NRL
IF a week is a long time in politics, it can be an eternity in rugby league.

Very few punters wanted to know about North Queensland ahead of last week’s clash with the Gold Coast with the 2015 premiers on a five-match losing streak. But a dominant Cowboys victory over the Titans has brought Johnathan Thurston and his men roaring back into the good books.

North Queensland have been the best-backed side in the competition this weekend and have shortened from $1.50 into $1.44 to beat Canberra on Saturday night, with 85 per cent of the early money heading to the Cowboys.

The Titans have a strong recent record against Cronulla but punters believe that the Sharks can put the bite on the Gold Coast. Cronulla were $2.10 to beat the Titans before their impressive win over the in-form Penrith, and it has been one-way traffic for the Sharks ever since with the boys from the Shire into $1.70.

The loss of Mitchell Pearce means that $2.50 is available for Newcastle to tear strips off the strife-riddled Manly.

The juicy price has attracted plenty of interest with punters getting behind the Knights who pipped the Sea Eagles by a point in Round 1.

AFL
AT the start of the season, if your name was not Lance Franklin, you were no Buddy chance of winning the Coleman Medal for the AFL’s leading goalkicker.

But the tide has turned.

North Melbourne key forward Ben Brown has emerged as a genuine contender for the time-honoured gong after he booted four goals against Hawthorn last week, taking his season tally to 19 majors – one clear of Swans superstar Franklin.

He was available at Coleman Medal odds of $11 with Ladbrokes at the start of the season, but he has been backed right into $3 and is now a joint favourite with Franklin.

Franklin has been nudged from $2.50 out to $3 following the news he has a heel injury and will miss tomorrow’s clash against Geelong.

Dan Hannebery is also out injured for the trip to Geelong, and the Cats have been wound in from $1.62 into $1.40. The line is 16.5 points after being 7.5 points earlier in the week.

Richmond’s big win over Melbourne on Anzac Day Eve has made them outright favourite for the premiership. They are now into $5.50 – the first time that they have been flag favourites in the modern era. The Crows are on the second line of betting at $6.50 along with the Swans, while the Giants are at $7 and the Cats are out to $8.50.

A-LEAGUE
THERE has been plenty of support for Melbourne City ahead of Friday night’s semi-final against Newcastle.

After opening at $2.80, they’ve been backed into $2.50 favourites to get the win in regulation time, while the Jets have eased from $2.20 out to $2.60.

The Jets haven’t been in great form, barring that meaningless 8-2 win over the bottom-placed Central Coast Mariners in the last round of the regular season. They lost their three meetings before that. On the other hand, Melbourne City look to be peaking at the right time.

In the other game, Sydney FC ($1.75) are the red-hot favourites to beat Melbourne Victory ($4.40) on Saturday night. The powerhouse Sky Blues have already beaten the Victory three times this season and it would be a shock if Sydney FC didn’t qualify for their fifth Grand Final.

SUPER NETBALL
THE second instalment of the Suncorp Super Netball competition begins on Saturday and it promises to be a tight and tense struggle all season with four teams under $5 to win the championship.

Collingwood, GWS Giants and the Sunshine Coast Lightning are all on the first line of betting at $4, closely followed by the Melbourne Vixens at $4.50.

The competition begins with the Melbourne derby, and the Magpies ($1.72) are favourites to beat the Vixens ($2.10).

On Sunday, the West Coast Fever ($1.33) are expected to beat the Adelaide Thunderbirds ($3.25), while the Giants ($2.10) take on the Sunshine Coast Lightning ($1.72) in a grand final re-match.

The round wraps up with the NSW Swifts ($3.15) taking on arch-rival Queensland ($1.35) on Sunday afternoon with superstar Laura Geitz returning to the Firebirds fold.