NRL outsiders St George Illawarra, New Zealand, Penrith, Wests Tigers and Newcastle ready to reap jackpot
BACKING strugglers St George Illawarra, New Zealand, Penrith, Wests Tigers and Newcastle to win the opening three games would have secured a 15-leg all-up worth almost $130,000.
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FANCY paying off your mortgage; or a trip around the world — all courtesy of a totally bizarre yet lucrative start to the NRL season?
The Daily Telegraph can reveal punters who backed strugglers St George Illawarra, New Zealand, Penrith, Wests Tigers and Newcastle to win the opening three games would have secured a 15-leg all-up worth — wait for it — a whopping $129,501.
That’s massive money wagered just 240 minutes of footy given the average Australian wage is $78,832.
Saints, Warriors, Panthers, Wests Tigers and Knights have shocked rugby league by winning their opening two games and now enter round three full of optimism.
Each club missed last year’s finals.
Seven of the 16 games played this season have been upsets based on TAB odds.
“The 15-leg all-up — if these teams all win again this week — works out to be $129,501,” said the TAB’s Matt Jenkins.
“Our bookies are expecting some of these teams’ unbeaten run to come to an end but crazier things have happened. Just look at the opening two rounds.
“Who would have thought that five teams who missed the finals last year would win their opening two games?
“It is one of the more extraordinary starts to the NRL season we have seen at the TAB.”
And who’s to say the upsets won’t continue this coming round.
“Three of the five unbeaten teams so far this season are outsiders to win in round three,” Jenkins said.
“Plenty of punters look at what happened last week, so I think all the unbeaten teams will attract good interest. The five-leg multi of the teams at the top of the table is paying $37 with TAB.
“Not many punters would have predicted the five teams that have had a perfect start to the season. The Dragons, Tigers, Knights and Warriors all missed the finals last year but are two from two.
“The multi price of those five teams winning both their games is a massive $3,473. If a punter put $10 on with the TAB and rolled over their winnings on each game they would have $34,730 in their pocket.”
NRL head of football Brian Canavan said every club was a “genuine chance” of playing finals footy this season.
“The early results highlight that this will be one of the most open and competitive competitions that we have seen for a long time,” he said.
“The movement in the player market has certainly created a new level of excitement but it has also thrown the competition wide open.
“Every team has a genuine chance of reaching the finals and it is incredibly difficult to pick a winner at this stage.”
Punters and tipsters have been halted after just two rounds — the 2018 season has been thrown on its head.
“Wests Tigers ($6) beating Melbourne last weekend was the biggest upset in the opening two rounds in TAB history,” Jenkins said.
“Ironically Balmain was $5 when they beat Melbourne in round two in 1999.
“The previous biggest upset was the Wests Tigers ($5.25) beating Parramatta in round two in 2002.”
Many are dismissing the leading five as being false leaders — but each has shown toughness, composure and desire.
Newcastle’s big test comes this Sunday night against the Sydney Roosters.