Champs chumps in Nations' market
THEY may be the reigning world rugby league champions, but New Zealand have already been rated "no chance" by bookies on both sides of the globe.
TAB Sportsbet has listed New Zealand at $6 to triumph in the Four Nations behind Australia ($1.28).
Several corporate bookies have also listed New Zealand $6, while English firm William Hill has installed their very own Poms $5.50 second favourtites ahead of coach Stephen Kearney's men.
Former Kiwi captain and coach Gary Freeman said it would take a brave man to already write off New Zealand and take the unders about the Aussies.
"They wrote New Zealand off last time in the World Cup and looked what happened," Freeman pointed out.
"They will make the final. I know England are at home but they'd have to improve a hell of a lot on last year to make the final.
"Once you make that final, anything can happen. Australia are extremely short in the market."
TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie said Australia would start favourite ahead of their cross-Tasman rivals "99 times out of 100", despite last year's World Cup shock.
"And with New Zealand this year some of the players will not have thrown on a boot for nearly two months come the first game," Munsie said.
"We have put Australia up at $1.28, yet the punters have not stopped steaming into them."
* THE Bulldogs have firmed from $8 into $7.50 for next year's NRL premiership after bets of $9600 and $5000 were written this week.
The Bulldogs are fifth favourites for the premiership, behind Parramatta ($5.50), Melbourne ($6), Manly ($7) and the St George Illawarra Dragons ($7).
Source: http://www.thecouriermail.com.au