Round nine selections

Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers - Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

I managed to catch the Broncos training run on Saturday morning. They looked sharp and, perhaps more importantly, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Darius Boyd isn't even listed in the seventeen but he moved freely and I expect him to play - State of Origin isn't far away. The Panthers are gradually bringing wounded troops back into the fold, but they are still without their first choice hooker and halves. I can't ignore that - particularly away from home. A chance for the Broncos to shore up their place near the top of the ladder before the representative period of the season takes its inevitable toll.

Verdict – Broncos by 10

Result - Broncos 8 defeated Panthers 5

Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

The Chooks are due, and I mean 'final notice' in big red letters due. After four losses in a row they need to resurrect their fortunes - I've convinced myself this is the weekend they make a statement. With the return of Guerra and Aubusson the tri-colours are turning up with a tremendous pack of forwards. I expect the Roosters halves to bring their A-game on the back of the momentum created by the big boys (Laurie Daley take note). Losing is even more contagious than winning, and because of that the Chooks are ridiculously short with the bookmakers. I can't back them but I'm tipping them. The Tigers are playing a great style of football and the Chooks, despite the losses, aren't far off their best. The game of the round.

Verdict – Roosters by 14

Result - Roosters 36 defeated Tigers 4

Canberra Raiders vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday afternoon – GIO Stadium

I don't break my golden rules of tipping too often, but here breaks one of them. Traditionally I would always take the home team when these sides met - it's a strategy that has served me at least as well as any other crazy strategy I've come up with over the years. The Titans are simply playing great football, and in the process they've gone from wooden spoon favourites to top eight contenders - an extraordinary turnaround in difficult circumstances. Without Greg Bird I'm nervous, because that Raiders back-row have a substantial edge on their counterparts. That said, I like the Titans starting props, and their backline has become a potent force in recent weeks. Many of the Raiders are backing up from the City-Country game where they all performed well - they should come back from that game brimming with confidence. A big win from either side wouldn't surprise but I'm tipping an upset.

Verdict – Titans by 2

Result - Raiders 56 defeated Titans 16

Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday night – Remondis Stadium

Plenty of Warriors are backing up from ANZAC duties, and quite a few are coming back from the Samoa/Tonga international for that matter. Many of them will still be on cloud nine, and a happy Warriors outfit is a dangerous Warriors outfit. We'll know if they're on shortly after kick-off, and if they are on a barnstorming Warriors victory is what we shall see. I'm banking on the comedown factor and the Warriors being 'off'. There's something about turning up to Remondis Stadium for a night game that drags teams down. I'll take the Sharks in what I suspect will turn into a scrappy and ugly ordeal.

Verdict – Sharks by 2

Result - Watriors 20 defeated Sharks 16

North Queensland Cowboys vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium

This looks like two sides with their seasons travelling in opposite trajectories. The Cowboys have won five in a row while the Bulldogs only recent win was over the team running last. Reynolds is suspended and the Bulldogs will miss his tripping game. Graham is still suspended and the Bulldogs will miss his go-forward and general yelling skills. No-one can step in and replace Taumalolo for the Cowboys, but in front of a big home crowd I think the Cowboys pack will give as good as they get. Hodkinson and Mbye have to find a way to make their halves pairing work, meanwhile the combination of Thurston and Morgan is absolutely singing. How about that...I've tipped all the Queensland sides.

Verdict – Cowboys by 10

Result - Cowboys 23 defeated Bulldogs 16

Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Brookvale Oval

Manly have won just two games this season and both were against the Melbourne Storm - what a funny funny competition this is. Some weeks ago I saw the Knights in the flesh and I was taken with how much bigger they were than their opponent. They went on to win that game - a game few thought they would, and they did so by outmuscling their opponent. This Sea Eagles side can be out-muscled. They are seriously short of big men in the middle and the Knights are just the team to take advantage of that. Yet again I'm breaking another one of my golden rules here - tipping the Sea Eagles on a Sunday afternoon at Brookie has long been the fall-back selection. After the Sea Eagles surprise victory over the Storm I'm not surprised they're favoured to win, but I can get $2.60 about the Knights and I'm happy to take it. I might even back them with the handicap start as a little bit of insurance. Gamble responsibly.

Verdict – Knights by 4

Result - Sea Eagles 30 defeated Knights 10

Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm – Sunday afternoon – Pirtek Stadium

Does Cameron Smith get cranky? The Storm went down to the Sea Eagles at home, then his Kangaroos went down to the Kiwis for the third time in a row. And people are jumping out of trees to ask him if he's getting too old. Sheesh! I happen to think the cranky old bastard will give the Eels a footballing lesson this weekend. Note that Billy Slater has been named and I imagine he wants his State of Origin jersey back. And this game is worthy of your attention because two Fijian wingers get to go toe-to-toe. Radradra versus Koroibete - two of the nicest (and most entertaining) guys in the game. Looking forward to this one - I'll go purple.

Verdict – Storm by 8

Result - Storm 28 defeated Eels 10

South Sydney Rabbitohs  vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Monday night – ANZ Stadium

I don't think I've ever tipped a team more reluctantly than my Rabbitohs tip for Monday night. In their last five outings the Rabbitohs have won once, by one point...and they were lucky to get it. How I've ended up on them here is anyone's guess, but the absence of Dugan has probably swayed me. As per every Dragons game this season I'm not expecting a lot of points, and Dugan is the sort of guy that could pick up a try at one end and save a try at the other end. That may prove the difference. Gosh the Dragons have been good...and the Rabbits? This feels dirty...and wrong. I'm off to have a shower.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 2

Result - Rabbitohs 16 defeated Dragons 10

Wally Lewis - round nine selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

  • BRONCOS vs Panthers
  • ROOSTERS vs Tigers
  • RAIDERS vs Titans
  • Sharks vs WARRIORS
  • COWBOYS vs Bulldogs
  • Sea Eagles vs KNIGHTS
  • Eels vs STORM
  • RABBITOHS vs Dragons

Comments

christine 's picture

johnny ray I just received a farwell leaving message from izzac he is going to warriors for next season on a two year deal but he said he still bleeds red & green he just has to add a few more colours to it .

a's picture

Dont forget Issac Luke has until round 13 to backflip

christine 's picture

my two favourite players would be izzac luke & shaun Johnson so izzac going to warriors for me isn't really a problem

mark ashford's picture

Yes Coach with the Maroon "superstars" getting older and a little bit tired it will make for a great game as Laurie is forced to pick new players due to injuries or suspensions and of course what a loss in Hayne.
If Mal sticks to the incumbants then it could be a long night for Queensland.
A bit of new Maroon blood won't go astray.

christine 's picture

a no izzac won't back flip his heart is with souths but he said for family reasons he wants to go home he also said it's been weighing on him so he hasn't been playing his best but he did say that now it's been announced he can get on with playing better & finishing the season on a better note because it's not good bye

a's picture

It is sad when players backflip

The Thinker's picture

Afternoon football fans,

I think everyone (excluding The Guru) has their tips in for the round. If I've missed someone just add your tips in the comments for me.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Coach Potato's picture

Isaac Luke's hush hush move to NZ mid-contract comes quite soon after his politically and socially incorrect comments on Twitter.

Sure family was mentioned as the reason on the permission slip but its funny how so often players do something wrong, and quickly want to turn over a new leaf and seek out a new club. He's definitely put himself out of favour a few times now, the worst I would say was defending his teammate Auva'a who pleaded guilty to domestic assault.

Time to turn over a new leaf, Isaac, and close your Twitter I would suggest.

a's picture

I hope his family is nice

Johnny Ray's picture

Panthers ! Crap ! :-(

Johnny Ray's picture

CRAP !!! :-(

Coach Potato's picture

Thinker and everyone else, I need to ask how you can lose control of a ball onto your leg, but always with a hand on the ball, regain hold of the ball and get called for a knock-on ??!!!!

... And Declan_S, dont forget what I said about Penrith, Video Refs, and Shayne Hayne.

Coach Potato's picture

...wishing I could take one off for everyone that tipped Broncos and add one to mine, but tomorrow's newspaper will soon be next week's recycling.

Coach Potato's picture

Just reiterating Soward lost control of the ball onto his own leg, not the friggin' turf. Shayne Hayne looks like you were born in Wellington, central west NSW. Why dont you piss off to Qld with Inglis and co. and stay there.

Coach Potato's picture

Oops. Looks like it was the defenders leg. I guess that makes it a knock me and my last three posts look pretty silly.

Coach Potato's picture

*I mean knock-on

Coach Potato's picture

Most disappointing thing I heard from Cleary in the press conference was about Soward playing. He said "He was never not going to play. Never for a minute was he not going to play".

So why the F was he not in the 17 players listed during the week. Coaches please cut this crap out of treating everyone like idiots.

Coach Potato's picture

Actually, no. I reverse my apology. I stand by what I said originally - almost. Enough to determine that it was a try anyway.

Here's why. Move the action back 3m, back into the field of play. Relate the action to a normal tackle. When Soward fully regains the ball in two hands, would he have been asked to play the ball? Or would the ref be calling knock-on. My money is on play the ball. I think 16 teams in that situation would be screaming blue murder if a knock-on is called for 'half' losing grip on another players leg.

a's picture

Broncos won fair and squarely

The Thinker's picture

I can understand the frustration Coach. You can be proud of the Panthers though - that was a great effort last night.

They went within a whisker of winning the game without scoring a try...on a dry night.

Cleary and Bennett must have been watching tapes of the Dragons defence during their week off.

a's picture

Yes but Broncos were a better team

christine 's picture

souths will fall apart without izzac that's for sure

christine 's picture

johnny ray I just saw a tweet saying Cronulla want to secure & bring back chad townsend

a's picture

I hope they do

christine 's picture

that tweet about chad townsend is old don't pay attention to it

a's picture

OKAY then

Johnny Ray's picture

I'm not surprised Christine. Sadly Chad wife father isn't well so if he wants to move back home for her and her family, personally I would admired him if he did it, alot more than if he decided to stay here... :-(

Johnny Ray's picture

Also congratulations goes out to The Thinker for finally breaking his Friday night hoodoo ! It's been long time coming chief ! ;-D

a's picture

Yes well done Thinker

Coach Potato's picture

Hi Thinker, can you understand my frustration enough to ask for your thoughts on the matter? Isn't the field of play scenario, the litmus test? I was hoping for a little more insight from the panel as a whole, not just waffle from people getting a couple of tips right for a change.

Johnny Ray's picture

Crap ! That's twice now I've beaten this week in last minute ! :-(

christine 's picture

a I took sharks but changed my tip to warriors so i'm currently 4 from 4

a's picture

I am 3 from 5 at the moment

Coach Potato's picture

Someone could be onto a perfect round this week.
8 with a perfect card so far.

Declan_S's picture

This is probably a very silly question, but are Wally Lewis' tips taken from an external source or does he access this site?

a's picture

Cowboys have with n 6 in a row

The Thinker's picture

Coach,
If you're asking me about the potential knock-on scenario you have mentioned earlier - I didn't see that particular incident and I still haven't seen it, so I'm not really in a position to comment.

But the knock-on rule does allow you to regather a spilt pill providing the ball doesn't propel forward and hit the ground, an opponent, team-mate or official.

If it hits a seagull and you regather I'm not so sure.

I record all the games and try to stay up like Phil Gould and watch them on Tuesday night. I'll keep an eye out for it.

While I'm here, any guesses on how many weeks our mate Peachey will get out of that game?

The Thinker's picture

Declan,
Wally and I have a long-standing handshake agreement going back a few years now. Back in the pre-Declan days, The Thinker was part of a broader community website that had a partnership agreement with Channel Nine in Brisbane - our relationship is a hangover from a bygone era....a bit like the guys on the Sunday Footy Show :-)

I put his tips in for him - he has more then enough things to do in the days leading up to Friday night football as it is...but his tips are genuine and come from the King himself.

Rick's picture

Hi Thinker as Johnny Ray mentioned congrats on breaking your Friday night "issue" well done lol .

a's picture

Yes that was good breaking his Friday night duck

Coach Potato's picture

It didn't propel forward. He lost control slightly but always had palm of the hand on ball.

Here it is although its not hard to find

http://www.nrl.com/rd-9-broncos-v-panthers-hls/tabid/10959/contentid/748...

Who knows it could cost a team a finals place or something. I think it would be a horrible precedent if this is the agreed interpretation. I would be far happier if it was just Penrith that got dudded on this one

a's picture

I throught Broncos won fair and square

Declan_S's picture

What did this partnership agreement entail Mr Thinker?

a's picture

That was funny Johnny Ray

Coach Potato's picture

I'm not sure how to bow electronically, but if I could, I would. Certainly adds a new dimension to this blog, having the sixth immortal as part of the tipping comp.

My only claims to rugby league greatness is having a few rounds of golf with Sid Williams. Sid who?? The 19y/o winger who dived over in the corner for the Tigers in the 1969 grand final. The premiership winning try, the only try of the game. You all would have seen this try I'm sure. It gets replayed a lot.

Coach Potato's picture

Yes Thinker, we should see Peachey not back until June. Confused that you picked up on this one, but not the Soward try?

Johnny Ray's picture

Yeah Coach it is so cool to be part of something that also includes somebody as awesome as Wally Lewis. That's why I always think it would be funny if we ever found out that The Thinker is in real life a rugby league legend himself ! Somebody like, ooo, I don't know - Mario Fenech : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zgVHHBPcfCY ;-D

christine 's picture

6 from 7 at this stage

Coach Potato's picture

Its definitely not Mario. The blog has come crashing back down a dimension or two if it is.

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