Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – Pepper Stadium
The Bunnies have named 19 players in their 17 man squad which doesn't add up for mine. I am excited though, to see Eddie Murphy on the list, and potentially making his NRL debut. Another 48 hours and we should know if he gets a run or not. Boom!!! Thinker drops mike. Reynolds has been named but I'll assume he won't be there, so Inglis may not play in the centres as named after all. The Panthers have named the same seventeen that beat the Sea Eagles last week. Although the Bunnies recent record over the Panthers has been very strong (five wins from the last six) they do not like Pepper Stadium one little bit. The red and the green look a shadow of the team that won the premiership two years ago. After three losses in a row it's hard to see them turning it around anytime soon. I doubt Cartwright gets his chance in the last Origin game this year but it's only a matter of time before he does.
Verdict – Panthers by 8
Result - Panthers 28 defeated Rabbitohs 26
Newcastle Knights vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Saturday afternoon – Hunter Stadium
The Dragons have struggled to score points all season, but they did score 20 against the Storm last week, and they're the only team to achieve that feat this year. They'll probably score more than that this round but they'll need to, as this is actually the sort of game the Knights could come out and win. Despite their atrocious points differential the Knights have scored almost as many points this season as the Red V. If, and I accept this is a big if, the Knights can fly the boxes and score some tries early the Dragons will struggle to run them down. The more likely result though, is a fairly dour affair, with the Dragons always looking the victor. Not the game to showcase to people if you are introducing them to the sport.
Verdict – Dragons by 8
Result - Dragons 30 defeated Knights 18
Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday night – Southern Cross Group Stadium
Oh yes Coach calls it the streak. Boogity Boogity. With a win at home the Sharks can notch up 11 victories in a row, and the last team to do that won the premiership in 2015. The Warriors have built a little momentum in recent weeks but it's a snowball compared to the tidal wave that is the Sharks at the minute. Don't look Ethel!!!
Verdict – Sharks by 4
Result - Sharks 19 defeated Warriors 18
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium
The Broncos have named all six Origin players on Saturday night but at the very least I'm assuming Sam Thaiday won't be there. They're also missing some fairly important non-Origin players on Saturday night with Glenn, Reed, Kahu and McCullough all injured at the minute. This is a true test of the Broncos depth and I'll think they'll be drowning not waving when the referee calls time. The Bulldogs, outside of their two Origin players, have had two weeks to prepare for this game and their last two performances would indicate they are on track for another finals appearance in 2016. I don't like to take the Broncos on too often, but the Bulldogs at $1.90 looks like fair shopping.
Verdict – Bulldogs by 4
Result - Bulldogs 40 defeated Bulldogs 14
Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – Cbus Super Stadium
Two of the over-achievers this season face each other but not for the first time in 2016. These sides met in round four where the Titans prevailed in Canberra by 24-20. Both sides have improved since then, and I have this game pegged as the match of the round. The round four Titans didn't include Peats, Zillman or Pettybourne, while the Raiders have four very important cogs that didn't play in the round four contest in Austin, Sezer, Paulo and Leilua. With those inclusions, and an afternoon timeslot in what looks like cool but dry conditions, I think the Raiders can prevail. Back the total points overs.
Verdict – Raiders by 4
Result - Raiders 30 defeated Titans 22
Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers – Sunday afternoon – AAMI Park
And to think I thought 19 players were too many - the Storm have come out and named 22. In any case it's anyone's guess who lines up for the purple machine on Sunday. Coach Craig Bellamy has made it clear in recent weeks that his pre-game team list is barely a first draft. Cronk and Smith backed up after Origin I (after Bellamy said they wouldn't) but he's named them this round. Do they play? Who the heck knows? I'll assume they'll play but only because the Storm lost last week and I'm sure they'd like to stay as close to the top of the ladder as they can. As for the Tigers, Robbie Farah is good enough to be vice-captain and play hooker for 80 minutes for New South Wales but he's a bench player at best for the team currently 12th on the ladder. Try explaining that to your kids. The Storm don't lose at home too often, and they lose successive games even less often. Purple it is, but keep your eye out for any ridiculous team changes.
Verdict – Storm by 14
Result - Storm 29 defeated Tigers 20
North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles – Monday night – 1300SMILES Stadium
It's taken a while but the Cowboys have their first injury concern for the season, with Michael Morgan set to miss at least a few weeks. I imagine Ray Thompson comes into the halves and Thurston may even lend him the number seven jersey. Thurston wore the six on Wednesday night and went okay. More often than not Thurston puts in an absolute blinder backing up from Origin duty - particularly when he plays at home and even more so if he's backing up from a Queensland victory. With that in mind, I can't see the Sea Eagles getting close. I doubt the Sea Eagles think they can get close either. Note that Cherry-Evans returns for this game. Remember him?
Verdict – Cowboys by 28
Result - Cowboys 30 defeated Sea Eagles 26
Wally Lewis - round sixteen selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- PANTHERS vs Rabbitohs
- Knights vs DRAGONS
- SHARKS vs Warriors
- Bulldogs vs BRONCOS
- TITANS vs Raiders
- STORM vs Tigers
- COWBOYS vs Sea Eagles
Comments
Submitted by christine on
How long is Maguire going to last as the coach at souths ?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Hopefully until the end of 2018. Didn't he just sign an extension till then?
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Afternoon Mark A - I think Mark SoO two played better than 1.
Chances were there and NSW got back into the game and then stuffed all chances at the 72nd minute. Gagai shows the attributes of a good sprinter, from his younger days. I dont know much on him mate, but his technique shows it up, a bit. Many sportspersons, just run or barge.
I'd have had another couple of sherbs, but work on Thursday. I hated that tackle, no matter who the recipient of it, was.
Good to hear that you were a good host to your visitors and that you didnt burn the meat.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Hahahaha - memories all right Mark and Coach.
Looks like the vintage matches here, as well. Rainy Jane another gooden.
Cheers and have a nice weekend
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Hang in there Rocket - dont you sleep. At 4.20am Friday morning, I was just getting ready to rise and go to work. Head in one direction like a Rocket pointed towards u- rain- on- us.
I'm about and the directions explain it all. I'm in no bunker mate. Just have quite a number of emails to attend to every day - before or after work. Plus tipping and all three when soccer/football is up and running again. Cheers and be a good boy, on a not so pleasant weekend, out this icy way.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Gee Coach - you cant expect too many compliments from Rocket, can you. He tries, but is just plain Qld and lot more the different of Mark A, who is a far more sporting Qld'er.
We might just be able to change Rocket's manner, in time. Although I seem to gather, that Rocket lives in the remoteness of Far Nth Qld (I think), so he is forgiven how civilisation thinks.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Yes, the Rocket shell is definitely cracking up - in flight.
His former Bronco coach is at yours now, Coach.
You might have him on side, more often now, as finals football approaches.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
All NRL and former ARL and NSWRL supporters - may we take a minutes silence for former Sharky - Greg Pearce.
R I P - 1966, what a year, as we Manly boys wont forget.
Big Pete
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach I thought the commitment of both teams last night was 1st rate.
Panthers showed why they should be there come finals.
Don't write the Rabbits off, had the game gone another five minutes I think we would have seen a different result.
BIG PETE I got barred from the BBQ when they saw how many sherbits I'd had, distant rellie took over and did well.
I sometimes doubt the value of SOO now as it causes so many problems at club level. Every club was represented in SOO2.
Easy, I guess to say when you've won a few but would prefer a stand alone, pre-season or post season format.
OR each club had to provide equal numbers for the contest (playing for either NSW or QLD) thus evening it up. With eligibility of course.
Coach imagine that in 2017 or 2018 you are providing 6 or 7 players to SOO. That's great but would you rather win an origin or a GF.
Broncs and Cowboys have struggled in the past (2015 being the exception)
Is there a fair solution?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Cleary is only 18 years old, and been playing Toyota Cup for last couple of years against 20 year olds. Tell me what better half back options do NSW have though?
Will just be another case of NSW refusing to play their best team.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Origin is a big ask for Cleary this year coach he impressed me last night but remember i was cheering for the panthers.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Thinker all alone on the couch time for lots of thinkering.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Will be of great interest to see how Cleary goes, first game at Lang Park hey Rocket.
Hope you're saving up your Broncos pick for Rd 20.
Submitted by Tailspin on
What's doing with the warriors, someone has finally put a bomb under there asses.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Panthers were very lucky to get a win against the Bunnies, finally big sam can catch the ball and scored a double.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
To be fair dinkum, you would need to add Qld were a bit lucky to win games I and II.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Cmon coach, 1st game yeh maybe, but second game, the best team won,
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Frizell scores that try, I don't think you win.
Game I and Game 2 could have gone either way.
The better team won last night too then.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Geez can't wait for that Grand Final @ Suncorp.
No Qld teams in coo-ee.
What a spectacle.
Caxton St would be party central.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Got any words of wisdom Rocket ?
Submitted by a on
I think that Sharks are going to have to lose soon I think it might be next week aganist the Eels
Submitted by Coach Potato on
No Panthers the week after @ Pepper Stadium.
We'll take the Sharks and then the Broncos the week after.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I mean the week after we take the Eels.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach your panthers were lucky to win last night as I said another couple of minutes and it was Rabbits.
As for Origin the best team won both games, don't care what you say.
My Broncs just got towelled by the Dogs as I thought would happened.
They looked tired and short of ideas.
Dogs clearly the better team.
See that Coach 40/14 that's how you win not just hanging on by your finger nails.
The Broncs will push on after origin winning by good margins but your Panthers will need to start winning by more than 1 or 2 to be there.
Broncos played in GF last year and led the comp just prior to origin.
On Rockets behalf there's some words of wisdom for you....where were your Panthers last year? and where are they this year?
Coach what are you talking about with the GF at Suncorp with no one there? Your main stadium is being remodeled in a couple of years time and will be closed for 2 years. The NRL has opened talks with Melbourne and Brisbane for possible hosting for those 2 years.
Think about this what if Storm/Cowboys/Titans/Broncos fought out the GF for the next 5 years. How interested would your Sydney centric thinking fans be then?
NZ and Perth have put in bids to host an origin game some time down the track. Do you object to that too?
Let's keep growing the game Coach it doesn't belong to anyone.
You Sydney people make me laugh. It's no longer the NSWRL just get over it.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Pretty open game if Sam Kasiano make 2 line breaks. Wish it had been on free to air. Glad the Ponies got touched up even if I did lose the points.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Couch update Wk 2.
Everyone in the house can kick back, crack a coldie and cheer on Tigers tomorrow, and Manly on Monday.
1. Coach - PAR_CRO (In The House)
2. Mark - NZ_COW (Still Knockin')
3. Baggy - NZ_DRA (In The House)
4. Rick - NZ_MEL (Still Knockin')
5. Tailspin - PAR_DRA (In The House)
6. a - G/C_COW (Still Knockin')
7. Newbie - G/C_COW (Still Knockin')
8. Tigerholic - NZ_MEL (Still Knockin')
9. Rocket - PAR_PAN (In The House)
10. christine - NZ_PAN (In The House)
11. Big Pete Bx - PAR_No Tip (In The Outhouse)
12. Thinker - MEL(In The Outhouse)
13. BoozeMaster2000 - NZ_DRA (In The House)
14. Broncoswimmer - NZ_MEL (Still Knockin')
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Origin blues coach we struggle with it each year as mark said no real surprise don't read too much into it .
We will be ready for you.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
"what if Storm/Cowboys/Titans/Broncos fought out the GF for the next 5 years" ?!?!
'If' is a small word, but a big question.
This blinkered thought says it all.
Mark, wouldn't the more likely question be, what if there were no Qld teams in the Grand Final the next 5 years.
Be serious, it took Broncos 10 years, and Cowboys 11 to make it to one. You Queenslanders kid yourselves about how dominant your clubs are.
#BringOnRound20
Submitted by mark ashford on
Yeah we kid our selves.
How long did it taken Penrith to make it to one...2003
Brisbane...1998....2000....2006....runner up 2015
Cowboys....2015
10 out of the last 11 origin wins
Yeah you're right we kid ourselves
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Wouldn't the pertinent point to offer us all along with the Broncos Cowboys Grand Finals, be the long list of Grand Finals minus Qld teams?
Let's see. Broncos have been in 7, Cowboys 2 - although they were in last year's together so in total they have been in 8 different Grand Finals. Gold Coast needless to mention Zilcho.
So that's 8 Grand Finals for a Qld team, and an even 100 Grand Finals minus a Qld team.
What a joke. You kid yourselves.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
You lose much credibility being a poor student of the game. Know that Panthers have made 3 Grand Finals for 2 Minor Premiership/Premiership doubles.
Save you from finding out more on your own, let me just tell you. The Panthers when they joined in 1967, were for more than a decade the duds of the league, like a Newcastle 2016 vintage. Laughing stocks. Chocolate Soldiers they called us. Never had the best players. We were only a small club. Just battlers.
Then a bold move was made in 1984 to open a big new clubhouse. More cash equalled buying a few good players. Within a few years made our first finals series. A few more years 1990 and we made our first Grand Final against Canberra. Both Grand Finalists beating the 2nd placed Broncos in the finals series. In 1991, we went for a change of strip. Away from the brown and white, and into a black one with green yellow and red piping. They nicknamed us the Licorice Allsorts. Again no doubt, a remark aimed at the laughing stocks of years gone by.
Well we beat Canberra that year, in our 25th season.
The laughing stocks had the last laugh.
12 more years and we beat the Rooster in 2003.
Not given a hope even as Minor Premiers, but again, last laugh was on us.
Would be great to somehow manage to get there again 2016. It's only a dream, but then again, who knows the future?
The players we have now, including next year belie the laughing stock tag we have carried for 50 years. Respect amongst the football community is still very hard to find.
We are now a strong club and we will / and are matching it with other strong clubs.
Through all these 50 years, we have played at the same ground below.
Not many teams at all can say this. Living proof we have respect for our history, and the history of the game. We are a fiercely proud group of fans through thick and thin, and sooner or later, hopefully sooner, we will have the last laugh again.
https://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2F365shortmemories.f...
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
You forgot to give the academy a big rapp from all accounts very impressive as is the big new clubhouse
With all that you need to win a lot more silverware than they currently appear capable of all these up and coming origin stars you have selected need to be retained but don't ask baggy and his crowd how to do it.
Submitted by The Thinker on
It's cold in the outhouse this time of year. Brrrrr!!!
I've always liked Penrith as a club. Always. They give more to the competition than they take on a number of levels.
It's great to see a crop of local kids (mostly local kids - there's about 7 or 8 of them right now) coming through their system and playing at the top level. They're not quite there yet....but they are close...really close. How good will they get? We don't know yet....that's part of what makes it special.
Their next group of kids coming through the system will have an even better system to go through. How good will they get?
Powerhouse clubs in the cities and strong clubs in the regions - Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Dragons (kind of) and Knights (again...eventually...I hope). It's a great mix.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Morning Coach - nice and icy up this way mate.
May I ask a question please?
Why do City Slickers regard country people as 2nd class citizens?
Why have you kicked me out of the Last one Standing comp, saying I made no tip.
Please do a check on it for me?
I submitted my tips at 7.03pm Friday 24.6.16, and my Couch Tip was Storm and included. I even asked PLEASE.
Your Couch Update at 7.18pm confirmed that I picked Storm.
Then another update at 7.47pm said I am in the OutHouse as I made NO TIP.
I regard your postings and writings very highly, but on this occasion, dipping me out when Storm haven't even played, or that I made no tip - isnt favoured on this occasion.
Cheers and keep well
An UNHAPPY Big Pete.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Yes Rocket the academy is a part of how far we've come, and how far that is. We are doing things that are revolutionary. We are now ahead of the other clubs in lots of ways.
Yes you would logically think this translates into silverware.
Yes the more rep players we start to field, the harder to stay under the cap for any length of time.
When you have a group ready to win a Premiership, I believe you have the current year + 1 more year to do it, else you lose players and your timeline goes a bit backwards. We were almost there a couple of years back, but had to do it without Jennings (who instead helped the Roosters win one).
So you are right Rocket, with a team only doing mediocre on the table (unless they win their next 4 games), they have this year or next year to win a comp. No talk yet about this year from the experts, but there's still hope. Failing that there's 2017 before Penrith requires to bolster the talent of the other clubs.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Morning Thinker/Coach.
Yes gents Panthers have a good system and young player cadet program.
Out this way is an Academy of Sport (WRAS), of which I was on their Board for 11 years. Panthers RLFC utilised the Rugby League Squad (when it was existent) as a nursery for "brooding" future NRL players.
The WRAS can also boast producing quite a number of Australian sportspersons. Mark Renshaw, Ben McCalman, Toireasa Ryan/Gallagher, Nathan Burns, Jade Warrender, Tamsin Lee, Kurt Fearnley just a couple to mention.
We have a Panthers Club here that is strongly supported by Penrith.
Mind you, from a post I made a couple of months ago, that Western Division also played Penrith (yes, the then Chocolate Soldiers) in the first Amco Cup. Panthers have a very strong professional approach to their business and sport. You didnt need being told that, I know!
But its this academy setup and nurturing young players and trying to retain them, that augers well for The Penrith Panthers of the future.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Hi Petey,
Sorry you were incorrectly sentenced to the Outhouse.
Besides that, it must be snowing where you are, as well as having to share with The Thinker. Thanks for picking that up. I really hate being human sometimes.
Your status has now been updated to 'Still Knockin'.
If Tigers perform as I predict though then you are back outside.
Couch update Wk 2.
The mistake free version
1. Coach - PAR_CRO (In The House)
2. Mark - NZ_COW (Still Knockin')
3. Baggy - NZ_DRA (In The House)
4. Rick - NZ_MEL (Still Knockin')
5. Tailspin - PAR_DRA (In The House)
6. a - G/C_COW (Still Knockin')
7. Newbie - G/C_COW (Still Knockin')
8. Tigerholic - NZ_MEL (Still Knockin')
9. Rocket - PAR_PAN (In The House)
10. christine - NZ_PAN (In The House)
11. Big Pete Bx - PAR_MEL (Still Knockin')
12. Thinker - MEL(In The Outhouse)
13. BoozeMaster2000 - NZ_DRA (In The House)
14. Broncoswimmer - NZ_MEL (Still Knockin')
Submitted by christine on
There is an article in in the herald this morning that semi's won't be back to play for the eels he's told his partner to pack up they are going to france due to his third party deals not being met so see what happens if he does play rd 17 or not ...
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Who gives a f*** what semi does, most rats will always desert a sinking ship i find ,why would we expect him to be different .
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Oh yes, Semi said he was coming back so he must be coming back.
Never believed it for a minute.
Semi could come back and make a great politician.
Only interested in lining his own pockets.
Says one thing, does the other.
I think he'd fit right in.
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Going to see Steel Panther tonight!
Submitted by christine on
I don't really care what semi does , i was just updating mark & coach from the other day about semi & his plans so don't shoot the messenger ...
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Oh great. Someone else who is not really who they say they are.
Submitted by Dragonsfan4ever on
Sorry my bad I meant to say for my tip for the Raiders-Titans game, that Raiders' attack was better last year than this year. But now at the moment, it's only just. The Raiders have had some games where they've attacked well and some games when they haven't so much.
Submitted by christine on
Coach who is another fake person & why is everyone having a go at me , what have I done ?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
#Steel Panther cant be the real Steel Panther.
Either that or he is actually the real Steel Panther and so then the one he is going to see, I deduce, must be the fake.
#Noone has had a go at you. You probably misread. The responses were just talking about not caring less what Semi did or didn't do. It was nothing about you reporting the news. The comments were all directed towards the player.
Submitted by christine on
Coach thanks for clearing that up ...
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Couch update Wk 2. Mistake free.
1. Coach - PAR_CRO (In The House)
2. Mark - NZ_COW (Still Knockin')
3. Baggy - NZ_DRA (In The House)
4. Rick - NZ_MEL (In The House)
5. Tailspin - PAR_DRA (In The House)
6. a - G/C_COW (Still Knockin')
7. Newbie - G/C_COW (Still Knockin')
8. Tigerholic - NZ_MEL (In The House)
9. Rocket - PAR_PAN (In The House)
10. christine - NZ_PAN (In The House)
11. Big Pete Bx - PAR_MEL (In The House)
12. Thinker - MEL(In The Outhouse)
13. BoozeMaster2000 - NZ_DRA (In The House)
14. Broncoswimmer - NZ_MEL (In The House)
Submitted by a on
Come on Cowboys for tomrrow I will be at the game don't leat me down
Submitted by mark ashford on
Coach I was referring to games under the NRL banner.
Can't expect the Broncs or Cows to be in the mix when they weren't even in the comp.
I have no interest in the Titans while Greg Bird is there.
Christine thanks for the update on Semi. Coach is right he'd make a good politician. When you decide to become a Polie lying must be the first thing taught.
So who is the real SteelPanther?
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