Saturday, March 16, 2013

Manly to test Knights' credentials - Sportal.com.au


Newcastle faces a major test of their early improvement in 2013 when they travel to Manly in the pick of the three Sunday matches in Round 2 NRL action.


With record seven-time NRL premiership coach Wayne Bennett now in his second year in charge, the Knights were the big movers in title betting after the opening round following their 42-10 demolition of the West Tigers last Monday night.


After only managing to finish a distant 12th, with just 10 wins, in Bennett's first season in charge, the Knights have been backed in from $17.50 to now $11 fifth favourites at Betfair to win the premiership this season following that great first-up win over the Tigers.



The Knights now only find themselves behind the Storm, Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Bulldogs in overall premiership betting and even ahead of perennial contenders Manly at $13.50 - despite the Sea Eagles own impressive 22-14 win in Brisbane over the Broncos in the opening round.


Manly are set to start favourites for Sunday night's early season blockbuster at $1.67 at sportsbet.com.au and $1.74 at Betfair while the Knights are great value at $2.25 and $2.26 respectively.


However Betfair's Daniel Bevan said the early money is running over 80/20 in favour of Manly at home.


And it's hardly surprising considering the Sea Eagles have won 17 of their past 20 matches at their beloved Brookvale, including 22- and 14-point thumpings of the Knights on their past two visits.


But it has been a difficult week off the field for Manly with the club forced to come out and deny that three of their players are in the sights of ASADA as a result of the drugs probe that has already engulfed Cronulla.


The line on this game has been at just 3.5 points at sportsbet.com.au, where the Knights are $1.92 with the start and Manly the same price conceding the start, while the Sea Eagles are paying $2.10 conceding a 5.5-point start at Centrebet.


In margin betting, Manly to win by 1-12 is the favoured option at Betfair at $3.10 while the Sea Eagles are $3.30 to win by 13 points plus as the Knights are paying a tempting $3.65 to win by 1-12 points.


In the early game on Sunday, Gold Coast are the $1.44 favourites at Eskander's Betstar and $1.48 at Betfair and sportsbet.com.au to win at home against Canberra paying $2.70 at sportsbet.com.au, $2.80 at Betstar and $2.88 at Betfair.


The Titans were unlucky to go down by just two points at a fired-up Cronulla in the opening round while the Raiders were dismal in copping a 32-10 hiding in Penrith.


But despite that win and Wests Tigers' hammering at the hands of Newcastle, the Panthers are underdogs for their trip to Campbelltown to face Wests in the other Sunday game.


The Tigers are the $1.70 favourites at sportsbet.com.au and $1.75 at Betfair but the Panthers look great value at odds of $2.18 at sportsbet.com.au and $2.28 at Betfair - where they are paying a tempting $3.55 to win by 1-12 points.


*Note prices subject to change



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