Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Thursday night – Pepper Stadium
Some positive signs from the Panthers in their narrow loss to the Raiders, but that form looks shy of what the Bulldogs took to Brookvale. The Panthers are on the quick back-up from a game played in stifling conditions, and there's a risk they'll be on tired legs at the back end of this game. Both sides lost their first choice hooker last weekend, with the injury to Segeyaro likely to have the most impact. Tyrone Peachey pulls on the nine jersey for the home side - he's loaded to the gills with speed and agility but the additional workload in defence could prove telling. I was optimistic about the Bulldogs prospects this season - I suppose I should start tipping them.
Verdict – Bulldogs by 10
Result - Bulldogs 18 defeated Panthers 16
Brisbane Broncos vs New Zealand Warriors – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium
I don't even know what the Warriors are anymore? I've been calling them enigmatic for about 20 years but it's more than that. I don't have the words. The Broncos approached game one of the season like a reticulated python - strangling the life out of the Parramatta Eels to ensure the final outcome was never in doubt. I expect more of the same. The Broncos will keep plenty of tricks in their back pocket until late in the season, but for now they'll keep on doing what needs to be done. Jack Reed returns in the centres to replace the injured Kahu. Onward and upward.
Verdict – Broncos by 8
Result - Broncos 25 defeated Warriors 10
Canberra Raiders vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday afternoon – GIO Stadium
I spoke of the Raiders depth last weekend, and we're already pulling out the fathometer on the green machine. Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin are hitting the benches for a while, and both looked good pre-injury last weekend. Lachlan Croker, nephew of Jason and some sort of distant relation of Jarrod, makes his NRL debut alongside Sam Williams. Daniel Tupou replaces Joe Burgess in an otherwise unchanged line-up. Burgess may have scored two tries in his NRL debut but to my eye the Englishman has some work to do on his defensive reads - let's call him a work in progress. You could hardly tip the Roosters with any confidence after the first round loss but those key injuries to the Raiders have me leaning ever so slightly their way. How about that? I got to use the word 'fathometer'.
Verdict – Roosters by 2
Result - Raiders 21 defeated Roosters 20
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – ANZ Stadium
Three NRL coaches made their debuts for their new clubs in round one - and they all lost. Knights coach Nathan Brown was one of them, and the sleepless nights may have already started given their demoralising loss to the team most have tipped for the wooden spoon this year. The Bunnies were better than I expected last week, and sometimes you just have to believe your eyes. Reynolds and Sutton are injured (again), but the home side should be too good regardless.
Verdict – Rabbitohs by 10
Result - Rabbitohs 48 defeated Knights 6
Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – Pirtek Stadium
The Cowboys record at Pirtek Stadium is, let's be blunt, pretty crap really. Six wins from 17 games is a poor return by any standard, but when you consider how good some of those Cowboys sides have been and how poor some of those Eels sides have been...it beggars belief. Keiran Foran puts his hand up for the Eels for the first time, and he stands alongside one of the better Eels line-ups we've seen in quite a while. The Eels never looked likely against the Broncos, but that form may stand up this season. They showed some weaknesses on the edges in round one which need addressing. Jonathan Thurston and Michael Morgan have the game to make them pay if they haven't. The Cowboys did enough to beat the Sharks last weekend, but their form was well shy of what we saw from them at the back end of season 2015. It's a genuine upset, and it's not for everyone, but the Eels for mine.
Verdict – Eels by 4
Result - Eels 20 defeated Cowboys 16
Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday afternoon – Shark Park
Two sides returning from losses on the road but it's the Sharks I'm keen on to atone here. They get an extra couple of days to recover and you'd expect a bumper crowd at Shark Park for what is one of those bitter local derbies. Paul Gallen and Chris Heighington are unavailable but the Sharks are never short of firepower up front. The Dragons bumbled their way around AAMI Park on Monday night in what was arguably the poorest quality game of the round. How long they persist with Dugan in the centres is anyone's guess, but it looks like the wrong move to me.
Verdict – Sharks by 8
Result - Sharks 30 defeated Dragons 2
Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday night – AAMI Park
Some of you may remember Brad Gilbert, the American tennis player who made a career out of winning ugly. Even at their ugliest, the Storm still seem to find a way to win. Coach Craig Bellamy, once a great female tennis player himself, would have saved some of his swearing on Monday night for the dressing room. I expect the Storm to respond, but even if they don't they'll probably win ugly anyway - particularly at home where the Titans have won just once from five attempts.
Verdict – Storm by ugly
Result - Storm 34 defeated Titans 16
Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles – Monday night – Leichhardt Oval
The Sea Eagles were clunky in round one, and it may take them some time before these new combinations gel...if they ever do. The addition of Starling and Lawrence to the forward pack is a good thing but I'm not sure that's where the problems lie. The Tigers started well in season 2015 and they've come out of the blocks again this year. Keeping it up for 26 weeks is the challenge, but I'm prepared to tip them at pretty decent odds to win again. Take note of the Sea Eagles uninspiring record at Leichhardt too.
Verdict – Tigers by 2
Result - Tigers 36 defeated Sea Eagles 22
Wally Lewis - round two selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- Panthers vs BULLDOGS
- BRONCOS vs Warriors
- Raiders vs ROOSTERS
- RABBITOHS vs Knights
- Eels vs COWBOYS
- SHARKS vs Dragons
- STORM vs Titans
- Tigers vs SEA EAGLES
Comments
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Ok Thinker, newbie from Perth, anyone else including the NRL itself.
I gotta question.
You can't be offside in the ingoal area.
How is it you can be accidentally offside?
Didn't we just say there is no offside in the ingoal area?
Put the Hiku falcon play into a defensive scenario.
Ball hits Hiku's head close to Penrith's own deadball line.
It bounces forward and is picked up by Mansour who is closer to his own try line. There is no offside in the ingoal area, meaning surely you can't be accidentally offside in the ingoal, meaning play on.
The bunker is still listening to Channel 9 commentary to help them rather than adjudicate by the rules.
Mansour scored a try and it should have been over.
Any comments?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Ok retract above, dumbass. Can't be offside in your own ingoal. Mansour no try. Bunker correct.
They got it wrong with the Hopoate try though. Player is tackled short of the line. Ball is tucked in like a chickens wing. Player while sliding then promotes the ball forward a good foot in front of his body. Who cares if he slid after he hit the deck? Ball carrying arm hits the deck. Ball is promoted forward. No try. Bunker wrong.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Can't show you a replay sorry, NRL have chosen not to release the double movement angle, the one that showed ball at side at impact, then magically ball in front of head as he starts to slide.
Stupid Bunker didn't even really look at it. They only chose to see if momentum carried him to the line after sliding. Dumbasses. First clanger for me. Not in the Howler category, but it was a mistake.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Found it. Scroll through to the 5m43sec mark. Double movement there for all to see.
http://www.nrl.com/friday-fever-panthers-v-bulldogs-review-lone-scout/ta...
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
How good were the Broncos Coach, Warriors came to play and had a lot of ball first half, couple of injuries didn't help them but they were outclassed second half, bring on the Panthers!
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Warriors ! Me right now : http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/03/10/angry-splash-mountain-lady-photo-n... :-(
Submitted by WesTigerSteven on
Hi thinker/guys sorry I missed first round tipping and couple of games in round two. I've entered tips on my espn tipping comp and totally forgot about this one. First round tips got 5/8 good to see my team West Tigers come out with the win pretty close game. For round two I tipped the Doggies and Bronx to win.
Here's my predictions for the rest of round two.
Raiders
Rabbitohs
Cowboys
Dragons
Storm
Tigers
Hard luck Warriors fans. First win will be round 4.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Rocket, I must say the Broncos were a bit down for big chunks of the game. Warriors more than matched them physically, in much the same way as Panthers more than matched the Bulldogs in that area. Will be interesting if Moylan can make it back - he was hoping to play against the Dogs, not to mention Oates out injured. Warriors made some lazy defensive errors, falling for dummies from centres - tut tut not good. Penrith will be better than that. If it comes down to a fair dinkum street fight next week, then it's gonna be tough for those Broncos in enemy territory.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Yeah dude, round 4, 2024, against Rockhampton Hound Dogs ! Sorry guys I shouldn't of said that. I'm just speaking from hurt right now. Warriors :-(
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Thinker, with your weekly video review can you remember to include the vision I provided of Hoppa's try. 5m43s mark. The NRL highlights fail to show the right angle. Would have gone to the sheds 14-0 if not for a roomful of people in a railway shed in Redfern falling asleep on the job.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Looks like WesTigerSteven has the answer to winning a tipping comp. Forget to put tips in then tell us how well you did.
Afraid this comp ain't much different to most others. Forget = 0. That's if the integrity of the comp is not to be tarnished.
Submitted by Tailspin on
Wow coach, got a bit of venom in you today :), yeh I missed the first one to but I picked the round.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Hey Coach your spot on but don't be too hard on Wes tiger Steven, at least he has gone with the tigers not like his mate Tigerholic, next week will be tough if the same panthers turn up, injuries will always have an impact on either side but for me its all about consistency, last night we saw the welcome return of fatigue to our game and I for one have missed it, the broncos ran the warriors ragged.
Submitted by christine on
I thought the point to the bunker was to speed up the game & allow the game to flow more freely , If that's the case they have failed dismally.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Panthers may have lost on Thursday, but I have a feeling that game changed the whole complexion of the season.
Penrith showed that muscle can be used by smaller profile teams to match it with bigger profile teams. Warriors improved on Friday and matched it physically, although let down in other areas. Canberra matched it with the Roosters, and Parra matched it with the Cowboys.
Something about this week has set the scene. The big teams are on their way out. Look out Broncos@Penrith. Bloody look out.
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Christine the bunker has sped up the time taken to make a decision and the game is certainly allowed to flow more freely nobody wants refs afraid to make a decision or endless replays that waste so much time.
The Bunker is an improvement not a failure, the roosters are failures!
Submitted by Coach Potato on
The Bunker has sped up decisions no doubt, but lots more reviews are being called on that used to be called by the ref, and so overall, it's only a slight improvement, although I think it is an improvement. They got the Hopoate try wrong and that cost 2 points so it's not perfect, but nothing ever will be.
Only early days, but I'm hoping this week means that the small teams are back. Finals chock full of teams like Wests, Parra, Canberra, Penrith. A working class Grand Final. Bring that on.
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Alright. I take it back. The Thinker was right about Eels. Now if everybody just wants stand around me and laugh at me for taking Knights (6) to beat Bunnies(48) I'm sure it will make him a happy man. Seriously though Thinker, great call on picking Eels to upset Cowboys at home. Some days I really don't know how you do it ... :-s
Submitted by tigerholic on
Giddy Folks
Last night was a reality check for a lot of us. The Eels getting home and the bloody Raiders with the injuries they had should not of dusted the Roosters.
I think that the NRL has taken a giant leap forward with the introduction of the bunker system, what does it matter if the refs are referring more decisions up to them, they are getting them right. They HAVE to step in and advise the refs if and when they see an error, there has to be no exception even forward passes.
Last year, how many times was your team dudded by stupid incorrect decisions that even Coach Potato could have gotten right.
I agree with you Coach about Tigersteven, you can't miss the cut off for your tips and then say you how well you did , if we allowed this even poor old Rocket Ryan would rocket up the ladder.
Well done Thinker with tipping the Eels, they did well to hang on, Cowboys were off last night and will only get better. I am getting nervous now that my Tiggers may be a better chance than I thought, maybe in Tigersteven land I can change my tip.
Submitted by Declan_S on
Hey Thinker, just realised I've been scrolling past the (show/hide tipping entry form) link this entire time in my rush to get down to the comments box. Not sure if it's too late to plug through my commented tips from this round and last round but I shall be submitting my tips correctly from now on!
Submitted by Declan_S on
*correction, I see you've fixed up this round, so just round 1 needs to be caught up on. Thank you!
Submitted by The Thinker on
Thanks Declan
I'll have your tips for both rounds added to the comp at the end of this round.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Umm Tigerholic, Hoppa reaches out halfway into his slide, and in their haste to make a decision all the Bunker want to check is if momentum took him to the line. Kindergarten error not to check for a second movement. Sure they've got most of them right, but there hasn't been anything too mind bending to adjudicate.
For all the blind leading the blind out there, I'll copy this again. Judge for yourself. 5m 43sec into the video. Any reaching out from Hoppa. Just because you're sliding doesn't mean you can make a second movement. Feel free to respond TigerH.
http://www.nrl.com/friday-fever-panthers-v-bulldogs-review-lone-scout/ta...
Submitted by tigerholic on
Ahhh Coach, I looked at the link you posted, Hoppa did not promote the ball, it was all momentum resulting in a fair try being awarded.
I love your passion Coach, we are having some robust discussions about the worlds best game which I love.
Have a good week ahead
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
Hey Tigerholic have a good look I reckon Coach is on to it, he seems to promote the ball after the initial tackle, he does hide it well with his momentum but has he promoted the ball?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
If you pause at the right moment, he has the ball tucked into his chest, ball is under his chin, arm carrying ball on the ground. How does it get to it's finishing position? Only one answer: a second movement. Bunker got it wrong big time. C'mon Tigerholic. Your tips are ok, but your Bunker work sux.
Submitted by a on
I agree with Coach
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
I don't. Panthers suck. Tigers suck. Warriors suck. Titans suck. Dragons suck. Knights both suck and blow. Two weeks into NRL and already we have six teams guarantee not to make playoffs which is kind of shame for game that historically has had reputation for being one of closest in world ... :-S
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Try and get yourself off the memory loss Johnny Ray. They're really no good for you.
Cowboys were 0-3 in 2015.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
* memory loss (pills) I meant :p
Submitted by Coach Potato on
I didn't tip the Tigers, but good luck tonight tcorte - going for an incredible Perfect Round 2.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/03/14/jared-maxwell-use-bunker-often/?utm...
Submitted by christine on
Providing tigers beat manly tonight I will be 7 from 8 thanks to eels beating cowboys , What did happen to cowboys this week " a " ??
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
They found out that last years massive come from behind win was a fluke and that the BOYS should be respected. Now it is the Bulldogs turn to learn that lesson.
Submitted by christine on
Baggy Gee : It was sarcasm when I asked that ??
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Baggy, there seems to be a massive difference in Parra with and without Foran, not unlike South Sydney with Inglis. Interestingly both mostly been playing with injury.
Foran might just be the saviour of Parra that finally replaces Sterlo 30 years on, but each game he must be so close to aggravating the injury. Hope it holds out. I know Michael Clarke didn't play on for too long after his recurring hamstring issues.
Submitted by a on
Eels only won cause of the refs
Submitted by The Thinker on
The Tigers - 27% of possession in this game thus far....and still not losing
Hang in there kitties
Submitted by The Thinker on
Evening football fans.
I've updated the tipping comp after the end of round two. Newcomer tcorte stuck a flag in the ground and announced 'I am here' with the first perfect round of the season. Not a bad effort at all, with three outsiders winning games this round.
Not far behind were a couple of older heads - Declan S and that guy whose head is so old he hides it behind a football.
'a' holds onto his lead, with a decent peloton of contenders on his tail.
I'll have my previews and tips for round three up and running by lunchtime Wednesday.
All the best
Submitted by tigerholic on
Well done "torte" on your perfect round. Premierships and tipping comps are not won until October but well done all the same.
I have to admit that I am embarrassed that I have not picked the Tigers neither of their wins so far.
I am over the moon with how the team is performing, god its good to be a Tigers supporter.
Coach, are you out there?
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Well done tcorte and others. Special thanks must go to the Bunker for deciding the game on Thursday through negligence.
Submitted by a on
Well done tcorte for a perfect round
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Yeah, I know Coach, its a rough look, when the guy who drives the bus is always on the verge of breaking down. Just interested in the idea of giving Foran next pre season off. Load him up with high protein, and work that Hammie with stretching and so forth. Might just need some proper R&R. Read a long time ago that with Armstrong in 2003, after he busted his ass to win the lead up to the Tour that he couldn't re-hydrate while training and should have just left everything, high altitude, riding, the works to get that one part of him right. That was the year the Jan almost got him by less than a minute. Thinking about if is it healthy to have a pre season off. All the guys at that level with 5 years under their belts don't need the skill drill, but just maintaining their bodies. Just a thought.
And just to address the elephant in the room, maybe all the contracts need to be taken away from the clubs. Let the club and the manager talk, work out a package that suits all parties and then go to NRL head quarters (maybe a separate entity) and they then go yes/no based on what is left in the kitty. That way then everything is above board, everyone has full access to it, if they ask, and there isn't this shit storm carrying on every season with a new team in the eye of it. The Eels are the only ones giving out corporate boxes to sponsors? They are just the ones who have been dobbed in/lined up like the Sharks and that drugs nonsense.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Lance Armstrong analogy? The guy who's career was full of performance enhancing drugs? I like the Michael Clarke one better.
Hard to know what to do. Whip the wounded horse or lose week in week out. Personally, I would do the latter. Give him 3 months off, basically right off 2016 for Parra, let him back second half of the season with plenty of games under his belt and plan for 2017 finals.
Parra is such a basket case at the moment, they need some success on the field to divert attention away from salary cap matters, so he will play if he is 75% or better. Question for me to Ian Schubert, NRL Auditor, and former Rooster, - If the team that Michael Jennings and Keiran Foran newly joined has breached the salary cap with no other real stars to speak of, how is it that the Roosters remained off the radar as NRL Premiers 2013 with a team that boasted Jennings, Tuivasa Sheck, Kenny Dowall, Tupou, Maloney, Pearce, Guerra, Cordner, SBW, Waerea-Hargreaves, and Friend?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I was more interested in the physically side, everyone was on the juice. But thats the point, Bronco's are defiantly over the cap.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Oh. Juice against juice, making it an level playing field again, and Armstrong would have then won 7 straight Tour de France's anyway. I see what you mean. I think.
Submitted by Coach Potato on
Just 4 fun.
Not since 2007 has there been 6 teams on 4 points and 6 teams on zip after Round 2.
Curiously, while 2 of these teams on 4 dropped out of the finals race, the other 4 teams on 4 went on to finish the season as the top 4.
Submitted by a on
Instering stats here
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
Congratulations Tcorte ! Interesting stats, thanks Coach ! Looks like I'm now destined to remain at bottom of Thinker's tipping ladder ! Dude :-(
Submitted by a on
Hopefully Cowboys win this round
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