NRL Nines: Parramatta shock favourites for $1 million NRL bounty
If there wasn’t enough pressure on NRL Nines favourites Parramatta to end their 34-year premiership already, now there’s $1 million on the line. READ WHY HERE.
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Parramatta have emerged the shock favourites for a $1 million bounty being offered to any club that can take out the NRL Nines/premiership double in 2020.
Despite being on the longest premiership drought in NRL history – having last won a title way back in 1986 – the Eels are $6 TAB favourites for the Nines crown.
The western Sydney club, which also sits on the fourth line of premiership betting at $4, is far shorter for the Nines in Perth that fellow title contenders like the Roosters ($51), Melbourne ($29) and Canberra ($26).
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The Eels are revelling in the pre-season teachings of rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns.
While some NRL coaches aren’t exactly fans of the two-day tournament, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has named a red hot line-up which includes stars like Mitch Moses, Maika Sivo, Clint Gutherson and Blake Ferguson.
Rising star Stefano Utoikamanu is also set for his first hit out with the top squad only days after NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler named him a potential Blues bolter for 2020.
All of which means that, while the NRL-funded $1 million double is considered an incredibly tough ask for any club, the Blue and Golds are easily the best placed of those teams also in the top lines of premiership betting.
While the Eels are favoured for the Nines title, it was Cronulla who firmed the most with bookmakers on Tuesday afternoon after the sides were announced online.
Initially opening at $17, the Sharkies have been slashed to $6.50 after coach John Morris named a side boasting the likes of Wade Graham, Shaun Johnson, Jesse Ramien, Josh Morris, and Briton Nikora.
Still on the fifth line of betting before teams were announced, the Shire boys now arrive in the west today equal second with the Brisbane Broncos.
Elsewhere, North Queensland have firmed into $8.50 following the inclusion of Jason Taumalolo, Josh Maguire, Esan Marsters and Australian Nines star Kyle Feldt.
From there, the betting goes South Sydney, Penrith ($9), Gold Coast ($15), Wests Tigers ($17), Warriors, St George Illawarra ($19), Newcastle ($21), Canberra ($26), Manly, Melbourne ($29), Bulldogs ($34) and finally the Roosters ($51) whose line-up is depleted due to having also to contest the World Club Challenge.
The Eels boast a mixed history with the Nines, having taken out the 2016 title only to later have it stripped by NRL officials as part of the club’s punishment for salary cap rorting.
The club also famously won the World Sevens tournaments in 1997 and 2003, beating the North Sydney Bears and England Lions respectively.
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Over the off-season, the Eels also jagged another unlikely piece of silverware when Old Boys favourite Nathan Hindmarsh helped the club to an unlikely Legends of League tournament victory.
Among the sides that drifted yesterday were the Knights, who failed to include either Mitchell Pearce or Kalyn Ponga while Canberra coach Ricky Stuart will also leave most of his big names at home.
The same can also be said for the Sea Eagles, who have several players coming off summer surgery, including star brothers Jake and Tom Trbojevic.