Punter lucks out with huge NRL multi clinched before half time

IN another one of those ‘can you believe this’ moments, one lucky NRL punter has cleaned up this weekend with a miracle multi that will make your eyes water.

One Sportsbet.com.au’s stab in the dark on the half-time results of four NRL finals matches reaped massive dividends, with his rather poxy $3 outlay netting him a remarkable $7678.

The punter’s lose change investment struck the jackpot after he picked the the Gold Coast Titans to lead the Brisbane Broncos by 1-4 points ($7.50) at the long break.

It’s lucky he did not involve the full time result, because the Broncos came out breathing fire after half time, pummelling the Titans, 44 points to 28.

He had the Canberra Raiders Green Machine to lead by 5-8 ($5.25) over the Cronulla Sharks.

And that full time result would have wrecked his multi too, with the Sharks also coming from behind to claim a narrow 16-14 win.

His most remarkable pick was the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys to be tied at he half. Every though this match up between two arch rivals would be tight, but few would have predicted that. The $10 odds on the scoreline deadlock (10-10) gave his multi plenty of guts.

And the Canterbury Bulldogs got the job done for him by leading by 1-4 ($6.50) at the half. And they too squandered their lead to go down by plenty, 28-12.

The combined odds on the multi paid a remarkable $2559 to one.

We reckon the only thing he would have hoped for was to have a little more money invested in the bet.

“Anything can happen in finals football and coming up with this combo’ took a stroke of genius. Three of the teams selected were in front at half time, but went on to lose,’’ the bookie’s Will Byrne said.

Much to the chagrin of rugby league’s heart land, the Storm are the red hot favourites to win this year’s NRL flag, rated a $2.65 chance with Sportsbet.com.au.

The Cowboys are a $5.50 chance to defend their NRL title, drifting from $4 after the loss to the Storm.

Canberra were the big losers in the premiership market, blowing out from $5 to $9 thanks to their loss to the Sharks, who come in from $7 into $4.25.

The Storm are well ahead of the second favourite Sharks, at $4.50, while rank outsiders Penrith are the biggest movers of the weekend, their spanking of the Bulldogs seeing their price wound in eight points from $19 to $11.

The Panthers are $2 outsiders this weekend’s do or die semi-final clash against Canberra.

The Raiders are $1.80 to win the match and go into the preliminary final.

“We had the match market open before the game but we’ve had to drift Canberra’s price from $1.45 out to $1.80 after such an impressive performance from the Panthers,” Sportsbet.com.au’s Christian Jantzen said.

As far as the Cowboys are concerned, they were not disgraced in their defeat at the hands of the Storm, but will have to do it the hard way if they are going to replicated last season’s remarkable title run.

They are the $1.65 favourites to beat fellow Queensland team Brisbane, which is $2.25 to progress in the blockbuster.

“The Cowboys should find it much easier back at home next week so we’re not writing them off after one loss,” Jantzen said.

“The Storm on the other hand are understandably the shortest price we’ve seen any side so far this season.”

NRL Finals week two markets

North Queensland Cowboys ($1.65)

Brisbane Broncos ($2.25)

Canberra Raiders ($1.80)

Penrith Panthers ($2)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

NRL Grand Final Winner

Melbourne Storm ($2.65)

Cronulla Sharks ($4.50)

North Queensland Cowboys ($5.50)

Brisbane Broncos ($8)

Canberra Raiders ($10)

Penrith Panthers ($11)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Half Time Miracle NRL Multi

How it happened:

Gold Coast Titans by 1-4 against Brisbane Broncos ($7.50)

Canberra Raiders by 5-8 against Cronulla Sharks ($5.25)

Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys to be a draw ($10)

Canterbury Bulldogs by 1-4 against Penrith Panthers ($6.50)

Combined odds: $2559 with Sportsbet.com.au

$3 invested for pay out of $7678