|
|
|
||
|
Aussie
Rules
|
Centrebet Capers
BOXING Anthony Mundine was far too good for Danny Green in last night's IBF Super Middleweight eliminator and will more than likely get another crack at Danish champion Mikkel Kessler. We said that this would be the biggest fight this country had ever seen and that was how it panned out, with nearly half a million dollars bet with Centrebet alone. There were several $20,000 and $10,000 bets for both fighters and for most of Wednesday, Green had overtaken Mundine as favourite, being listed at 1.87 with Mundine 1.95. Things leveled out again in the final two hours of betting and they started 1.90 apiece. The 'fight result' option was extremely popular with the bulk of the Mundine money coming for him to win on points at 3.20, while the Green bets were for Danny to win by KO, which was backed from 3.25 into 2.80. What was amazing was the support for the draw, which firmed from 23.00 into 15.00 with the biggest bet being $2000 at 21.00. As soon as there is some indication where Mundine's fight against Kessler will be held, betting will open. Australia is the likely place as Kessler would get an opportunity for a bigger purse. RUGBY LEAGUE New South Wales are always favourites in home matches of the State of Origin but there has been plenty of money to say that the Queenslanders can get on the front foot and win game one next Wednesday. We originally opened Queensland at 2.75 three weeks ago but once the squads were named, they were re-priced at 2.30. That was quickly taken with bets including $6000 and $5000 as was the 2.30 for a series win. Betting has settled now with New South Wales at 1.73 and Queensland 2.10 and there is constant support for both, although no big bets have been taken. That will probably happen closer to game day and by week's end all of the usual match exotics will be open. With the Origin players out, this weekend has been on the quiet side but you can't really blame punters for that. Three sides also have the bye due to the big game and nearly all of the six remaining matches look very difficult to pick. Penrith returned to form last week and face up to Parramatta on Friday. Had Tim Smith and Mark Riddell not been kicked out of the Eels side, we would have been keen to stick with Parramatta but they are two very big 'outs'. Teams who change coaches mid-season have a funny way of improving, but the Eels have blown out to 2.60, so punters think that their poor form will continue. Melbourne just keeps winning but find themselves as 2.08 outsiders when they travel to Brookvale Oval on Saturday night. Both sides are affected by Origin, more so the Storm, which explains why three quarters of the early money, has been for Manly. We have given Souths plenty of chances this year but to show what a forgiving breed punters are, they are also giving them another chance this week. They play the Roosters on Sunday and we have taken bets of $10,000 and $5000 for Souths with 6½ points start, as well as two win bets of $2500 at 2.60. The Roosters have got players out but Souths do seem at about the right price, so we will be laying them. AUSTRALIAN RULES There was plenty of late movement in a couple of matches at the weekend and again it opened up the argument about team changes. Richmond and Essendon had several late withdrawals on game day and both were beaten comprehensively. The Tigers went from 2.30 to start at 2.85 but we were fortunate to get some money for them as they drifted, including $17,000 at 2.65. Sydney thrashed the Tigers by nearly 20 goals and is now into 10.00 to win the flag. Last week we took a bet of $1000 at 17.00 and a $2000 bet at 15.00. Essendon without Dustin Fletcher is like a ship without a rudder and if Fletcher's late withdrawal wasn't bad enough, the Bombers then lost James Hird in the early part of the game. Carlton came in from 2.65 to start at 2.30 when news of team changes filtered through and we were hit hard. One Sydney punter led the way with a bet of $30,000 (in three bets) for Carlton with 14 points start at 1.91 and he never had a worry as they coasted to victory. Essendon's loss has seen them take over wooden spoon favouritism (2.75) from Carlton. This week, we have three legitimate 'shorties' in Fremantle, Adelaide, and the West Coast. The latter duo travel to Melbourne to take on Richmond and Essendon respectively and punters think they will be big wins. Collingwood have to face the hoodoo of returning from the west but with Nathan Buckley back in the side, we can see the Magpies serving it up to Geelong. Punters disagree as they snapped up the 2.00 Geelong as soon as it was posted, led by two $5000 bets. RUGBY UNION The Crusaders put themselves in prime position to win the Super 14 competition by knocking the Brumbies out of the tournament last Friday night. In a big betting game, we saw plenty of action for both sides with the punters getting a small prize. The Reds were a definite gamble and the Highlanders were backed handsomely. The opening quote of 2.00 was taken by one of our larger New Zealand clients early and the 1.90 was the result of plenty support. The most one sided betting match of the week was the Waratahs hosting the Hurricanes. While Wendell was hiding, his team mates were copping one. The punters had all unloaded on the Waratahs with six bets greater than $10,000 on the home side at both the 1.42 win price and 6½ points start at 1.90. The business end of the season starts this week with two tantalising semi-finals. In the first semi the Hurricanes host the Waratahs in a replay of last week’s encounter but on the other side of the ditch. Plenty of numbers support a home victory; at the top of the list is the Hurricanes record under Jonathon Kaplan and the fact that the Waratahs have never won in Wellington against the Hurricanes. Early money has come for both sides with the biggest bet $10,000 for the Hurricanes at 1.60. The Waratahs have some believers, with a couple of $2,000 bets at the 2.35. The Crusaders and the Bulls semi is a light betting affair at this early stage. We anticipate the Crusaders to be well supported and will not hesitate in letting the punters on conceding 15½ points. The Bulls would have got some valuable lessons out of the encounter two weeks ago, not to mention the experience they would have garnished from last year’s semi final against the Waratahs. GOLF The golfing gods were kind to Brett Wetterich last week as the 32 year old American became the fifth first time winner on tour this year. Wetterich dedicated the win to his elder brother who died in a tragic car accident three years ago so the win may have negated some of the pain of his loss. At the same time the win inflicted some pain on Centrebet as one of our regular punters backed Wetterich to win in excess of $50,000 at his opening quote of 101.00. The Byron Nelson has a history of producing some unlikely winners such as defending champion Ted Purdy in 2005 and Robert Damron in 2001 so the money for some roughies in the betting was not surprising. Others backed to win similar figures to Wetterich were Adam Scott at 19.00 along with Vaughn Taylor, Shigeki Maruyama and Trevor Immelman all at 51.00. When you consider Wetterich defeated Immelman by a stroke with a further two strokes back to Scott, you will soon realise that the punting public were well on the mark in this event as they continue to be tough to beat. The tour remains in Texas this week for the Bank of America Colonial. Defending champion Kenny Perry has been installed as a 26.00 chance with the favourite being Jim Furyk at 10.00. There has been little money for anyone this week with best backed being Brandt Jobe at 101.00. FORMULA ONE Another Grand Prix over and another race dominated by the favourites. It now seems that unless there is a major accident during the running of an F1 race, then those who qualified the quickest will fight the event out and punters are a wake up to it. Fernando Alonso drew pole in the Spanish Grand Prix and eventually became the first Spaniard to win his home GP. He was 2.30 before qualifying, 1.72 after and was backed into 1.65 before the start of the race. The only other driver we saw any money for was second elect Michael Schumacher, who firmed from 2.75 into 2.60. The biggest bet for Schumacher was €2000. As each race has been unfolding this season it has become more and more evident that those at the front of the grid have a big advantage and that if they are a 'name' driver, then they are normally over the odds. Favourites have won practically every race this season and most are now waiting until qualifying is over before placing their bets and are reaping the rewards. TENNIS Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played an epic five set final in Rome on Sunday in what many are tipping to be a precursor to the French Open final later this month. Federer went in as underdog at 2.75 and actually attracted more of the betting. Nadal was 1.45, with the biggest bet €5000. He was a poor result in the pre-post book where one of our Austrian regulars had had €12,000 at 2.10. Both pulled out of this week’s Hamburg Open citing fatigue but the closeness of the match in Rome can only go to create more interest in the French Open. Nadal is 1.85 and Federer is 2.70, but although it looks a two man race, there has been money for others. Every year one player is backed at long odds and punters stick with them and this year it is the Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who is now third pick at 17.00 after opening at 801.00 in February. We took bets of $200 and $100 at 151.00 and more recently a $500 bet at 41.00. As far as the women's title goes we can report huge interest. Justine Henin-Hardenne is favourite at 3.50 with one Aussie client placing $12,000 on her at 3.75. Kim Clijsters (4.50) and Amelie Mauresmo (6.00) are next in line but haven't drawn any big bets as yet but Nadia Petrova and Martina Hingis have. Petrova has been backed to take out over $100,000, firming from 16.00 into 6.00. Hingis has been backed to win half that amount and is now a 12.00 chance after opening at 16.00. BIG BROTHER Eviction favourites maintained their good record when Karen was given the heave ho on Sunday night. Karen looked happy with the decision, as were those took the 1.45 and the 1.35 for her to be evicted. This week, Camilla looks to be the one under pressure as the 1.90 was taken as soon as it was posted. The only other housemate in contention to be evicted as far as punters are concerned is Ashley who has also had backing at 2.75. Fresh betting has been issued with three intruders now in the house. As always, if you had a bet prior to them entering, then that will be paid on who lasts the longest of the original housemates. Katie continues to be popular at 3.50, amazing when it seems that all of the females look to be out of favour with voters. Jamie has been the best backed of the males over the past two weeks and has been supported to win another $5000 this week at 6.50. Until next week, good punting For further information contact Gerard Daffy at Centrebet on 02 9206 8715 or centrebet@centrebet.com
|
||
