Round ten selections

Brisbane Broncos vs Manly Sea Eagles – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

I rarely doubt the Broncos, but I have some niggling doubts about this particular game. Peter Wallace is definitely out, and there has to be serious doubt over Justin Hodges who failed to get through training during the week. Captain Sam Thaiday will certainly play, but he's not 100 per cent either. In such a young side that is a lot of senior talent either unavailable or unlikely to be at their best, and Brisbane need to be at their best to beat the defending premiers. The Sea Eagles have won six of their last eight clashes with the Broncos, and four of those six wins were at Suncorp. The Sea Eagles aren't fielding their best side with Keiran Foran and Tony Williams unavailable, but it's not far removed from the side that knocked the Broncos out of the finals last year.  

Verdict – Sea Eagles

Result - Sea Eagles 24 defeated Broncos 22

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Titans – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

I could have shed a tear watching the Titans go down to the Tigers in extra time last weekend. They deserve a win and are closer than ever. These sides met in round five on the Coast and the Titans lost by ten in what was the first of a string of better performances. The Bulldogs weren't at their best that afternoon but they still won, and that's why you have to tip them here. William Zillman returns from injury for the Titans and Jamal Idris will be up for a big game against his former club, but it won't be enough.

Verdict – Bulldogs

Result - Titans 25 defeated Bulldogs 14

New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – Mt Smart Stadium

I haven't checked the passports, but the Roosters might have more Kiwis in their line-up than the Warriors. Let's hope they enjoy the rare opportunity to play on home soil, because I'm tipping the upset to end all upsets on Saturday night. I've mocked the Roosters more than most this season but their performances in recent weeks have been solid, and they did beat the Warriors convincingly back in round five. It's hard to knock the Warriors form of course, but they do have a habit of underperforming against the lesser sides. Their last two games have been against teams they always lift for (the Storm and the Broncos) and I have a feeling the Roosters are taking them on at the right time. I'm pretty sure I'll be on my own here but I'm stickin' with the chickens.

Verdict – Roosters

Result - Warriors 30 defeated Roosters 26

Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – Hunter Stadium

The Cowboys can have an 'off' night from time to time. Even if they have an 'off' night on Saturday, I don't think the Knights have enough 'on' in them to win this game. The Cowboys have scored 96 points in their last three outings and that's about 80 more than they'll need this weekend. Granted the Knights picked up 34 points against the Panthers but that was against the Panthers. If you put a line through that game they've managed just 24 points in their last three outings - and more than half of those were against Parramatta. Any concerns about the Cowboys performing away from home can be put to bed. So far this year they've racked up victories in Brisbane, Canberra and Darwin. They don't like Sydney very much but I think they can handle the trip to Newcastle. No Gidley, No Buderus, No thanks.

Verdict – Cowboys

Result - Cowboys 32 defeated Knights 12

Canberra Raiders vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Canberra Stadium

When a team is underperforming and lacking effort, taking them on the road trip to Canberra is one of the last things you would want to do. Theoretically the two fullbacks are fighting it out for a NSW spot, although my gut tells me that jersey belongs to Brett Stewart. In any case the chance to see Josh Dugan and Jarryd Hayne in an afternoon game makes this clash worthy of your eyeballs. The person manning the scoreboard at Canberra Stadium should be kept busy on Sunday, and the team that loses this game might have a new coach on Monday morning. Apologies to Stephen Kearney. Raiders 48 - Eels 30

Verdict – Raiders

Result - Raiders 40 defeated Eels 34

Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm – Sunday afternoon – Toyota Stadium

They may have lost on Monday night to the Bunnies but that was one of the best games of football I've seen all season. A repeat of that effort gives the Sharks a genuine hope of pulling off an upset in what is clearly the game of the round. You don't normally need four reasons to pick the Storm but here are mine: 1) Sharks captain Paul Gallen is close to invincible but he may pull out of this game with his dodgy knee. 2) A short turnaround for the Sharks on the back of a tough game last round. 3) The Sharks coach had a health scare this week. 4) Melbourne are an undefeatable machine.

Verdict – Storm

Result - Sharks 12 defeated Storm 10

Penrith Panthers vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Monday night – Centrebet Stadium

A round of applause for the Penrith faithful that drag themselves along to this game. You must be a very dedicated bunch and I respect you for it. With that in mind, I urge you not to read what follows. Penrith are a shell, and not one of those pretty shells you could impress your girlfriend with. They are a broken, barnacle-encrusted eyesore, and that stench you can smell is a rotten crab that gave up on life after the 30-0 loss to the Tigers. 2012 is not the year of the Panther...or the crab.

Verdict – Dragons

Result - Panthers 13 defeated Dragons 12 (golden point)

Wally Lewis - round ten selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published as soon as possible (usually on Thursday night or early Friday morning).

  • BRONCOS vs Sea Eagles
  • BULLDOGS vs Titans
  • WARRIORS vs Roosters
  • Knights vs COWBOYS
  • RAIDERS vs Eels
  • Sharks vs STORM
  • Panthers vs DRAGONS

Comments

a's picture

I disagree with2 of your tips
Broncos
Storm
Bulldogs
Raiders
Warriors
Cowboys
Dragons
you support Broncos don't you

Rick's picture

Accurate tips I feel for this round, although I will go on Warriors at home this time.Keep up the good work I really enjoy your Thurs tips.I managed an 8 from 8 last round amazingly.

The Thinker's picture

It's a tough competition Rick. Anyone who gets 8 from 8 can be very pleased with themselves.

Well done sir.

Craig's picture

Classic write up with Penrith, eyes watering from laughter!

Looking forward to the double header, i hear Foran is almost a certain starter.

Brisbane - will to win and home adv pre-origin should be enough for me.

Bulldogs - I think it'll be close for 40mins, then shut the gate.

NZW - i like what you said about the Roosters, they are looking very good, but i don't believe they can go 3 decent games in a row, plus they are due for a loss..lol

NQ - Newcastle just not good enough, the welded together car has a V8 in there somewhere but Benny's only got 4 of those cylinders going at the moment.

Raiders - cant tip Para, just cant do it any more, the club is dead, there's been 5 different coaches and apparently its all their fault..lol, drop the lot and run the reserve grade side, couldn't be any worse!

Storm - Could be an upset here, if Gal plays ill have a side wager on the Sharks, sick coach will lift them, If Mel are looking for a loss this is the game to do it.

StGeorge - should be a training run for the Dragons, Penrith haven't offered anything.

Tigers - just might get the pts against the bye, if one or two of their big stars are not doing what whispers say they are doing, up for sponsorship from Gillette for pts shaving.

The Thinker's picture

Great stuff Craig.
The Tigers should beat the bye, but it wouldn't surprise me if it went to golden point.
Enjoy the weekend

Corey Parker's picture

Any one know a good Optometrist ?

a's picture

is that you Corey Parker

Wally Lewis's picture

Warriors will win tonight

Sophists's picture

You didn't do so well at school did you A?

Dubai Dan's picture

Harder to pick than a broken nose...! Nobody's getin 8 from 8 this week.

Dubai Dan's picture

That's probably because only 14 teams are playing this week however 7 from 7 will be just as tough...!

Dubai Dan's picture

Well this blog has gone to the dogs since my last comment... Haven't you blokes got something better to do. The Thinker puts a fair bit of time into giving us his informed opinion each week, the least you can do is show a little respect by not posting absolute dribble.

Go find a highway to play on...!

Thinker's Little Helper's picture

Fear not! The Fun Police have arrived.

I've deleted the 11 ... distracting ... comments and sent the offender to the sin-bin for a little while until he cools off.

Now we can all get back to whatever it is we do until Thursdays when the Boss turns up with the tips.

JS's picture

Keep up the good work Thinker.. lets hope we have a better week this week.

Craig's picture

What do you blokes think of the Origin teams?

Qld - Straight forward, solid as always and will win the series 2-1, Blues will get the game in Syd.

NSW - I expected Ricky to run with Farah (why no Ennis?) and Jennings, Buhrer was a nice surprise, im glad he dropped Watmough, though i think Hayne is a bad call and if i was a Blue i would be nervous, over half the team is out of form, unfit or just not up to Origin standard. To be frank, there's some bad advice going around, Barrett (im in his tipping comp, bloke couldn't tip a glass of water) Fittler (Hayne is better 5/8 than Thurston lol) and John's...Delusional

Qld by 13+ in game one, Inglis & Slater to have huge games, the Maroons i think will pile on the pts, the boys are red hot.

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