ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
WILL POWER
TAB officials are reportedly reviewing their decision to offer anytime try-scorer bets after Will Jordan scored in the 79th minute, ruining what had been shaping as an extremely profitable night for the gambling operator in New Zealand.
The All Blacks winger crossed late in the match, sending many punters around the country who had backed him to score at any time into a state of celebration, while TAB executives watched their anticipated profits disappear after pre-planning their celebrations of a profitable night.
“We genuinely thought we’d cracked the code,” said TAB spokesperson Richard Cashmore.
“Jordan had gone nearly the whole game without scoring, and we were sitting there thinking thousands of punters had effectively donated money to us. We were already discussing what to do with the profits. The All Blacks had the game won, they weren’t even looking to score and then a silly loose pass the Wallabies gifted Will the try and gifted the punters money we thought we’d banked.”
Cashmore said the operator had been particularly pleased with the number of customers who had backed Jordan to score, believing the late try-scorer market was firmly under control.
“People were cashing out, people were losing hope, and we were quietly congratulating ourselves. Then, out of nowhere, Will decides to remember he’s one of the best finishers in world rugby and gets a try that only he could generate and score.”
The spokesperson said the 79th-minute try had triggered a wave of winning bets, with punters reportedly celebrating in living rooms across New Zealand while TAB staff experienced what one employee described as “a sudden and deeply uncomfortable loss of confidence”.
Meanwhile, Jordan is believed to be completely unaware of the financial damage caused by his late intervention, having spent the evening doing what he is paid to do.
More to come.
