Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – Allianz Stadium
It's always risky to look at the form from one weekend in isolation, but I'm finding hard to look away from the performances of the Roosters (who were spanked) and the Rabbitohs (who spanked someone else). We could easily have a turnaround here – take note of the Rabbits seriously woeful record at this venue, and up until last weekend the Roosters form was vastly superior. But last weekend....yeeesh! No Napa, Cordnor, Pearce or Ferguson for the Chooks. Their pack is weakened and the Bunnies can name the same team that decimated the Panthers. Adam Reynolds delivered what Adam Reynolds does best...a kicking game. A spot on kicking game that had a little more variety than he has shown for much of the year. It was easily his best performance this season and a repeat of that has them winning again.
Verdict – Rabbitohs by 4
Result – Roosters by 2
Penrith Panthers vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday night – Pepper Stadium
On what basis has the universe determined that the Panthers deserves to be favourites on Saturday night? They were at best ordinary and at worst abysmal against the Rabbitohs last week, and now they take on a team that's been playing an awful lot better than the Rabbitohs. Daly Hyphen-Evans gets to make some sort of statement following his shock omission from the Queensland seventeen for Origin III. I understand the notion that the Panthers were embarrassed last weekend, and they'll be desperate to put on a better showing in front of their own. They're better than what they gave us last time around and I expect them to improve, but even then they're likely to fall short against a team that hasn't lost in quite some time. Even the games Manly probably shouldn't have won they have won. That's the thing about winning. Like losing, it's a little contagious. Manly are winning, Penrith are just letting everybody down.
Verdict – Sea Eagles by 8
Result – Panthers by 8
Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels – Saturday night – AAMI Park
If ever you wanted to see an example of how the Origin series challenges some sides more than others look no further than this. The Storm have Smith, Cronk, Slater, Munster, Chambers and Glasby at Camp Maroon this weekend. The Eels are watching Origin on TV like the rest of us. The Storm are also getting by without the injured McLean and Welch so even their formidable forward pack is weakened at the minute. Clearly they can't be taken lightly, because this side has been taking on some of the best teams in the competition with key players missing and either beating them (Sharks) or nearly beating them (Roosters). I'm sure Bellamy has a plan to win this game and he has a team that know how to play to a plan, but with so many key men missing I'm leaning slightly to the Eels. The most important person on the park is probably Kenny Edwards – he can single-handedly lose this game for the Eels with his extraordinary moments of footballing lunacy. Providing he can limit his stupidity to less than 3 or 4 minutes the visitors can prevail.
Verdict – Eels by 4
Result – Eels by 16
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – Belmore Sports Ground
I know Des Hasler signed an extension recently, but if the Dogs don't walk away from Belmore with two points on Sunday the Board would be thinking about calling him in for a chat on Monday. I like Des, and I think his players like Des, and for that reason I'm tipping them here. It's not a great reason to back a team, but I'm struggling to come up with anything else. The Knights had a really off day last round, and it wouldn't surprise me if they were much better here. Unfortunately though, their much better still tends to fall just short. The Dogs couldn't find four points on a rectangle at the minute, but someway, somehow they will graft out a win. An ugly ugly win.
Verdict – Bulldogs by 1
Result – Bulldogs by 2
Wally Lewis - round eighteen selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- ROOSTERS vs Rabbitohs
- Panthers vs SEA EAGLES
- Storm vs EELS
- BULLDOGS vs Knights
Comments
Submitted by a on
If Dragons beat the Raiders next week I think the top 8 will be locked in
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Being a glass half full guy, I'm looking at the improvement over last week as my happy point. But you know what they say about laughter.
Submitted by christine on
Pabdul My point was the players these days are getting to much money , who gives a player who has never played a first grade game $1million & yet semi gets paid way less than other players ...
Submitted by pabdul on
christine i totally agree. you need to prove yourself as its a big step from u20s to first grade. im good with the long contracts for tamalolo and DCE as they are champions of the game and someone to build a team around.
The problem is other codes who have the cash and we will lose the youth to other sports.
I guess it comes down to loyalty and your love of the game of the individual.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Sami got signed as an unknown in RL, strong rugby 7's, but the games are like chalk and cheese. He is now entitled to the big money because he actually delivered on the potential. But I think we should allow the young guys to walk, rewards should go to the older stalwarts of the game, the one team men who exemplify the spirit of their team, never waver in their loyalty and spend 13 years doing the grind. Guys like Hindmarsh, Parker, Menzies, guys the Americans would call Franchise players.
Submitted by Steel Panther on
I dont think I've seen a more undeserved win...
Submitted by a on
I feel sorry for the Knights
Submitted by Christine on
Mary s well done we are both now on 10 points...
Submitted by Christine on
I do feel sorry for knights bulldogs didn't deserve the win...
Submitted by a on
Yeah seems like the Knights have bad luck when they are in Colse games
Submitted by pabdul on
why didnt the dogs deserve to win?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
That last knights kick was abysmal, should have gone cross field to mix it up. But serves the knights right, predictable touch finder picked off when they should have been playing football.
Submitted by christine on
The knights played better than the dogs ...
Submitted by pabdul on
so if they played better why didnt they win?
Submitted by christine on
Pabdul The same reason they are sitting were they are on the ladder ...
Submitted by The Thinker on
Greetings football fans
I've updated the NRL ladder and the tipping ladder. Congratulations to Pabdul, the only person to get four from four this round.
I'll have my State of Origin preview published on Monday night and will have my round 19 previews and tips published on Wednesday.
All the best
Submitted by Fortress on
The mighty eagles cleared of all wrong doing and didn't I tell u all so these scum who are making up these false claims should be found and charged and sent to jail where they can rot,but did they really think they were going to bring down my club,not in a million billion years disgusting low life dogs they will be caught and can't wait for that day!!!!!!!
The referees boss the one and only tony archer has defended his refs in the disgraceful exhibition we saw Saturday night it was not a try not even close and u would win 4 games with the amount of penalties and possession they had yet the mighty eagles defended magnificently,how can a team be canned 14 to 4 in penalties have an absurd try scored against them have around 35% possession in the match and yet lose by 8 points I tell u how my team are gutsy never give up that's why we are a threat to win the title.
What on earth is tony archer talking about his not serious and if he keeps defending this bunch of s##t refs then he and his inept crap refs should be sacked this is not just for my club but all our clubs the refs are sub standard what is tony archer watching and what meds is he on what a liar he is a fool why doesn't the NRL step in and get rid of him and his co- shorts u can't gift a game like that it just not on !!!!!!!
Submitted by Fortress on
So thinker not long ago you complained bout my club getting the rub of the green and on that occasion at best 50/50 calls yet i didn't hear u say anything about that farce we saw Saturday night please don't tell me that wasn't a rort a fair dinkum fort the Penrith side was never going to win they were gifted the win what a disgrace and Archer defends it oh my god what next !!!!!!!!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
A few weeks ago against the Knights in the wet Manly scored a try that wasn't as well. It's all swings and roundabouts. If they weren't getting any marginal calls in their favour then you would be justified, but ever team gets bum calls again then and bum calls in their favour.
Submitted by Fortress on
Yes baggy for God sake not the whole game the whole game was a rort I know ur happy to see my side lose the whole match was a rort OK read and understand baggy so ur saying they keep making mistakes so why does archer keep defending them who is going to step in and get rid of him and the rest Penrith are no where near manly in any department this year if we had 14_4 penalty count 80% possession we would of flogged them by 40 and that is fact can't wait till we play them at brookie very soon a properly reffed game and I mean both ways we win by 30 to 40 points we are in a different class than them this year and we will prove it when we play them soon we are going to rip them to shreds
And wouldn't it be great if we end there season the days couldn't come quicker,but u see baggy u dont care bout the game u just care my team does not win but dont worry we showed enough against that dump Penrith that the title is within reach and if we do happen to do it hate to think what state ur going to be in a very un happy depressed sod!!!!!!!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Honestly for someone who tries to read something in to comments that isn't there you can't do basic comprehension. Yes bad calls hurt, everyone hates them, but to carry on like a pork chop just because a few went against you, really. Trust me, we know whats going on but face the world like a grown man and not some oversized kid and accept that these things do and will happen. People make mistakes, people disagree with you, and at some point you have to make your own mind up on things not just regurgitate what you hear a commentator say, what the guys at the club said, what your read. You want me to face facts, fact one, grow a pair and generate your own thoughts and world view that includes other people.
Submitted by Fortress on
Crap u grow a pair u twit what do you mean that I can't make an opinion of what I saw its my opininon u fool what do u know about the game judging me and my character look at yourself baggy u make no sence u think u do and u don't u just don't understand passion cause u have none I mean how could u no titles rorts and found to be yet u will never ever face the truth I can't stand u or ur club plus I will never grow some cause they grow on males stop hating other clubs stop hiding behind ur real self stop sucking up to people on here to make me look bad ur last post says it all that game was a rort everyone who say it said it but I guess I never watch do you I tell u what baggy if ur mob make the 8 and we are top 4 we could just meet and on current form it might just be the final nail in the coffin can't wait have fum growing some and please watch the footy its not hard !!!!!!
Submitted by Fortress on
Meant to say baggy u will never grow some who cares anyway waste of time there are others on here with passion understand fact and watch the game not just sit there for a resault go away u smell !!!!!!!
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