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SYDNEY - Australian bookmakers are taking few chances with the New Zealand Warriors, currently rating them equal-third favourites to win an elusive National Rugby League (NRL) premiership.
And respected league analyst Phil Gould has coach Ivan Cleary's side in his top-five title hopes ahead of the season kickoff on March 13.
TAB Sportsbet today had the Warriors at A$9, after back-to-back trial wins over Melbourne and North Queensland.
Defending premiers Manly were A$4 favourites, with beaten finalists Melbourne at A$6 and coach Ricky Stuart's Cronulla sharing the third line with the Warriors at A$9.
Brisbane were next best at A$11.
After making the preliminary final last year, the Warriors opened at A$11 for the 2009 title but shortened immediately to A$9 with the news halfback Stacey Jones had re-signed.
TAB Sportsbet spokesman Glenn Munsie said there was a trickle of money for the Warriors but they were only ninth in terms of total money invested to date.
Newcastle were the best-supported team, Munsie said, with the biggest bet of A$45,000 (A$57,000) at a price of A$23.
Gould wrote in his Sun-Herald newspaper column it was one of the most even premierships in recent memory, and said the odds were against Manly and Melbourne contesting the grand final for a third consecutive year.
"On only seven occasions in the past 40 years has one team played in three consecutive grand finals; South Sydney played in five deciders from 1967-71, Parramatta 1981-83, Canterbury 1984-86, Canberra 1989-91, Manly 1995-97, Roosters 2002-04 and the Storm 2006-08," he wrote.
Gould had "huge doubts" about the Storm, saying they hit the wall last year and the salary cap had slowly diluted their ranks in the past two years.
He tipped either Manly or Cronulla - "a team on the rise" - to win the title, with Brisbane a clear third pick. The Warriors and St George-Illawarra, under new coach Wayne Bennett, were Gould's only other contenders.
"Of the rest, only the Warriors and Dragons have claims for title consideration - albeit minor claims," he wrote.
"The Warriors were strong in the final stages of last season. There's not a team in the NRL that feels comfortable playing against this lot.
"Much will depend on the gamble to bring halfback Stacey Jones out of retirement."
The Warriors play their final trial against Gold Coast Titans in Lismore on Saturday, ahead of their season opener against Parramatta in Auckland on March 14.
- NZPA
