Brisbane Broncos vs Sydney Roosters - Friday night – Suncorp Stadium
A sombre mood hung over the city of Brisbane after their round one loss to the Rabbitohs, but in the four weeks since the Broncos have moved from last on the ladder to equal first - perhaps my season predictions weren't as overly optimistic as most (including me) thought. This game should give us a guide to their level, taking on one of the competition heavy-hitters backing up from a surprise loss at home. Justin Hodges is unavailable for one more week so this Bennett backline, held together with enthusiasm and good intentions, needs to keep on doing what it's doing. If Hodges can get his hamstrings right, and Boyd can get his head right...look out everyone! Aidan Guerra is out for some time for the Chooks - he's one of my favourite players but the Roosters aren't short on talent in the back row. Note the important return of Jared Waerea-Hyphens. His one-two punch combo with Sam Moa can put opponents on the ropes in double-quick time. Credit to the Broncos for what they've continued to do with the cattle they have, but I'll take the Chooks in a close one. Game of the round.
p.s. those wondering why the Chooks would let Roger Tuivasa-Sheck go to the Warriors, check out the 17 year old kid (Latrell Mitchell) in the video below (language warning)
Verdict – Roosters by 2
Result - Broncos 22 defeated Roosters 18
Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights – Friday night – Remondis Stadium
Ben Barba gets put in his box for a while - coming off the bench while rising stars Jack Bird (five-eighth) and Valentine Holmes (fullback) are in the starting thirteen. It was impossible to ignore this duo in the Auckland Nines and Jack Bird stepped up to the podium and announced his arrival in grand style last weekend. To play in an unfamiliar position and perform like that against a quality opponent....let's just say he gets a big tick from me. This time his opponents will be paying him his due, and he has the added pressure of the Friday night timeslot (and the inevitable Channel Nine promotion). The Sharks don't get a lot of Friday night fixtures, and when they do they often lose. That they usually play a very good team when they do get a Friday night slot goes some of the way toward explaining why. Are the Knights a very good team? Undefeated until the 'Alex McKinnon' game, where they were a strong favourite and couldn't score a point. Beau Scott is out for the Knights and you want all your tough forwards on deck when you face the Sharks. He's one of the best defenders in the game and just the sort of forward that could apply plenty of pressure to a young playmaker - without Scott I am deeply unsure. I'll punt on Kade Snowden and Jeremy Smith (former Sharks) having big games at their old stomping ground. Tipsters note that I am suffering from the Friday night curse again this season, so you may wish to lean the other way.
Verdict – Knights by 2
Result - Sharks 22 defeated Knights 6
Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday afternoon – Pirtek Stadium
Usually not the sort of game I would recommend as a viewing highlight, but Reece Robinson is back for the Eels, and his goal-kicking gives me a peaceful easy feeling. Now we just need the Eels to score a few tries...hardly a certainty. The Titans looked fantastic for 20 minutes against the Broncos but couldn't cross the stripe. Given recent results, the final score might look like an A-League result. Hopefully both sides have spent the week working on some attacking plays. Given the Eels are back at Pirtek I'll tip them at home...it's the only rational explanation I have.
Verdict – Eels by 2
Result - Titans 38 defeated Eels 16
New Zealand Warriors vs Wests Tigers – Saturday night – Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors are $1.40 to win this game - possibly the worst bet in the history of rugby league. Our favourite cousins have started the season with one of their typically craptastic starts. They may find their feet this weekend, but you have to take toxic odds if you want to back them to do so. Despite my well-founded reservations I'm going to tip them anyway. Both teams are backing up from a Monday night fixture in Australia, but I'm assuming the Warriors trip to New Zealand is a relief, while the same journey for the Tigers has the opposite effect. Look for tired legs in the last 20 minutes and for one team to run away from the other.
Verdict – Warriors by 14
Result - Warriors 32 defeated Tigers 22
Penrith Panthers vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday night – Pepper Stadium
We mentioned the Monday night back-up curse for the Panthers, but they won't get a better chance to break the hoodoo than this weekend. The Sea Eagles were near enough to ordinary last weekend and they have to front up with the same seventeen again. I don't think their forward pack (as it stands...and its barely standing) is good enough right now, and the Manly backline could be in for a frustrating period. Barbs will be thrown at their departing playmakers, but Foran and Hyphen-Evans were two of their better performers last week. Penrith are missing a few big guns also, but the guns they have are good enough. Trendy choreographed hand-shakes for Elijah Taylor - who made more tackles last weekend (77) than most rugby union players make in their entire careers.
Verdict – Panthers by 2
Result - Panthers 22 defeated Sea Eagles 12
Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm – Sunday afternoon – GIO Stadium
If the seventeen named for Canberra were contracted to the Melbourne Storm, how many of them would Craig Bellamy name in his seventeen? I'm thinking probably one (former Storm winger Sisa Waqa) and maybe two (if Josh Papali found his best form). Canberra at home keeps them in the contest, but in recent times they've been losing more games at home than winning. Note that Billy Slater is a doubtful starter this weekend. That just means Smith and Cronk will lift another notch. Purple reign...purple reign.
Verdict – Storm by 10
Result - Storm 14 defeated Raiders 10
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium
Karma Police...suspend these men. The Dragons couldn't have timed this better with Graham, Klemmer and Kasiano all accepting their match bans and injuries to Lafai and Brett Morris (in the last tackle of the game no less). I mentioned the Dragons defensive efforts last week and they mentioned it as well by keeping the Knights scoreless in Newcastle. They are the surprise packet in season 2015 thus far and I think they're near enough to good things this weekend. At $1.90 I'm happy to ride the Dragon train. Backing the 'total score unders' worked last week and you can do worse than throw your winnings on that option again (gamble responsibly).
Verdict – Dragons by 8
Result - Dragons 31 defeated Bulldogs 6
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs North Queensland Cowboys – Monday night – ANZ Stadium
I'm not sure if the Cowboys are back, but if they win back-to-back Monday night fixtures in Sydney against quality opponents I will be more sure than I am now. One thing I am sure of is this - the NRL is a better competition when the Cowboys are playing well. They were outstanding last Monday against Penrith, and if they bring that form they win again. The loss of Reynolds for the Bunnies is crucial. His kicking in general play is even more important than his goal-kicking. Someone has to take on that role, and I don't think that person can be John Sutton. Clearly Thurston has been playing at some sort of non-human level for the last two weeks, but do not under-estimate the rest of the Cowboys spine. The return of Coote at the back, Morgan in the halves and Granville as the starting hooker has made a world of difference. Bunnies are favourites...Cowboys to win.
Verdict – Cowboys by 4
Result - Cowboys 30 defeated Rabbitohs 12
Wally Lewis - round six selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Thursday night or early Friday morning.
- Broncos vs ROOSTERS
- Sharks vs KNIGHTS
- EELS vs Titans
- WARRIORS vs Tigers
- PANTHERS vs Sea Eagles
- Raiders vs STORM
- Dragons vs BULLDOGS
- RABBITOHS vs Cowboys
Comments
Submitted by Coach Potato on
It might have seemed that way, but few teams have ever won with 12. Some would say a send-off means you deserve to lose the game. As I say I'm still thinking.
Speaking of decisions though, I have thought of a simple solution for adjudicating on tries. Its not perfect, but I think its worth a trial. Satisfies Gus's need to "get on with it", and satisfies those that say the delay can take away from a great try, and stop a teams momentum when they had the other team on the racks.
So my idea is pretty simple. The ref goes back some 20 years and blows his whistle and points to the spot if he is confident beyond fairly reasonable doubt that a try has just been scored. Equally he will rule no try on whatever grounds, if he is confident that a try has not been scored.
If he has doubt about his ability to make a confident call, he will refer to the video ref, but in doing so, he makes no initial guess to influence or compromise the video ref call. Referring to the video ref will mean he has not been able to make a call either way on field, and hands over total control to the box. The ref becomes happy to take himself completely out of the picture.
It also means an end to a lot of the endless, " check for possible this, that, and the other ". The ref should be checking for " possible" knock ons, obstructions, feet into touch, and groundings in real time. The ref will make a call on all these possibles instantly, else he takes a back seat.
Egs. Looked like a slight knock on at dummy-half, although ref thought it was ok in real time, and so blows a try.
Looked like a foot into touch, and that's how the touchie saw it in real time, ... Scrum.
Looked like an obstruction. Penalty blown
50/50 obstruction. "Ref is undecided". Hands it over to the video ref.
Foot into touch is a real close call. "Ref is undecided". Hands over to video ref.
So ref will blow whatever he feels was the right call, unless he feels he is undecided, but then plays no further part in the call, no initial calls of try or no try.
Mistakes will still get made with lots of instant decisions made - but I think its for the good of the game and surely no more than get made in general play !!
Submitted by a on
Cowboys are playing tomrrow night
Submitted by mark ashford on
For those of you who picked the Broncos on friday night I say "Congratulations" to myself a huge Broncs fan I say "shame on you" or should that be "shame on me".
If the Roosters were outright favourites for the crown where does that leave the Broncs?
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Yeah before we all go menthos and diet coke crazy about Bronoco's making it to the top of ladder after round six, remember this time last year Titans were top of ladder and year before that Dragons and we all know where they ended up ! :-(
Submitted by a on
Yes Titans finish at 14 after finishing 1st in round 6
Submitted by Coach Potato on
C'mon. Another Cowboys game is this for real NRL? Sure they have claims, but the pie graph attached of a site which shows comparison between bookies but which shows most of then money for the cowboys and over a quarter of the total bets is on a draw paying $22??!!! C'mon. There needs to be some serious investigation, ICAC, whatever if this one happens to go to golden point ..... Just like last weeks dodgerama. Cowboys winning in golden point.
Else if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Pop down to the TAB and get on the draw after 80 minutes.
https://m.oddschecker.com.au/t/rugby-league/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-v...
Submitted by a on
Cowboys hopefully get a win to go on 3-3
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
I want to see Reverse Cowgirls win ...
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Cowboys. Stupid autocorrect ... :-(
Submitted by a on
If the Cowboys do win tonight they are deffently back
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Ah how was that not a try ? Am I missing something ? Still it's not the first time Glen Stewart flopped to get his team a penalty, check it out : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e4pjJHiqCFE ;-D
Submitted by The Thinker on
Top scorer in Round 6 was my old buddy 'a' who picked up an impressive 7 from 8. Not far behind were Johnny Ray, Tailspin and Footy Chick with 6.
Another tough round....well done.
Submitted by a on
Cowboys are back baby and I got the most tips right this round yeah baby
Submitted by christine on
a your cowboys won ,I do have to say that you could see when souths came back on the field from half time they had clocked off they had no interest left in the game at all but they will be back next week they play sharks at remondis & Maguire won't let that happen again . for me this week 5 from 8 I must do better next week .
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Leaderboard nice and cosy.
Well done Cowboys. You were in the bottom 4 last week and now bent on mocking my theory about missing the finals.
And on golf which snuck into the chat this week, well done Jordan Spieth, new US Masters champ.
Tiger looks past his best, sadly, and still only 39. Horrible off the tee. Had the control of someone steering a ferry with a paddle. Short game I reckon is the true test of a healthy back, and I dont think he has one. Touch wasn't there.
How prophetic was his dad Earl's prediction in 1994 after he'd won his third US amateur, that he would turn pro and win 14 majors. Currently, yep, 14 majors. When asked about that prediction back in 2001 whether he wanted to revise it (at a time Tiger's tally stood at 6) , Earl said "I will not put a limitation on Tiger in the form of a prediction. I have no clue. There are so many things that can affect him, especially injury."
No clue, Earl? Sounds like you knew all right. YI will not put a limitation on Tiger in the form of a prediction. I have no clue. There are so many things that can affect him, especially injury. Wishing I had your powers to sort out NRL round 7.
Submitted by a on
I will be at the Cowboys game this week
Submitted by mark ashford on
Congratulations "a" good picking mate.
And how about those cowboys 4 weeks ago a lot of people were writing them off. If JT can keep fit it's looking good for origin.
Submitted by Andrew on
Morning Folks
Another interesting round comes to an end with the Cowboys on fire, can they keep it up.
It is still early days as far as tipping goes, if you can hang in and average 5 or better each week you will be up there at in September, just don't lose heart.
Is something wrong with Inglis, he has looked ordinary over the past few weeks as far as I can see, is he trying too hard to make up for the rest of the team. I don't think Glen Stewart in the halves worked either.
I think that the use of the video ref needs tweaking, the ref's have got a lot wrong this year, if they have doubt and this is obvious when they go to the video ref then they should not need to make a call either way first but simply ask the video ref to make the call.
Have a good week, "Go the Tigers"
Tigerholic
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Just like I said, hidden deep in this weeks posts. Take out the try or no try call. Force the refs to either make a decision on the spot, or send it up. One or the other. Dont compromise the exercise every time the ref doesn't know and then must favour one team or the other.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
And I think GI's knee is hanging by a thread. Too much sideways movement, a big step, lunge etc and its busted. Spells big danger for Souths hopes this year, and an obvious loss for QLD. What's the odds that South's hierarchy find an excuse for him not play Origin
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Top tipping "a" after the Cowboys received another dud call from the refs right on half time. Well done...!!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
GI out of origin is possibly the best thing that can happen to him. Get some rest with the bye weeks over that period for a bit of rehab, a few less games to allow that rehab to settle in and blood a new face inside a successful team. I think the Coach is right, what team would let an asset such as GI go and play a non-event match (no premiership points) and lose him for the rest of the season. I'm hoping that none of the Eels get a call up this year.
Submitted by a on
Eels are playing South again in round 11 which is origin period
Submitted by christine on
souths have admitted they can't keep blaming the loss of adam Reynolds for loosing last nights game .
Submitted by a on
Yes excatlly
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Stop playing games Storm, the week before when Cronk was in doubt you named 19 players and said nothing about Cronk in your club website video injury update. This week you name (I wonder if its s record) - 22 players !!!! Why didn't you just name the whole 25 you wankers. If there's something up, then say so. Please dont leave it til game eve, when tips have closed.
Submitted by christine on
coach I have all ways claimed storm are a protected species they get away with things other clubs wouldn't infact I have seen a game when they played eels at pirtek & parra was about to be given a penalty & billy slater has gone over to the ref & said something to him on the quiet & the decision ended going in storms favour when it shouldn't have they really are protected & I for1 am actually board with seeing storm play it's the same thing week in week out I don't even watch there games anymore I find there games boring now .
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
You know call me crazy, but how about this for idea ? Instead of even having video ref why not let just TV commentators make the call of whether it's try or not ? Because you are going to have guys like Greg Alexander, Gus Gould and Sterlo commenting all way through game why not also give them honour of ruling on game as well because who going to know best but those guys ? Forget Ref making call on field and sending it upstairs to Video Ref to decide on whether or not it correct just have him send him it to commentators for confirmation on if it's try or not ! Sterlo doesn't lie ! ;-D
Submitted by a on
Yes I would like to see what call they make
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Unfortunately leaving it up to commentators isn't very fair either JR. Nice lateral thinking though. Have you noticed that commentators will always appear to be favouring one team during the call, whether it be TV or radio. Thats because apart from the Billy-Hill side bets they,'ve had which they obviously want to get up, they all very much have their reputations on the line through none other than footy tipping comps. Its a bit of fun for us, but for the experts there's much more pride at stake. Gus is the worst. There'll be a clear fumble over the line and Gus will say "why are we looking at this? Just blow the try ... I've got first try scorer for gods sake!"
Think about it, the ref has total ability and responsibility to call, say, a knock on in general play, and it's up to him to decide (he is the friggin referee after all), but if the play leads to a try he gets to say ,"check for possible knock,-on"!!!! Cmon give us a break. Are they free from refereeing the game whenever a try is involved. Ref the game but not the tries. Its B.S
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Yeah ... You've got me there coach ! Thanks ;-D
Submitted by christine on
just saw the team line up to play sharks for round 7 for souths & Maguire has selected the exact same team that played cowboys
Submitted by a on
Do you think South will beat the Sharks
Submitted by Abraham on
You're so interesting! I don't suppose I have read through a single
thing like this before. So nice to find somebody with unique thoughts on this issue.
Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is
something that's needed on the internet, someone with some
originality!
My page :: seo
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