Big three set to dominate at World Cup

Australia are the 1/3 favourites to win the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, which begins a week on Saturday.

As expected, the Kangaroos, New Zealand and England are the heavy favourites for the tournament, with the Kiwis coming in at 4/1 and England 6/1.

The next shortest odds are Tonga at 100/1, suggesting the anticipated gulf between the top three nations and the rest.

Australia had won six consecutive World Cups before New Zealand caused an upset at the last tournament Down Under back in 2008, defeating the Kangaroos 34-20 on home soil in Brisbane.

Two of the favourites meet in the tournament’s opening match on October 26, when Australia take on England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, before Wales play Italy.

Those two are rank outsiders at 250/1, alongside Scotland and Ireland, but ahead of Cook Islands (500/1) and USA (1000/1).

Odds are now being offered by a range of bookmakers for the tournament, so claim your free bets in just a few clicks at freebets.org/bets.

Favourites with Sky Bet to win the four groups are Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Cook Islands.

The top three in both Group A and Group B progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the winners of Group C and Group D.

Group A: Australia, England, Fiji, Ireland

Group B: France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa

Group C: Italy, Scotland, Tonga

Group D: Cook Islands, Wales, USA