The Sporting Base

State of Origin has produced some incredible betting insight over the past decade, but most punters focus solely on the head-to-head market. We’ve analysed the numbers and found several trends across line betting, first try scorers and margins that could provide value ahead of Game III. Whether you’re backing the Blues or the Maroons, making informed betting decisions starts with understanding the trends.

The Los Angeles Lakers may have already enjoyed a productive offseason, but one key piece could still be missing. According to multiple NBA reports, the Lakers are emerging as the favourites to sign free-agent guard De’Anthony Melton in a move that could significantly strengthen their perimeter defence. Melton has become one of the most sought-after remaining free agents after returning from the ACL injury that limited him early in the 2025-26 season.

Belmont Park hosts another competitive metropolitan meeting on Wednesday, with a quality card offering plenty of betting opportunities across the afternoon. We’ve analysed every race to help you find the runners worth following. Western Australian racing often rewards horses that can secure the right run, making race tempo, barriers and recent form key factors when assessing each event.

Queensland racing heads to Ipswich on Wednesday for an exciting midweek program, with several competitive races offering plenty of betting opportunities. We’ve analysed every race to help you find the best bets on the card. From promising favourites to value runners capable of causing an upset, our race-by-race tips highlight the horses we expect to be in the finish. Check out our full Ipswich selections below before placing your bets.

The NRL has claimed the richest broadcast deal in Australian sport, but the AFL should not be panicking just yet. If anything, rugby league’s $5.3 billion agreement may have given the AFL the perfect benchmark to chase when its own rights come back to market. The NRL’s new seven-year deal with Nine, Foxtel and DAZN runs from 2028 through to 2034 and has been hailed as a landmark moment for the code.

Nathan Cleary has already conquered almost everything rugby league can offer. Four premierships, Clive Churchill Medals and countless individual honours have secured his place among the game’s greats. But there is still one chapter missing from his résumé — consistently dominating State of Origin deciders. As New South Wales prepares for Wednesday night’s winner-takes-all clash at Suncorp Stadium, the spotlight once again falls on the Blues’ halfback.

Neale recently told his club, the Brisbane Lions, that he wants to explore his options for his next contract, and while Brisbane would be happy to keep him, it’s unlikely they can afford to match some of the seven-figure-a-year deals being swung around in the signing market.

Sandown racing takes centre stage on Wednesday and we’ve analysed the meeting to help you find the best betting opportunities. Below you’ll find our race-by-race tips, with each selection backed by form analysis and key betting insights to help you make more informed decisions. Whether you’re chasing value or looking for the day’s best bet, understanding the form and how each race is likely to unfold can provide an edge. Check out our full Sandown tips below before placing your bets.

The sixth-ranked Aussie was favourite to beat Cobolli in the fourth round, but eventually went out in straight sets, 7–5, 7–6(7–4), 6–3. Maybe worse, “Demon” broke Cobolli four times in the match and led 5–2 in the second set. That momentum didn’t last long enough to really matter though, and the 27-year-old lost 12 of the next 13 points and had to watch the Italian ninth seed storm back to win it in a tiebreak.

Ballarat Synthetic racing takes centre stage today and we’ve analysed the meeting to help you find the best betting opportunities. Below you’ll find our race-by-race tips, along with key track insights before you place your bets. Understanding how Ballarat Synthetic has historically played can provide an edge when assessing each race. Below you’ll find the latest track specialist statistics, with The Sporting Base Track Index to be added once our historical database is complete.