONCO WAGON AGAINST ROOSTERS!

* Centrebet punters in the city and the bush are piling into the Broncos to have the first say in the NRL Qualifying Finals weekend, snapping up the $1.75 offered to beat the Roosters this weekend!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said scoers of bets had arrived for Brisbane since the market went up last night, including $3,000.00 from a Sydney punter at $1.91 (- 2.0), a similar bet from the state's north, just under $2,500.00 from another Sydney client at $1.75, and even $2,000.00 from a punter in the NSW central-west at $1.75!

"They like the Broncos price, despite the fact, the Roosters ($2.08) preparing for payback after a controversial Friday night loss to Brisbane at the SFS a few months back," Evans said. "It will be very interesting to see if this trend continues through the day, especially with NSW punters right around the state prepared to back the visitors from north of the border!"

* In other qualifying finals, $1.38 favourite Cronulla has taken the early money against Canberra, particularly at the $2.10 price giving up 9.5 points, Manly is holding its $1.42 favouritism at home against the Dragons, while several thousand dollars has already been invested on minor premiers Melbourne Storm ($1.15) to beat the NZ warriors convincingly!

SEPT 8, 2008

PIES OPEN $1.72 TO SEND THE SAINTS PACKING!

Rejuvenated Collingwood has opened a $1.72 favourite to beat St Kilda ($2.10) this weekend and advance to the last four of the AFL flag race!

"The Magpies off-the-floor win away to the Crows has pitch-forked them into favouritism, and St Kilda will be petrified meeting Collingwood now," Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a big move for the Pies even from an odds-on quote!"

In the other second week semi-final, Western Bulldogs is $1.75 to repel the Sydney Swans ($2.10)!

* In flag betting, both Geelong - now a rampaging $1.30 fancy - and Hawthorn (in from $4.75 to $3.65) - have both shortened dramatically, while no other club is under $26.00!

"It's the greatest two-horse race in history," Evans said. "Never before have four clubs in the final six been from $26.00 to $41.00 - and couldn't see the other two with the latest pair of tip-top binoculars!"

* In Grand Final quinella betting, the Cats-Hawks pairing is now in to $1.25!

Labor $1.50 favourite to retain power in ACT Election!

Despite a backlash against the ALP in two elections since the Federal party swept to power nine months ago, Labor has opened a $1.50 favourite to win a third-straight term in the ACT General Election on October 18!

Centrebet media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said while Chief Minister Jon Stanhope was under increasing pressure to hold office in the ACT, the Liberal Party challenge appeared “a little weak” six weeks out from the poll, opening a $2.40 outsider!

“We’ve seen in the Northern Territory and WA, incumbent Labor governments paying the price for electoral complacency,” Evans said. “The ALP was a massively-backed favourite in the NT, and only just scraped home, while Labor is clinging to a threadbare hope it can form a minority government in alliance with the Nationals in WA.”

“Labor holds a nine of 17 seat majority in the ACT, so it wouldn’t take much of a swing away to bring another hung parliament. But on face value Labor’s team looks stronger, especially with the Liberals’ once high-profile fundraising group, including former Chief Minister Kate Carnell, now claiming they will throw their financial support behind independents!

“And the Opposition was not long back forced to forego a seat when former Shadow Treasurer Richard Mulcahy was expelled from the party, so in effect, the Liberals must pick up at least three seats to form government!”

Evans said smaller parties, including the ACT Greens which holds one seat, would be a pivotal force – and given major party politics in this country are under unprecedented pressure – they could well end up holding the balance of power!

But while local infrastructure issues have seemingly plagued public confidence in Labor , Liberal leader Zed Seselja is still considered raw, and leads a team that will start a clear outsider,” Evans added.

SEPT 3, 2008

EARLY PUNTERS BACK INTEREST RATES TO STAY THE SAME NEXT MONTH!

* Early punters with leading bookmaker Centrebet are piling into rates staying the same when the Reserve Bank makes its next official announcement, expected in October!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said scores of punters had backed the Rates Staying the Same option at $5.00 within minutes of the market going up after yesterday's RBA 25 basis point cut announcement - and the option had now shortened to $3.50!

"It's been very interesting the initial reaction. The early favourite at $1.22 - the official rate announcement going down again by 0.25 per cent - has now eased out to $1.30, while Rates dropping by more than 0.25 per cent (effectively 0.5 %) now looks an unlikely home loaners' luxury, easing from $6.00 to $8.00," Evans said.

"I still believe there's some big business on the favourite to come, but we've taken several thousand dollars on Rates Staying the Same, including individual bets of $2,000.00, two at $1,000.00 and plenty around the $500.00 mark!"

Even the massive $101.00 outsider - official rates increasing - has been specked by smaller punters!

Evans claimed the bookmaker’s watershed financial markets would become the new phenomena of betting in much the same way election results have become one of the most popular and robust markets here and abroad!

“The buzz around the Interest Rates betting has crackled around the financial world, the media and punters around the country,” Evans said. “It’s a sophisticated market where knowledge and money can make a lot of noise!”

“The economy has welcomed a substantial cooling, and spending has slowed dramatically,” he said. “Most financial forecasters will tell you that a round of cuts is needed to get the economic and inflationary cycle back on feel-good ground, but informed punters are now telling us the RBA might first apply the handbrake before hitting the accelerator again"!

SEPT 1, 2008

Cats $1.13 to smash Saints, as Pies go to Adelaide $2.23 outsider!

The shortest-priced premiership favourite in AFL history going into a final series, Geelong has opened a raging $1.13 favourite with leading bookmaker Centrebet to beat rejuvenated St Kilda ($6.00) in the qualifying final at the MCG this Sunday!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said the Cats were "off the map" at $1.40 to win back-to-back flags, way shorter than the last odds-on fancy Essendon ($1.90) at the same stage in its last premiershp year in 2000! But, Evans said, Geelong had amazingly shifted out slightly after St Kilda's mighty march into fourth place with a 108-point belting of Essendon yesterday!

"They would have been even shorter against Adelaide in Melbourne, but now away from Skilled Stadium, the Saints aren't completely hopeless in this one, despite their massive head-to-head price," Evans said.

In other opening finals prices on Centrebet, hanging-by-a-thread Collingwood now goes to AAMI Stadium against the Crows a $2.23 outsider, with Adelaide a $1.65 fancy to advance to the following weekend!

The struggling Sydney Swans will be sweating on big guns Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin returning, and have opened a $1.75 fancy in its elimination tilt with the Kangaroos ($2.07), while in Friday night's first qualifying final at the MCG, Hawthorn has opened a hot $1.33 favourite to get past the Western Bulldogs ($3.30)!

In premiership betting, the Hawks are $4.75 second-elect, with the Bulldogs way out at $15.00 and St Kilda the biggest mover from the weekend shortening from $23.00 to $17.00!

AUG 27, 2008

Australia’s First Interest Rates betting market:

Rates down by 0.25 % - Centrebet’s $1.25 favourite!

Leading bookmaker Centrebet has launched Australia’s first ever Interest Rates betting market, announcing a 0.25 per cent cut in the official cash rate next month as the long odds-on $1.25 favourite!

Centrebet has a cut of more than 0.25 per cent on the second line at $3.50 ahead of $5.00 quoted for official rates staying the same! The good news from the bookmaker is there appears little or no chance of rates going up, with a 0.25 per cent increase priced at $51.00 and an even bigger rise at a whopping $201.00!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said this was the most fascinating financial-related market the bookmaker had released!

“We are world regarded for our range of election markets at all levels, and this year we started betting on weather patterns and rainfall. Now, for the first time in Australia’s history, punters can stake their knowledge and money on the single most important influence on Australian households – interest rates!”

Evans said anyone thinking the Reserve would make a mockery of economic forecasters next week and lift rates again can get massive odds - $51.00 if the official cash rate rises by 0.25 per cent, and $201.00 if the increase is even bigger!”

“But the economy has welcomed a substantial cooling, and key financial forecasters are tipping relief for Australia’s home loan customers,” Evans said. “In fact, our market suggests the rates should only go down, with 25 base points the hot favourite!”

AUSTRALIA’S OFFICIAL INTEREST RATE DIRECTION?

$1.25 OFFICIAL RATE CUT BY 0.25 % $3.50 OFFICIAL RATE CUT BY MORE THAN 0.25 % $5.00 OFFICIAL RATE STAYS THE SAME $51.00 OFFICIAL RATE INCREASED BY 0.25 % $201.00 OFFICIAL RATE INCREASED BY MORE THAN 0.25 %

AUG 26, 2008

The Liberal Party has shortened further in the WA election market today, as support continues to arrive, since this morning's earlier story!!!

LATEST/////

$1.25 LABOR (out from $1.23) $3.50 LIBERAL (in from $3.75)

LIBS SHORTEN TO $3.75 IN WA!!

* An astute election punter with leading bookmaker Centrebet has placed nearly $2,000.00 at $4.00 on Colin Barnett's Opposition Liberal Party to seize power in Saturday week's WA State election from odds-on favourite Labor!

The punter, a middle-aged female from suburban Adelaide, has a sound history in election betting, and has backed the outsider to win nearly $8,000.00! Centrebet has again trimmed up the Liberal price from $4.00 into $3.75 after steady money continued to arrive for the party in the wake of Colin Barnett's return to the top job, the party's colourful campaign launch and the latest political debate! While still the ruling favourite, Labor has eased out fractionally from $1.22 to $1.23!

Evans said the money is still steadily coming in! "After Labor took virtually all of the first $30,000.00, including two separate bets from Perth of $10,000.00 each, the actual bet nunmbers are running 9:1 the Liberal's way in the last 72 hours!

"It would take an enormous plunge to unseat Alan Carpenter's government as favourite, but for the first time the Liberals are at least starting to get into the contest," Evans said. "Already it's clear, Barnett replacing Troy Buswell has given the party an enormous boost in policy and social confidence, and Labor has taken a very big risk calling a snap September 6 election, well ahead of time! For the first time in a very long time time, it seems Alan Carpenter is now the leader feeling the heat!"

AUG 25, 2008

EAGLES SAVE THE WORST FOR LAST!

* After all the nightmares and pitfalls of a forgettable season, the West Coast Eagles have officially saved the worst for last!

Leading bookmaker Centrebet today opened the Eagles at $15.00 in the final round clash against short-priced premiership heavyweight Geelong - the longest head-to-head price of any club for any game all season!

"How fitting, the Demons have struggled at the foot all year, but the longest they opened was $14.00, so West Coast has that unwanted market crown," Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said.

"In fact, it's the biggest opening price West Coast has been since on-line sports betting became part of footballing households. Geelong - now a hot $1.45 fancy to make it back-to-back flags - are quoted at $1.01 against the Eagles!"

Evans said it's the first time in history a team has been 1/100 against a team 14/1 against at the commencement of betting!

* With the eight settled, the drive is on for top four positions - Collingwood opening $1.58 away to Fremantle ($2.35) at Subiaco, while free-falling Sydney is $1.45 at home against the Lions ($2.75)! And in what could prove the tightest betting match of the round, Adelaide has opened a narrow $1.83 favourite against the Bulldogs ($1.95).

* Both the in-form Kangaroos ($1.18) and St Kilda ($1.10) are very short quotes against shot opposition.

* In flag betting on Centrebet, heavily-backed Geelong continues to drive a never-been-seen-before wedge in the market. Hawthorn ($5.00) is the only other side in single figures, with the Western Bulldogs on the third line at $13.00. The struggling Swans have blown from $15.00 to $34.00 in a matter of weeks - now rated a smaller premiership chance than Adelaide!

AUG 25, 2008

48-HR SURGE FORCES CENTREBET TO SHORTEN LIBS INTO $4.00!

* The fightback from the embattled WA Liberal Party appears to be gathering momentum, according to leading election bookmaker Centrebet who have shortened the Opposition from $4.25 into $4.00 after a sustained 48-hour run of money!

Centrebet media chief and election analyst Neil Evans said nearly all of the last $10,000.00 in bets to arrive have been for the outsider Liberals! "We have taken scores of bets from small money right up to $1,000.00 at $4.25 several times," Evans said. "One punter from the heart of Perth had $500.00 on the Opposition, and then came back moments later and had another $500.00. Certainly, while Labor is still a short-priced favourite, the momentum has swung since Colin Barnett took back the Liberal leadership from the sinking Troy Buswell!"

Evans said Alan Carpenter's Labor government had eased from $1.18 out to $1.20 after the party had dominated the first $30,000.00 to be placed with Centrebet!

"There's no doubt the Liberals' very American-style campaign launch was a nice counter to Labor paranoia over the very early election call," Evans said. "Barnett's experience wins automatic respect around the electorates, and knowing there's little time to turn most voters around, they've opened up with glitz, glamour and some very strong words on law and order and education!"

"The betting shift does signify this election will be closer than what Labor strategists would have envisaged a month or two ago," Evans added! "We now wait to see if any major political money arrives for the Opposition. The best indicator for the party is that nearly all the money is coming from WA!"

Evans said the effect of the Labor launch will be telling, considering the poll is just 12 days away! Around $40,000.00 has been wagered on the September 6 WA election with Centrebet so far!

AUG 14, 2008

IS IT TANKING TIME AGAIN?

Centrebet's Neil Evans reports the "T" word is out in the AFL again, after a $25,000.00 bet by a Perth client on Melbourne at the opening price of $2.05 to beat West Coast ahead of this weekend's round 20 'cellar' clash!

"Not long after this bet, we got news the Eagles were resting Ashley Hansen and David Wirrapunda - and the word is they'll be putting a few others in cotton wool as well," Evans said. "The market then did a back-flip - the Demons into $1.85, with West Coast out to $1.97 from an initial $1.80 - and the talk started that winning this match would not be in West Coast's best interest when it comes to positioning themselves for next season"!

Evans said another near $10,000.00 has arrived for Melbourne overnight, including one bet of $2,000.00 from Melbourne, and word is travelling like even a Manchester client who's outlayed 1000 pounds at $1.85. Centrebet has now suspended head-to-head betting!

"Remember, the Eagles finish with percentage-breaking games against Geelong and Hawthorn, while the Demons have very winnable matches to finish against Port and Richmond," Evans added! "So last place and the gun draft picks could well hinge on this match!!"

* In other early betting moves, punters are predicting St Kilda will at least climb off the canvas and compete at Subiaco against the Dockers who will be without star forward recruit Chris Tarrant! Evans said nearly $10,000.00 in bets had arrived for the Saints, the biggest a professional wager of $5,000.00 at $1.91 with St Kilda getting 11.5 start at the Line! Several sizeable bets, including one of $2,000.00 at $1.23, have also been placed on hot favourite Hawthorn to beat Richmond ($4.35)!

AUGUST 8, 2008

$50,000.00 PERTH BET ON LABOR AS PUNTERS AMBUSH NT ELECTION MARKET ON CENTREBET!

* A Perth punter with leading election bookmaker Centrebet has ensured tomorrow's Northern Territory State election will be the most one-sided in betting terms in history after wagering $50,000.00 on the Labor government to retain power at the long odds-on price of $1.09!

Centrebet has since shortened Chief Minister Paul Henderson's party into a raging $1.07, with the embattled Country Liberal Opposition blowing like an ill north wind out to $8.00 (from $6.25) and still failing to attract a sizeable bet from anywhere around the country!

"In pure money terms, I've never seen anything like it," Centrebet media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said. "We're close to holding quarter of a million dollars ($250,000.00) on this election - and 99.5 per cent of that is for Labor. Normally, you get a little sway back the other way when the price gets juicy, but the CLP has attracted less than $1,000.00. It's rather embarrassing." Evans said. "In fact, it's a punting ambush. It seems we could put the Opposition out to any price, and the punters won't be swayed which shocks me because I don't see it being that one-sided. There'll have to be a full moon tonight, and some bizarre turnaround, for this to become a political contest! Paul Henderson will no doubt tell the media its going to be tight, but not according to the money - the most influential election barometer!"

The latest bet has come from a smart middle-aged female client from suburban Perth who was well prepared to put down 50k at the short price! "The interesting thing is this is the biggest interstate bet on the NT election by a mile. All the other big players have come from the heart of Darwin."

Evans said in the last two weeks, they've received a $100,000.00 stake from Darwin at $1.14, three $10,000.00 bets at $1.18 down to $1.14, and now the $50,000 interest at $1.09! "There's also been scores of bets from $20.00 up to $5,000.00 and we are pushing on $250,000.00 now - all for the Labor Party!

AUG 6, 2008

EARLY PUNTERS CHARGE INTO $1.60 ABOUT THE STORM!

* Punters have not warmed to the value about outsider Manly on Centrebet ahead of the NRL "Match of the Season" against premiership heavweight Melbourne at Brookvale Oval this Friday night!

Centrebet's media chief Neil Evans said the Sea Eagles opened a clear $2.30 outsider, but nearly all the early money has been for the Storm, even at the short quote of $1.60!

"That price is enough it seems," Evans said. "The first few thousand came in all for the Storm, either outright, a little bit at the - 4.0 Line at $1.91, and also several bets on Melbourne both at the under 12.5 option or 13 Plus on the margins. Coach Craig Bellamy knows his side can deliver the biggest physchological blow on the competition all season at Brookie, and the fact they'll be up against a screaming full-house it seems is no deterrent. Class wins already, according to the punters!"

AUG 4, 2008

Gold Coast punter’s $15,000.00 bet on Aussie medal flop!

A regular Centrebet punter from the Gold Coast has wagered $15,000.00 at $1.45 on Australia’s Beijing Games team falling short of the 17 gold medals won in Athens four years ago!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said this was the biggest bet in the “Aussie Gold” book, forcing the bookmaker to tighten the “16 or Less” option into $1.40! Nearly $25,000.00 has been wagered this way, compared with “peanuts” on Australia winning 17 golds (same as Athens) at $6.50 and 18 or more at $3.50!

“Punters have done their homework big time on the likely medal hauls, and if we weren’t convinced Australia would fall short of Athens, we are now,” Evans said. “Certainly, the loss of Jana Rawlinson, Nathan Deakes and Cadel Evans is a major blow, but outside of the swimming pool, our team looks horribly thin apart from a couple of major team medal hopes!”

Evans said punters were also convinced the overall medal haul of 49 from 2004 would not be reached, with most of the money on the $1.40 option! Centrebet has 12 to 15 gold medals as the $2.70 favourite, but the 8 to 11 option ($4.35) is the best backed, while equal favourites in the overall medal haul are 34 to 42 and 43 to 51 – both quoted at $3.25!

Host nation China remains a dominant $1.44 favourite to win the most gold, and a $1.70 fancy to secure the most medals.

Meanwhile, punters are warming to Aussie facebook queen Stephanie Rice in her 200m individual medley showdown with US star Kathryn Hoff. “We’ve taken nearly $1,000.00 on Rice at $1.90, and only a couple of hundred on Hoff at $2.30,” Evans said.

On the track, Centrebet has Australia’s Craig Mottram a $10.00 shot in the men’s 5000m behind two Ethiopians and a Kenyan on the $5.00 line, while Tamsyn Lewis is a rank $101.00 in the women’s 800m behind heavily-backed $1.18 Kenyan star Pamela Jelimo!

AUG 1, 2008

Sullivan $1.75 fav to beat Queen Stephanie in Pool of the Roses!

Australia’s great sprint hope Eamon Sullivan is $1.75 favourite to outgun former flame Stephanie Rice ($1.95) in the race for swimming gold at the Beijing Olympic Games!

Leading Olympic bookmaker Centrebet today released its “Will Gold Mend a Broken Heart?” market squaring off the former lovebirds!

“I think Eamon’s got the jump (not that kind) on Stephanie as far as gold medal claims go, but it might also be the sort of Games where very little separates the first few to the wall in most of the blue-ribbon events,” Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said.

Meanwhile, already heavily backed against by Centrebet punters, sprinting golden girl Lisbeth Trickett is still a $1.50 fancy to collect 3 or 4 gold medals in Beijing, while in an “Unders or Overs” market, distance king Grant Hackett is a $1.20 shot to win under 1.5 gold medals, meaning the 1500m will be his only brush with gold!

In other swimming specials, American dynamo Michael Phelps is tipped to fall one short of an unprecedented eight gold medals, while fellow US team member Kathryn Hoff is $1.70 to take home 3 or 4 golds!

BEIJING GAMES - SWIMMING SPECIALS

WILL GOLD MEND A BROKEN HEART? Who wins most gold!

$1.75 EAMON SULLIVAN (Aus) $1.95 STEPHANIE RICE (Aus)

TRICKETT or TRICKLE! Lisbeth Trickett’s Gold Medal Tally

$1.50 3 to 4 gold medals $3.00 2 gold medals or less $5.00 5 gold medals or more

CAN HE HACKETT? Grant Hackett’s Gold Medal Tally

$1.20 Under 1.5 gold medals $3.75 Over 1.5 gold medals

PHELPS ON FIRE! Michael Phelps’ Gold Medal Tally

$1.45 Under 7.5 Gold Medals $2.45 Over 7.5 Gold Medals

WILL HOFF GO OFF? – Kathryn Hoff’s Gold Medal Tally

$1.70 3 to 4 gold medals $2.00 2 gold medals or less $9.00 5 gold medals or less

LAST-DITCH MONEY POURS ON TO ALL BLACKS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE DITCH!

* A Christchurch punter has outlayed nearly $20,000.00 with Australian bookmaker Centrebet on the All Blacks at $1.53 to avenge their loss to the Wallabies tomorrow night at Eden Park!

Centrebet's media chief Neil Evans said an incredible surge of money had arrived for New Zealand in the last 12 hours - and the home side has firmed from $1.53 into $1.51! The Wallabies have eased from $2.50 out to $2.55! Nearly 500 individual bets have been made, with the All Blacks dominating by three to one (3:1).

There has also been a $10,000.00 stake from a long-standing Auckland punter, and near $10,000.00 bet placed by a Melbourne punter on the All Blacks both at $1.53, amid a near $60,000.00 in wagers from both sides of the Tasman on the home side!

"Surely the match can't be that one-sided, but punters simply believe it's life or death as far as the All Blacks fighting back," Evans said. "Put it this way, if New Zealand goes under for the first time at Eden Park in 22 years to Australia, coach Graham Henry may as well migrate to Venus - and take a few with him!"

The All Blacks by under 12.5 points is easily the best margin option, attracting several thousand in bets, while a Dublin client with Centrebet believes it will be a low-scoring Test, outlaying nearly 2000 Euros on the Game Score being UNDER 38.5 points!

JULY 30, 2008

PUNTERS PREPARE TO BET ON MONEY BILL SQUILLIONS!

"SBW $1.35 FAV TO BE AN ALL BLACK AT WORLD CUP 2011"!

* Runaway Rugby League star Sonny Bill Williams is $1.35 with Centrebet to play in the next Rugby World Cup for the All Blacks, but the first bet - nearly $500.00 - arrived from Wellington this morning backing NO!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said punters could take $3.00 French rugby renegade-in-waiting SBW doesn't make it to the embattled NZ squad for the next World Cup in 2011, but he expects the "Yes" bet to firm in over time, despite the early interest the other way!

"Once SBW gets through this legal mess with the Bulldogs in the NRL - and it may take some sort of rugby "sugar daddy" to compensate in full the contractual debt left behind by Money Bill Squillions in Sydney, he will surely set his sights on being the great All Blacks saviour," Evans said!

"We expect the market to be of major interest to punters because this walk-out by SBW could fuel the biggest story in rugby league since the Super League fiasco, not to mention the dynamite effect he could have on the field in Rugby Union!"

Evans said he had learnt SBW transferred all his money from a Sydney bank to a London bank a couple of days before he planned to fly to Paris via the UK to begin talks with French rugby!

WILL SBW PLAY FOR THE ALL BLACKS AT THE 2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP?

$1.35 YES $3.00 NO

* Meanwhile, the embattled All Blacks have blown to a somewhat embarrassing $3.50 to win the Tri Nations after opening up a hot odds-on favourite! "The loss at home to the Springboks and then the collapse to the Wallabies on Saturday night has seen their price blow like an ill trans-Tasman wind, and punters who took the good odds about either Sth Africa or Australia will be on good terms with themselves," Evans said.

Evans said the Springboks had been the best backed nation so far to win the Tri Nations!

JULY 29, 2008

4 x 100 bound for gold, but punters tipping trouble for Trickett!

Swedish punters with leading Beijing Games bookmaker Centrebet have plunged into a little-known Dutch swimmer to upset Australia’s golden girl Libby Trickett in the final of the women’s 50m freestyle at the Beijing Olympic Games!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said the equivalent of nearly $5,000.00 AUD in SEK currency had arrived for the Netherlands’ Marleen Veldhuis from $5.50 down. She is now quoted at $4.25 to take the gold medal, with one punter outlaying the equivalent of $2,000.00! Under-pressure Trickett remains the easing $1.50 favourite!

Trickett has also drifted from $1.33 to $1.42 in the 100m freestyle, after African-born Brisbane schoolgirl Cate Campbell was backed from $5.50 into $5.00, including a near $1,000.00 stake from Sydney’s east!

What isn’t in doubt – according to Olympic punters – is Australia’s women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay team taking gold! Evans said. “Nearly $10,000.00 – from both Europe and Australia - has been bet on the team, including one wager of $5,000.00 at $1.85 from a Perth man. We’ve shortened Australia into $1.75 to take gold!”

And while not in supreme condition, Grant Hackett has been exclusively backed to win the men’s 1500m gold, firming from $1.85 into $1.70, with nearly $10,000.00 staked. “They’ve backed him from everywhere, and while I don’t think he’s in vintage form, he won’t have to be to beat this lot,” Evans said.

And is there a changing of the guard for Australian men’s swimming in the 100m? A “tough-rated” London punter will win nearly $10,000.00 AUD if little-known Sydneysider Matt Targett steals gold in the 100m freestyle! He backed him at $81.00, and Centrebet has now trimmed Targett to $67.00! Aussie number one Eamon Sullivan remains a $2.35 second-elect behind $2.30 French favourite Alain Bernard.

* Punters from Australia and Scandinavian countries have also rallied behind Jamaican flyer Usain Bolt to claim gold in the men’s 100m on the track after mounting injury concerns surrounding his chief rival American Tyson Gay! Evans said nearly $10,000.00 in wagers had arrived for Bolt who has firmed from $2.75 to clear $2.40 favourite, with Gay out to $2.75!

* And punters cannot separate Australia and Germany in the battle for the men’s hockey gold medal! “We have nearly $1,000.00 on each at $3.75 to take gold, and not a nickel on any other country,” Evans said. “I expect Australia, though, to eventually command favouritism!”

* Meanwhile, China PR continues to tumble in the chase for gold medals! Evans said bets of $3,000.00 from Darwin and $5,000.00 from Sydney’s south, as well as scores of smaller ones, has seen its price shorten from $1.50 into $1.44, with $20,000.00 now invested on the host nation. Australia is now $1.45 to secure 16 gold medals or less than the haul from Athens four years ago, and an even shorter $1.40 to hit 48 or fewer total medals compared with 2004!

JULY 28, 2008

The moment we knew SBW was heading out!

At 4.39pm on Friday, ‘smart’ punters from Sydney’s south starting wagering on the Bulldogs to land the NRL “Wooden Spoon” – and the whisper that Sonny Bill Williams’ future at the club was on skid row became a roar!

Centrebet media director Neil Evans said he was in the middle of interviews ahead of the Geelong-Hawthorn AFL blockbuster when the call came that a “connected” NRL punter had staked $10,000.00 on the Bulldogs at $6.00 to finish last!

“There were a string of other Wooden Spoon bets on the Bulldogs, mainly for $2,000.00 each on the club running last – and straight away we knew SBW would not be playing against the Dragons (tonight) – but the sudden interest from “tough-rated” punters - all in a matter of minutes – smacked of a season-ending drama, not just one game,” Evans said.

“We shortened the Bulldogs into $5.00 by Friday night, and then, of course, later that night we discovered SBW was about to board a plane bound for French rugby!” Evans said the free-falling Cowboys were still a raging $1.12 favourite to run last, with the Bulldogs quoted the only real challenger, two wins ahead on the ladder!

NRL – WOODEN SPOON

$1.12 COWBOYS $5.00 BULLDOGS $26.00 RABBITOHS $101.00 PARRAMATTA $151.00 NEWCASTLE

• The SBW shock departure and the earlier disciplinary dramas surrounding key Bulldogs players has seen a betting charge on the Dragons to win by 13 or more tonight!

“Nearly $50,000.00 has arrived for the Dragons at the $1.91 Line (now -12.5), including one bet of $10,000.00 from Bondi, and scores more between $1,000.00 and $5,000.00,” Evans said. The Dragons are now $1.20 outright to win tonight, with the Bulldogs right out to $4.65!

NRL – ROUND 20

$1.20 DRAGONS (in from $1.22) $4.65 BULLDOGS (out from $4.35)

LINE

$1.91 DRAGONS ( - 12.5) $1.91 BULLDOGS ( + 12.5)

POINTS

$2.10 DRAGONS ( - 14.5) $2.10 BULLDOGS ( + 10.5)

* Meanwhile, a first-time Auckland punter’s outrageous bid to win $1 million backing the Wests Tigers at $51.00 to win the NRL premiership looks “an asteroid away” after the club’s 24-10 loss to the Panthers on Saturday night! The punter staked $20,000.00 on Wests Tigers winning the title at $51.00 forcing Centrebet to trim the price into $41.00!

“You can imagine the eerie irony of all this,” Evans said. “Back in 2005 a client won nearly $1 million with a long-range premiership double on the Sydney Swans-Wests Tigers at a huge price! Surely, it’s not time for the Tigers again, but we know this man from the heart of Auckland is a supreme believer in Benji Marshall and what he can inspire!”

• Melbourne remains a $2.25 premiership favourite despite the loss to the NZ Warriors who firmed from $81.00 into $67.00! Brisbane shortened from $11.00 to $9.00, while the Roosters closed the gap marginally on Manly!

JULY 23, 2008

PUNTERS TIPPING A MEDAL MELTDOWN FOR AUSTRALIA IN BEIJING!

* Centrebet punters are tipping the wheels to fall off Australia's medal bid at the Beijing Olympic Games in the wake of the injury-forced withdrawal of golden hopes Jana Rawlinson and Nathan Deakes!

Centrebet's PR & media chief Neil Evans said money was "pouring through the gate" on Australia securing less medals all-round than Athens, at the same time punters continue to back host nation China to take a stranglehold on the medal carve-up!

"A Sydney punter has wagered $3,000.00 at $1.44 on Australia winning 16 gold medals or less than the 17 won in Athens," Evans said. "Another client - from Canberra's south - staked nearly $3,000.00 at $1.40 on the overall medal haul of 49 from Athens not being reached in Beijing. And another from Sydney's south has had $2,000.00 on Australia winning only 8 to 11 gold medals at $5.50! That price has now shortened to $4.50 after several other bets were laid!"

But, Evans said, China was still dominant! "A client from Singapore this morning had $2,000.00 on the host nation winning the overall medal tally at $1.70, but another from southern Sydney went the other way - wagering $3,000.00 on the USA to take the medal count at $2.20!"

This all follows on from a Sydney North Shore punter's staggering $40,000.00 wager on China to win the most medals at $1.75 a couple of weeks back!

"There's already nearly $100.000.00 bet around the two major medal books, while close to another $20,000.00 has been staked on the "Medal Special" markets involving Australia and other countries," Evans added!

"Obviously, punters believe the Australian Olympic squad is thin, and the withdrawal of Rawlinson and Deakes - both real gold medal fancies - is a pyschological dent so close to the openeing ceremony"!

"The pressure on the Australian team's 'guns' in the pool is now bigger than ever because away from these lanes, gold medals will be scarce," he added.

JULY 22, 2008

ALL BETS & CATS ASIDE - HOW MANY LIVES DO HAWKS PUNTERS HAVE?

* Punters are turning the tables big-time on all those Hawthorn backers who staked claims on the club when Centrebet's head-to-head book on the July 25 showdown opened three months ago!

Centrebet took the historic step of opening head-to-head betting on this match - dubbed Match of the Millennium - back in mid April, with the Cats priced at $1.45 and the Hawks $2.75! Punters immediately started backing Hawthorn, believing by late July little could separate the two teams!

"We took bets of $6,000.00 at $2.25, $5,000.00 at $2.60 and very early on $3,000.00 at $2.70," Centrebet's media chief Neil Evans said. "In fact, there was very little money on the Cats at $1.45 - and even when they amazingly got out to around $1.80 - and of the near $20,000.00 invested in "early days" 85 per cent of it was on the Hawks!

* A couple of weeks back, we closed the "Match of the Millennium" book down, with Geelong around $1.55 and the Hawks at $2.50! But not before the money for Hawthorn had pushed them as short as $2.00 by late May, with Geelong easing to around $1.80 at the same time!

*** Hawthorn's move from mid April to early July: $2.75 $2.60 $2.55 $2.50 $2.25 $2.20 $2.10 $2.00 $2.20 $2.50!

*** Geelong's move from mid April to early July: $1.45 $1.50 $1.52 $1.55 $1.62 $1.70 $1.75 $1.80 $1.68 $1.55!

"But back through May and into June, Hawthorn's form was irresistible, while the Cats had a few injuries and showed genuine signs of wavering," Evans said. "Punters were re-acting, but in the last month it's all turned around - and Hawthorn lost key players to injuries, and the doubts re-surfaced whether they could go four quarters with the championship-hardened Geelong side!"

* Yesterday, Centrebet opened Hawthorn - a shock loser to St Kilda last round - the $2.85 outsider for the MCG clash this Friday night, while Geelong - after pummelling the Western Bulldogs by 61 points - is again a dominant $1.40 favourite!

"We took several thousand straight away on the Cats late yesterday and again this morning, including one stake of $3,000.00 from a Melbourne punter - all at $1.40. My how some of those Geelong backers must have wished they got on at $1.80 when the price was there!" Evans said. "In the last month, the Cats have put their foot down and reminded everyone they are far and away the team to get past - and have stormed into a raging $1.72 premiership favourite!"

"With nearly $30,000.00 invested by a Tuesday morning, this is likely to be the biggest betting match of the season!"

*** Meanwhile, several thousand dollars has arrived in bets for the Bulldogs' Adam Cooney who has firmed from $6.00 to $5.00 second favourite to win the Brownlow Medal. Geelong's long-time favourite Gary Ablett has eased back out to black figures ($2.35) after hitting injury hurdles in the last fortnight!

Is Labor cooking with gas in the NT?

After the Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson announced an early election for August 9, punters are already starting to swing in behind the hot $1.20 favourite Labor government to retain power at the NT poll!

Centrebet's media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said a string of bets had arrived in the last 24 hours for Labor between $100.00 and $1,000.00, with little or no interest yet on the $4.10 outsider Country Liberal Party!

"We always believed Labor would go early, considering the strong publicity drive around the Territory surrounding a string of new investments and policy announcements," Evans said.

“And the decision to dissolve parliament is aimed squarely at shoring up political confidence within companies considering building a $12 billion gas plant in the NT. Japanese company Inpex & Total has been heavily courted to build such a plant in the NT rather than WA, and part of the early election call is to prosper long-term relationships with such a company!"

“Mr Henderson knows the Country Libs are struggling poll-wise and in the current political climate, and Opposition Leader Terry Mills is still belatedly trying to talk up a gas reservation policy! Labor will talk hard and fast about total industry commitment, at the same time selling the Country Libs as a massive risk to such development ventures!" Evans added.

"One Melbourne punter - who is a specialist election 'player' with successful bets across many political contests - has already had $500.00 on the Labor Party at $1.20 - and I expect to see him again in a much bigger way before the NT votes."

"The Country Libs need to claw back several seats, which is achievable, but unlikely considering it's a small political pool in the NT, and voters are unlikely to switch allegiance unless there's been a major public stuff-up," Evans said.

The CLP will target four seats that require a swing of less than 2 percent! "The Opposition has a real shot at winning Sanderson, and there are three seats where there are no sitting members, including pivotal Fannie Bay, vacated by outgoing Clare Martin!

"In fact, the Opposition’s best hope might be in their leader himself," Evans said. "Terry Mills is seen by many as real leadership material, while Mr Henderson is often known as "Minister for Everything - and Capable of Very Little!"

JULY 18, 2008

BRONCOS IN THE "LINE" OF FIRE!

* A surge of money on the rock-bottom Nth Qld Cowboys with Centrebet today has ignited belief the Broncos are in for the fright of their lives ahead of the much anticipated Qld derby in Townsville tonight!

Centrebet's media chief Neil Evans said nearly $50,000.00 had been spread across the Cowboys who are a massive outsider against arch-rival Brisbane!

"We took a stack of professional and independent interest today on the home side, both at the big head-to-head price, but more so on the $1.91 Line which has shortened from + 16.5 into + 14.5 today," Evans said.

"Line bets include one of $15,000.00 at $1.91, $12,000.00 at $1.91, $10,000.00 at $1.91 and $5,000.00 at $1.91 both from the Qld and NSW sides of the border. The Cowboys opened on Centrebet a massive and almost hopeless $6.50 outsider, but are now $5.10, while the Broncos have eased from a prohibitive $1.11 out to $1.18!"

Two punters have outlayed nearly $4,000.00 and will collect nearly $30,000.00 if the Cowboys pull off a monumental shock without inspirational leader Jonathan Thurston.

"Outsiders are the flavour of the month with punters, especially after last week, and maybe they're getting swept up in the Cowboys' value, but the Line market is looming as a massive swing either way," Evans said.

* Centrebet has also attracted a lot of interest on rank outsider Parramatta at the Line ahead of the showdown at Brookvale tonight!

"Alot of big bets have arrived for the Eels at the - 12.5 Line of $1.91 including one stake from a Sydney punter of $10,000.00! With a big doubt still hanging over Manly skipper Matt Orford, the Sea Eagles have eased from $1.20 out to $1.22, while Parramatta - at one stage $5.10 in head-to-head betting - have shortened in to $4.35!

The Parramatta Line is now a flat + 12.0!

Evans said with two staunch sets of rivals doing battle tonight, this double-header could provide a record Friday night betting hold for the season!

JULY 17, 2008

BIG MOVE FOR TIGERS V ESSENDON

* Punters have steamed into Richmond to continue its rejuvenated season, backing them on Centrebet today from $1.85 into $1.65!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said nearly $20,000.00 had arrived by lunchtime, including bets of $5,000.00 at $1.85, $4,000.00 at $1.80 and $3,000.00 at $1.80!

"It's been a big Thursday move for the Tigers, with sustained money since this morning. They've taken a real set against the Bombers, despite their gutsy win over the Lions last start, and have eased from $2.00 out to $2.25!"

* In the Adelaide Derby, Evans said the early money was all in the Crows camp! "Adelaide has firmed from $1.77 into $1.74 today, with Port drifting out from $2.05 to $2.10," Evans aid. "I have a feeling the Crows will carry a tonne of money in a must-win Derby, and could end up being the most heavily backed side of the round!"

* And hot premiership favourite Geelong has eased fractionally to $1.54 after nearly $10,000.00 arrived in bets today for the Western Bulldogs ahead of one of the game's of the season!

"Punters obviously like the $2.50 offered about a team that's never been off the boil all season," Evans said. "We've taken a string of bets, including one from Perth of $3,000.00 at $2.50! At the moments punters believe the Dogs are right in this one all the way!"

JULY 16, 2008

AFTER A DECADE OF THE NRL, THE EAGLE HAS FINALLY LANDED ON PARRAMATTA!

* Ten years after the National Rugby League (NRL) grew out of the ruins of the bitter Super League-ARL war, Manly officially now has its greatest ever measure of arch-rival Parramatta, according to Centrebet media chief Neil Evans!

Centrebet today opened the head-to-head markets for round 19 in the NRL, with the biggest price gap in NRL betting history (11 seasons) between the two clubs - Manly opening $1.20 to win Friday night's big one at Brookvale Oval, with the Eels despised $4.50 outsiders!

* The $1.91 Line has been set at - 12 for the home side!

Evans said it was a history-making gap, testimony to the momentum Manly has at the moment, and the almost embarrassing form lapse the once-heralded Parramatta finds itself in!

"I've been back through all the matches back to 1998 when the NRL was born - and there's never been such a big gap head to head between the two great clubs," Evans said. "The Eels have never been 7/2 outsiders against Manly, and my how times change! Even when the powerful Parramatta sides in the late 1990's and around 2001 were dominating a struggling Northern Eagles merged outfit, the gap in betting wasn't this big!"

"Back then, the Eels would go in against the Eagles around about the $1.30 mark, but this is new market ground - and everything is with the Manly club who is tipped to make it seven in a row on Friday night, and preserve their stand-alone spot at the top of the ladder!"

"The remarkable thing is Parramatta started the 2008 season clearly shorter in betting than Manly to win the title, and took a lot more early money. Now the unwanted Eels are out to $17.00," Evans said.

Evans said the best premiership money all season had arrived for the Sea Eagles in the last week, with Centrebet shortening the club from $6.00 into outright second favourite at $5.00, behind $2.40 premiership favourite Melbourne (in from $2.65)!

"Manly has officially taken over from the Roosters as second fancy in premiership betting - the Roosters out to $6.50 (from $5.50). The biggest drifter is the Broncos who have eased from $8.00 to $11.00 in a fortnight!"

Rivallry between the two great clubs - which both entered first grade in 1947 - ignited during Manly's golden run in the 70's, with the Eagles 13-10 Grand Final win in 1976 before the Eels enjoyed back-to-back payback with 1982 & 83 GF wins!

"The sad thing, and I say this with thick skin being a a Sea Eagles resident, I don't believe the Eagles are any closer to beating Melbourne than they were last season."

JULY 10, 2008

$100,000.00 BET FROM PERTH ON THE WESTERN BULLDOGS AT $1.09!

* A Bold Perth punter has outlayed $100,000.00 at $1.09 with bookmaker Centrebet to win just $9,000 on the Western Bulldogs beating Melbourne this weekend!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said it was "one hell of an investment" for a Thursday against a side that's shown continued improvement, and is coming off a magnificent one-point win over the Brisbane Lions last start!

"You don't often see $100,000.00 outright bets this far from the bounce, but he obviously considers the Bulldogs a living certainty!"

Centrebet has shortened the Bulldogs into $1.07, with the Demons drifting out to to a whopping $8.50! Melbourne is getting 42.5 points at the Line with Centrebet!

Stunning $40,000.00 bet on China to lead medal tally!

A Centrebet client has placed a stunning $40,000.00 on favourite China securing the most medals at the Beijing Olympics, starting in four weeks!

The punter, from Sydney’s North Shore, backed the host nation at $1.75, and will collect $70,000.00 if the Chinese lead the medal tally. China is now into $1.70, as well as being a hot $1.50 fancy on Centrebet to lead the gold medal tally after attracting several thousand dollars in bets!

“This is a stunning wager, although China at home is a massive mountain to get past, and this is a punter who bets selectively and very carefully,” Centrebet’s PR and media chief Neil Evans said.

And even before hurdler and two-time world champion Jana Rawlinson came unstuck through injury, punters were tipping a real struggle for Australian gold medals at the Games! "Easily the best-backed option is 8 - 11 gold medals at $5.00," Evans said. "The 12-15 golden “bag” is still the favourite at $2.85, but punters think we're asking too much!"

Centrebet is offering an outright winner’s market for every gold medal up for grabs at the Beijing Games – and is expecting a record turnover, according to Evans! “There is real fascination among the punters, not just how nations like Australia can potentially upset the powerhouses China and the USA, but drawing individual and team comparisons against how we went in Athens four years ago,” he said.

Centrebet has Australia a $1.50 favourite to land less than the 17 gold medals won in 2004, and an even shorter $1.40 to return less than the 49-medal haul from Athens!

And scores of punters from Australia, Europe and the UK have already backed $3.25 co-favourite Argentina to win gold in Men’s Football! The Olyroos are a $41.00 outsider to claim gold.

* Another $10,000.00 outright bet with leading bookmaker Centrebet has arrived for the encumbent Labor government ahead of the WA State election, scheduled for later this year!

Centrebet's media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said the Perth punter had staked $10,000.00 on Alan Carpenter's party at $1.22 to retain power, the bet coming just a couple of days after another suburban Perth client wagered $10,000.00 at $1.25!

"Big punters have seemingly decided there appears little or no way back for Troy Buswell's embattled Liberal team," Evans said.

Labor is now in to $1.20, while the Coalition has drifted to $4.00 - and is still friendless with punters! "To date, no-one wants the $4.00 about the Coalition, and of the near $30,000.00 in total we've taken so far, it's virtually all for the government! It will be very interesting to see what price it will take to draw some genuine Coalition support!"

JULY 3, 2008

CRASH, BANG, WALLOP - PUNTERS POUR INTO RABBITOHS!

* Punters have unleased a sustained plunge on Souths to wipe the floor with the embattled Bulldogs in round 17, almost announcing this will be the match that officially puts the Rabbitohs out of the unwanted Wooden Spoon race!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said nearly $100,000.00 had arrived for the Rabbitohs today from big professional punters, both at the heavily backed - 3.0 Line - and outright to win the match!

Souths have firmed from $1.72 to $1.63 on Centrebet, while the hapless Bulldogs have blown to $2.30 from an opening $2.12!

"It's a stunning go on the Rabbitohs, signalling they're on their way back, and the Bulldogs could well be headed for the cellar," Evans said.

"Bets include $20,000.00 on the Rabbitohs ( -3.0) at $1.91, $10,000.00 ( -3.0) at $1.91, $5,000.00 ( - 3.0) at $1.91 - and $10,000.00 to win at $1.72, and again $10,000.00 to win at $1.68!"

* Manly has also firmed dramtically after the serious injury to Gold Coast playmaker Scott Prince. The Eagles are in from $1.67 to $1.33, while the Titans have blown like a gale - $2.22 out to $3.35! Evans said there had been strong early money for the Eels to win the Battle of the West, and they had firmed from an opening $1.40 to $1.37!

JULY 1, 2008

MELBOURNE MAN PLUNGES $10,000.00 ON NATIONALS TO WIN NZ ELECTION!

* John Key's National Party continues to gather pivotal momentum through smart election punters in the countdown to the most crucial election vote in New Zealand history - most notably from Melbourne!

Centrebet's media chief and political analyst Neil Evans said a Melbourne punter, with a smart election history, has staked $10,000.00 on the Nationals at $1.35 to win the showdown at the ballot box later this year!

"It's one of the biggest bets so far, but we also have a London punter who's placed 2000 pounds ($4,154.00) on Key at $1.33," Evans said. "Throw that in with a lot of Kiwi and Australian punters who've bet anywhere between $200.00 and $2,000.00 - and there's no real sign yet of embattled Labour PM Helen Clark getting back in this contest!"

The Nationals have consistently firmed from an opening price of $1.47 on Centrebet three months back to $1.30, while the incumbent Labour Party has eased from $2.62 out to $3.35! Evans said nearly $60,000.00 had been wagered so far on the NZ election across nearly 200 individual bets.

But Prime Minister Clark has had some support, although thin in comparison, across New Zealand. "Not so long ago a Christchurch punter had $1,000.00 on her at $3.15, while in early betting a Wellington punter staked $1,000.00 at $2.65," Evans said. "Plenty of Kiwis believe Labour, which is shooting for a near historic fourth straight term, represents massive value, but all the big bets have been for the Opposition Nationals so far!"

Evans said the appointment of former National PM Jim Bolger to head up KiwiRail on behalf of the government - whick took ownership of rail and ferry asssets overnight - could be a potential popularity swing back Helen Clark's way! "Returning the national rail system into public hands takes the pressure off potential subsidy blow-outs in the future under private ownership," Evans said. "And the timing could be immense, given the government is under mounting pressure over increased excise taxes and a concerning slump in property prices and real estate activity!"

Punters want desperate Blues!

Early punters are tipping embattled NSW to storm back at Qld in tomorrow night’s State of Origin decider, with the Blues dominating the outright betting despite being a clear $2.35 outsider on Centrebet!

“The Blues attracted 70 per cent of the first $75,000.00 accepted in single bets today,” Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said. “Obviously, punters have moved quickly, believing NSW is over the odds. Among the wagers are $12,000.00 from a Sydney punter, and several between $2,000.00 and $7,000.00!”

But one punter has had $15,000.00 on Qld at the – 3.5 Line at $1.91!

“Closer to the start of the game, there’ll be some massive punters weigh into the Maroons, but this surge for NSW should see the home side shorten up in the market as they try to win their first series in three years!”

Nearly twice as many bets have been placed on the Blues than Qld already, with early indications this will be a record betting match in the history of Origin football!

STATE OF ORIGIN – THE DECIDER

$2.35 NSW $1.60 QLD

PTS

$2.10 NSW ( + 1.5) $2.10 QLD ( - 5.5)

LINE

$1.91 NSW ( + 3.5) $1.91 QLD ( - 3.5)

• Meanwhile, the future goes from bad to worse for the embattled Cowboys – now into a raging $1.55 favourite on Centrebet to land the dreaded Wooden Spoon! Evans said their best hope now is the faltering Bulldogs who have displaced the Rabbitohs as second fancy at $4.50, while Souths is out to almost unknown territory at $5.00.

• The Sharks have firmed from $13.00 to $11.00 to win their first top grade Rugby League premiership in 41 years after the barnstorming 12-point win over the Raiders last night! “The Sharks confirmed point blank they’re one of the hardest and toughest sides in the competition – and they’ve still got some good hard-heads to come back,” Evans said.

JUNE 30, 2008

PUNTERS SAY FED WILL WIPE LLEYTON IN STRAIGHT SETS!

* Centrebet punters are virtually giving Australian number one Lleyton Hewitt no chance of upsetting raging singles favourite Roger Federer in tonight's fourth round clash at Wimbledon!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said despite prohibitive odds of $1.05 (1/20) on Federer, punters had staked nearly $50,000.00 in bets on the top seed, compared with just $2,000.00 on Hewitt at the massive head-to-head price of $10.00! One punter from South Launceston has had $20,000.00 straight out on Federer to win at $1.05! "We've taken money from the Australian mainland, New Zealand, around Europe and the UK on the Fed-Express, but by far the biggest bet today belongs to a Tasmanian," Evans said.

And on top of that, Federer has been heavily backed to win the match in three sets, with 90 per cent of nearly $20,000.00 in the correct set score book wagered on Federer in 3! One Adelaide punter has outlayed $10,000.00 on Federer at $1.40 to win in straight sets!

"It's hard to imagine, a former winner whose best surface is grass being a rank 9/1 outsider head to head by just the fourth round, but the money over the last week suggests Federer is on target to go one better than legendary Swede Bjorn Borg and make it six Wimbledon singles titles in a row," Evans said.

Federer was $2.00 favourite when the tournament opened, but is now in to $1.60, with great rival Rafael Nadal ($2.85) the only other player under $29.00! Andy Murray is on that third line from Marcus Baghdatis ($34.00), while Hewitt is rated an $81.00 chance!"

* In another intriguing fourth round match, great British hope Andy Murray is a well-backed $1.67 favourite to beat talented Frenchman Richard Gasquet ($2.20)!

JUNE 30, 2008

PUNTERS SAY FED WILL WIPE LLEYTON IN STRAIGHT SETS!

* Centrebet punters are virtually giving Australian number one Lleyton Hewitt no chance of upsetting raging singles favourite Roger Federer in tonight's fourth round clash at Wimbledon!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans said despite prohibitive odds of $1.05 (1/20) on Federer, punters had staked nearly $50,000.00 in bets on the top seed, compared with just $2,000.00 on Hewitt at the massive head-to-head price of $10.00! One punter from South Launceston has had $20,000.00 straight out on Federer to win at $1.05! "We've taken money from the Australian mainland, New Zealand, around Europe and the UK on the Fed-Express, but by far the biggest bet today belongs to a Tasmanian," Evans said.

And on top of that, Federer has been heavily backed to win the match in three sets, with 90 per cent of nearly $20,000.00 in the correct set score book wagered on Federer in 3! One Adelaide punter has outlayed $10,000.00 on Federer at $1.40 to win in straight sets!

"It's hard to imagine, a former winner whose best surface is grass being a rank 9/1 outsider head to head by just the fourth round, but the money over the last week suggests Federer is on target to go one better than legendary Swede Bjorn Borg and make it six Wimbledon singles titles in a row," Evans said.

Federer was $2.00 favourite when the tournament opened, but is now in to $1.60, with great rival Rafael Nadal ($2.85) the only other player under $29.00! Andy Murray is on that third line from Marcus Baghdatis ($34.00), while Hewitt is rated an $81.00 chance!"

* In another intriguing fourth round match, great British hope Andy Murray is a well-backed $1.67 favourite to beat talented Frenchman Richard Gasquet ($2.20)!</