Plunge on Raiders sparks rumours of a rest for Dogs
Date August 24, 2012
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Glenn Jackson, Greg Prichard
Des Hasler … refutes claims that he plans to rest some of the Bulldogs' key players this weekend. Photo: Anthony Johnson
A BETTING plunge yesterday on Canberra before tonight's clash with Canterbury has sparked speculation Bulldogs coach Des Hasler plans to rest some of his stars in the run-in to the finals.
Bookmakers reported significant amounts of money being put on the Raiders to beat the Bulldogs outright - ending their winning streak at 12 matches - as well as defeating them with the start.
The Bulldogs said last night no players would be rested for the clash, while some bookmakers said the numbers were not enough to convince them Hasler was planning to rest one or some of his star players. But others were still suspicious.
Glenn Munsie, from TAB, said one punter yesterday put $33,000 on the Raiders to win with 6½ points start. His organisation also received a $20,000 bet for the Raiders to win outright. Their price to win firmed from $2.85 early yesterday to $2.55 late in the day.
''Maybe the punters just see that the Dogs had to come from behind against Brisbane, then toughed it out against Wests Tigers, and this is potentially Canberra's last throw of the dice,'' Munsie said. ''Canberra have got everything to play for, and the Dogs haven't.
''But they could always be putting two and two together and coming up with five.''
Gerard Daffy, the spokesman for TattsBet in Queensland, said the money had come for the Raiders both at the head-to-head and the line, but that it was not in such big amounts to convince the agency some Bulldogs players were definitely being rested.
''The mail going around is that [Krisnan] Inu and [Ben] Barba are being rested,'' Daffy said last night. ''But while sometimes we can be sure the mail is coming from the right places, we're not sure about it this time. It would seem strange, for instance, to think that Inu would be rested, since he's only been at the club for half the season. But if nothing is confirmed either way, the punters will probably keep backing the Raiders.''
Neil Evans from Luxbet said the activity warranted some suspicion. The Raiders firmed from $2.75 to $2.45 to win outright with Luxbet throughout yesterday.
Evans said punters bet mostly on the line throughout the day, but as the Raiders' price shortened, they were comfortable to back them for the win. ''The pattern's been very strong that something is going on,'' Evans said.
The Herald last night spoke to a Bulldogs source who said no players were being rested. The source said the club had taken the 17 players named for the game to Canberra yesterday, plus the nominated 18th man, Martin Taupau, and an extra player in case of emergency, Bryson Goodwin. The source said the plan was for the team to run out with the players named from one to 17.
The Bulldogs are the form team in the premiership, having won 12 matches consecutively, but there is a feeling they need to drop a game before the finals. If they keep winning and clinch the premiership, they will have won a record 17 matches in a row.
The tactic has been used by the top teams in recent years. Dragons coach Wayne Bennett rested players with success in 2010, while Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy did the same last year towards the end of the regular season.
Yet the tactic appeared to backfire for Bellamy, with the Storm fading before being bundled out in a preliminary final against the Warriors.
Canterbury are four points clear at the top of the competition table, but have not clinched the minor premiership at this stage.
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/plunge-on-raiders-sparks-rumours-of-a-rest-for-dogs-20120823-24p49.html#ixzz24Na1Ksve
