PENRITH'S trial win over Parramatta has sparked an avalanche of money for the Panthers in a host of markets with TAB Sportsbet this week.
Ever since the depleted Panthers rolled the highly rated Eels, punters have been keen to bet up. The first significant bet was $5000 at $21 to win the premiership followed by another $7500 and $5000 at $5 to finish in the top four.
Another $10,000 at $2.10 said they could finish top eight. Last night TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie reported another $1000 at $21 for the boys to reign supreme.
But, surprisingly, the best backed side to win the comp has been South Sydney. The Rabbits are now $11 to win their first title since 1971, after opening $17.
Souths hold 17 per cent of all money invested in the premiership market but the biggest individual bet has been only $1000.
THE boys from Redfern are slight favourites over St George Illawarra for the Charity Shield.
With the Rabbitohs fielding a virtually full-strength side, including key signings Dave Taylor and Sam Burgess, they appear good value at $1.75.
PUNTERS who launched into the Crusaders to win the Super 14 before a ball was kicked would be feeling a little sick after watching them go down to the Queensland Reds last weekend.
And one punter is hoping to inflict more pain after slapping $11,000 on the Sharks to win against them this weekend.
IT IS hard enough trying to find a quinella at Randwick today, let alone picking who will start in the AFL Grand Final. But that has not stopped one punter who had $3000 on Collingwood and St Kilda to make the big one at $15.
FORGET the Ashes, can't we play the Windies again next summer?
It may not be as entertaining as watching Australia take on the old enemy, but how good has it been being able to plonk your hard-earned on the Aussies without a worry in the world.
Patriotic punters have enjoyed an absolute fill-up in the past three months and surely this column is not alone in being disappointed to see the Calypso kings heading back to the Caribbean.
Any punter brave enough to back Australia in all 15 matches this summer averaged about 220/1 for their money.
AUSTRALIA have been listed $1.42 favourite for today's opening Twenty20 match against New Zealand ($2.80).
It will be interesting to see whether the punter who had $40,000 at $1.55 on fewer than 1.5 run-outs in the Australia and West Indies game on Tuesday will be tempted to reinvest on another left-field market. Another punter had $25,000 at $1.55 for fewer than 1.5 ducks in the India and South Africa game on Wednesday - and lost.
IT MAY only have been a pre-season game but punters saw enough out at Blacktown last Saturday night to think Carlton will stink this season.
Money has been running hot for the Blues all week since they went down to the Swans, with plenty of cash for them to miss the top eight and a bet of $1500 on them to collect the wooden spoon at $67.
Maybe life after Brendan Fevola is not so bright after all.