The regular season signs off with the top eight locked but plenty still moving underneath — the minor premiership, top-four spots and a few emotional send-offs. With finals-bound sides resting stars and cellar teams throwing caution out, the smart money this week is in the scorer and player markets, not the short favourites.
Cowboys v Raiders — the send-off that skews the read
Canberra hand a debut to halfback Coby Black with Ethan Sanders rested, and they're missing plenty of grunt up front — Horsburgh, Hosking and others out. That's a big ask for a first-gamer steering the ship in Townsville. On the Cowboys' edge, Robert Derby comes in on the wing for the concussed Zac Laybutt — at a genuine price, that's where our team wants to be rather than in a cramped handicap.
Souths v Roosters — Arrow's farewell
The Roosters have rested a host of starters ahead of the finals, and Souths send Jai Arrow out in his 100th and final game. It shapes as one-sided, so the win market holds nothing — but Adam Elliott starting in the back row and running off Cody Walker's touches is a live tryscorer at a real number.
Two of our plays sit long by design — they're where the market has left something on the table.
On the wing against a Raiders side steered by a debutant half.
Starting back-rower running off Walker against a heavily rested Roosters pack.
Fermor and Verrills back in, and 13.5 is a lot to give at home against a Dolphins side that can switch off.
For the multi we've kept it to two legs we're confident in.
More to play for, settled pack, and a debutant half steering Canberra.
Cronulla are missing Hynes, Brailey and Wilton and stumbling; Melbourne finish the job.
- → The value this week is wide of the head-to-heads — rested stars and debutants have skewed a few markets in the tryscorer lists.
- → One play sits at $4.00 by design; it's the reason the card exists, not filler.
Bet within your means, and enjoy the last round before September.
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
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