Roosters’ NRL title odds blow out after costly loss to Raiders

The Sydney Roosters’ premiership odds have blown out across NRL betting sites after the club lost to the Canberra Raiders on Sunday at Allianz Stadium.

It is perhaps one of the most dramatic shifts in the outright market all season, with rugby league bookmakers almost doubling the Roosters’ price in the space of 24 hours.

The Tricolours were paying around $3.50 for the title heading into round 26, but PlayUp now has the Roosters at $6.

The movement in betting markets comes off the back of Sydney not only likely forgoing a home qualifying final spot, but the plethora of injuries that occurred to some key figures on Sunday.

Walker suffers freak injury

It all began after just 13 minutes, when Sam Walker suffered a knee injury in bizarre fashion.

The halfback was in the process of gathering a ball in-goal when a routine planting of his leg caused his already-strapped knee to jar.

Walker suffered a torn ACL in the same knee last year.

“When the knee collapses like that with no contact, normally it’s an ACL, but we’re yet to determine that,” said Cooper Cronk as the incident unfolded.

“He does not look like he’s in good shape at all.”

The sideline reporter, Eloise Sohier, added: “I heard him say to the medicos assisting him he heard a crack or a pop.

“From the Roosters camp, they’ve said it was quite serious, he’ll be sent for scans, he won’t return today.

“As for the extent of exactly what it is, they’re not quite sure on that just yet.”

The injury was later confirmed as a suspected ACL injury.

Smith helped off after hip drop

To make matters worse for the Roosters, Brandon Smith — one of the team’s other big stars — was also helped from the field just minutes before half-time.

The hooker suffered a hip drop from Raiders second-rower Elliot Whitehead, who was subsequently sent to the sin-bin.

Smith’s knee appeared to be injured by the illegal move, as he was forced to hobble to the sideline.

“This is huge,” Fox League pundit Braith Anasta said of the injury.

“With the finals only a week away, with the Roosters one of the favourites to win this premiership, this is absolutely catastrophic.”

The former Rooster went on to say that Smith’s injury “looked worse” and that it was a “devastating first half”.

The carnage did not stop there, however.

Victory Radley suffered a shoulder injury and Nat Butcher received an HIA, with both unlikely to be available for next week’s match against the Rabbitohs.

However, with Souths on an eight-game losing streak, online bookmakers have the Roosters as $1.30 favourites to win their final game of the regular season.

Sports news