Round four selections

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

Plenty of people are having a go at Greg Inglis after his field goal attempt against the Dragons, but he was just trying to make a point. Ow......my sides. No doubt GI will be keen to make amends after his mathematical miscalculations but he is, much like the value of a field goal, just one man. One other man, the great Terry Lamb, will be at the ground on Friday to remind Greg that he's not alone...even if it feels like it. The Bulldogs pack is the last pack of forwards you'd want to be facing without your best forward, and the Bunnies best forward is clearly Sam Burgess. Paul Carter is also an unlikely starter despite being named. It seems almost indecent to tip against the Bunnies over the Easter long weekend but I'm backing my barking dogs again. Can you buy a beer at the footy on Good Friday?

Verdict – Bulldogs by 2

Result - Bulldogs 42 defeated Rabbitohs 12

Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

It's pretty amazing that the Cowboys still have the same seventeen that won them the 2015 premiership. It's also pretty amazing that the same seventeen have been available to play every game so far this season...including this one. For those living on one of the outer planets of our solar system (Manly fans mostly) this game is a replay of the 2015 grand final which was, to be perfectly frank, a bloody good game of football. We can't possibly reach those dizzying heights again, but we can, to be perfectly frank, get bloody well near it. Don't forget that the last time these sides met at Suncorp was close to the high water mark for season 2015 (and yours truly got to sit right next to the Broncos bench for that game...ah sweet memories). Jack Reed is out on Friday night - not a bad idea as it was probably his defensive lapse in the grand final that let the Cowboys square things up in the final minute. Ben Hunt, on the other hand, must play through his demons. I'm a little bit surprised by the price on offer for the Cowboys. Surely this game is a toin coss, and no-one should give you $2.40 for heads. I'll take heads, and hope that the wise old heads of Thurston, Scott and company prevail.

Verdict – Cowboys by 1 (you heard me...by 1)

Result - Broncos 21 defeated Cowboys 20

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

Whenever I see that the Raiders are a short-priced favourite I shudder - their capacity to lose when people expect them to win is a little bit legendary, and one of the main reasons Ricky Stuart is such a cranky little so-and-so. Yes they were good against the Panthers in round one, but since then they've beaten the Chooks by a point and drawn with the Knights...and that doesn't exactly read like strong form to me. The Titans haven't won away from home this year but their two wins at home were impressive enough. Kudos for halfback Ashley Taylor whose been in great form even though he still looks like he's 14 years old. I spruiked him at the start of the season but I didn't expect him to rise to the challenges of first grade so quickly. Losing Cherry-Evans and Sezer could prove to be a blessing in the end. The Titans at crazy and tempting odds to cause one of those early season upsets we get to see so often in this competition. Ricky Stuart to be a cranky so-and-so, another thing we get to see so often in this competition.

Verdict – Titans by 2

Result - Titans 24 defeated Raiders 20

Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

In my 2016 season preview I was kinda joking when I said the Roosters might run last this year, but that joke isn't funny anymore. Absolutely nothing is going right for the tricolours this season. To make matters worse, the Sea Eagles appear to have finally found some form. They found themselves in a deep shark-infested hole on Monday night but they never panicked, pulled themselves out and ended up winning convincingly. I can't see Taupau lining up for the Sea Eagles but Jamie Buhrer returns to plug the gap. And make sure you have a good look at Eloni Vunakece for the Chooks when he comes off the bench - he's pretty funny looking.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 10

Result - Sea Eagles 22 defeated Roosters 20

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – WIN Stadium

We had a few surprise winners in round three, and here's two of them. The Dragons and Panthers dragged themselves off the bottom rung of the ladder with gutsy victories over high-flying opponents on the top rung of the ladder. Clearly the Panthers have more points in their backline than the Dragons, and the team that scores the most points wins (just ask Greg Inglis). I have no idea what sort of weather we'll be playing in on Sunday afternoon, but we're in an El Nino pattern so I'm assuming sunshine. If it's wet I'd probably like the opportunity to pick again.

Verdict – Panthers by 2

Result - Dragons 14 defeated Panthers 12

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights – Monday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium

If Jesus truly rose on Easter Sunday you can be sure and certain he wasn't getting up to watch this. Take your kids fishing. Mow the lawn. Take your kids mowing. Anything but this.

Verdict – Warriors by default...and by 10

Result - Warriors 40 defeated Knights 18

Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels – Monday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

The Eels were my sneaky pick for a finals berth this season, but after the first game of season 2016 I decided I was wrong. Two more games later, and I'm starting to think I was wrong to think I was wrong, and that I may have been right all along (I haven't made that very clear). Foran and Norman works, the Fijian winger is racking up plenty of meat pies to shore up his citizenship status and that pack of Eels forwards is actually playing like a pack of forwards. Conversely, I'm concerned that the Tigers are about to replicate their performance in season 2015 - which started with so much promise but then wilted as the long campaign wore on. Farah returns, but whether he is an asset or a liability these days is currently up for discussion. I'm with the Eels, but this could prove to be one of the games of the round. If you only watch one NRL game on Monday afternoon make sure it's this one. Hopefully Jesus hasn't given up on the NRL after the Warriors/Knights debacle. With luck, he'll plonk himself on the couch, finish off the kids Easter eggs and wonder out loud what Andrew Voss did to upset all those hard heads at the Nine Network. God knows JC. God only knows.

Verdict – Eels by 10

Result - Eels 8 defeated Tigers 0

Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm – Monday night – Shark Park

Whether you like them or not the Storm are far and away the most consistent side in the NRL. While they haven't been at their best they are undefeated and have gradually improved with each game. Last weekend against the Warriors they completed 89% of their sets and I think their best is still in front of them. If the Storm got off to the start the Sharks had on Monday night against the Sea Eagles there is no way known they would have let that game slip, and that's what separates the purple machine from the also-rans..they know how to get the job done. Clearly the Sharks can win this game (the bookies certainly think so) but the overall head-to-head record (9 wins from 29 games) tells me this is a team the Sharkies don't like to play.

Verdict – Storm by 1

Result - Sharks 14 defeated Storm 6

Wally Lewis - round four selections (in bold)

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

  • Rabbitohs vs Bulldogs
  • Broncos vs Cowboys
  • Raiders vs Titans
  • Roosters vs Sea Eagles
  • Dragons vs Panthers
  • Warriors vs Knights
  • Tigers vs Eels
  • Sharks vs Storm

Greg Inglis Field Goal Attempt - Brain Explosion! #NRLDragonsSouths

Comments

BigPeteBx's picture

Thanks a, much appreciate that progress non-competitive's ladder you did to see where some might fit. Yes, I didn't get my Round 1 forecasts in. I do know that I got 6 from 8 with NRL.com & WWOS tipping. But I love a challenge like catching up. Early days yet.

All tippers have a nice and safe Easter
Cheers
Big Pete Bx (South of the border and West of The Sandstone Curtain)

BigPeteBx's picture

Hello Tippers.

Here's mine for Round 4.
BULLDOGS (If it was Sunday, Wabbits might have been considered, delivering the eggs)
BRONCOS
RAIDERS
SEA EAGLES
PANTHERS
WARRIORS
EELS
SHARKS (at home)

Coach Potato's picture

Interesting breakdown of tips this week. The tipsters tallies correctly reflect the current odds for each match. All except one game. Interesting.

Rabbitohs 23% ($2.35) Bulldogs 77% ($1.62)

Broncos 68% ($1.65) Cowboys 32% ($2.30)
Raiders 82% ($1.51) Titans 18% ($2.63)
Roosters 23% ($2.40) Sea Eagles 77% ($1.60)

DRAGONS 36% ($1.80) PANTHERS 64% ($2.05)

Warriors 91% ($1.25) Knights 9% ($4.10)
Tigers 14% ($2.55) Eels 86% ($1.54)
Sharks 59% ($1.70) Storm 41% ($2.20)

Andy Browne's picture

That's because the TAB comes on here to see what the titans of footy tipping have picked for the week! On a serious note though, they should be paying us commission for this ;)

Coach Potato's picture

Was more referring to the game we think has the wrong odds.

christine's picture

Wally didn't get his tips in .

Johnny Ray's picture

Yeah but he's King Christine. He can put his tips in any godamn time that he wants .... ;-)

parrafan's picture

my mistake 'a' i stand corrected i did only get 6

christine's picture

Johnny Ray your tips are supposed to be in before the round kicks off or you miss out on points .

Baggy_Gee's picture

JR the only problem I have with the king being given free reign is if he wants to post his tips for the round on Tuesday after. 20/20 hindsight is a blessing.

Troy's picture

Looks like the rabbits were doggie food haha

Tailspin's picture

Good win for the doggies, now it's the Cowboys turn, ye ha.

Coach Potato's picture

Is the King bigger than the game?..

Yeah, he probably is.

We're all mere mortals, while he is Immortal. A credit to the King, he is, and has always been a great ambassador of the game, even though, apart from when wearing the green and gold, I so hated his guts.

I don't think he's really going to care about the tipping points. He's certainly not going to cry.

Anonymous's picture

Wally must have changed his tip on the Broncs vs Cowboys game.

He just said on TV he tips the Cowboys to win....

Coach Potato's picture

Dud call number ... umpteen Bunker. Surely changing ball carrying arms isnt a knock on.

Baggy_Gee's picture

He did let it go before changing arms and used the defender to keep "possession".

Just learnt that I have failed my 5 yr old as a father, she is cheering for the Broncos. Where did I go wrong?

Andy Browne's picture

I agree. He used the defenders arm (inadvertently) to maintain possession. Almost a carbon copy with Lowe's no try at the other end. I'm happy with both calls.

Coach Potato's picture

# My Bunker saw both hands briefly on the ball, before changing arms. Never loses possession. I'm in the King and Lockyer's corner on that one.

# What a difference a week makes. Last week Broncos got their share of penalties on Penrith's line. Not once did they hesitate in taking the tap. Such disrespect. Bennett couldn't have been happy with that. Pot any one of them and they win. Serves 'em bloody right.

Baggy_Gee's picture

But a 2 point game with 20 to go, and 4 penalty goals on your side. Doesn't look good for the home town hero's. 124/4 in the 14th, Aus batting.

Baggy_Gee's picture

I have a try, but the game hasn't had enough KFC advertising. Please check something mundane to justify this ad break.

Coach Potato's picture

Geez an overly technical obstruction. Bad luck Cowboys. Unnecessary decoy runner though. So overused by teams its not funny. Costly. I wonder if the Bunker is secretly calling from Suncorp tonight?

Coach Potato's picture

Looks like it didn't matter.

Johnny Ray's picture

Yeah Baggy_Gee because nothing commerates the death of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ like big bucket of KFC and cold bottle of Southern Comfort ... ;-D

Baggy_Gee's picture

Wow, I really dig the NZ KFC, do they have the licence to sell SC in store, or is that just mandated by by WH&S?

Coach Potato's picture

Now looks like it did matter.

Baggy_Gee's picture

So where was the call of obstruction for Milford stopping dead after passing?

Coach Potato's picture

Where's the forward pass Thorpedo line when you need it !?

Coach Potato's picture

Golden Point ok for you tonight Million Dollar Benny?

Johnny Ray's picture

Crap ! Cheating Referee's ! That was try to Thurston ... :-(

Tailspin's picture

What a great game again, but I'm devastated.

Baggy_Gee's picture

Well even if Thurston knocked it on, Edan knocked it forward first, Double Knock on, Cowboys loose and feed on the 10M

Johnny Ray's picture

Cheating Referee's ! That was try to Thurston ... :-(

a's picture

Cowboys lost by some shit calls

Johnny Ray's picture

Thurston ... :-(

Coach Potato's picture

And wha you all missed was the fair pass from Morgan to Felte. Too bad passes are only judged by points on the ground A to B. The NRL needs to watch a girl throw a ball out a car window sometime.

Andy Browne's picture

They already allow for forward movement. If they didn't every single pass would be a forward pass. Of course the ball will move forward because the players are running forward. It just has to move backwards out of the hands. It'll always end up forward of where it was passed from.

Tailspin's picture

I agree with you Coach, I definitely thought that was a try but JT did knock on, anyway it's all over but a great game to watch.

Coach Potato's picture

It's just a mystery how Isaac Luke and Jake Friend from standing starts throw umpteen clear forward passes out of dummy half and never get pinged. Then you see a long pass like Morgan's running at full speed, and no allowance for this.

Coach Potato's picture

Horseshit offside penalty to square it up. Player gets tackled 4m out, the defenders are entitled to have one foot on the line and only be 3m away. The list goes on, so what do you do?

Was a good game no doubt. I'd be worried about Broncos negative attitude to scoring though. Bennett made it work at the Dragons, but if wants to replicate that up North, I don't think that's a great plan.

Coach Potato's picture

Hey Christine, it's just Thinker or Helper that forgot to highlight the King's tips. The tips are in and yes it's 2/2 for you Sir Walter.

christine's picture

2 from2 "a" sorry for your loss

Thinker's Little Helper's picture

Hiya Christine and all - Coach is almost right. The Thinker highlights Wally's Tips in the main article each week, but some sort of glitch meant that wasn't possible at the normal time. I've hacked it into shape now. Wally's tips have been available since before the first game of the round. Sorry about that!

Hope you're all enjoying the long weekend as much as I am. The Thinker and I made a modest dent last night in a square bottle of brown fluid, outlasting the teenagers next door by a wide margin.

Easter responsibly!

christine's picture

THINKER S lITTLE HELPER Your next bottle of scotch is on me , Have a good weekend you guys don't forget to drink responsibly .

Coach Potato's picture

Love being sometimes almost right

WesTigerSteven's picture

Hi Thinker/everyone missed a couple of games this round. Here are my predictions for the reminder of the round

Raiders
Manly
Panthers
Warriors
Tigers
Storm

Johnny Ray's picture

That was not try. That was not try. That was not try. That was not try. That was not try. Raiders should of won. That is such bullshit from Referee's ... :-(

Steel Panther's picture

JR u have no reason to be upset. Raiders beat themselves tonight. That dude Frank-Paul should be ashamed of himself & what a soft try scored by big Dave against his old team. Good tip Thinker!!!

Coach Potato's picture

The amount of games that could have gone either way makes it as clear as day that this footy comp, like game after game, is a lottery.

We're all just a flip of a coin between getting 2/8 and getting 7/8. Losing a few tosses again this week :/

Coach Potato's picture

So so wrong that refs get to bias the Bunker review each time.

You called on the Bunker because you had doubts. You weren't sure.

Just f....n' leave it at that then!
Blow a f....n' decision on field, or let the Bunker decide.

Johnny Ray's picture

Exactly Coach. The Ref shouldn't be able to call Try/No Try, that sort of shit should be left to Bunker. They should just send it upstairs and ask them can they confirm if it was a try or not. Titans should not of won that game and Roosters shouldn't of lost. Still congratulations Thinker for calling the right result in Raiders game ... :-)

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