NRL Grand Final for October 6
Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium,
Sydney, Sunday, October 6, 7.15pm
After 29 weeks and exactly 200 games between the 16
NRL clubs, it all comes down to this as the Sydney Roosters look to win their
first premiership in 11 years against the might of the Manly Sea Eagles. In
pure footballing terms, it couldn’t have been scripted better. Minor premiers
the Roosters have been the benchmark for most of the 2013 season – combining
their scintillating brand of attack with some of the greatest defensive efforts
ever seen in the modern era. Thriving under the tutelage of rookie coach Trent
Robinson – named the Dally M Coach of the Year last Tuesday night – they have
benefited enormously from the brilliance of Sonny Bill Williams and fellow
newcomers Michael Jennings, James Maloney and Luke O’Donnell.
But if there is one side that can throw a cat among
the pigeons it is this experienced Manly outfit. The road to the decider
certainly hasn’t been so smooth for the Sea Eagles. In fact, up until Round 25
when they sent a message of intent by belting Melbourne 28-8, Manly hadn’t
beaten a fellow top-four side in 2013. Their draw hasn’t been simple either.
These two sides met just three weeks ago in the first week of the finals and
played out a bruising encounter, which saw the Roosters escape with a thrilling
4-0, win. But while the Roosters were rewarded with a week off (followed by a
grand final qualifier against an over-matched Newcastle side), Manly had to
back up against Cronulla, then face-off against South Sydney for their spot in
the decider.
In the three matches between the Roosters and the Sea
Eagles so far in 2013, the Chooks won all three; 16-4 in round 9 at Brookvale,
18-12 in round 16 at Allianz and the bruising 4-0 victory in week one of the
finals. In two out of these three games the Eagles were without their most
influential player; Brett Stewart and in the game he did play in (round 16) he
was making his return after missing five weeks through injury. Pace, precision,
invention and a mixture of youth and experience mean that the Sea Eagles just
have a lethal concoction when they get their hands on the football. Kieran
Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans have an almost telepathic understanding and the
young #7 has been the stand-out player in the second half of the season and the
finals.
In saying that, the Roosters backs also have sheer
brilliance up their sleeves. There is a definite edge in the forward department
for the Chooks. Top scorers in the regular season, the Roosters have so many
potential threats out wide and with Origin duo Maloney and Pearce plus veteran
Anthony Minichello (playing in his sixth Grand Final) they certainly have the
experience too. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Sam Moa all
lead the charge while it seems that, at times, the mercurial SBW does cannot be
stopped. The Sea Eagles have 189 games of finals footy under their belts with
the Roosters with exactly 100 games. Manly have 11 of the side who won the 2011
Grand Final still around while the Roosters have seven others returning from
their losing effort the year before.
Centrebet will refund your head to head bet if your
team is leading at half-time but loses the match, up to $100!
Suggested bets: Manly WIN (1.5 units @ $2.20), game
total +33.5 (2.5 units @ $1.95), Clive Churchill Medal winners – Dale
Cherry-Evans (0.5 units @ $6.00); Jamie Lyon (0.5 units @ $10.00)
Racing for October 6
Horse racing: Bairnsdale
(Vic), Ballina (NSW),
Kilcoy (Qld), Port Lincoln (SA), Northam
(WA), Benalla (Vic),
Cootamundra (NSW), Hobart (Tas), Pioneer Park (NT).
Harness racing: Launceston (Tas),
Shepparton (Vic).
Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld),
Sandown Park (Vic), Sale (Vic), Strathalbyn (SA),
Healesville (Vic), Mount Gambier (SA).
Since Comrade galloped to victory in the first
running of the race in 1920, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has grown in
reputation to become Europe’s premier all-aged middle distance (2400m) race. A
superb field will contest tonight’s 92nd running of the ‘Arc’ at Longchamp with
a massive €4 million in prizemoney up for grabs. Fillies have won three of the
last five runnings (Zarkava, Danedream and Solemia) of the ‘Arc’ and I expect #18
Treve to continue that trend. Unbeaten in four starts, she looked a remarkably
talented performer when slamming subsequent Irish Oaks winner Chicquita by four
lengths in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly in June, and she
confirmed that impression when comfortably beating the smart Wild Coco in last
month's Prix Vermeille.
Frankie Dettori, who fractured his ankle in a fall at
Nottingham earlier this week, will not be able to take the mount on a filly
that could have sealed his riding comeback on one of the biggest stages in
horse racing, but two-times Arc winning rider Thierry Jarnet is a more than adequate
replacement. So far, Treve has always been ridden to produce stunning late-race
acceleration and she's going to need some luck to slice through the big field.
Normally, her high draw (15) would have been regarded as disadvantageous but it
may help her stay clear of trouble and, in receipt of either or both the age
and sex allowance from her rivals, she can prove too classy up the home
straight.
Suggested bet: Longchamp R5 #18 Treve E/W 1x2 (two
units) 1st ($5.80/$1.70)
• It’s also Cup Day at Benalla,
Bairnsdale and Cootamundra. Anthony Freedman’s #1 Waldpark just failed to get a
start in yesterday’s Turnbull Stakes so the 6yo stallion has been sent up the
Hume Freeway for today’s $100,000 Benalla Toyota Gold Cup (race 8) over 2046
metres. The German import’s first two starts in Australia were in Group 1
company (the Maybe Diva Stakes and Underwood Stakes) so takes a big drop in
class here. Dwayne Dunn will have to haul 62kg from the outside barrier but
even that might not be enough to stop a stayer with eyes on a Cups campaign in
the city.
Daily tips
Benalla R3
#9 Googly Gander (win) 1st ($2.00)
Benalla R7
#10 Godspiel (win) 1st ($1.60)
Benalla R8 #1 Waldpark (E/W) LOSE (U/P)
Bairnsdale
R5 #1 Danarule E/W 1x2) 2nd ($2.00)
Bairnsdale R6 #15 Pro Tour (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.70)
Bairnsdale
R7 #5 Naturally Magic (E/W) LOSE (U/P)
Cootamundra R3 #5 Anaveil Miss (E/W) LOSE (U/P)
Cootamundra R7 #4 Street Ride (E/W) 1st ($19.00/$4.40)
Kilcoy R8 #7 Saveeda (E/W
1x4) 1st ($3.00/$1.30)
Port Lincoln R6 #8 Hank’s Nephew (E/W) LOSE (U/P)
Hobart R1 #3 Credit Trader (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.50)
Hobart R5 #8 Spinning Jenny (win) LOSE (U/P)
NHL for October 6
Washington Capitals (1-1-0) @ Dallas Stars (0-1-0), American
Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, Sunday, October 6, 10.10am
The Washington Capitals conceded three goals in the
third period but still managed to defeat Calgary on Friday. The Capitals
(1-1-0) dug out of a three-goal first-period hole for a 5-4 shootout victory
over Calgary. The Stars, meanwhile, gave up three in the third to spoil their
season opener in a 4-2 home loss to Florida. Both will try to avoid such
20-minute breakdowns in Dallas. Through two games, Washington fans have been
exposed to some quality theatre. The Capitals came back from three one-goal
deficits in Wednesday’s opener at Chicago and took their first lead early in
the third period only to lose 6-4. They trailed 3-0 after one period Friday and
4-1 midway through the second before rallying to win. Alex Ovechkin had two
second-period goals Thursday to get Washington within one. He and offseason
acquisition Mikhail Grabovski both assisted on Nicklas Backstrom’s tying goal
in the third and scored in the shootout. The poor start on Friday resulted in a
goaltending change from Braden Holtby to Michal Neuvirth, but Holtby still
start here.
The Stars’ bid to kick off 2013-14 on a positive note
as they try to end a five-year playoff absence was going well until the last 10
minutes. Brenden Dillon scored to give Dallas a 2-1 lead 7:32 into the third,
but the Panthers scored three unanswered goals from the 10:32 mark. First-year
Stars coach Lindy Ruff watched his team get outshot 39-27, including 15-8 in
the third. Alex Chiasson also scored for the Stars, who had earned at least a
point in their last 14 home openers. Kari Lehtonen had won his previous three
season openers before losing on Friday despite making 35 saves. Along with
All-Star Jamie Benn (pictured), the centrepiece of the Stars’ scoring this season figures
to be Tyler Seguin, who is familiar with Washington after being traded from
Boston in the off-season. He has just three points in 11 career games against
the Capitals. Washington and Dallas haven’t played since November 8, 2011, a
5-2 Dallas win. The Stars are 8-1-1 in this series dating back to 2002 and
9-0-2 at home against the Capitals since a regulation loss October 17, 1995.
Suggested bet: Game total +5.5 (two units @ $1.95) LOSE,
Dallas WIN (one unit @ $1.93) WIN (1-2)
Other tips
Flyers @ Canadiens WIN $1.79 WIN -6 $1.80 WIN (1-4)
Senators @ Maple Leafs WIN $1.76 WIN (4-5)
Red Wings WIN $2.52 @ Bruins LOSE (1-4)
Blue Jackets @ Islanders WIN $1.83 LOSE (3-2)
Sabres @ Penguins -1.5 $2.14 WIN -6 $1.80 WIN (1-4)
Lightning @ Blackhawks +5.5 $1.88 LOSE (3-2)
Ducks @ Wild WIN $1.74 LOSE (4-3)
Oilers @ Canucks WIN $1.70 WIN (2-6)
Coyotes @ Sharks -5.5 $1.67 WIN (1-4)
CFL (week 14) for October 6
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-11) @ Calgary Stampeders (10-3),
McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB, Sunday, October 6, 8.35am
The Calgary Stampeders have opened a massive 16-point
favourite but they do possess the best record in the CFL after battling through
injuries to go 4-1 in September. Calgary will try to keep its momentum going
when it hosts the struggling Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Veteran quarterback Kevin
Glenn started the last game for the Stampeders and threw three touchdowns in a
dominating 35-11 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while quarterback Drew
Tate (pictured) recorded a rushing touchdown as he continues to rehabilitate from an elbow
injury. Kicker Rene Paredes and running back Jon Cornish were named players of
the month for September. Paredes earned special teams honours after making
12-of-13 field goals from Weeks 11-14, while Cornish was named top Canadian
player after rushing for 398 yards in that span. Slotback Jabari Arthur has
filled in admirably for the injured Nik Lewis, with four catches for 103 yards
and two touchdowns last week against Hamilton. The Blue Bombers are 1-6 ATS in
their last seven games overall.
A deflated Winnipeg team was manhandled 53-17 at home
by the BC Lions last week after the Blue Bombers blew a 20-point lead at home
against the Edmonton Eskimos a week prior. A road trip might seem like just the
right thing for Winnipeg, but its road record is 1-5 - almost as bad as its 1-6
showing at home. Quarterback Max Hall started the last game for the Blue
Bombers, who have alternated between Hall and Justin Goltz as they search for a
solution to their league-worst offense, which has produced 268 points. Hall
will start Saturday, but will need a strong performance to avoid being replaced
by Goltz. Defensive end Alex Hall leads the league with 15 sacks after posting
nine in his first CFL season. The league record for sacks in a season is 26.5,
meaning Hall will need another 12 in his final five games to break it.
Linebacker Henoc Muamba leads the team with 76 tackles. The ‘over’ is 9-1 in
Stampeders last 10 home games.
Suggested bets: Game total -54 (three units @ $1.91) WIN,
Winnipeg +16 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (11-38)
Other tips
Montreal +3 WIN @ Edmonton +50 WIN (47-24)
MLB playoffs for October 6
ALDS game 2: Tampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox, Fenway
Park, Boston, MT, Sunday, October 6, 7.05am (Red Sox lead 1-0)
The biggest worry for the Boston Red Sox prior to
Game 1 of the American League Division Series was rust after taking four days
off between games. That turned out to not be much of a concern in a 12-2
victory, and the Red Sox will look to take a commanding lead in the
best-of-five series when they host Game 2. Tampa Bay finished second in the
majors in fielding percentage but looked uncomfortable on defence in Game 1. Rays
left fielder Sean Rodriguez had trouble judging balls off the “Green Monster”
and rookie Wil Myers let a fly ball drop on the warning track in deep
right-center, leading to big innings for the Red Sox. With right-hander John
Lackey scheduled to start for Boston here, Tampa Bay will likely give Rodriguez
the start off in Game 2. Every Red Sox starter recorded at least one hit in
Game 1, and seven different players had at least one RBI. Rays LH David Price (10-8, 3.33 ERA) pitched Tampa
Bay into the playoffs by holding the Texas Rangers to two runs on seven hits in
a complete game on Tuesday.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner allowed two
runs in each of his last five starts, including over eight innings against the
Red Sox on September 10. Price is 1-3 with a 3.96 ERA in his post-season career
but came out of the bullpen against Boston in the 2008 ALCS, including closing
out a Game 7 win. Speculation is swirling that this could be Price's last start
in a Rays uniform. He'll become a free agent after 2015 and Tampa Bay (which is
unlikely to retain him with one of baseball's lowest payrolls) could seek a
return on him through the trade market. Red Sox RH John Lackey (10-13, 3.52) last
pitched at Colorado on September 24 and struggled to a 4.98 ERA in five starts
over the final month of the season. The veteran faced Tampa Bay twice
in 2013 and was knocked around for nine runs on 19 hits in 10 total innings.
Lackey is making his first post-season appearance since 2009, when he was with
the LA Angels, and is 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 14 career playoff games.
Suggested bets: Tampa Bay WIN (one unit @ $1.87) LOSE, game
total +7.5 (two units @ $1.95) WIN (4-7)
Other tips
ALDS game 2 (Tigers lead 1-0): Detroit Tigers WIN $1.86 @
Oakland Athletics LOSE (0-1)
NCAAF (week 6) for October 6
Pac-12: Washington Huskies (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) @ Stanford
Cardinal (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12, Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA, Sunday, October 6, 12.30pm
Stanford
(home of the most bizarre mascot in College Football, pictured) aims for its 13th straight win when the fifth-ranked Cardinal host #18
Washington, which is 4-0 for the first time since 2001. The Huskies defeated
Stanford 17-13 a year ago in Seattle, but the Cardinal offence has undergone a
transformation this season while scoring at least 34 points in each of its
first four games. Pre-season All-American David Yankey missed last week’s rout
of Washington State to attend to a family situation, but he’ll be back at left
guard. Stanford’s stellar offensive line has helped the Cardinal out rush their
last two opponents – Washington State and Arizona State – by a 478-101 margin. Linebackers
Shayne Skov and linebacker Trent Murphy, who returned an interception for a
touchdown last week against the Cougars, lead the defence. A year ago, Stanford
failed to score an offensive touchdown against Washington. Former quarterback
Josh Nunes completed 18 of 37 passes for 170 yards and an interception, often
throwing at the feet of receivers or misfiring completely. The Cardinal, who
ran for a school-record 446 yards in a 65-21 win over Washington in 2011, were
held to 65 yards on the ground.
The Huskies lead the Pac-12 in total defence and will
be tested by a Stanford offence that is led by junior quarterback Kevin Hogan,
who is 9-0 as a starter. Hogan threw for three touchdowns in last week's 55-17
victory over Washington State and Devon Cajuste added 115 receiving yards,
including two long TD catches. The Huskies are coming off a 31-13 win
over Arizona last Saturday, when junior running back Bishop Sankey had a
school-record 40 carries for 161 yards and a score. A massive wind and rain storm blew
through the area and forced Washington to make significant changes to the game
plan. Sankey ranks first in the nation with 151.8 rushing yards per game and
senior QB Keith Price ranks 12th in pass efficiency for the Huskies,
who haven't trailed all season. While the offence has lived up to expectations,
the much-improved defence has been critical to Washington's early success.
Safety Sean Parker and linebackers Princeton Fuimaono and Shaq Thompson lead
the defense, which is allowing just 3.8 yards per play this season (third-best
in the nation).
Suggested bet: Stanford -7.5 (2.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE, game
total -52.5 (1.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE (28-31)
Daily tips (two units)
Georgia State @ Alabama -54.5 WIN (3-45)
Rutgers @ SMU +4.5 WIN LOSE +48 WIN (55-52)
Texas San Antonio @ Marshall -15 WIN +65 LOSE (10-34)
Florida International +17 WIN @ Southern Miss -46.5 LOSE (24-23)
Massachusetts @ Bowling Green -50.5 WIN (7-28)
Texas State @ Louisiana Lafayette +55 WIN (24-48)
Arkansas @ Florida -43 WIN (10-30)
Fresno State -27 WIN @ Idaho +66.5 WIN (61-14)
New Mexico State @ New Mexico -9.5 WIN +59.5 WIN (17-66)
Daily tips (one unit)
Michigan State @ Iowa -1 LOSE (26-14)
Army @ Boston College -50.5 LOSE (27-48)
Georgia Tech @ Miami -5 WIN (30-45)
Louisville @ Temple -58 WIN (30-7)
Maryland @ Florida State -16 WIN +56.5 WIN (0-63)
North Carolina State @ Wake Forest -47 WIN (13-28)
North Texas -2.5 @ Tulane LOSE (21-24)
North Carolina @ Virginia Tech -45.5 WIN (17-27)
Kansas State @ Oklahoma State +59 WIN (29-33)
Washington State @ California -66 PUSH (44-22)
Ohio @ Akron -57 WIN (43-3)
Arizona St -6 @ Notre Dame LOSE (34-37)
Mississippi @ Auburn -56.5 WIN (22-30)
LSU @ Mississippi State +55 WIN (59-26)
TCU @ Oklahoma -46.5 WIN (17-20)
Kentucky @ South Carolina -54.5 LOSE (28-35)
West Virginia @ Baylor +69.5 WIN (48-73)
San Jose -5 @ Hawaii WIN (37-27)
EPL for October 5-6
Liverpool (4-1-1) v Crystal Palace (1-0-5), Anfield,
Liverpool, Sunday, October 6, midnight
The tone of the season appears to be already settled for these sides,
with Liverpool setting lofty aspirations while Palace look in a world of hurt.
Given how newly-promoted Palace have started this campaign, only their most
optimistic fans will expect similar thrills here. The corrosive effect of three
successive defeats without scoring will have bitten into the dressing room
optimism of five months ago. Ian Holloway is just the man to get them going
again but he urgently needs to settle on his strongest side. However, they will
have a decent spell. November is a crucial month for them with winnable games. Palace’s only previous league win away to the Reds was on November 2, 1991,
when Marco Gabbiadini and Geoff Thomas scored for the visitors. The Eagles are
also winless in 16 Premier League away matches (D5, L11), a run dating back to
a 1-0 victory at Birmingham in October 2004.
The return of Luis Suarez to complement Daniel Sturridge (pictured) gives Liverpool
formidable firepower. The Uruguayan has 18 goals in his last 21 games, while
the Englishman has 18 in 24 Reds appearances (and eight of their last 12 EPL
goals). Liverpool played five league games
at Anfield during Luis Suarez’s ban for biting. Those matches produced a total
of four goals. Whether their squad has the strength to stay in the top four all season
is debatable. But Brendan Rodgers has made good signings and is assembling a
squad to challenge for silverware again soon. The hosts
are not invincible by any means – a home defeat to Southampton and a 2-2 draw
at Swansea highlights that point – but surely the gulf in class will ultimately
become clear as it did on their travels at bottom club Sunderland and I expect the Reds to win without conceding.
Suggested bets: Liverpool 2+ (three
units @ $1.83) WIN, correct score 2-0 (0.5 units @ $6.50) LOSE, correct score 3-0 (0.5
units @ $7.00) LOSE
Other tips
Manchester City v Everton DNB $3.75 LOSE (3-1)
Cardiff City v Newcastle United +2.5 $1.95 WIN (1-2)
Fulham v Stoke City -1.5 $3.00 WIN (1-0)
Hull City v Aston Villa WIN $3.40 LOSE (0-0)
Sunderland v Manchester United WIN $1.62 WIN (1-2)
• Prices
with thanks to Centrebet, correct at
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