Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles – Friday night – ANZ Stadium
The slightly injured Cherry-Evans is on standby for the slightly injured Cooper Cronk for Origin III so Littlejohn slots back into the halves with Keiran Foran. It's not ideal but it looks a far better option than the Bulldogs - with backrower Josh Jackson and hooker Michael Ennis handed the reins. The Bulldogs pack is formidable but when you look at the 1,6,7 and 9 for each team you can't help but go with the visitors. Sea Eagles = well and truly on track for September glory.
Verdict – Sea Eagles by 10
Result - Bulldogs 23 defeated Sea Eagles 16
St George Illawarrra Dragons vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night - Jubilee Oval
As I mentioned last week the Cowboys really needed that win over the Bunnies, as they now face three games in a row in Sydney. Sydney is not their friend and I need to stop convincing myself they can break that hoodoo. No Thurston, no Tamou, no Scott and no Tate seals it for me. The Dragons lose Josh Dugan but they've found some confidence and enthusiasm under the new coach. A win for the Kogarah faithful.
Verdict – Dragons by 8
Result - Dragons 27 defeated Cowboys 24
Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium
For the very briefest of moments the Sharks got to enjoy themselves last weekend, and then it all went south. Todd Carney is gone. The coach is gone. Paul Gallen is unavailable. As further punishment they face the defending premiers coming off a loss. And to think they still have to face their ASADA demons sometime soon. Sheesus! If only I had the temerity to back my prediction that the Sharks would win the spoon this season. The Chooks are near enough to full strength and they'll win. I've drunk my last ever 'Hot Toddy'.
Verdict – Roosters by 24
Result - Sharks 30 defeated Roosters 28
Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Leichhardt Oval
The game of the round for mine. In mid-winter football is just better on Sunday afternoons, particularly at these traditional suburban venues. Rather surprisingly the Panthers have never lost at Leichhardt (okay, they've only played their twice, but still). Penrith are one side that come through the Origin period with no interruptions and I'm happy to tip them here. Note the return of Jamal Idris in the centres - I for one hope he's on top of his personal demons.
Verdict – Panthers by 8
Result - Panthers 26 defeated Tigers 10
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Gold Coast Titans – Monday night – ANZ Stadium
We had some surprise results last week, with the teams running 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th all winning. The team running fifteenth lost by a point and the team running 13th had a bye. That 13th team (unlucky for some) was the Titans, and they'll need a fair amount of luck to pick up two points on Monday night. Results last weekend demonstrated once again that you can never assume anything in this competition. If only for that reason you can't rule them out completely, but I certainly can't tip them, and neither should you.
Verdict – Rabbitohs by 4
Result - Titans 14 defeated Rabbitohs 10
Wally Lewis - round seventeen selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.
- Bulldogs vs SEA EAGLES
- DRAGONS vs Cowboys
- ROOSTERS vs Sharks
- Tigers vs PANTHERS
- RABBITOHS vs Titans
Comments
Submitted by a on
Here are my tips
Sea Eagles by 2 by the wrecking ball I have to tip Manly
Dragons by 1 I hate to say this but Dragons to be a wrecking ball to our team
Roosters by 8 do I have to FU tip against everybody I want to win
Panthers by 6 Limbo says Panthers to win I think their right
Rabbitohs by 4 I think Titans will try and be a wrecking ball to them but it will not happen at the end
Submitted by christine forb10 on
Afternoon thinker & a , i'm in complete agreeance with both of you this week with your tips & a i finally caught up to you in points, i'm on 74 out of 117 & looking to get 5 from 5 this week as i'm sure you both will to so let the football gods be good to us all & lets get on with it .
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Alright. You win this round NRL but I'm not done with you yet ! Here are my tips for this week round and not surprisingly I see a couple of upsets are about to go down. Dude, let's do this !
Manly by 16 points
Cowboys by 6 points
Roosters by 20 points
West Tigers by 4 points
Rabbitohs by 8 points
Thanks alot Thinker ! Laters :-)
Submitted by Guru Craig on
Manly - The Sea Eagles should cover the line here, that's where The Guru would put his cash if he had any. Manly look in good form. With a very favourable penalty count over the Chookies, Toovey amused all (except Sandow) watching the post match press event, by having a whinge, even Jamie Lyon had a good chuckle. Expect more of the same. Man 13+
Dragons - The Guru is with the boss this week. STG will be too good for NQ. The Cowboys got away with a decent home win against the odds last round but this one is too much of an ask. Benji's new mates will get the W, though it'll be interesting by how much, The Guru isn't convinced the Saints are the real deal.
Roosters - Carney. What a week, of the highs and lows experienced by the Toddmister during the past 7 days the stat the 'G' dislikes most is dropping his 'Gold' tip streak. Cronulla and their former #6 embarrassed The Broncos and ended the 15 game streak of Gold tips from yours truly. The Roosters wont be as breezy. Syd 13+ Guru Gold tip of the round
Penrith - The battle of the cats. Penrith will be looking for an easy win here. Farah and woods exit to Origin should see a big score for the mountain men. The Tigers struggle with discipline, expect a big penalty count and look for Soward to make up for last week.
Souths - Things aren't getting better in Titan town and The guru doesn't see any revelations here. Souths big men will get it done and the skill out wide should be enough. Sths 13+
Submitted by christine forb10 on
Thinker thankyou for your help i appreciate it.
Submitted by christine forb10 on
a thanks i didn't doubt you : )
Submitted by newbie from perth on
Hi everyone,
What a woeful weekend of tipping for me last week! Ouch! 2 out of 7 really hurt. This is why I am the “newbie”. I need to work on this caper for a lot longer before I can reach the lofty heights of the rest of you guys here. 9 points behind both “a” and Mark Ashford just reminds me how far I have to go. Only thing that makes me feel better is that I have as many points as the Great One does. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.
Oh well, the “learning curve” is fun sometimes and not so fun at other times. What a beautiful game! Another weekend of footy and another test is thrown at me. Considering guys are missing due to Origin duties, all I can do is have a think about it and cross my fingers I’ll do better this week. Same picks as everyone else (except for JR going the Cowboys and Tigers) so at least I won’t be alone. Here goes…
Manly - after last week (I’m still crying and slightly embarrassed) I really have no choice but to tip Manly. They’re running along nicely at the moment and can’t see the Doggies doing much damage here.
Dragons - I reckon STG should win this pretty easily. Cowboys have JT away for SOO plus they have others away injured. It looks like Benji’s head has finally got used to RL again and STG are showing the benefits.
Roosters - after last week, I reckon my boys will be looking to make someone pay and it’s gonna be the poor ol’ Sharks that cop it I’m afraid. They just seem to be a tad “fragile”, especially after Mr Carney’s antics. Oh Todd, what the hell were you thinking?
Panthers - even though they’re playing at Leichhardt, the Tigers are without Robbie and I’m led to believe that the Tigers have lost their past four when Robbie was MIA. Good enough for me.
Rabbits - they wouldn’t have enjoyed losing last week so I’m expecting they will come out all fired up and do a “job” on the Titans.
OK people, good luck with your tipping this week and good luck to your team as well. Cheers.
Thinker’s comment … “ I've drunk my last ever 'Hot Toddy' “. Absolute “gold”sir! Classic line, you are a genius! (if I could insert a smiley face here I would).
Submitted by a on
Where is mark
Submitted by a on
Stell Panther and Joker can they please sumbit their tips please
Submitted by mark ashford on
Good morning all....sorry I'm a bit late.
Gotta agree with most this week except Johnny Ray.
Looks to be easy right but is it??
Main worry is the cat fight at Leichardt.
Panthers are the overwhelming favs but beware the hungry tigers.
Also wounded Cowboys are due an away win and what can you say about those Sharkies.
But I'll stay with the bookies this week so it's...
Manly
Dragons
Roosters
Panthers
Rabbits
Good luck with your tipping (and betting Mr Guru) By the way have you eaten any of Mrs Guru's chooks yet?
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Sorry I'm late too. Round seems too easy so I've been mulling over picking an upset and I'm going to go with one of Johnny Ray's tips and pick the Tigers to beat Penrith although everything points to a Panthers win. I just can't tip the Cowboys away from home anymore whether JT is there or not. So with the other games it's Sea Eagles, Dragons, Roosters and Rabbitohs for me.
Best of luck!! Enjoy your weekend everyone.
Submitted by The Thinker on
The Joker,
I hope you aren't stuck down a well.
If you get your tips published on this page before kick-off we'll crunch them through the tipscoring machine for you.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Submitted by The Joker on
Play it safe with the favs this round people ;) bigger and better rounds to come :)
Submitted by The Joker on
Thanks Thinker.. can't seem to enter my tips.. are we locked out? can you crunch them through for me? same as you mate. Cheers!
Submitted by The Joker on
Manly by 8
Dragons by 4
Roosters by 14
Panthers by 2
Rabbits by 12.
Submitted by Thinker's Little Helper on
The Joker - I've added your tips to the official form. Good luck for the rest of the round!
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Bulldogs ! :-( Alright change of call, dragons to beat cowboys tonight, as for me I was tossing up between bulldogs or cowboys being upset and again picked wrong one as I didn't think doggies had it in them to beat Manly! Still feeling sure about my other upset pick though, West Tigers ! That and now 'Wizz-Kid' Todd Carney is out, make sure everybody you remember to take Roosters 13 Plus to beat sharks ! Laters :-)
Submitted by WHALE on
Up Up, Cronulla!
Submitted by Rick on
WOW those Sharks amazing!!! Really makes this tipping gig tough eh.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
*SPEECHLESS* :-0
Submitted by christine forb10 on
bookies win again
Submitted by Guru Craig on
The comeback kids. You've have to be crazy to tip that, what were the half time odds, anyone notice?
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Odds were $501 to $1 at halftime break for Sharks to beat Roosters *SPEECHLESS* :-O
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Johnny Ray your deserve extra points for tipping that they'd be a couple of upsets this round. Just unfortunate it wasn't the two you picked. I am shaking my head in disbelief at Cronulla. Newbie what has happened to your team? And Manly on Friday night. Superstars one week and pretty dam average the next. I just can't tip to save myself this season!!
Submitted by christine forb10 on
don't be surprised if titans end up wooden spooners yet.
Submitted by The Thinker on
500-1 huh....those odds looks pretty good....now
Sharks have done that twice in three weeks...both times away from home.
I really owe you people an Origin preview about now don't I?
I'll get something done tomorrow morning methinks.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Well Mr Thinker I'm completely blown away.
First the Dogs, then the Sharks and now the Titans.
Just thank God I don't do this for a living.
Yes please an origin preview would be good.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Morning Mark
Just when you think the NRL starts making sense we have back to back rounds like this. It's part of the magic really.
Origin Game Three preview has just been published. Enjoy!