State of
Origin (Game 3) for July 17
NSW v
Queensland, ANZ Stadium, Wednesday, July 17, 8pm
If Billy
Slater or Josh Dugan score a TRY, Centrebet will refund your first head-to-head
bet up to $100
Could this
be the biggest State of Origin game ever? Six weeks after the 2013 series
kicked off at this very same venue, NSW and Queensland are back in what will
surely be the most-anticipated series decider of all time. For the Blues, this also looms as the
most significant game in their history: having come so close to ending
Queensland’s run the past two years it would be nothing short of devastating if
they failed to get the job done yet again. For the Maroons, they will be
relishing the chance to break NSW hearts once more and extend their run of
consecutive series wins to eight.
Alas,
after starting so well in Sydney, the pressure is right back on the Blues when
they run back out onto ANZ Stadium tonight. Jarryd Hayne was originally named
in the side but ruled out almost immediately with his hamstring injury, while
they have since suffered a huge blow with captain Paul Gallen succumbing to the
foot injury that has plagued him for the past fortnight. He will be replaced by
impressive young prop Aaron Woods, but they can’t replace his experience.
Similarly, the Blues will now be sweating on Greg Bird to be cleared to play
given that, behind Gallen and Hayne, he is their next most experienced player.
Still, the
fact that NSW get to play a decider on home soil for the first time since 2008
is a significant advantage and one that won’t be lost on the Queenslanders, who
have won just five of 20 games at ANZ Stadium. The Blues’ big advantage is
their sizeable forward pack, which comfortably dwarfs Queensland’s and has the
potential to run over the top of them should they play to their potential on
Wednesday night. The return of Tamou is a huge plus on that front and at least
they don’t lose any size with Woods coming into the squad alongside him. Queensland
have named the same 17 that prevailed in Game Two, with Jacob Lillyman and
Melbourne centre Will Chambers the 18th and 19th men.
– Preview with thanks to
NRL.com
Suggested
bet: Queensland -4.5 (2.5 units @ $1.91), game total -34.5 (1.5 units @ $1.91)
Racing for
July 17
Horse
racing: Randwick (NSW), Werribee (Vic), Doomben (Qld), Balaklava (SA), Belmont
(WA), Darwin (NT). Harness
racing: Bathurst (NSW), Melton (Vic), Redcliffe (Qld), Swan Hill (Vic). Greyhound
racing: Albion Park (Qld), Angle Park (SA), Ballarat (Vic), Bulli (NSW),
Cannington (WA), Cranbourne (Vic), Richmond (NSW), Rockhampton (Qld), The
Meadows (Vic).
After a
long run of bog tracks, today’s nine-race card at Doomben will be run on a dead
(5), which will suit #1 Pure Purrfection in the AC Aire Conditioning Class 4
Hcp over 1030 metres. Scratched on three occasions across the Queensland
carnival, Tony Gollan’s 4yo mare hasn’t run since May 18 when she finished
second to Funtantes over 1100m at Doomben. A month earlier, she was pipped at
the post by Delago Bolt in a similar race. A winner of four of 14, Priscilla
Schmidt takes a 2kg claim and should be saluting ahead of #2 Merryanna.
Suggested
bet: Doomben R6 #1 Pure Purrfection WIN (two units @ $2.15) LOSE (U/P)
Other tips
Randwick
R1 #1 Aussies Love Sport (win) LOSE (U/P)
Randwick
R2 #3 Minh Khai (win) 1st ($2.20)
Randwick
R7 #10 Breakfast In Bed (E/W) 3rd ($2.00)
Werribee
R1 #4 Danapaise (win) 1st ($2.00)
Werribee
R8 #3 Flying Hussler (win) LOSE (3rd)
Doomben R2
#4 Wentwell (E/W 1x4) LOSE (U/P)
Doomben R4
#6 Will’s Choice (E/W 1x4) 1st ($5.60/$1.80)
Doomben R5
#8 Hot Bickies (place) LOSE (4th)
Darwin R5
#2 Mango Mojito (E/W) 1st ($3.50/$1.70)
Darwin R7
#6 The Thief (E/W) 2nd ($1.20)
Harness
racing tip: Melton R2 #3 Sun Whiz (win) LOSE (2nd)
Greyhound
racing tip: Richmond R8 #8 Avondale Porche (win) 1st ($1.50)
MLB for
July 17
MLB
All-Star Game – American League v National League, Citi Field, New York, NY,
Wednesday, July 17, 10.15am
The NL puts its three-game winning streak on the line after the
American League won the previous seven Mid-Summer Classics since the 2002
edition ended in a 7-7 tie. That verdict prompted commissioner Bud Selig to
make the game “count” by awarding the winning league home-field advantage in
the World Series, which coincidentally has been won by the NL for the past
three seasons. Last year's All-Star Game finished 7-1 in favour of the NL. That marked the seventh
straight season the under has cashed in the Mid-Summer Classic, with an
average of 6.57 collective runs scored between 2006 and 2012.
American
League manager Jim Leyland of Detroit didn't have a difficult decision in choosing
his own in Scherzer, who suffered his first loss of the season Saturday against
Texas after matching Roger Clemens’ 13-0 start in 1986. After Scherzer, Leyland
could turn to Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (10-4, 2.53), who last pitched
Saturday. Leyland has an array of relievers from which to choose including five
closers, but there's little doubt who will get the ball should the AL enjoy the
lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning.
NL manager Bruce Bochy's decision to start Harvey at his home ballpark was
made easier when St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright (12-5, 2.45) pitched on Sunday. Bochy could choose a
left-hander from a rival NL West team – Arizona's Patrick Corbin (11-1, 2.35)
or Los Angeles' Clayton Kershaw (8-8, ML-leading 1.98 ERA) – to relieve Harvey.
Bochy has four closers at his disposal including Pittsburgh's Jason Grilli, who
leads the NL with 29 saves, but he will be tempted to use Cincinnati
flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman.
Suggested
bet: American League WIN (1.5 units @ $2.05) WIN, game total -8 (2.5 units @ $1.91) WIN (3-0)
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