DESPITE being a $21 long shot just two weeks ago, Brett Stewart was poised to be "a clear outright favourite" when TAB Sportsbet posted its markets for the competition's leading tryscorer - until news broke of his knee injury yesterday.

"After having him a short price in that market before the season began we put him up at $21 after he missed the first four matches, but having scored three against the Tigers, we brought him into $13, behind equal-favourites Taniela Tuiaki and Israel Folau, who were $8 heading into last weekend," said TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie.

"But after getting another two against Souths, he is suddenly only one behind Tuiaki and he would have been a clear favourite when the markets went up today had he not now been injured."

Munsie added that following the announcement of Stewart's demise, Manly slid from $7 to win the premiership to $9.

Michael Cowley