Thursday, 5 March 2009: TAB Sportsbet has released its head to head markets for Round 1 of the 2009 NRL season which starts Friday 13th March.

2008 Grand Finalists Melbourne ($1.36) host St George Illawarra ($3). Punters have abandoned Melbourne in Premiership betting with only Canberra, Wests Tigers and Penrith having less money invested on them than Melbourne. The Storm has drifted from an opening quote of $4.50 to be $6, their longest premiership quote since the start of the 2007 season.

The Dragons, on the other hand, are the most popular side with TAB Sportsbet with more than 7 times the money on them to win the comp than that invested on Melbourne. They opened at $17 and are now into $11 having been backed to win $750,000 by their supporters.

Friday night also sees the all Queensland clash between Brisbane ($1.60) taking on Nth Qld ($2.25) with the Broncos stepping out for the first time in an NRL match without Wayne Bennett at the helm. Both sides have been popular in Premiership betting although Brisbane are $9 out to $11 with the Cowboys steady at $13.

Last season's surprise packets Warriors ($1.36) meet Parramatta ($3) as the Saturday afternoon match with Eels fans looking forward to an improved 2009 showing under new coach Daniel Anderson. Warriors have been specked with as much as $13 given about them to be now into $9 on the back of Stacey Jones returning. Parramatta are $26 and unchanged from original markets.

Saturday night at Shark Park sees Cronulla ($1.45) clash with wooden spoon favourites Penrith ($2.65). Premiership interest in the Sharks has been steady with them $11 out from $9 but money is non existent for the Panthers. Only move for the mountain men has been in Spoon betting with a wager of $30,000 @ $4.50 to collect the unwanted silverware in 2009. They are into $3.50

New coach Kevin Moore and his charges face a baptism of fire at ANZ Stadium Saturday night when the Dogs ($2.80) step out against 2008 premiers and recent World Club Challenge champions Manly ($1.40). Loyal Bulldog fans have supported their boys in premiership betting firming slightly from $34 into $26 but money has been strong for Top 8, Top 4 and even Minor Premiership markets. Manly have held the top spot in Premiership betting firming from $4.50 into $4 since markets were first releaseed late last year.

Gold Coast ($1.45) look to maintain an impressive home ground record at Skilled Park on Sunday when they meet Newcastle ($2.65). Both have had support in Premiership betting with one loyal Knights fan backing his side to win just under $1m with a wager of $45,000 @ $23 to win this year's competition.

Traditional rivals Sydney Roosters ($1.50) and Souths ($2.50) once again square up in the opening round of the competition with both looking for a better 2009 than last season. Bunnies fans were no doubt buoyed by another Charity Shield win last week with some even optimistically backing the boys from Redfern to take the Minor Premiership at $101. In Premiership betting little money seperates the sides with the Roosters out slightly from $15 to $17 and Souths steady at $41.

Monday Night Football goes to Campbelltown for Wests Tigers ($1.60) and Canberra ($2.20). Both sides have been ignored in Premiership betting although Canberra have had specking in Top 8 markets.

NRL ROUND 1

MELBOURNE 1.36
ST GEO ILL 3.00

BRISBANE 1.60
NTH QLD 2.25

WARRIORS 1.36
PARRAMATTA 3.00

BULLDOGS 2.80
MANLY 1.40

CRONULLA 1.45
PENRITH 2.65

GOLD COAST 1.45
NEWCASTLE 2.65

SYDNEY ROOSTERS 2.50
SOUTHS 1.50

WESTS TIGERS 1.65
CANBERRA 2.20

NRL Round 1 Hd x Hd markets now open at www.tabsportsbet.com.au