Origin battle awaits
6/5/2012 07:29 AM
Paul Gough, Betting Editor
There will be a game within a game on Sunday when Manly host Canberra in the pick of the two NRL Sunday games.
While the Sea Eagles are hot favourites to beat the struggling Raiders, the match pits together the two men battling for the right to be named full-back for New South Wales for the upcoming State Of Origin series against Queensland.
Manly's Brett Stewart and Canberra's Josh Dugan are equal $2.75 favourites at online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to be named in the full-back position for the Blues in game one of the origin series against Queensland in Melbourne on May 23.
"Brett Stewart has showed in his return from injury just how good he is and if continues that form it will be hard for (Blues coach) Ricky Stuart not to pick him," Ben Hawes of sportsbet.com.au said.
Sportsbet.com.au is also offering several other special bets on the Stewart-Dugan battle on Sunday.
Stewart is favourite to score most points of the two at $1.33 compared to Dugan at $3.20 but Dugan is the favourite to make the most metres at $1.65 compared to Stewart at $2.20.
"Injury has hindered both their game times of late but they’re both back now so it sets up a mouthwatering battle," Hawes said.
As far as match betting on the game is concerned Manly have firmed into a $1.23 at sportsbet.com.au with Canberra, which are struggling now that their best player Terry Campese has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury, unwanted in betting at $4.25.
Manly, which have won six of their past eight against the Raiders, are expected to win the game easily with Centrebet offering a $1.91 for a Sea Eagles win by 13 points or more compared to $3.15 for the home side to win at Brookvale by between 1-12 points.
In the other game on Sunday the punters are shying away from injury-hit Newcastle, which are rank outsiders for their away clash against the Sydney Roosters.
The Knights might be ahead of the Roosters on points difference with Brian Smith's team having dropped out of the top eight following successive defeats but the loss through injury of two of their best players in Kurt Gidley and Danny Buderus has seen the punters flee the Knights in this one.
Betfair has the Roosters at a $1.62 with the Knights at $2.48 while it's a $1.60 the Roosters and $2.40 for the Knights at both Centrebet and Sportingbet.