Ben Barba is the $6.00 favourite with online bookmaker sportsbet to win the 2012 Clive Churchill medal but faces massive opposition from the Melbourne Storm’s big three, with the trio closely following the Bulldogs fullback in the market.

Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith are on the second line of betting at $7.00, with Billy Slater priced at $9.00.

“Barba has had a magic season and was very good against the Rabbitohs last weekend so is rightly installed favourite and the punters agree as he is the best backed player so far,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

“Of Melbourne’s big three, punters are expecting big things from Cameron Smith as he’s attracted double the bets of Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.”

Bulldogs pair Josh Reynolds and James Graham are next in the market at $11, while Krisnan Inu ($34) is the best backed player at big odds.

With both sides priced at $1.91 to win the Grand Final, sportsbet.com.au will refund punters their first bet on the decider if the final margin is less than six points.

Markets courtesy sportsbet.com.au
Clive Churchill medal winner
$6.00 Ben Barba
$7.00 Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith
$9.00 Billy Slater
$11 Josh Reynolds, James Graham
$12 Ryan Hoffman
$15 Aidan Tolman, Frank Pritchard, Gareth Widdop
$21 Michael Ennis, Kris Keating
Others quoted

NRL Grand Final – Canterbury Bulldogs versus Melbourne Storm
$1.91 Canterbury Bulldogs
$1.91 Melbourne Storm