SUPER RUGBY LATE MAIL
IS there hope for Australian rugby after all?
After a stunning upset win over the Chiefs for the Brumbies, and the Reds pushing the Highlanders to the limit in a hard-fought loss, there was cause for optimism.
But the markets for Round 3 of Super Rugby suggest that will not last. The Brumbies could not have been more impressive against the Chiefs but will still go into tonight’s clash with the Hurricanes ($1.22) at the juicy odds of $4.33.
The Brumbies beat the Hurricanes last season, but the Wellington-based outfit have proven unbeatable at home in recent seasons and they were 9-0 on their own deck in 2018. It is a brutal draw for the Reds to start the season and they follow their loss to the Highlanders with a home opener against the Crusaders. The Reds have not beaten the Crusaders since their win in the 2011 Super Rugby grand final and their head-to-head odds of $5.50 suggests that will not change tomorrow.
The Crusaders have won their past 18 matches as favourites, but the Reds were competitive at Suncorp Stadium last season and a profitable betting play as home underdogs.
NBA
THE LA Lakers free fall of late would suggest that even having LeBron James in the purple and gold is not enough for them to make the playoffs.
The Lakers opened a $21 chance with Ladbrokes to win the title and were smashed into $8 on the back of the club signing Lebron.
The Lakers looked in line for a playoff berth before King James’ untimely injury in their Boxing Day win over the Warriors. He missed 18 of the next 19 games, with LA winning six of those, and things have not turned around upon his return.
The Lakers are now $51 with Ladbrokes and the slide down the Western Conference standings has the bookies cheering because the weight of money following LeBron’s signing has LA by far the worst result for Ladbrokes. Golden State remains a clear cut favourite to win the title. The Warriors opened $2.20, were trimmed to $1.67 when DeMarcus Cousins made his move to the defending champions from New Orleans, and without too many hiccups, the “Dubs’’ are $1.47. Milwaukee are the big movers from the pre-season. The Bucks are on top of the Eastern Conference with the best record in the NBA and are rated an $11 chance to win it all, having opened at $61. Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers are among the notable drifters, out from $7 to $15,
A-LEAGUE
THERE are only three games in the A-League this weekend but we are still set for a couple of finals previews.
Sydney FC will go into tonight’s clash with Adelaide United as dominant $2.05 favourites. The Sky Blues have won five of the past seven games played between the two sides and Adelaide United have not beaten their rivals since April 2016, while Sydney FC continue to be a profitable play as home favourites. Melbourne City have the ground advantage, but Perth Glory will start this weekend’s clash at AAMI Stadium as clear favourites.
Winning away from home has not been an issue for Perth this season and they have not tasted defeat in any of their away games, while Melbourne City have won eight and drawn three of their past 12 games in front of their home fans.
The two sides did play out a 0-0 stalemate earlier this season and it really would not surprise if we saw a repeat. The $3.30 for the match to finish as a draw as well as the $1.80 for Under 2.5 goals scored are both excellent value.
AFLW
FOUR weeks into the AFLW season and the newest kids on the block are proving to be the dominant force.
North Melbourne are undefeated and an even money chance to claim the premiership.
The Kangaroos sit a game clear at the top of Conference A and can move two games this weekend.
North Melbourne take on Adelaide (currently second) and are $1.60 with Ladbrokes to make the Crows their fifthstraight victim, while a victory for the Bulldogs over Fremantle would keep the Dockers two games at bay as well.
The Bulldogs, last season’s premiers, have been comprehensively belted the past two weeks, slumping to the bottom of Conference A with a percentage of just 67. A trip west to take on a Dockers side, which has been brilliant at home this season, is not what the Doggies would have wanted. A three-leg AFLW multi of the Kangaroos and Dockers to cover their respective lines and the Lions to beat the Cats in Brisbane looks positive.
NRL & AFL
WE are still a few weeks away from the start of the season in both the NRL and AFL, but Ladbrokes already have markets available for every game of the season. Round 1 markets for both codes have been available for some time but punters now have the opportunity to pick out the value for the season. Fancy the Bulldogs to defy their big premiership odds? You can back them to win each and every game this season, right up to their Round 25 clash with the Brisbane Broncos. Richmond may be the ruling favourites in the AFL premiership market with Ladbrokes and they are currently favourites for every game this season, apart from their Round 13 clash with the Adelaide Crows.
The Crows are $1.40 to win their opening-round clash with Hawthorn, while the Brisbane Lions will go into their clash with defending premiers West Coast as clear outsiders for the victory.