Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos – Thursday night – Allianz Stadium
The Roosters won the last three minor premierships in a row, and they've won just three games this season. Their last win was way back in round 13, in atrocious conditions over the Tigers. Other than that they've beaten the team running last and the team running thirteenth. They're not just a shadow of the team they were in seasons past, they're a shadow of a shadow. Dark days indeed. Despite that, you've got to give them a chance on recent form. The Bulldogs only beat them by four points, and the Bulldogs beat the Broncos by 26. The Storm beat them in Melbourne by 16 points, but the Storm beat the Broncos in Brisbane by 42 points. And a 12 point loss to the Sharks isn't a disgrace either. The Broncos, with just two wins from their last eight games, are looking a little shadowy themselves. Thaiday, McGuire, Kahu and Reed are unavailable - that's (technically) four internationals, but the return of Gillett is an important one. I'm far from confident, but we've seen the Broncos with their backs to the wall many times over the years. More often than not, they fight back and find a way. If Waerea-Hargreaves was playing I'd be tipping the Chickens...but he isn't...so I won't.
Verdict – Broncos by 4
Result - Roosters 32 defeated Broncos 16
Canterbury Bulldogs vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Friday night – ANZ Stadium
These sides met in round 14 where the Bulldogs prevailed 34-16, and the line-ups on Friday night are much the same as they were back then. The Dragons have done little to show me they've improved. Since round 14 they've beaten a reserve grade Storm outfit and the Knights, but they've been dismantled on every other occasion. The Bulldogs were dismantled last week, but the team that dismantled them would have dismantled everybody. More on that later. With a loss here the Dragons can all but plan their trip to Thailand. I can't say the Dragons have been great in 2016, but the effort was there. Effort won't be enough on Friday night. Woof Woof.
Verdict – Bulldogs by 16
Result - Bulldogs 13 defeated Dragons 10
New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium
Here's something you may not have noticed. The Warriors have lost their last three away games in golden point extra time to the Raiders in Canberra, the Sea Eagles in Perth and the Sharks in Sydney. They'll be happy they're back at Mt Smart where they usually produce their best, including their last two performances at home where they soundly defeated two top eight sides in the Titans and the Broncos. The Panthers are a top eight side currently - a win here and they probably move to seventh, while a loss sees them swapping places with the Warriors. A loss for the Warriors and they could quite easily drop to 11th. These sides played in Christchurch in round 10 where the Warriors started well but were no match for the Panthers in the end. The Warriors record in New Zealand away from Mt Smart is comically bad, so this is more like a real home game for them. That said, if the Panthers hold their form from last week they should prevail again. There are many ways to beat the Warriors (and sometimes they beat themselves). I imagine Nathan Cleary has had a chat to his Dad about a few of those ways.
Verdict – Panthers by 1
Result - Warriors 20 defeated Panthers 16
Parramatta Eels vs Wests Tigers – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium
When you are right 70% of the time you are going to be wrong 30% of the time, and I have a confession to make - I was wrong about Aaron Woods. I had him labelled as a bit of a pudding, probably because he looks like Baloo from The Jungle Book. This season he's racked up triple figures in metres gained every time he has played (including three Origins), and he's doing it the hard way. Three times this season he's run for more than 200 metres, and he was near his best with 183 metres last week. It's on the back of that effort, and the efforts of the lessor known supporting players in the Tigers pack, that the kids in the Tigers backline can perform. The Tigers are unlikely to make the top eight but it's not impossible. The Eels are done. Effort, and the flickering hope of finals football, will get the Tigers home.
Verdict – Tigers by 8
Result - Tigers 23 defeated Eels 8
North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – 1300SMILES Stadium
While there was plenty of chatter here about the Panthers last week, the Panthers General Manager wrote an article about the Cowboys. Phil Gould described the Cowboys demolition of the Bulldogs as easily the best performance of the season. He described their first half performance as perfect football. That's high praise, and while they take to the field without their most important player they are yet to lose at home all season. In a way the absence of Thurston takes some of the pressure off them in this game. If he were there, and the Storm won, it would be quite a blow. Without him they know they have an ace up their sleeve if these two meet again in the finals (and that's looking likely). It's not often I focus on the wingers, and with good reason, but this game may be the exception that proves the rule. Winterstein isn't the tallest winger in the world and I expect Cooper Cronk to try and isolate him under the high ball. On the other flank Javen Bowen will need to contain Koroibete. The two Fijian wingers have notched up 27 tries for the Storm this season. In a game I'm finding difficult to split their finishing power could be the difference.
Verdict – Storm by 7
Result - Storm 16 defeated Cowboys 8
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium
The Bunnies have named a cast of thousands on the bench which should boost the attendance figures at Tumbleweed Stadium this weekend. The red and green have all but given up, and those left in the crowd are rusted-ons that are there through thick and thin. They look thin. The Raiders have the top four in their sights and they deserve a finals berth this season. Well done Ricky Stuart...you cranky b*stard.
Verdict – Raiders by 18
Result - Raiders 54 defeated Rabbitohs 4
Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Brookvale Oval
Talking about the Knights makes me sad. I simply don't want to talk about it, instead I'll close my eyes and pretend it's 1997.
Verdict – Sea Eagles by 32
Result - Sea Eagles 36 defeated Knights 16
Gold Coast Titans vs Cronulla Sharks – Monday night – Cbus Super Stadium
Irrational this may be, but it wouldn't hurt the Sharks to lose a game before the finals series. The Titans are a sneaky hope here, but I have to remind myself of their clash in round six when the Sharks lost both Maloney and Lewis early in the game, and Andrew Fifita in the second half...and they still found a way to win. Finding a way to win has been their thing since round three. Greg Bird returns against his old side, but he's the sort of goofball that will try too hard, overplay his hand, and give away silly penalties. Someone will beat the Sharks eventually, but we may have to wait until they take on a team with a bigger boat.
Verdict – Sharks by 4
Result - Titans 18 drew with Sharks 18
Wally Lewis - round twenty-one selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- Roosters vs BRONCOS
- BULLDOGS vs Dragons
- Warriors vs PANTHERS
- Eels vs TIGERS
- Cowboys vs STORM
- Rabbitohs vs RAIDERS
- SEA EAGLES vs Knights
- Titans vs SHARKS
Comments
Submitted by christine on
I'm out of you couch comp coach , i'm not going to be on the site next season & ever since you have been on this site coach you've taken over it .
Submitted by christine on
It's not banter when you make it personal & that's all I was saying , launch your full scale attack on someone else why you felt the need to comment tigerholic , rocket ryan is beyond me yet again who made it personal , you did not me .
Submitted by christine on
Thinker thanks for deleting my comments it's true that tigerholic & rocket ryan made it personal against me & coach also turned it on me .
Submitted by christine on
Thinker thanks yet again for deleting my comments but no one else.
Submitted by christine on
Coach I didn't make it personal about you but you made it personal about me .
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
How was tigerholic supporting it is all his fault
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Don't be so boring christine have a little fun tell tigerholic he's dreaming about the tigers making the eight.
Submitted by christine on
Again you had to remove my comments Thinker it's clear who side your on .
Submitted by christine on
Now i'm boring so who just made it personal .
Submitted by christine on
Coach couldn't stand the fact that i'm doing ok in the couch comp could you .
Submitted by GaryChesterUK on
On a lighter note, looking forward to Titans v Sharks when I wake up.
I've had a bet on over 41.5 points, my prediction is Titans 18 - sharks 30.
Good luck all!
Submitted by GaryChesterUK on
On a lighter note, looking forward to Titans v Sharks when I wake up.
I've had a bet on over 41.5 points, my prediction is Titans 18 - sharks 30.
Good luck all!
Submitted by doggie on
Hi Bigpete. Played with Tony Trudgett at Nambucca. He still lives there. Good mate with my brother. Had a couple of beers with him last xmas. Champion bloke. Congrats to Manly. Only Knights but 4 in a row now. Tipped the card in my comp so far. Need Titans to win for 8. Im sitting on 97 before this round. leader was on 98. Not good enough to win this comp though.
Submitted by christine on
Thinker were have my comments gone ?
Submitted by doggie on
Yeah. Public holiday in Darwin today. Darwin cup day. Might go down the Humpty Doo pub and have a flutter. Maybe knock the froth of a couple as well.
Submitted by christine on
Look what you accomplished mark & coach i'm the one off the site now because of your bickering .
Submitted by tigerholic on
Wow
I must have missed something along the way, Christine enjoy whatever you do in life, try and throw some humour in and see how this site is all about footy fans having somewhere to be someone different, look at Rocket, he has taken different to a new level.
Submitted by christine on
Can't stop deleting my comments can you & coach I defended you when you were going to leave the site & that's the thanks I get for it .
Submitted by christine on
Tigerholic your the one making it personal this site is my home away from home when I want to escape the reality of my ms but someone always comes along & stuffs it up in this case you just did it's no wonder you've had three wives , there that's personal for you .
Submitted by christine on
where are my comments ?
Submitted by christine on
Coach I defended you when you were going to stay off the site because of fortress & that's the thanks I get for it & mark your no better .
Submitted by christine on
On top of having ms I now have a cold & i'm not in the mood for this sh#t .
Submitted by doggie on
My comments disappeared.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Something needs to disappear.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Christine
This site allows anyone to be anyone or anything, I could say I am superman and because no one here knows who I am you have to take it as genuine, just like me having 3 wives, If I was going to have 3 wives I would have 7, one for each day of the week.
Just enjoy everything in life that you can, I have never set out to offend anyone, for a while there I took a dislike to Fortress but even with him I can move on and read and enjoy his posts, I think you need this site as we need you so if you can find it in yourself, stay on.
Some little realistic info about Tigerholic, married (just the once), 5 kids one who is 27, the others range from 8-15. Grew up in a place called Raymond Terrace near Newcastle, born and bred in NSW, moved to Qld in 1980 to join the army, have remained living in Qld about 40 mins from Toowoomba.
Now, I'm back to that terrible character "Tigerholic", take care Chistine with whatever you decide to do.
Cheers
Submitted by Tailspin on
This is awesome, I'm pissing myself laughing the whole way through it.
Keep up the good work peoples :)
Go the Cowboys.
Submitted by mark ashford on
I'd better throw my 2 cents worth in.
Chris, Coach and I enjoy a friendly rivalry here. There is nothing personal.
Okay some times I get a bit heated but it's only because I love my Broncos just as Coach and the others love their teams.
If the comments here cause you distress then maybe a little break would be good.
Just come back when you are ready.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Cowboys are the best,
Manly are shit,
Broncos are useless and lost the plot,
and the Panthers are absolute crap. :)
Submitted by mark ashford on
Tigerholic
Nice touch mate with the personal info.
5 kids is not easy these days you and the good lady should be congratulated.
So you've lived in God's country for 36 years yet have remained a staunch Blues supporter..... more strength to you.
THATS what origin is all about!
Submitted by mark ashford on
Now look here Tailspin I take the third line of your post very personally!
Submitted by Tailspin on
Sorry mark, i'll get over it though.
Submitted by Tailspin on
P.S. Tigerholic should be deported over the border.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Nah let him stay and enjoy the pain.
I think that at his work it's something like Maroons 100 -v- Blues 1... can't be easy.
Your Cows went well without JT v the Storm got a couple of doggy calls but who doesn't these days.
They don't seem to suffer (and nor do other teams) an origin hangover like the Broncs (if that's what it is)
Our confidence is lacking big time but we get 3 "names' back for the game against Dragons which is a must win.
You've got Tigers away which won't be an easy game.
I like the Tigers style of play with or without Robbie but, and I could be wrong, don't rate Woods (maybe it's the hair thing)
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hey where's Coach?
Having a nanny nap old mate?
Submitted by The Thinker on
Baggy Gee,
In case you're looking for a career change:
http://brownandchase.com/News/ArticleID/178/Senior-Management-Positions-...
Submitted by Tailspin on
Yeh mark, I was happy with the cowboys performance in the second half, the first half they lacked the attack of JT, but they can only get better.
Will be hard against the tigers but am pretty confident of a win there.
The broncos should improve now, got no choice really, if they don't they might find themselves out the 8.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Thinker, pretty powerful stuff.
Do you think Andrew Gee will apply?
This is really Coach posting as mark ashford
Submitted by christine on
you just can't stop deleting my comments .
Submitted by christine on
Mark & Tigerholic I don't want to be off the site but i'm not going to have people start thinking i'm insighting bullying of anyone or any kind because I don't do that & tigerholic I just spoke to mark o'neil's mother who tells me Robbie farah will play this week but after that he's gone & that's all she would say but I know she hates tigers coach .
Submitted by christine on
Mark I just put a small bet on sharks to win the grand final @ $4.00 .
Submitted by tigerholic on
Christine
Can you get me Robbie Farah's autograph?
Submitted by christine on
To all on this site I have never set out to offend anyone i'm not that sort of person so I am going to stay on site even if anyone objects ok .
Submitted by tigerholic on
Good decision Christine, Robbie Farah still injured and will not play this week
Submitted by christine on
Can I post a comment without you deleting it please .
Submitted by christine on
I'm told Robbie will play this week & then he's gone & she was adamant about it .
Submitted by christine on
Coach you can stop hiding now , i'm not your enemy .
Submitted by christine on
Coach I am still in your couch comp .
Submitted by a on
Thank God your okay Christine
Submitted by fortresseagle on
Tailspin there are 2 types of cowboy supporters one like A who loves his club and has respect for other clubs and one like you who is a waste of time and space I'm not going to waste my time even worrying bout you I don't even ever send posts to you tailspin because all of them are boring lacking no footy knewledge so one last departing line tailspin go find a hole and crawl your way back in and we will call you if we need you .another thing that word you called my team it only implies to what you are nothing more so goodbye and please do not post back to me enjoy the hole you go into.
Anyway back to footy the sharks for mine to win there 16th in a row ................and go the mighty sea eagles mighty and proud come on boys let's get em !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by christine on
why do you remove my comments & mark I can't believe you of all people are for having me staying off the site for a while & no tigerholic I won't get you Robbie's autograph so glad you think it's a joke , no more provoking me i'm not well .
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