Rugby League / Nick Tedeschi / 07 August 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external">Bet Now

The Sea Eagles look set to stamp their claims on this season's premiership, writes Nick Tedeschi

Manly sit atop the NRL ladder yet they continue to slip under the radar.

They are the no. 1 attacking team in the NRL, scoring 25.9 points per match. They are the second best defensive team in the competition, allowing only 13.5 points per game. They concede less metres per match than any other side, allowing 82.9 metres fewer than the second best defensive side.

They lead the NRL in offloads, sit second in metres gained and line breaks and third in tackle breaks. They are a team with no obvious weakness yet rugby league fans and punters continue to underestimate their title credentials.

This Friday, quite unbelievably, they will start as a home underdog against defending premiers Melbourne. This is in spite of the fact that Melbourne have not won at Brookvale Oval since 1999.

Melbourne, undoubtedly, are a quality football team. It is, however, quite difficult to make an argument that they have been better performed than Manly this season. To argue that Melbourne should be favoured by a try against Manly at Brookvale Oval is a case that must be considered extremely difficult to make.

From a betting point of view, there is no doubt that Manly are a much smarter wager than Melbourne, particularly in the handicap market. This season, Manly have gone 14-5 against the handicap, ranking as the no.1 team in the NRL. They are 8-2 against the line at home. The Storm, conversely, have a 10-9 record in covering the spread this season and are a dastardly 2-7 away from Olympic Park and 1-5 as a road favourite.

Put simply, Manly have been underrated by bettors this season while the Storm have been overrated. The Storm remain a classy outfit but there is little doubt that Manly are much closer to them this season than they were last year.

This Grand Final replay, and most likely the Grand Final preview, will be a tough and bruising encounter between the two standout teams in the NRL. It will be a war of attrition pitting two exciting backlines and two tough-as-nails forward packs. It must be said, however, that Manly are the standout wager. They can be bet heavily as an outsider and with even more gusto at the plus. Betting the half-time/full-time double and Manly to win by less than 12.5 will provide added value.

In the other Friday night affair, the Wests Tigers are a good proposition as the underdog in their clash with the Dragons. The Dragons have been hit hard by injury with props Jason Ryles and Justin Poore and exciting fullback Brett Morris all ruled out. St.George-Illawarra have lost three of their last four and four of their last five against the Tigers. The Dragons look vulnerable up front and should be laid in both head-to-head and handicap betting.

The Warriors look the bet as a marginal underdog in their home match with Brisbane. The Warriors have won five of their last seven against the Broncos in Auckland and are sure to be buoyed by the return of exciting fullback Wade Mackinnon, who will play his first match of the season.

South Sydney with the start can be bet with confidence in their match with Cronulla. The Sharks are a dour defensive team who rarely accumulate a great deal of points. This season they have played in eight games where the margin of victory has been less than three points.

Expect plenty of points in the Bulldogs-Cowboys match with both teams having dire defensive problems at the moment. Take the over in the total points market. The Cowboys have lost 13 on the trot while the Dogs have won only two of their last thirteen. The Cowboys have won six of their last eight against Canterbury and with the Bulldogs in a state of crisis, they are deserved favourites.

In what should be an entertaining affair, another predicted high-scorer, the Raiders will most likely prove too strong for the Panthers in Canberra. Canberra have been dominant at home in recent times and have had the wood on Penrith, winning six of the last seven encounters between the two teams. Terry Campese has been in outstanding form for the Raiders so the loss of Todd Carney should not prove too disruptive. The Raiders can be bet in the match odds, handicap and half-time/full-time doubles markets.

Parramatta continues to be thorn in the side of punters this season and bettors should once again look to lay them in their match with the Roosters. The Eels, a dreadful 5-14 against the handicap this season, will struggle against a Roosters team playing with more heart and more toughness. Expect the Roosters halves to pepper the inconsistent Eels back three with kicks all evening.

In Monday Night Football, the Knights are the only team that can be bet. The Titans are in free fall at present, having lost six of their last seven, allowing in at least twenty-four points in each of those matches. In the last two games, the Gold Coast have been beaten by an aggregate score of 90-8. With Newcastle hitting form, they can be bet heavily as a road favourite in the match odds market as well as in the half-time/full-time double market.