Australia's Slater is back at the peak of his powers

Starts 10am Thursday

Given Australia’s stranglehold on the outright market, betting on the various tryscorer markets available at the World Cup can offer punters a route to a more lucrative profit.

With the Kangaroos highly likely to be joined by either England or New Zealand in the final on December 2, it would unwise to shift focus away from international rugby league’s big three.

The structure of the tournament means that each have at least two group games against lesser nations to rack up points in. The only caveat being that their coaches are likely to rest some of their stars for at least one game.

With Greg Inglis and Darius Boyd both absent, Billy Slater has only uncapped Tom Trbojevic to compete with for Australia’s full-back position.

The Storm custodian is a world-class operator who has fought back from a series of serious injuries to play a vital role in Melbourne’s NRL Grand Final triumph this year – winning the Clive Churchill medal for a man-of-the-match performance against the Cowboys.

Slater ended the 2008 World Cup in ignominy after his error handed New Zealand the title, but five years later he was instrumental as the Kangaroos regained their status as world champions at Old Trafford.

Billy the Kid has 22 tries in 25 internationals but will fancy his chances of adding to that if the Aussies secure a favourable route to the final.

BoyleSports offer four places each-way and at 14-1, Slater looks overpriced.

A lot has been made of the fact that England have named only two wingers in their 24-man squad. But that should ensure that anyone placing their faith in either Ryan Hall or Jermaine McGillvary gets a decent run for their money.

Hall is England’s record tryscorer with 32 tries in as many internationals but notched only ten times for Leeds this term.

That tally was nine shy of the one recorded by Huddersfield’s McGillvary who has firmly established himself as England’s other winger in the last couple of years and will have the advantage of an out-and-out centre in Kallum Watkins on his inside. Whereas Hall is likely to have John Bateman – a second-row by trade – as his centre.

He gets the vote to top England’s trycoring charts.

Recommendations
B Slater top tournament tryscorer
2pts each-way 14-1 BoyleSports
J McGillvary top England tryscorer
2pts 5-2 Betway

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