Right Said Fred: Talking Betting With Betfred Boss Fred Done

Just who really would have thought it would be Arsenal keeping the title race interesting?

With nine games gone the Gunners having beaten Liverpool at the weekend remain a point clear of  City, the odds on favourites at Betfred to retain the title.

The first two are away on Sunday …Arsenal at Leeds followed by the game of the weekend when under firing Liverpool host the Erling Haaland -inspired Blues.

City are 5/6  favourites to pick up three points at Anfield – and Haaland is 12/1 is continue his astonishing record-breaking goal scoring feats with a hat-trick.

Liverpool are on the slide big time to be champions and are now third favourites at 20/1 with Betfred behind City at 1/5 and 15/2 Arsenal. Next up are Spurs and Chelsea at 25/1 while my club mighty Manchester United are out to 80/1 which doesn’t surprise me at all.

Here’s the RL World Cup preview from Oldham born Paul Sculthorpe, the double Man of Steel and Betfred TV pundit:

“Let’s get ready to rumble  as the Rugby League World Cup 2021 finally begins on Saturday.

“Hosts England kick off the tournament against Samoa at the home of Newcastle United, St James Park.

“What a cracking game this should be too! Both teams are neck and neck in the betting for tournament glory with England RL teams principal partner Betfred.

“There is no question this is set to be the most competitive mens World Cup ever, with a number of teams who could genuinely win it.

Two of them being England and Samoa.

“There’s no denying we are missing a number of key players who would definitely be in the starting line up- however there is still plenty of talent in the England team to do the job. A couple of these players, new to the International scene but not to the NRL players are Newcastle Knights Dom Young and Brisbane Bronco Herbie Farnworth. Both players made their England debuts in the 50-0 destruction of Fiji in last Friday’s RLWC warm-up, and showed why they should both start in Shaun Wanes line up come 2:30pm Saturday. It was a solid performance against a poor Fiji side, and will give a big boost of confidence for the opener.

“However, Samoa will be a totally different proposition. With pretty much the back to back NRL champions Penrith’s back line, and some of the best players in the premier competition, Samoa are highly tipped to challenge for the trophy. They are currently 9/1 to do that with Betfred.

“But…I’m a patriotic Englishman and would always back our boys, and hopefully with a hostile St James Park full of England fans behind the team we can kick the competition off with a huge victory. England are 16/1 to go one better than beaten finalists in the last World Cup in 2017. Betfred are also offering as well as an England win against Samoa (5/4), Saints superstar Jack Welsby to cross the whitewash, anytime in the game (2/1)

“Australia, unsurprisingly are favourites to win the comp at 1/2, with a strong New Zealand team at 10/3. Tonga, who beat Australia, NZ & GB in 2019 are also fancied with Betfred at 11/1.

“Wales, Scotland, Greece and Jamaica are all rank outsiders to do the unthinkable.

“This World Cup, which goes ahead 12months later than scheduled due to Covid is set to be the biggest, best and most inclusive ever…with the mens, womens and wheelchair tournaments all running simultaneously, with every game screened by the BBC via either live TV or online platforms.

“This is certainly a great opportunity to promote Rugby League to a new audience and showcase the greatest game in the world. RL has proven yet again it is a game for everyone, either watching or playing.

“It has been over 50 years since the 1972 Great Britain team were the last Northern Hemisphere side to lift a RL World Cup, and something that has certainly been referred to by England boss Shaun Wane. Players like Welsby, Farnworth, Sam Tomkins and Elliott Whitehead will be looking to write their own names in the history books.

“Some of the other  stars from other nations to look out for are:

• Tonga- David Fafita
• Samoa- Jerome Luai
• NZ- James Fisher-Harris
• Fiji- Viliame Kikau
• Australia- Nathan Cleary
• France- Benjamin Garcia
• PNG- Xavier Coates”

Finally the Manchester derby had already been won of course when United’s Anthony Martial stepped up to take an injury time penalty.

But 250 miles from the Etihad in Kent it mattered a great deal for a new Betfred customer had a £5 bet on the scoreline ending up an improbable 6-3 to the high-riding Blues at mind-blowing odds of 300/1.

“It’s just ridiculous, “ said the 41 year office worker who was watching the game with her boyfriend...a Chelsea fan.

Triumphant after winning £1,500 she explained how she came to put on such an unusual bet.

“Like football fans all over the world I knew Erling Haaland was on fire and thought with it being a derby reckoned  United would have to do something.

“It was weird but wonderful especially as City raced into such a lead but then weakened the team with changes from the bench in the second half -  and United did get back into it.

“We were watching the match together when I told my boyfriend  about the fiver I had on it ending up 6-3 which he said was ridiculous which it probably was.

“After United got it back to 6-3 with the Martial penalty we had a very, very long two minutes to wait until the final whistle.

“We had a nice glass of champagne to celebrate. How are we going to spend the winnings? Well we’ve decided to make sure we have the best ever family Christmas . A win like  this takes away lots of pressures.”

Sounds like a big Christmas for this customer who has only been with us a couple of years. As a United fan I’m still over a week  later trying to get over the derby mauling...and to be paying out to an Arsenal supporter has added to my misery. How she came up with 6-3 final score and got a fiver on is beyond reason.