North Queensland Cowboys vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Thursday night – 1300SMILES Stadium
While being a Sydney-based team is not without its challenges, it also comes with a few advantages. Take the Bulldogs for example - here we are in Round 20 and they've played just three games all season outside of Sydney. One of those games they moved by choice - taking a home game to New Zealand (and picking up a cheque for their troubles). Ten of their seventeen games this season have been at ANZ Stadium, plus another game at Belmore. They lost two of their three games away from Sydney, but they did beat the Storm in Melbourne. They'll need to find that level again to succeed on Thursday. While the Bulldogs have left Sydney just three times the Cowboys have left Townsville nine times, but it's when they play at home they shine. Eight games at home without loss, and there's been some big wins too. Their last home game was a four point win over the Sea Eagles, but that was backing up from Origin duty. They should be nice and fresh on Thursday night, and the timely return of Michael Morgan means this side can start focussing all it's energy on defending their title. That's Everest, but I'm confident they can scale Mt Bulldog on Thursday night.
Verdict – Cowboys by 8
Result - Cowboys 36 defeated Bulldogs 0
Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium
Back in round three these sides squared off in Penrith, where the Broncos racked up four tries in the first half and stopped. The Panthers responded with 17 points of their own, including a field goal in the 77th minute (off the back of a Ben Hunt fumble - Déjà vu) to claim the win. It's difficult to know whether the Broncos fell asleep or the Panthers woke up - perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Last week the Eels targeted Bryce Cartwright with their big men but he eventually came out the other side. He's not a complete footballer yet, and you can see why Laurie Daley kept him out of the Blues squad for now, but he's close. He's very close. The Panthers as a team are much like Cartwright as an individual. Plenty of talent but very young. I doubt them this year but this group of players look set to create a nice little dynasty in the years ahead. Still, I'm here to talk about Friday night. The Broncos have struggled through their difficult period and while the win over the Rabbitohs wasn't perfect there was enough positives for me to believe they're heading in the right direction.
Verdict – Broncos by 4
Result - Panthers 31 defeated Broncos 12
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternoon – GIO Stadium
The Warriors travelled all the way to Perth, played in atrocious conditions, played extra time and flew all the way home. Less than a week later and they're heading back to Canberra. Through all of that, the Raiders had a bye. While the forecast looks okay for Saturday it's raining in Canberra today with more to come on Friday. Those Warriors legs will be working mighty hard to get through the going this weekend. The Raiders forward pack is under-rated by most and I'd back them to match the Warriors anyway, but given the circumstances this game has all the makings of a good old-fashioned carve-up. I'm not sure how often the Raiders look at the NRL ladder but a win on Saturday gives them a spot in the top four. Actually I'm hoping they don't realise, that's just the sort of expectation that usually brings them undone.
Verdict – Raiders by 20
Result - Raiders 26 defeated Warriors 22
Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels – Saturday night – Cbus Super Stadium
Greg Bird shored up his title as the most suspended player in NRL history with another suspension last round - he'll be back next week to face his former team-mates at the Sharks. Despite having a busier casualty ward than most clubs the Titans have managed to pull together a strong seventeen. Their dominant victory over the Dragons was an almost flawless performance - a repeat of that and they win again. Just about everyone is waiting for the Eels to drop their bundle but it hasn't happened yet. This week the government had to step in and kick the Parramatta Board to the kerb - surely that's about as low as you can go. I stand and applaud the players that are still there and the coach doing all he can to hold this team together. If they keep this up until the end of the season I will stand and applaud some more. For the sake of their fans I hope they do, but a weekend on the Gold Coast is a risky proposition.
Verdict – Titans by 8
Result - Titans 34 defeated Eels 14
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – AAMI Park
I'll keep this brief - these sides played in Sydney in round 14. Tohu Harris played in the halves, and the Storm won 46-0.
Verdict – Storm by 19
Result - Storm 26 defeated Roosters 10
Cronulla Sharks vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Southern Cross Group Stadium
You have to feel for the Knights. Last week they faced a top two side and were gallant in defeat. This week they face the other top two side. I'm not sure how much gallantry they have left in the tank.
Verdict – Sharks by 34
Result - Sharks 36 defeated Knights 4
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium
While the late withdrawal of Benji Marshall last week probably cost me a perfect round (grrrr!) this is the perfect game for a milestone. A milestone it may be but I'm not convinced he'll get the result he would be hoping for. The Tigers are fresh from a bye and they welcome back their trio of Origin stars. On a wet track I'd give the Dragons a chance but that doesn't look likely at the minute. Dry conditions and a daytime schedule lend itself to the Tigers dynamic style. I can't see enough points in the Dragons to stay in the contest. A win for the Tigers and they're on the cusp of a finals berth. Sorry Benji.
Verdict – Tigers by 10
Result - Tigers 35 defeated Dragons 12
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles – Monday night – Allianz Stadium
I was surprised when the Bunnies didn't challenge the Greg Inglis suspension, and then it dawned on me - perhaps they've given up. I think they need to win the last seven games of the season to get inside the top eight. That means beating the Sharks, the Bulldogs, the Warriors in Auckland and the Storm in Melbourne. Perhaps they've given up. The Sea Eagles clearly haven't. They'll take plenty of positives out of that extra time victory over the Warriors in Perth, and I expect them to carry that momentum through Monday night. Right now you can get $1.75 about Manly on Monday night. I'm tempted (gamble responsibly).
Verdict – Sea Eagles by 8
Result - Sea Eagles 20 defeated Rabbitohs 12
Wally Lewis - round twenty selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- COWBOYS vs Bulldogs
- BRONCOS vs Panthers
- RAIDERS vs Warriors
- TITANS vs Eels
- STORM vs Roosters
- SHARKS vs Knights
- Dragons vs TIGERS
- Rabbitohs vs SEA EAGLES
Comments
Submitted by fortresseagle on
Once again no praise given to the winning team.no praise given to manlys dominate first half performance.no praise given to thee gutsy defence in the second half ,even if the try had been awarded we still would of won so what we have here is the contrast hatred against the mighty eagles. Michael mcgiures press conference was made up of telling others for there opionions on the non try and telling others on thee opionions of other incidents in the game neither he or Sam burguss uttered one remark or gave one praise to the mighty eagles not one .
Fair dinkum the refs are making mistakes week in week out in all games but what we have here is a coach whose team is finding it hard to win having an almighty whinge sour grapes if u ask me .
The mighty eagles were the better team they were far superior yet no praise what so ever .
So which leads me to say winners are grinners and losers can please them selves.
Off to bed mighty nights everyone sweet dreams and go you mighty sea eaglesssssssssssssss
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Didn't see the game but 18-0 up early on ptobably suggests the better team.
Hard to think that one of Roosters and Broncos will have a win on Thursday, onky three wins combined since round 11. Maybe the first game in NRL history where the draw is great value.
Submitted by fortresseagle on
Coach the refs are making mistakes constantly it's not just one game this is the nrl not a fun football match in out backyard.
Get rid of them and the bunker and the blind idiots in the video box and get fitter non blind refs that are able to keep up with the game,god help the team that loses this years grand final on a refs decision.the standard of refereeing is a big zero out of ten.
McGuire should talk many in the media and I saw it souths threw at least 5 forward passes that went unnoticed, this is a very desperate man trying to hang on to his job.
Souths players tried hard to the end but no praise was given to manly,it's as if the winner was to blame for the other team losing,
For example you only won because we played poorly not that the losing team weren't allowed to play because the winning team was too good.
I remember the 2008 grand final after the eagles had decimated the storm,reports to come out of the game not all reports but some said that the storm were pathetic and played like a bunch of old donkeys, for god sake the eagles didn't let them play.
The mind boggles.
Off to work chat later
Fortress eagle.
Submitted by Doggie on
Great weekend of footy guys. Missed most of it. Was up in Arnhem Land. Weather up here is probably abit better than SE Queensland mark. BigPete those names u thru up are not familiar. Must have been before my time. It was 30yrs ago mate & i can remember playing with Crowy & Rosco & next year we all went to Nambucca Heads to play. Pub there was run by Billy Wilson & his sons Steve & Brad. Billy Wilson was from Oberon & he played for St George during their hey day. He was named in St Georges toughest front row ever. To all you Cowboys supporters, congrats, really towelled up my beloved doggies. Another Thurston masterclass. Back to the drawing board for Dessie. Or is he playing games. We will see.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Coach that was last year and that relates to our breach of the second tier cap. The bean counters would have told him about that one. Nearly had me there till I read the article. But yes, BA aside, every coach should be held accountable for their teams salary cap dramas.
We are back in the rebuilding phase after Ricky gutted the club and then paid massive overs for certain players, the bulldogs fullback springs to mind.
Submitted by tigerholic on
How can all of you Manly fans be happy winning like that, you had 15 players on the field every minute of the match, sometimes that is just the way the games end up.
Well done footy chick, the hard slog to stay up top now begins.
Fortress, you picked me in one, I do hate Manly, have done all of my life and that will never change, I am all for you supporting your team and the passion that you display is sometimes over the top but good on you for wearing your heart on your sleeve.
As for sucking up to coach, I would rather suck up to a Panthers fan than a Manly fan:)
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Question about refs.
Q? How come we never hear this kind of dissatisfaction about union refs?
A. They go into the game with no agenda. They don't try to create momentum swings, and let things go that would stop a wave of momentum. That's not their job, they get player respect for that. They blow as many penalties as there are offences. They don't set a quota or try and give an EV n number. They get player respect for that. They calmly explain each ruling and don't require to be questioned. Players don't question and expect that. They call teams by colour, and players by number, not by first name. They get respect for that.
Take a leaf NRL.
Bloody couldn't hurt.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I'm not a fan or lots of other teams, I could probably name a dozen but as they say, each to their own.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Yes Doggie -
I think Billy Wilson had Tourist Hotel for a while there at Oberon, after my mates dad sold the licence. Billy's son Steve, his ex - Glenda, is very good friends with my other non-sporting half.
Billy Wilson correct about St George's toughest front rower. Tony Trudgett's (ex St George) brother (Bruce) is married to my cousin.
Did you play in the years of Tony, Brian Roberts and Doug, Lenny and Neil Ballinger and Nev Kelly?
Tony was a very good 5/8th and a very creative player.
Cheers mate and keep the dream alive
Big Pete
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
The best part of the union system is that you don't get to officiate in a test match as the ref if your country is playing. The same as the league tests we don't whinge much about those games. I think that refs and colour commentators shouldn't be allowed to do their own teams, so goodbye Lockyer calling Bronco's games, Freddy calling Roosters games, and sadly the Nose not calling the BOYS.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Sorry Bags.
Rules say you can't take the same team twice, let alone two weeks in a row. You played well, but you're on the couch bud.
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