Storm firm into $1.75 favourites

by NRL

'big three' - Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cam Smith - are set to deliver a premiership next Sunday against Canterbury.

After opening outsiders for the Grand Final following Canterbury's 32-8 victory, punters have got behind the Storm rating them the team to beat in the decider.

There is still plenty of support for Melbourne which has seen them firm from $1.85 into $1.75 today.

One punter bucked the trend with $30,000 at $1.95 on Canterbury yesterday, but such is the volume of money for Melbourne the bet failed to change the betting.

The price change has done little to deter punters - since the betting move, money is favouring the Storm 2 to 1.

"The Storm's popularity has never been higher including the four years they played in Grand Finals between '06 and '09." said TAB's Matt Jenkins.

"Given this early show of support it is hard to see how they won't start favourites next Sunday.

"It has been an incredible turnaround from Melbourne who touched $7 after losing to the Dragons in round 21, at that stage one customer had $20,000 on them to collect $140,000."

The best odds given about Melbourne was $9 in January, they firmed into $7 before the start of round one.

Cooper Cronk ($5.50) is predicted to continue his form and has been installed favourite for the Clive Churchill Medal.

The Storm started favourite in three of their four Grand Final appearances between '06 and '09.

Canterbury started slight favourites when they won in 2004.

Head-to-Head
$2.10 Canterbury
$1.75 Melbourne

Clive Churchill Medal
$5.50 Cooper Cronk
$6.00 Ben Barba
$7.00 Cameron Smith
$8.00 Billy Slater
$9.00 Josh Reynolds
$11.00 James Graham
$11.00 Ryan Hoffman
$13.00 Gareth Widdop
$15.00 Frank Pritchard
$17.00 Aiden Tolman
$21.00 or longer others

1st Try Scorer
$7.00 Ben Barba
$7.00 Josh Morris
$9.00 Billy Slater
$11.00 Sisa Waqa
$13.00 Mahe Fonua
$13.00 Ryan Hoffman
$13.00 Krisnan Inu
$13.00 Justin O'Neill
$13.00 Sam Perrett
$13.00 Jonathan Wright
$15.00 Cooper Cronk
$15.00 Dane Neilsen
$15.00 Josh Reynolds
$17.00 or longer others

RleagueBetting.com

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