Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Thursday night – Brookvale Oval
The Rabbitohs lose at Brookvale (71%) more often than the Sea Eagles win at Brookvale (66%), but it's the ins and outs for this game that have the visitors as slight favourites. Daly Hyphen-Evans is out with an injury yours truly once suffered (syndesmosis), Buhrer is out again as quickly as he was in, and there's doubts over Matai and Lawrence. It's the Bunnies with the ins that wins - two Burgess brothers (Sam and Tom) and a supporting role in the forwards from the returning Dave Tyrrell. How does Sam bounce back after what looked like a genuinely awful neck injury is anyone's guess, but the big boof did win a Clive Churchill with a fractured head so I expect he'll do just fine.
Verdict – Rabbitohs by 2
Result - Rabbitohs 16 defeated Sea Eagles 12
Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – Cbus Super Stadium
It pleases me to see the Titans doing well, but there's doing well and then there's a level above that. Last week reminded us all there are two teams that can play at a level beyond the rest. Hopefully there are three or four teams capable of lifting to those lofty heights. The Titans aren't in that group, but they're near the top of the ladder because they're winning and you can never say never in the NRL. If the Broncos shot all their ducks last week and left nothing behind for this week the Titans win this. Ifs and buts were candy and nuts....as the great Homer J would say. Jack Reek and Corey Oates return, and Oates has a few weeks to get fit and prove to the Queensland selectors he deserves a seat on the Origin bench. Titans captain Nathan Friend is back, and the ever-ascending Ashley Taylor gets to take on his old club. Let's hope the Titans pull a decent crowd through the turnstiles on Friday night, but I still think the Broncos will win this season so they need to be winning games like these.
Verdict – Broncos by 8
Result - Broncos 24 defeated Titans 16
Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – AAMI Park
The Melbourne Storm are so short of backs they've resorted to signing an AFL player this week - we won't see Shem Tatupu on Saturday but we're likely to see him soon. Koroibete has been named but won't be playing, so I'll assume Tohu Harris plugs a gap in the centres and Ben Hampton shifts out to the wing...I think. Despite all the deck-chair shuffling in Melbourne, this Knights squad are a bunch of kids. Sure they have a few wiser older heads in their seventeen but the wiser older heads of Smith (Cameron) and Cronk can steer their kids better than Smith (Jeremy) and Mullen. The Storm rarely lose two games in a row, and its even rarer if that second game is played at home. Even rarer still when their opponents haven't beaten anyone at all. Assuming we have dry weather football on Saturday I'm keen on total points overs for those that are remotely interested in such things. Purple reign. Purple reign.
Verdict – Storm by 13
Result - Storm 18 defeated Knights 14
Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium
Paul Gallen has announced that 2016 will be his final Origin campaign - which is rather presumptious of him. He'll need to stay on the paddock between now and then, and I've a feeling he'll be limping off the field on Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I don't wish injuries upon anybody, but the nicest guy in rugby league has been spending more than his fair share of time in rehab since Stephen Dank got shown the door at Sharks Central. So....how will the Sharks respond when Gallen heads into the tunnel in the 18th minute of this game? I think they're better without him. The quick turnaround from Monday night has me a little concerned but this Sharks backline has points in it, and the Tigers couldn't even jump out of the barriers against the Dragons. That said, I'm pegging this as the game of the round. On season statistics thus far these sides are pretty evenly matched. Once I've finished watching Winx win the Doncaster I'm definitely tuning in for this. The Tigers to give their all, but they're going to need a bigger boat.
Verdict – Sharks by 4
Result - Sharks 34 defeated Tigers 26
North Queensland Cowboys vs St George Illawarra Dragon – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium
The Dragons are winning games with defence...and they have to. In their last four hours of football they've scored just three tries. The Cowboys scored that many against the Broncos just last week, and had another three disallowed. The last time the Cowboys played at home they scored seven tries and kept their opponents scoreless. For the first time this season the Cowboys have to make a change to their roster, with Javid Bowen making his first grade debut with the club his uncle made his own. Benji Marshall returns for the Red V and the Dragons will get their fare share of support at a venue they don't get to visit too often. A fair contest but the Cowboys to pull away at the business end - Thurston is some chance of outscoring the Dragons on his own.
Verdict – Cowboys by 16
Result - Cowboys 36 defeated Dragons 0
Sydney Roosters vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday afternoon – Central Coast Stadium
Are the Roosters fans great travellers? This could feel like a home game away from home for the Warriors - they'll draw a few Kiwis from the region and most neutral observers would love to see the Roosters remain winless at the foot of the table. Clearly the Warriors haven't set the rugby league world alight but at least their losses to the Tigers, Broncos and Storm were competitive losses. A big win over the Knights is questionable form but they found their mojo in the second half and that could be the shot in the arm they need. As for the Chooks, the narrow loss to the Sea Eagles suggests they're edging nearer to a win, but near enough isn't good enough.
Verdict – Warriors by 1
Result - Warriors 32 defeated Roosters 28
Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Pirtek Stadium
I like the look of the Panthers line-up...I really do. Moylan at fullback and Martin in the halves is a looking glass into what should be a successful future. My only concern is that the combinations may take a week or two to bed down, and this weekend they're up against a settled line-up playing with confidence and playing at home. Note that Latimore and Taylor have been added to an extended bench for the Panthers, and if both were definitely playing I could actually tip the visitors. As things stand I'll stick with the Eels at home, but the gambler in me is keen to back the Panthers with the handicap start.
Verdict – Eels by 2
Result - Panthers 20 defeated Eels 18
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Canberra Raiders – Monday night – Belmore Sports Ground
The Dogs lost their first choice fullback and dummy half before the season began...so they're doing okay. The same could be said for the Raiders, who lost their two best halves in round one. At least the Raiders are getting them both back on Monday night. It's a nice looking seventeen the Raiders are taking on the road, and at any other venue I'd give them a chance. Sadly, they're travelling to Belmore, and Belmore will be packed to the gills with blue and white brethren. With the will of the people behind those big Bulldogs forwards (and helping those referees with the 50/50 calls) I can't see anything but a Bulldogs victory. Looks like a game you want to be watching though. The atmosphere at Belmore will leak into your loungerooms...in a good way.
Verdict – Bulldogs by 10
Result - Raiders 22 defeated Bulldogs 8
Wally Lewis - round five selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- Sea Eagles vs RABBITOHS
- Titans vs BRONCOS
- STORM vs Knights
- Tigers vs SHARKS
- COWBOYS vs Dragons
- ROOSTERS vs Warriors
- EELS vs Panthers
- BULLDOGS vs Raiders
Comments
Submitted by a on
Cowboys will win tonight
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Look on the bright side johnny your high all the time and your side is higher on the ladder than coaches!!!
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Well done Rocket. Only one team has brought them to their knees so far.
They keep letting teams get close though. Thats just means opposition teams will be more and more confident, less and less intimidated.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Whats happened to you Rocket, did you go to bed with your thinking cap on, you have woken up with some new ideas to post.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
I should follow your lead tigerholic and not back the Tigers they were ordinary
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Tigerholic, you have shied away from the Tigers all year.
You are a genius.
Jason Taylor, Robbie Farah is having such a negative effect on the team & its structure you don't see it? You are not a genius.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Broncos Melbourne and Cowboys all finish top4 after this week. 4th spot is between Parra, Bulldogs, and Canberra.
At the other end of the scale, Roosters (still $29 for the premiership??) and Newcastle will be bottom4 after this week, Panthers and Warriors needing to win, while Dragons and Manly hope they don't.
Submitted by a on
Cowboys are best 76-0 in their last 2 home games yeah baby
Submitted by Coach Potato on
The other Grand Final team visits Penrith next week. Would be a nice clean sweep if we only win 2 games all year.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Coach, Do I need help? I just realised that I have watched all 5 games this weekend and I am about to watch the 2pm game and will probably watch the 4 pm game, do I have an issue?
Thinker, what do you think??
Submitted by a on
Absoulouty not I watch all the games all the time
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. That was penalty try. Try. Try. Try :-(
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Sounding much less like a Tigerholic than an NRL fan.
The great Laurie Nicholls would be proud of you. He used to travel to all grounds, all states to watch all different teams, regardless whether the Tigers were playing. Not many people know this.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Tiger,
Clearly you have a problem, but I think it's a good problem to have.
Eels v Panthers should be a cracker
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Te Maire Martin. Feet and hands of a football magician
Submitted by Coach Potato on
... whether it was a try or not.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
... whether it was a try or not.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
No Bunker No. Weren't you looking at Cartwright's arm clearly hitting the deck before he made a second effort? I dont care who the decision is for or against its just horrible to watch.
Major major problem is, it's the same idiots making the calls every game of every round.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
TRY !!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ya7y6cIf5E ;-D
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Short pass to Gordon a metre forward and the ref right there too shit scared to call it back. Not first grade standard if you are scared to blow the whistle the wrong way.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
It's such a joke Penrith that you give a guy number 6 to wear two weeks in a row, and then he doesn't hardly touch the ball in two games.
He won the game for you against the Broncos you idiots.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
PANTHERS!!!!!!!
Submitted by Coach Potato on
No bottom4 are round 5 for us.
Bottom4
Manly
Dragons
Newcastle
Roosters
85% chance of missing the finals.
Submitted by a on
Panthers scored at full time it brought be back mermioes of the game in round 19 2011 when Panthers also scored at full time
Submitted by Coach Potato on
C'mon Parra. What's up? Panthers got your tongue?
Submitted by a on
To beat Eels in golden point 23-22
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Last set made possible by a Bunker overrule (even after the ref tells Wallace "don't you say a word"). It was the correct call so have to be fair. Well done. Plenty of room for improvement though.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Well done Coach , the Panthers saved me in the tips, if only the roosters could have shown a back bone I could have been on a perfect round.
Great finish to the Panthers Eels game, I agree that the bunker got the wrong call where Degois scored, it was a forward pass with the Ref right there.
Of course Tony Archer will come out and defend his Refs, how do I get a job in the "BUNKER". It would seem that Rocker Ryan and I could do a better job in the "BUNKER".
Speaking of, it looks like a Panther has got his tongue as well. Come on all of you Eels fans, you have to admit that the better team won and that was the Panthers. Enjoy the win Coach.
Submitted by christine on
Coach well done with your panthers I was on my way to a perfect score but something was never going to let that happen , oh well there is always next week .
Submitted by Coach Potato on
# Two wins against highly fancied teams for 2016 Broncos and Parra, and dont forget that close game against the Bulldogs. Hey Thinker, looks like we have overachieved this season already.
# Hate to see only the left hand side of the field used for 90% of the game. Ball goes to the right twice for two tries. C'mon Panthers. Martin is a game winner and you are super-doubtful of giving him the ball. Seriously, I think give him the ball soon, else he will leave and play for another team who will.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Nice tips Tigerholic, Sammills, and the Footy Chick. (Yes, just checking I did type 'tips'. Phew!)
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Tigerholic well done looks like you have stayed in touch with the tipping comp you will however have to rely on more than luck as you did today
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Bloody ridiculous, Yes that pass was forward and defiantly proves that the bunker should be allowed to call everything, waste of time if they aren't. But that first try should have stood, there was no obstruction, just a bad read in defence, twice in two weeks a bad read has paid off for the defenders in a not try. That was the next best thing to a perfect double movement after Jennings tried to pull one off in round 1. Horrible officiating, but we did ourselves no favours with soft edge defence in the last 10 minutes again. Hurts so bad. A good win mostly without incident on field, but off the field............................................ Heard someone on the Triple M radio say "we're not getting better decisions, just faster ones."
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Poor Baggy and his BOYS. The Derby lost on the buzzer. Doesn't cut much deeper than that.
Where are you anyway? Can't still be making pizza.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Baggy the try was scored where the obstruction happened. The guy touched down where the hole had been created. You should look at that one again.
Pass to Gordon was a metre forward, and concede Cartwright's first should never have been given. These two cancel each other out. Panthers win.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
They're not getting faster either.
De Gois Try where there was absolutely nothing to look at, took over a minute.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I was stuck at a wedding, and had to watch it. Yes quite cut about the loss, but as above the edge defence came back to hurt us. That was the point they were making, no better results and no faster either. But We'll get you next time Panthers, NEXT TIME!
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Sunday 17th July @ Pepper Stadium, a few days after Origin III.
Anyone worth their salt would think that Penrith have Mansour, Merrin, and possibly Moylan & Cartwright backing up from the Wednesday. Parra, with only Jennings. Will see what team Daley throws at the Qld'ers again. Absolutely nothing would surprise.
Too much bonding goes on pre-Origin. Bonding meaning friendships created. Everyone knows Origin is worth $150k per player per series. Daley just can't seem to separate friendships made with selecting the best team to beat Qld.
My bet is Dugan will keep number 1 which isn't that bad.
Surely Hopoate and Tupou aren't the wingers, although nothing would surprise.
Surely Pearce and Hodkinson aren't the halves, although nothing would surprise.
Surely old timers Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman, and Robbie Farah aren't picked again in the forwards, although nothing would surprise.
NSW have lost most of the series over the last decade because friendships just got in the way.
Submitted by a on
NSW sucks QLD are the best
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Gotta love 'a'. He's just got that way of making you feel like you are back at school in the playground again.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Counting chickens half an hour early, but the way things are, after round 5
The top 4 is
---------------
Broncos
Storm
RAIDERS
Cowboys
Can you believe it? Raiders 90% chance of playing semis.
Bottom 4
-----––----
Manly
Dragons
Knights
Roosters
15% chance of playing semis.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Crap. Canberra beat Canterbury by 14 points and I took them 12 and under in my bets. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DZg9evqG9e0 F**k this shit for life ! :(
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Noone tips the winner, everyone has a sook and noone posts a comment.
Win, Lose, or Draw it would be nice to hear what people think of the footy. Just pretend it's your job to report and analyse. Follow my lead.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Question Parra whingers? Reverse the tables. It's Panthers in front by 2 with a minute to go. Scrum. Panthers feed down on their own line. They've won. Ref says no, hold on. Panthers knocked on first. Parra feed. Would you agree with that? Damn right you would.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings football fans,
I've updated the NRL ladder and the tipping comp. The top four are all teams outside Sydney - are we heading towards another grand final with interlopers from out of town?
Plenty of people did quite well in round five but no-one managed more than 6 from 8. Plenty of us got six though. Rick stands alone at the top of the comp but there is an enormous pack of chasers right on his tail.
I'll have the round six page published sometime tomorrow and will get around to my previews and tips as soon as I can.
All the best
p.s. given the Coach Potato statistics about top four teams the Raiders look like a betting proposition right now. They should win their fare share of those home games through the winter (I say should) and they are one team that shouldn't be decimated by the demands of representative footy. Something to consider.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
C'mon Thinker. They're only statistical artefacts. A bit of creative 'counting. Surely the footballing planets don't align Round 5 with the finals like they're Yin and Yang. I mean if John Edward thinks it's all a load of baloney, why would anyone think otherwise?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Of course we would, Been a bit rough here with a wedding and other marlarky. But that's the point if it happened every time there was an iffy call, i'm cool with it. But it doesn't, and if it happens to any side yeah we're going to be shirty about it. My piece has been said, not happy but our edge defence which had been solid for 3 rounds let us down, bum call and all, we should have been able to defend a stinking set of six, lock the ball up and grind out a win. Its what the top teams need to do. But all this boot on the other foot crap, we a passionate about our team and with hind sight, we like a good clean game, in the moment I would be after the blood of the guys in the bunker, the 4 guys on the field, and the 17 players in that insipid washed out brown jersey. (Seriously are those recycled from the under 18's and washed to with in an inch of their life weekly?) That is what passion means, and then you have to step away and do the weekly grind before you can go back and scream for blood, points and the BOYS.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Although.....
I do see though Panthers started 2003:
L.L.W.L.W.
(and then made it a streak of 8 straight and won 20 of last 23)
# 1st win against Grand Finalist 2002 Roosters
# 2nd win, come from behind in dying stages against Souths 14-12
# 3rd win, against Grand Finalist 2002 Warriors
Panthers start 2016:
L.L.W.L.W
# 1st win against 2015 Grand Finalist Brisbane
# 2nd win, come from behind in dying stages against Parra 20-18
# 3rd win against 2015 Grand Finalist Nth Qld ??
John Edward you out there?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Kind of ironic there's boos for the Bunker for stickin' their nose in to make a correct call!? Head in the sand if you didn't know the Bunker has reversed many an on field decisions such as scrum feeds this year.
Sure, we see replays that blind Freddy can see the ref got it wrong, and Bunker doesn't say boo. I reckon if they correct the ref's bad calls at least some of the time, that's gotta be better than nothing.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
It's not for the correct call, it's for the times that they sit back and don't make the correct call. All or nothing in needs to be, not this 1 in 10 rubbish they are currently doing. Ben hunt loose carry, drops the ball, the titans are off and running but called back for a strip. needs to be reviewed same as the Eels knock on. Nothing wrong with the call, just consistency.
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