TAB has Roosters as the shortest pre-season favourites in history

Are they really twice as good as their nearest rival? The Sydney Roosters have emerged as the most dominant preseason premiership favourites in NRL history, with their quote nearly half the odds of second pick Brisbane.

• WON’T PLAY: De Belin ruled out of Dragons trial

• HISTORY: NRL’s first female ref appointed

Are they really twice as good as their nearest rival?

The Sydney Roosters have emerged as the most dominant preseason premiership favourites in NRL history, with their quote nearly half the odds of second pick Brisbane.

The TAB has revised its betting odds for the NRL premiership following the Roosters’ impressive 20-4 World Club Challenge victory over Wigan on Monday morning, installing the defending premiers as clear $4.50 favourites ahead of the Broncos ($8).

The TAB has never had such a decisive preseason gap between the title hotpots and the chasing pack, with the wagering giant also reporting that money invested on the Roosters is more than double the next best backed team, Penrith.

The Roosters are red hot favourites to win the premiership. Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images.

“The Roosters are the shortest pre-season price the TAB has ever bet,” said TAB’s Matt Jenkins. “Their nearest rival, Brisbane, is nearly double their odds. It is rare to see such a gap in the market between the favourite and second favourite.”

Coach Trent Robinson’s side dwarf third favourites Melbourne ($8.50) followed by South Sydney ($9), Penrith ($11), St George Illawarra ($13) and North Queensland and Cronulla (both $15).

Former Brisbane and Penrith coach Anthony Griffin believes the Roosters are well-placed to defend their title.

“There hasn’t been a team gone back-to-back for 20-odd years but they are as good a chance as we have seen over the last few years,” Griffin said.

It’s been over two decades since a team went back to back. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images.

“The Roosters are obviously warm favourites. I wouldn’t think they are that far ahead of everyone but you wouldn’t want to be against them either.”

Asked were the Roosters twice as good as their nearest rivals, Griffin said: “Well, the punters think so. But it’s a long year.

“They are just so stable. Melbourne made three grand finals in a row but they have lost Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater. The Roosters seem to be going the other way with their recruitment, they seem to be getting stronger.”

No side has won successive premierships in united competitions since Brisbane back in 1992 and 1993. The addition this year of star players Angus Crichton, Brett Morris and Englishman Ryan Hall will only further entice punters onto the Roosters.

The Roosters claimed the World Club Challenge on Monday morning. Martin Rickett/PA via AP.

“They deserve to be favourites but I am surprised that they’re that short,” former Penrith premiership-winning captain Greg Alexander said.

“History shows how hard it is to go back-to-back.

“The punters obviously feel there is a gap between the Roosters and the rest of the competition. They have a change of home ground too – that mightn’t seem like much but it’s something else the Roosters have to get their head around.”

Newcastle’s Brock Lamb has also joined the Roosters, who have lost Blake Ferguson (Parramatta), Dylan Napa (Canterbury) Ryan Matterson (Wests Tigers) and Paul Momirovski (Wests Tigers).

“I think they can win the comp, for sure, but they aren’t twice as good as the next best team,” said former Roosters forward, Bryan Fletcher. “The punters out there are thinking they are because of the money wagered and they did play well on Monday given Wigan have played four games already in Super League.

“They are definitely the favourites but history shows everyone is out to get them. Everyone wants to knock off a favourite. It will be a lot tougher than last year.

“It’s hard because you’re motivated to win but subconsciously you get out there and think that you won last year. You want to win every game but it’s a motivational thing. The skill is there and it’s up to ‘Robbo” to get them going.”