Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – Pepper Stadium
Are the Panthers back? Perhaps. A big win over the Tigers gives hope but I am the young boy from Oliver (Please sir...I want some more). Sixteen rounds have been and gone and the Panthers have notched up just one win against a side in the top eight. That win was against the Bulldogs way back in round one...and they're currently 8th. They played the Bulldogs again in round 15...and lost. That probably gives you an idea of their level, which is a shame because the Panthers are better than that...or they should be. No Greg Inglis for the Bunnies but outside of that they are virtually unchanged from last week. Clearly the Bunnies without Inglis are beatable, and a Panthers win wouldn't surprise me, but I shan't be tipping them. No I shan't.
Verdict – Rabbitohs by 2
Result - Panthers 20 defeated Rabbitohs 6
St George Illawarra Dragons vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – WIN Stadium
A Saturday night in July on the coast at Wollongong. I'm getting shivers just thinking about it. If the weather doesn't beat the Cowboys the Origin-forced omissions certainly will - Scott, Tamou, Thurston and Morgan. No Dugan for the Dragons - he'll be sitting back downing a few Bacardi Breezers with Michael Jennings in another NSW coastal town. He's a big out for the Red V, but it's nothing compared to their opponents.
Verdict – Dragons by 8
Result - Cowboys 18 defeated Dragons 12
Manly Sea Eagles vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – Brookvale Oval
Those in the Shire are starting to get itchy - their team is winning again. Some of them are getting a little ahead of themselves, talking up the Sharks prospects as a top four side and a genuine contender. Clearly their form has improved, but it's worth reminding them that this is Origin season. Origin season is like the rear view mirror on your car - objects may appear closer than they really are. The Warriors often start winning at this time of year (and they are). Heck, even the Panthers and Eels had wins last weekend. With Cherry-Evans released from Origin duty the Sea Eagles are naming a pretty strong side, and now they just need their forwards to stand up at Brookvale. With Gallen and (probably) Ennis unavailable, I think they can.
Verdict – Sea Eagles by 2
Result - Sea Eagles 28 defeated Sharks 16
Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels – Monday night – ANZ Stadium
I'm finding it hard to get a read on the Tigers. Just a few weeks ago they absolutely towelled up the defending premiers 34-6. It shows you what they can do, but that's been their only win since round eight. The Eels by contrast, are on something of a run. In their last two games they've beaten the teams running 4th and 6th. Prior to that, an incredible comeback was all that stopped them from claiming the scalp of the team running 2nd. That's good enough form for this I say. Watch this one. If this isn't the best game of the round it should be the most entertaining.
Verdict – Eels by 7
Result - Eels 28 defeated Tigers 16
Wally Lewis - round seventeen selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.
- Panthers vs RABBITOHS
- DRAGONS vs Cowboys
- SEA EAGLES vs Sharks
- Tigers vs EELS
Comments
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I agree with you Coach, and slightly more importantly not only do the Panthers have a good amount of their roster back, but the schlacking that they gave the Tigers last week set them right.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Damn bunnies ... :-(
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Through bleary square eyes writing to say the one with the Australian birth certificate taking out Raonic was hard to watch. Wasn't the 40/1, I was kissing goodbye to, I've lost a 10-er before. Wasn't the fact that the one with the Australian birth certificate can play great tennis. Was more that he is now one step closer to receiving the Gentleman's Trophy, and so how can that be? He doesn't qualify to participate! At one stage in the 2nd set, he threw his raquet into the ground so hard, it bounced 5m into the crowd (off grass!!?). A spectator caught it, but the official rule is, had it hit a someone the player is automatically disqualified. Why oh why didn't it hit someone. That would have been the most fitting exit of any player in the history of the tournament. His response to the warning he received, a grin and a shake of the head ( as if to say "give me a break") was appaling.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Might be only baby steps, tonight's win taking Panther's streak score to a meagre 4. But if they could stretch their current streak to 5 or 6, they are suddenly back in the mix for another top 4 berth. Would need to beat Roosters next week, and then Storm away but if maybe, maybe came true, their current odds of 20/1 to finish top 4 would be hard to come by in a few weeks time.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Is that the golden spoon baggy gee :)
Submitted by a on
I hope Coaboys win tonight
Submitted by Tailspin on
yes a, I really hope they do too, 1 upset already this round, hope there is 2
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Coach...can you please tell me the Origin players missing from the Rabbitohs team that played last night?
Submitted by christine on
souths will loose the bye that's for sure
Submitted by Tailspin on
Hey steel panther, there is only 1 player missing from souths for origin and that is greg inglis, so a pretty poor performance from the bunnies I think, and the way they are going, they will be lucky to make the top 8 by seasons end.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Can't believe I require to be patronised about this.
Yes, Steel just Inglis was missing, as you already knew.
Tailspin please give some credit to the winning team and stop excusing the losing team as having a bad day, not turning up, or whatever ' tailspin ' you want to put on it. My point again, look what the Tigers did to Souths without Woods or Farah, and Souths without GI. Keary can't hold his own in the halves, and Johnston can't hold his own at fullback. So without GI to push Johnston back to the wing, and Keary to the bench, they're not going real good. So they beat Manly, a bottom 4 team. Smell the roses, else just wake up.
Shame that DWZ had his try disallowed. Still trying to work out how Wallace had created an obstruction by passing the ball to someone behind him. By time he passed the ball DWZ was to the side of him. Since when is the run-around play illegal? Surely that happens umpteen times a game.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
- I'm still stunned by how bad Bunnies played against Panthers last night but I know that I shouldn't be surprised. Look how bad my team NZ Warriors play without their fullback Sam Tomkins. We have lost every game this year when he hasn't played. Now Cowboys game tonight. I will be really shocked if Dragons can't beat them at home when Cowboys have both Thurston and Morgan out cause of Origin. They should manage to beat them ... :-s
Submitted by a on
You hate the Cowboys dont you Johnny Ray
Submitted by christine on
that's how you skin a rabbit
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Thinker, on your holiday rest day, plus anyone else, can you have a look at highlights of disallowed DWZ try. Decoy runner runs through the line, Wallace passes back inside to DWZ. All his own footwork from there. He didn't run behind Wallace with the ball in hand, he ran around behind him then caught a pass. Where is the obstruction? Does the person making the pass require to get out of the way after passing now????
...and don't use that 'they might have been treateda bit harsh'. Was it a try or not? Sure, they won anyway, but for and against is going to come into it by round 26. We deserved 6 for and Souths against.
http://www.nrl.com/rd-17-panthers-v-rabbitohs-hls/tabid/10959/contentid/...
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Yeah no I don't hate Cowboys a. I just hate losing that's why I hate myself for taking Bunnies last night not only in my picks but also as my survivor pick. I'm such dumbass. Honestly I would love to see them win grand final this year because I really think you will ... ;-D
Submitted by Tailspin on
I think I hit a nerve there coach, credit to the panthers where credit is due, but I think there is something going on with the bunnies at the moment, they can't seem to string any wins together now and have lost a bit of mojo
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Yep nerve hit. Took Nurofen plus.
Panthers are never taken seriously. They are the 16th most popular team so logically people will always want another team to win, or put a spin on it as why they shouldn't. They came real close last year and all people would say is that they over-achieved. They won the comp in 03 and all people would say was where did they come from? They must have "over"-over-achieved. (Minor premiers and won 20 of last 23 games - you head in the sand dickheads)
They are the Federer's of the NRL. They play hard, tough, but fair. No crap. No lying down like a sack of potatoe's to get penalties like an Adam or Josh Reynolds, like a Greg Inglis, like a Waerea-Hargeaves, like a Dugan. I could even add JT to that list. Yes, Soward himself used to lie down under Bennett's direction at the Dragons but not under Cleary's. They play the game how it's meant to be played and just at the minute they are super slick, great to watch, and I'm surprised they don't have wider appeal in the football community. Win over a few more knockers.
I think Souths last year are not unlike the Dragons of 2010, both won a stack of penalties and field position when they needed to in a game. Inglis, Reynolds, and one Sam Burgess. May as well have given them their own whistles to blow. I knew things would change if those penalties ever dried up.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Just before kick-off and Cowboys currently $2.15 in from opening price of $3 plus. That's a big big move. Sounds to me like about 70% of the money and considering Dragons like to back their team when favourite. Surely winning is not as easy as taking Dragons to lead at half time, only to get run down?
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings from offshore. The weather has been kind and the wine has been drunk.
Coach,
I've always liked the panthers. I hope they are on a run.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hey,.. Dragons push in the scrum and win against the feed. If they do this every time the Cowboys have the feed .... Guess What !!!!! We've done it!!!!!!
TheScrumIsBack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Maybe that wine should pace itself
Submitted by a on
The Cowboys are leading Dragons 12-6 at half time
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Dragons ! Godamn ! :-(
Submitted by Coach Potato on
a
Chooks
Johnny Ray
Mark Ashford
Newbie from Perth
Nik
Scott M
Shanghai
Steel Panther
The Thinker
Tigerholic
Wally Lewis
Two back on a long list of tipsters
Submitted by a on
Cowboys 11 game winning streak may be over but hey they have won 7 in a row away sounds like a winning streak to me
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Undefeated away. Sounds like a record
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Oops. First game away was loss to Broncos. Still 7 away in a row is good
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Broncos reach 28 points this week with the bye, and Cowboys reach 28 next week with the bye. 9 weeks out and they're already there
Submitted by a on
They need 2 more points to make sure
Submitted by Tailspin on
Glad I went with my heart instead of my head, the boys did well, welcome back Bolton.
Submitted by Tailspin on
And I would probably lay money on it, but correct me if I'm wrong, that would be the first time in cowboy's history that they have won both there games with all origin players out.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
They didn't need to win the first one Tails, they were given a bye. But definitely I would say it's away record that's been poor over the years. Undefeated playing in NSW and ACT. That must feel good to a North Queenslander.
My heart goes out at this time to all the favourite has backers. I'm enjoying having a nice cuppa, croissants, and reading the Sunday news. Sorry if you're not but then only have yourselves to blame right?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Has backers? .. *you know what I mean
Submitted by a on
The Cowboys are undefeated outside of QLD this year
Submitted by The voyeur on
the name says it all.......I have avidly watched this site for tips etc for 2 years and many times felt compelled to add a comment (or 2)......but today is the day...."Coach" I find your comments and level of stat's incredibly interesting, and your level of ego unbelievable.....I guess at some point in a long season you were going to actually pick some right, and lets face it eventually picking everyone gets some right, but honestly the "I am so smart vs the rest of you, see I told you" attitude verges on quite childish behaviour and really takes away from some of the very valid comments you do often make..........perhaps best reflect on your YTD position before bursting in to print ..............just a thought !!!!
Submitted by a on
You should post some more The voyeur
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Wow, Thanks Voyeur, that was pointless. I'm in the same boat as Coach. Passionate about the game and about my BOYS. He is doing what proper researchers do, getting the data, applying the data, and publishing his results. Maybe next time stick to reading and not posting mate. I also called the Panthers to get up for the win, but at the same time I also thought that the Dragons should have been able to beat the Cowboys. I applied my knowledge and the results weren't what I thought that they would have been.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Anyway Coach, sitting in the work car delivering pizza's away from a PC, heard the changes to the Dragons, and immediately wanted to change my tip. Oh the anguish of missing out.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Nice one voyeur. I know my tips have been off lately. I did lead for the first 6 or 7 weeks obviously by mistake. So I know I have huge ground to make up and seems unlikely, but hoping to plant the seed of doubt inside the heads of everyone up the top.
Plus its been made pretty clear on this site, you get to give it if you win, and cop it if you lose.
As far as your attitude to me goes, I would say that if you took something personal out of something I said, which was frankly none of your business, than maybe go and peek in someone else's window and get your cheap thrills somewhere else. .... Just a thought
Submitted by a on
We have no idea who will win at the end of this season
Submitted by a on
We have no idea who will win at the end of this season
Submitted by Tailspin on
That's piss funny coach
Submitted by Tailspin on
Just a thought though
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Alright sharks. I don't like you and you don't like me but for god's sake please just win today ! Please ... :-(
Submitted by a on
Manly won unfortunaty
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Please ... :-(
Submitted by a on
Johnny Ray we need Eels to win tomrrow
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Yeah a ... And before I forget happy 4th Of July everybody ! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPQOuDcpK8 ;-D
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Nick Kyrgios. Best thing you could ever do is withdraw from the Davis Cup team. Not in protest, but to spare having to associate you with what Australian sport and sportsmanship is about. #JustDoIt
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