Rugby the top sport? Wanna bet?

By JOHN LEASK Herald Online

Rugby league - not rugby union - was the most popular sport with punters last week.

Well, that is according to ebet Online, which operates sports betting for the New Zealand TAB.

In a chirpy note to online punters the company asks: "Strike us pink but has rugby league usurped rugby union in New Zealand?

"The betting figures from the last week might suggest so although a successful $100,000 bet on the league and a few more rounds of form helped their cause."

So how did the punters do? ebet Online says it was a split decision between bookies and punters.

"Besides the big betting on Melbourne with one successful $100,000 bet, the games won by Brisbane, St George-Illawara and Newcastle were well-punted, with the Knights especially well-tried through all betting options.

"The bookies were all sporting North Queensland jerseys on Monday after the Cowboys rounded up Canterbury and the majority of bets involving that game."

The first four rounds of the Super 12 have been difficult for many punters, and this will have contributed to the flight of betting dollars to rugby
league. "Any team can beat any team," as one rugby genius noted.

Yet another reason might be that punters caught on to the consistency with which the Aussies whipped the Stacey Jones-less Warriors. You might well think that. I could not possibly comment.

Related sites:

ebet Online

NZ TAB