Sport Confidential: Storm v Eels costs bookmaking industry upwards of $30 million, reason behind Lewis Dodd’s horror NRL start
Parramatta fans aren’t the only ones hurting after their side’s round one demolition at the hands of Melbourne, with the game understood to have cost the bookmaking industry upwards of $30 million in losses. That and more in Sport Confidential.
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Parramatta’s fans were hurting after their side’s shellacking at the hands of Melbourne in round one. They weren’t alone.
Sport Con can reveal that bookmakers across the country were stung by the lopsided nature of the Storm’s win, with some insiders insisting the Eels defeat cost the industry upwards of $30 million in losses as punters piled their hard-earned on Melbourne at home.
The Storm ran riot with Ryan Papenhuyzen and Xavier Coates helping themselves to doubles, capping a disastrous weekend for the country’s biggest bookmakers.
While they were tight-lipped on the size of their losses, Sport Con understands that $30 million may even be a conservative figure. There were some suggestions in bookmaking corners that the figure would rise as high as $40 million.
The Storm were short-priced favourites to topple the undermanned Eels while Papenhuyzen and Coates were prominent names in a host of same game multis on the outcome.
It is understood it was among the heaviest losses suffered by the bookmaking industry on rugby league in recent memory.
The Storm had the game in the bag at halftime but took their foot off the gas in the second half as they allowed the Eels to salvage some pride.
It didn’t help the bookies. The damage had already been done. Melbourne, Brisbane and Manly all started the season on fire and for once it appears the punters took advantage of the predictability to cash in.
DOGS FANS READY TO TAKE OVER VEGAS
The Bulldogs have been campaigning long and hard to be selected for Las Vegas next year and they have strengthened their case after conducting a survey which shows their fans are ready to take over Sin City.
The Bulldogs had over 6,000 responses to their survey in its first four days and a remarkable 86 percent of those who responded said they were planning to go to Vegas to watch their side play.
More than 80 percent said they would take the opportunity to extend their stay by spending extra time in Las Vegas, Los Angeles or somewhere else in America.
That last result will be music to the ears of the NRL given the more money fans spend in Las Vegas, the better it is for their bottom line due to the benchmarks in their deal with the local tourism body.
The deadline for submissions to head to Vegas next year is Friday afternoon. The NRL is expected to make a final call in the next fortnight and the Bulldogs are among the favourites to make the final cut.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo told the clubs last week that head office was expected to break even or potentially make a profit on the Vegas extravaganza this year.
They will head to Vegas next year confident that they can exceed this year’s performance given the interest from clubs and supporters, led by the Bulldogs and their army of fans.
They have put together an irresistible case for selection, having joined forces with St George Illawarra to launch what is in effect a combined bid which would see the clubs share their gate takings when they play each other later in the year.
The Bulldogs’ research also revealed that 98 percent of their fans wanted the players surnames on the back of their jerseys if they were chosen to play in Las Vegas.
RABBITS AND DOGS TO HEAP PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT OVER ACCOR
South Sydney and the Bulldogs are set to join forces as they pile pressure on the NSW government to invest more money in Accor Stadium.
The Rabbitohs have been locked in talks for some time with the government over a potential switch to Allianz Stadium given the lack of investment at Homebush Bay.
It is understood those talks remain on foot as Souths look at alternatives to Accor Stadium. The Bulldogs are now expected to weigh into the debate as concern grows within the NRL over the lack of investment at the Sydney Olympic venue.
The NRL had an agreement in place with the NSW government when Gladys Berejiklian was premier to spend more $2 billion on stadiums in Sydney, which would have seen Accor Stadium turn into a rectangular venue.
In return, the NRL committed to keep the grand final in Sydney for 25 years. However, the government backflipped on that agreement and the NRL responded by putting the grand final up for grabs.
Souths and the Bulldogs have been collateral damage given both play out of Accor Stadium, where they have long-term deals.
That may change unless the government invests money into Accor Stadium. While Souths could pack up and move to Allianz Stadium, the Bulldogs face a more challenging scenario given the lack of viable alternatives.
It is understood they could explore playing at Liverpool if the NRL can convince the government to build a new stadium in the region.
RICHO BACKS REF EDICT
Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has applauded the NRL for cracking down on criticism of referees, insisting the clubs and their coaches owe a duty of care to the whistleblowers and their families.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo wrote to clubs this week warning them that public commentary provisions would be strictly enforced this season.
Coaches and clubs have been put on notice, and Richardson couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve always been a supporter of referees being protected as much as possible from abuse,” Richardson said.
“It is incredibly important and you can’t have a game without a referee. They’ll make mistakes like we all make mistakes.
“At the end of the day, we have to be respectful of the job they do and the pressure they’re under. Having a go or degrading the referees, that’s something to be done directly with the NRL not through the media.
At the end of the day, we have a duty of care to the game and more importantly to the referees and their families to ensure that they are protected as much as possible.
“So I don’t see any reason why coaches should be slandering referees after a game or slapping referees after a game.
“If you’re upset after the game I get it … but at the end of the day it gets down to your team performance and that any complaints are made directly to the NRL.”
HOLLINGSWORTH READY TO MAKE SYDNEY BOW AFTER BLISTER BLOW
We’re yet to reach the end of March but Claudia Hollingsworth’s year has already had its share of unexpected curve balls.
The national 800m champion and Paris Olympian was all set to make her 2025 debut in Perth a few weeks ago but a blister got the better of her.
“I got this terrible blister on my right Achilles and then ended up in hospital twice,” Hollingsworth told Sport Con.
“It got pretty infected. I could barely even put my foot in my shoe. I went to the hospital on Sunday night and they put me on these antibiotics.
“Three days later nothing was happening so I went back.”
Hollingsworth’s battle with the blister forced her to miss her scheduled return in Perth but their loss has turned out to be Sydney’s gain.
Hollingsworth, one of the batch of young track and field stars taking up the fight to the world’s best, will make her bow at the Sydney Track Classic, to be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on Saturday night.
Remarkably, she maintained her training while undergoing treatment for the blister, although it required some left-field thinking.
“I sort of cut the back out of my shoe and just tied my laces extra tight,” she said.
While her plan is to run the 800m in Sydney, Hollingsworth is still mulling over her plans for the year. The 1,500m also appeals, as does the upcoming Grand Slam Track series which will feature Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull.
Hull is among a core group of athletes guaranteed a start in the lucrative series, which is the brainchild of Olympic legend Michael Johnson.
Johnson has kept spots open to invite standout athletes during the year and Hollingsworth would love a crack.
“Yeah, it’s definitely on my radar and I’ve sort of expressed that to my manager and if any opportunity like that comes up,” she said.
“I think seeing Jess selected as one of the athletes is just super exciting and sort of inspiring as an Australian athlete to see that we can go out there and be in those big races too.
“I’m excited to see a race and hopefully it would be a dream if I got an opportunity to run in such a big event like that against such a high-class field.”
KUDOS TO KNIGHTS FOR PHIN HELPING HAND
The Newcastle Knights deserve a pat on the back after offering their former training facilities and gymnasium to help their opponents – the Dolphins – prepare for their game on Thursday night.
Sport Con understands that the Dolphins used the gym and fields at Wests Mayfield – which is owned by the Wests Group – on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Wests Group own the Knights. The Knights trained out of the facilities before moving their operations to their Centre of Excellence.
The Dolphins were forced to fly to Newcastle early in the week due to the impact of Cyclone Alfred on there own training base.
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES SAVE HERBIE’S BIG DAY
Herbie Farnworth’s uncle Brian Foley travelled halfway around the globe to be at the Dolphins centre’s 100th game – only to almost miss the occasion.
With Cyclone Alfred closing airports and roads, Foley faced a frantic race against the conditions and the clock to make it to Sydney in time to present Farnworth’s jersey at the Dolphins team meeting.
He arrived with literally minutes to spare.
“You could see on Herbie’s face how emotional he was,” Foley said.
“After a 20,000km round trip, a cyclone wasn’t going to stop me.”
Foley was once a development coach and recruiter for the Wigan Warriors, and took Farnworth on regular trips to Australia to play rugby league.
Farnworth eventually found his way to the Broncos, established himself as one of the best centres in the game, before landing a big deal with the Dolphins.
Foley can plenty of credit for that.
FLASHBACK
Immortal in waiting Andrew Johns made front page news on this day 20 years ago. Johns was making his comeback from injury after almost a year out of the game but it proved to be anything but a fairytale against the Storm in Melbourne. Billy Slater led Melbourne to a 48-10 win.
DODD INJURY REVEALED
South Sydney recruit Lewis Dodd’s full extent to his horror start to his NRL career can be revealed after he picked up a serious shoulder injury in the new year.
Dodd injured his AC joint at training. He played on in the trials despite the injury which has hampered his performances. The 23-year-old received injections to play in the trials but the delay in the kick-off for their hitout against Manly meant the painkiller had largely worn off by the time he took to the field. His performances against Manly and St George Illawarra were severely restricted.
Dodd was spotted training in restricted duties this week as he makes his return to the field in NSW Cup after missing South Sydney’s round one win against the Dolphins because of suspension.
That suspension cost him a round one spot and opened the door for Manly recruit Jamie Humphreys to wear the No.7 jersey. Humphreys starred in the opener and will keep his position in the starting team ahead of their clash against the Dragons on Saturday.
MANN’S NEW DEAL
Kurt Mann celebrated more than just a bad black eye with the Bulldogs utility inking a new contract to remain at Canterbury until at least the end of next year.
Mann was captured at Canterbury training at Belmore this week with the badly damaged eye he picked up during the Bulldogs’ win against St George Illawarra last week. He still trained despite the obvious impairment. Mann, who was off-contract at the end of this season, has agreed to stay at Canterbury next year. The 32-year-old joined the club last year from Newcastle and barring injury will bring up his 200th game against his former club in round five.
BIRD PULLED UP FOR HAIR-PULL
Jack Bird received an official warning despite escaping sanction from the match review committee for a high pull on Newcastle’s Phoenix Crossland.
The Tigers forward was issued a concerning act warning by the NRL putting him on notice for the action after he was placed on report last Friday night.
He grabbed the hair of Crossland in the dying stages of the opening half which saw him placed on report.
PNG BOOST
PNG’s push to be well prepared for their entry in the NRL has received a further boost with a new youth competition which will last seven weeks.
The best school players throughout the country will compete in a week to week competition which builds from what they did last year which was one weekend of matches.
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Storm v Eels costs bookmaking industry upwards of $30 million, reason behind Lewis Dodd’s horror NRL start
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