Buzz: Highlights and lowlights from NRL grand final, John Singleton’s six-figure wager
There was a late deluge of money for an obscure betting market in Sunday’s grand final - but the sting didn’t pay off, writes Phil Rothfield.
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Sports Editor-at-large Phil Rothfield reveals his NRL grand final highlights and lowlights.
HIGHLIGHT
The crowd of 82,415 created the most amazing atmosphere when the teams ran out, louder than State of Origin and probably the loudest since our Cathy won the 400m final back in 2000 at the Olympic Stadium.
LOWLIGHT
Not the grand final contest we were all hoping for, a bit like the AFL blowout in the decider a week earlier.
SPOTTED
John Singleton on the Central Coast at his Railway Hotel watching the grand final and cheering loudly for Penrith. We’re told Singo had a six-figure wager on the Panthers at $4 early in the season.
SPOTTED
In a lovely touch, the NRL made sure the family of our late and great colleague Peter Frilingos had good seats at the game. Chippy’s son Matt and daughter Alison are Parramatta Eels tragics and sat and watched from the NRL suite.
SPOTTED
Departing Raiders forward Adam Elliott in tears as his partner Millie Boyle gave her victory speech after the Knights’ NRLW victory over the Parramatta Eels.
SPOTTED
Punters obviously did their homework before an unusual TAB plunge on Nathan Cleary at $21 to score the last try of the grand final. In the last two seasons he has been the final try-scorer in five games.
SHOOSH
The Panthers have applied for an NRLW license to complete their rugby league full house. They already have the largest number of female juniors in the country.
SHOOSH
Times are tough at the NRL. They are not sending a journalist or photographer to cover the Kangaroos or Jillaroos on their website for the World Cup. This wouldn’t happen for any other national sporting side for such a significant event.
SHOOSH
We love that Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr are so passionate about their indigenous culture but playing the Koori knockout over the weekend, less than a week before the Kangaroos leave for the World Cup, was a huge injury risk.
360 VIEW
Braith Anasta and Paul Kent will host one final episode of NRL 360 at 6.30pm with Brent Read and James Hooper on Fox League to dissect all the big issues and stories from the grand final.
EELS DEMOTED IN 2023 BETTING
Despite the loss of hooker Api Koroisau and barnstorming forward Billy Kikau after the GF, the Penrith Panthers will start favourites to win the 2023 premiership.
The TAB has given the Daily Telegraph the first look at their market on next year’s premiership with the Panthers installed as $4 favourites to make their fourth straight grand final and win the comp.
The Sydney Roosters are on the second line of betting at $7, boosted by the signing of Kiwi Test hooker Brandon Smith.
Brad Arthur’s Parramatta Eels, despite losing second-rower Isaiah Papali'I and hooker Reed Mahoney, are on the third line with Melbourne Storm at $9.
The TAB’s Rohan Welsh says Penrith’s position as a dominant favourite is justified.
“The Panthers depth is remarkable,” he said, “While they’ll lose a lot with Koroisau and Kikau departing, they’ve shown time and again over the past three seasons they can cover injuries and suspensions or unearth a new star to fill the void.
“We have them as clear favourites for next season and the $4 they’ve opened at is even shorter than the $5 they started at for the 2022 season.”
The Canterbury Bulldogs are expected to be one of the biggest improvers next season at $21 with the addition of Kikau and Mahoney.
Wayne Bennett’s new Dolphins outfit is the rank outsider at $67.
That’s the same price the Cowboys were when no-one gave them any hope at the beginning of this season.
The Dolphins are expected to be $3.50 favourites for the wooden spoon, or most losses as it is called these days,
The Knights, Warriors and Wests Tigers also tipped to struggle again at $51.
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