League: Warriors given little chance of beating Storm

SYDNEY - Australian bookmakers are predicting the New Zealand Warriors' National Rugby League (NRL) opener against Melbourne Storm will be the most one-sided match of round one.

TAB Sportsbet released its opening prices today, with defending champions the Storm paying $1.28 and the Warriors $3.50 for their Monday night match in Melbourne on March 17.

The Storm are dominant $3.40 favourites to win back-to-back premierships, with Manly, North Queensland and Parramatta sharing second favouritism at $9.

The Warriors were originally at $13 to win the premiership but drifted to their current price of $17 after key fullback Wade McKinnon was ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

In other round one matches, Manly and Brisbane are both heavily favoured at $1.40 each to beat Cronulla and last year's wooden spooners Penrith respectively, both paying $2.80.

The closest match of round one is expected to be between South Sydney against the Sydney Roosters, with Souths opening as $2 outsiders to the Roosters' $1.80.

- NZPA