US MASTERS

NRL

NORTH Queensland may have stumbled to two-straight losses in a sluggish start to their 2018 NRL campaign but punters expect Johnathan Thurston and his Cowboys to be riding high against Penrith tonight.

The injury-hit Panthers have a shocking record in Townsville with five-straight losses and the determined Cowboys are expected to start even shorter than their current quote of $1.25.

“All the money has been for the Cowboys and punters are clearly thinking that with no Nathan Cleary, there is no Panthers,” Ladbrokes head of NRL Peter Fairgrieve said.

“I can see this line getting bigger and we have already taken a host of big bets for the Cowboys to win by 13+.” Brisbane ($1.22) are even shorter than the Cowboys for their clash with the Gold Coast ($4.50), who provided as much defensive resistance as a turnstile in their heavy defeat to the Dragons last week.

The Wests Tigers were unlucky to lose in golden point to the Broncos last weekend and they are expected to bounce back in their Easter Monday clash against the Parramatta Eels. The Tigers have been backed from $2 into $1.92 and will likely be favourites by the time Monday rolls around, with a staggering 90 per cent of all bets placed on this clash coming for Ivan Cleary’s men.

AFL

BRISBANE were defeated but not disgraced in their Round 1 loss to St Kilda and it has not deterred punters getting behind the Lions to upset Melbourne at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The Demons are still the favourites at $1.40 but there appears to be little faith in their ability to finish off an opposition after they squandered plenty of chances in losing to Geelong last weekend.

Almost 75 per cent of the money has been for a Lions win at $3.05.

The Cats used up one of their nine lives against Melbourne and have been popular picks ahead of their traditional Easter Monday blockbuster against the Hawks.

Geelong could have their midfield superstars Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett together for the first time and have attracted 70 per cent of the early money. St Kilda ($1.37) are firm favourites to beat North FLUCTUATING FORTUNES: Nathan Cleary (left) is on the sidelines, while Lance Franklin is already kicking goals. Melbourne ($3.10) tomorrow while the Bombers ($1.54) were outstanding against Adelaide and are favourites to score a rare win in Perth when they take on Fremantle ($2.55). Port Adelaide ($3.05) have been well supported to pull off an Easter upset and beat the Swans on Sunday. Stopping Lance Franklin will be the key for the Power after Buddy produced an eight-goal bag against West Coast. There is $7 available for Franklin to kick 100 goals in the regular season – just like he did in 2008.

SUPER RUGBY

THE Melbourne Rebels are flying at the top of the Australian Conference but they are still friendless ahead of their clash with the Hurricanes tomorrow night.

The Hurricanes are $1.25 favourites and almost 90 per cent of the early money has been for the highly fancied New Zealand outfit.

History is against the Rebels in breaking the Kiwi curse. Australian-based sides went 0-26 against their transTasman rivals last season and the Rebels have not beaten the Hurricanes since their first encounter in 2011.

THE first major of the year is always one of the big events on the global sporting calendar but Tiger Woods’ comeback from the golfing wilderness will make the 2018 US Masters compulsory viewing.

Rory McIlroy ($9) went to the top of the Masters betting market with Ladbrokes following his drought-breaking victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational but there is very little between him and Dustin Johnson ($10), Woods ($10), Justin Thomas ($11) and Jordan Spieth ($13).

Due to back and personal issues, the once unbeatable Woods has not finished in the top 10 of a major since 2013 and has not won one since the 2008 US Open.

But it has not stopped punters from backing Woods. “There has already been plenty of interest and this will clearly be the most popular Masters betting event in history as so many of the big names are in form,” Ladbrokes head of sport Dan Brennan said.

“We took a bet of $200 on Tiger at $81 in November and $200 at $67 in December, while a punter has had $2000 on Phil Mickelson at $21.” Jason Day is the shortest-priced Australian at $17 and there has been support for Marc Leishman at $41. Adam Scott is $51 to win a second green jacket.