Melbourne Storm are the shortest priced favourites in NRL grand final history

SUNDAY’S grand final pits the shortest favourites in NRL history against a team who were 100-1 three weeks ago.

Melbourne Storm players pose for a team photograph in Melbourne, Monday, September 25, 2017. (AAP Image/Mal Fairclough) NO ARCHIVING

THE shortest priced favourites in NRL history against a team that were 100-1 three weeks ago.

If the betting was all that mattered Cowboys fans would be scared to switch on their televisions for Sunday’s NRL grand final.

But the truth is that the final echo of Saturday’s preliminary final full-time siren had only just faded when the Cowboys were shunted straight back into the role they love — the spurned underdogs.

The Storm are the hottest favourites in NRL grand final history.

The Storm were posted at around $1.30 making them the shortest priced grand final favourites since official betting starting three decades ago.

The Cowboys were at around $3.60 with most bookies but far from friendless.

Three weeks ago, on the morning when they had to rely on Canterbury to beat the Dragons to get them into the eight, they eased to $101 for flag.

“We had a few bets on them at $101 but they were mainly five and 10 dollars because even their most devout fans knew they had to rely on other results just to get in,’’ said UBET’s Gerard Daffy.

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“But since then they have been well backed. Last week they were the most backed side in the premiership as their odds fell from $12 to $10.

“People love a fairytale. There was four times as many bets on the Cowboys as the Roosters on Saturday.

“And we are expecting more support for the Cowboys this week because a lot of those punters have done so well they are now playing with the bookies’ money.’’

Originally published as Melbourne Storm are the shortest priced favourites in NRL grand final history