South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Gold Coast Titans – Friday night – ANZ Stadium
Two sides without a win since round 10 and both teams are in danger of slipping out of finals contention if they can't resurrect their seasons soon. The Rabbitohs were good in patches against the Broncos and their coach is pretty convinced they aren't far away from where they want to be. The Titans on the other hand disappointed against the Warriors but they did get the Warriors on one of those days when the Warriors could have beaten anyone (it does happen sometimes, but with not much more frequency than Cronulla premierships). More importantly, the Rabbitohs bring a settled squad into this game while the Titans have had a raft of significant changes thrust upon them – no Peats, no Hayne, no Wallace, no Elgey. Chris McQueen, once a winger and now a forward, has put his hand up for playmaking duties. Does he still have that Rabbitohs tattoo on his neck? The burrow gets a night to celebrate in what has been a pretty lean season.
Verdict – Rabbitohs by 8
Result – Rabbitohs by 16
Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – AAMI Park
We all (well..almost all) love Origin football, but that love doesn't come without a cost. Origin has cost us what would otherwise be a rip-snorter of a football game in Melbourne on Saturday night. What remains is a close contest, but it lacks the absolute class that our Origin players would bring. After assuming Laybutt would play last weekend (and consequently getting my tip wrong) I'll get to see him here – he's a big tall blond boofhead halfback so you won't miss him out there. Kane Linnett slots into the back row to make up for the absences of Cooper and Hess. Six big changes for the Storm this weekend but the players they have stepping up have done this before. Their coach is near enough to a genius when it comes to getting his players to work to a plan, and there's no denying the class of Cameron Munster. It's hard to imagine the Storm without their big three but he is clearly one player that will be stepping into the breach. There's plenty of class in that Storm forward pack and I think they can get the points.
Verdict – Storm by 4
Result – Storm by 1
Cronulla Sharks vs Wests Tigers – Saturday night – Southern Cross Group Stadium
In round 14 the Roosters were pretty average, and they scored 40 points against the Tigers. That gives you a fair indication of just how poor the Tigers were, and they were playing at home and with Tedesco and Woods on the paddock. If they were in any sort of form I could tip them here, because the Sharks are without their two best forwards, their two most dynamic backs and their most important playmaker and goalkicker. And the Sharks record at home this season, as I've pointed out previously, has been terrible. They lost again at home last week to the Storm, and if they can't beat the Storm at home on a wet night when they are resting Cooper Cronk I'm struggling to see how they can beat them in September. That said, if the Storm are a pineapple the Tigers are a turnip, and the only teams Cronulla are beating at home this season are turnips. I love rugby league, but if it's raining in Sydney on Saturday night this game will be almost unwatchable. I might even drag Ms Thinker out for a bite after the early game. Date responsibly.
Verdict – Sharks by 4
Result – Sharks by 2
Parramatta Eels vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium
I'd expect a fair crowd to show up at ANZ on Sunday afternoon as two of the more popular teams face off. These sides met in round two at WIN Stadium and the Eels were the victors in a dominant display. Corey Norman tore the Dragons apart on that occasion and Semi Radradra racked up a record four tries. Since then the Eels have added Mitchell Moses, while the Dragons won't have Dugan or Frizell on Sunday. Both these sides let me down in round 13 but I'm a little more forgiving of the Eels performance given their opposition on that occasion.
Verdict – Eels by 4
Result – Eels by 14
Wally Lewis - round fifteen selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- RABBITOHS vs Titans
- STORM vs Cowboys
- SHARKS vs Tigers
- Eels vs DRAGONS
Comments
Submitted by mark ashford on
Just re read the Spartan Warrior's post.
As usual it was interesting, informative but overall went on a bit long.
Thanks for your tips Spartan.
I'm sure the great Johnny Raper would be honoured by being included in your post.
I had several beers with the great Wally Lewis one night at the Ashmore Tavern (Gold Coast) He advised me to not play up and go home to my wife interesting advice from Wally.
Submitted by Fortress on
The mighty eagles resting there wings,so here are my tips for round 15 ..........
The titans
The storm(no jt swings me to storm if jt was playing would pick the cows)
The sharks
The dragons
Good luck everyone have a great week !!!!!!!!
Submitted by Spartan Warrior on
Greetings from the Spartan Warrior,
Aye Master Ashford , my post hath the scope to be trimmed. Alas, after spending much of my time away, I tend to become somewhat exuberant with my words. You spoke of Wally Lewis, a great player and sir. Aye, he is among my list of rugby league greats as is the great Clive Churchill, John Raper, Ken Irvine, Arthur Summons just to name a wee few. Doest anyone else have a favourite player they could nameth?
The Spartan Warrior has spoken. I bid thee adieu.
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Good morning all,
Another crisp morning in the city of Canberra, another bus ride. Gee, I love Canberra weather, Big Pete would know that growing up in the central west can be cold, real cold. It was so cold in the Kandos/Rylstone region when I was growing up, the local politicians actually had their hands in their own pockets. So coming to Canberra was like home really. Yes, Mr Spartan Warrior you have some great players on your list. I’ve said it before, my two favourites were Graeme Langlands and Graham Eadie, and they were two players who had an influence on me during my early years playing footy. I still reckon Peter Sterling was one of the best halfbacks ever. Mr Mark Ashford, how good was Wally Lewis as a player and still as a bloke? That advice he gave you would keep you in good stead when you meet the true love of your life. I have been ‘She who must be obeyed’ for 30 years mate and what Wally said is true. Basically, its family must come first. Actually all, does anyone remember the game three decider in 1991? Wally Lewis’s last game? I remember it well because I was bowling at the Belconnen ten pin bowling alley that night and we all stopped to watch the game, the attendants were not too happy but fairdinkum, there was nothing they could do but watch with us. We thought we had the game won and then Steve Walters and Shearer combined to level up. Fairdinkum, Meninga kicked the goal from the side line. He missed every kick earlier in the night but saved his best to last I guess. What made that game special was when we found out it was Wally’s last game and the atmosphere and noise from the crowd was unbelievable. The loss wasn’t as bad after that, every one there respected Wally. By the way, I scored my highest ever game that night, a 289, never replicated since but have come close.
Cheers from Mr Awesome.
Submitted by a on
Here are my tips
Rabbitohs by 10 I think the Rabbitohs will finally change their season around
Cowboys by 1 Umm both teams are missing a chunk of players ehhh I will stick with my team
Sharks by 12 I think the Sharks should get over the Tigers here
Eels by 2 I think the Eels will bounce back
Submitted by a on
Here are my tips
Rabbitohs by 10 I think the Rabbitohs will finally change their season around
Cowboys by 1 Umm both teams are missing a chunk of players ehhh I will stick with my team
Sharks by 12 I think the Sharks should get over the Tigers here
Eels by 2 I think the Eels will bounce back
Submitted by Christine on
My tips for red 15 are :
Souths
Storm
Sharks
Eels
Good luck with your tips everyone ...
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Hello all,
Just a quick question,Christine, you've been here a long time are you going to be part of Mr Thinkers guest tippers comp. next year? cheers from Mr Awesome
Submitted by christine on
Johnny awesome You try juggling three comps at once & see how you go , I might one day but I don't know when it all gets a bit confusing with being in so many comps , I enter an in house comp which I have one three times I am also in a tipping comp with talking sport sorry for mentioning that on your website Thinker I do apologize for that but that one has a lot more people in it & it's hard to win anything for that reason & i'm on here as a bit of relief from my illness it's my home away from home when I need to escape the reality of my condition which I can't do with the other comps i'm in & I've made friends on here so like it or not i'm on here but thanks for asking ...
Submitted by a on
Yeah I hope you will be in the comp next year
Submitted by mark ashford on
Spartan and Johnny A
I guess Wally was my favourite along with Langer, Lockyer and most of the early Broncs, Renouf, Hancock, the Walter brothers, Gene Miles and many others.
NSW based players I admired would include Toovey, the Mortimers, "cement" Gillesbie, ET, the Chief Harrigan who had an incredible war with "cement" and many others who don't come to mind.
Prior to origin you guys had an amazing comp, which QLD players envied because of the money.
Does anyone remember Ray Corcoran, a Qlder playing for the Sharks?
He was my next door neighbour from Grovelly in Brisbane.
Ray played wing and was as fast as you get.
I guess you can have your favourites but it's what happens next Wednesday that counts.
Submitted by pabdul on
yesh i remember ray corcoran played on the wing in the loss to manly in the 1973 grand final. one of my mates played in the same grand final chris wellman he was 5/8 . he passed away not that long ago. i remember chris telling me about that team with englishmen cliff watson and tommy bishop. he spoke highly of corcoran.
Submitted by christine on
My father has introduced me to jim Corcoran he used to play golf with my father ...
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hey thanks Padbul.
We were a pommie migrant family in Bris, arrived in 1953 I was a baby.
Mum & Dad and 5 kids, finally got a house in Grovelly Bris.
The Corcorans were great neighbours as was everyone else around us.
My youth was amazing, fishing in the local creek, playing with all the kids in the street. At 5 kids we were less than most. All good catholic families.
Thinking back now it was the best childhood you could hope for.
Became an Aussie citizen many years ago and believe this is the best country on earth.
Have been back to the UK for a holiday and more recently Germany, France and Holland. These countries were amazing (their history) but couldn't wait to get back to AUS.
Submitted by pabdul on
yeah we arrived as 10 pound poms in 1969. put in a hostel for 6 months till the old man saved up enough till we could afford a place.
i loved growing up in that era. all i needed was a tennis ball and enough money to buy a sunny boy and a bag of samboy chips and i was out till happy days started at 530
Submitted by christine on
Spartan warrior Arthur beetson ...
Submitted by KellysLoot on
Hi all.
My tips this round.
Rabbitohs
Cowboys
Sharks
Dragons
Submitted by mark ashford on
Padbul
Sunny boys and samboy chips. Happy days on tv!! You were spoilt mate.
When I got here there was no tv. Sunny boys and samboys didn't exist.
We spent a year in a migrants camp but then got our house.
Our treat was to walk 3 k's to Gaythorne cinema, Mum knew the owner, watch a movie, get a 3 ring caramel corn, share it and walk home.
As a little dude I went home on Dad's shoulders.
Wouldn't swap my childhood for anything. It was the best time of my life
Submitted by christine on
Spartan warrior George peponis , bob fulton, steve Mortimer, terry lamb & of course even more recent years hasem el maseri ...
Submitted by pabdul on
maybe i should of explained i got up at 430 and did a paper run before school. i usually got to school late and my mother would get called up to school as the brothers would cane you for any excuse. but she was good coz i gave her half my money to help out. my other fav was 20c mixed lollies and 4 potato scallops for 20c after footy training with vinegar
Submitted by christine on
Aaron grey is out for the souths v titans game this week ...
Submitted by a on
How about Gordon Tails
Submitted by a on
How about Gordon Tails
Submitted by christine on
toovey ...
Submitted by christine on
Ray price
Submitted by christine on
Mark sorry mark I didn't realise you had already named Mortimer & toovey how about norm provan & wendal sailor ...
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Hey Pab - that's a good chinwag you and Mark are having over the younger days.
How old were you mate in 1969 when you arrived?
Sunnyboy orange drink/ice block. Scallops with vinegar and a light splash of salt. No chicken salt then, like today we have. Memories..... Scallops were also nice with Lea and Perrins hot sauce.
Sunday afternoon at our streets fish shop and pin-ball machines. Some were wizards and had the machines in credit, for when they returned to play. Cashing in drink bottles for 5c was another past time, but boy did I like sarsaparilla milk shakes.....or thick shakes which were real thick. Suck that hard, that you nearly lost your facial cheeks.
Climbing plane trees and firing bum stingers in sling shots onto neighbours roofs was an art, when you mastered the sling shot.
First you had to climb the tree and hide yourself like camouflage.
Our growing up days are far from what they get themselves into these days. Thanks mate for the memories.
Big Pete (SBAB).
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Hey Awesome J - truly gets cold here and Winter hasn't really hit here yet. Freeze the balls off a billiard table mate, when it does.
Pab and others who used to play r/league probably wouldn't know the feeling of playing footy in Kandos or Portland.
Scenario: grounds were very close to cement works. Rain through the week then sunshine.
Result: hard as rock footy fields to play on as dust settled and turned with the elements. Best sets of knee caps around the sports, league players had from there. Yes I know JA, you wear long trousers.
Cheers and enjoy the memories, we tend to throw forth here on Thinker site.
Big Pete
Submitted by pabdul on
that time every year the easter show you only need $20 and come home with 10 showbags. i liked the twisties.sunnyboy and cadburys bags and i used to buy a coke yoyo one of those paddle bats with the string and rubber ball and a click clacker you know the two balls on string and still have change. then go home for a game of brandings.
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Well Pab - brandings at school, you had more in the group and easy to hit the legs. Cocky Laura cost me a twisted ankle on one occasion and had to stand at cricket crease to bowl, in our school sport cricket season. I was a bowler and usually never got to bat.
If I did, several said in adult days of cricket, that I should have played golf, the way I hit a ball.
Talk tomorrow or weekend Bro. Long day tomorrow at the grind.
Cheers - Big Pete
Submitted by pabdul on
cocky Laura was great thats was up there with whats the time mr wolf.
i think tomorrow im going to teach my son how to play table footy with a paper triangle.
goodnight.
Submitted by newbie from perth on
Sa-wat-dee krup,
Woo-Hoo! 6 days until SOO 2. I can feel the tension starting to build. As much as I’ve tried to “encourage” the guys at work to partake of the awesomeness of SOO, they just point blank refuse to watch the splendour of the Great Game. Seriously, don’t know what goes through their heads at times. Oh well, if they insist on following the aerial ping-pong then that’s their loss. Speaking of losses, there’s gonna be 4 teams this week who will suffer losses so I suppose we’d better get into it…
Rabbitohs - The Bunnies haven’t won too many of late but they weren’t that bad last week against the Ponies. They should take some confidence out of that effort and they have no players MIA for Wednesday night. The Titans however will be without Wallace and Hayne. Mind you, they will get Proctor back so that might help. This could be a close one but based on what I saw last Friday night, I’ll go the Bunnies.
Storm - The Storm missing 5 and the Cowboys missing 4 makes this one very interesting. I reckon the better formline is the Storm beating the Sharks compared to the Cowboys beating the Eels. That and the fact it’s in Melbourne has me picking the Storm Troopers.
Sharks - The Sharks will have 5 MIA while the Tigers will have 2. Even with 5 missing and even with the Tigers getting LB back (I think), you’d imagine the Sharkies would be able to get over the line in this one. Stranger things have happened though but I’ll stick with the Sharks.
Eels - This is a tough one to pick I reckon. Both these teams were less than impressive last week, especially the Big Red V. Man, what happened there? Both have a genuine reason to “bounce back” this week but who’ll be the ones that actually make it happen? Yes, the Dragons will be missing Dugan & Frizell, but a Dragons victory wouldn’t surprise. Having said that, Newbie just might jump on Baggy’s BOYS this week.
OK kids, good luck with your tipping and may your team win by 40 points! Until next week people. Cheers.
P.S. If a jogger runs at the speed of sound, can he still hear his iPod? Hmmm…
Submitted by newbie from perth on
@ Spartan et al…
Not really able to mention my favourite player as being a West Aussie, I obviously grew up with Aussie Rules. Got into League when my young brother (some might remember him on here as “Shanghai” from a couple of years ago) started playing “cos his Canadian mates at school cajoled him into trying out for the Fremantle Roosters (yes, that’s where the love for Easts came from) as they couldn’t play gridiron and league was the closest fit.
My bro’ played some great footy for a “novice” and made the U15s State side in his first year and played fullback. Went on tour to the Eastern States and met the BBB of the day. Because of his efforts, I thought this might be a game to get interested in and have been hooked ever since.
Played one season of U17s but gave it up when the players hitting me were in my mind, just too freakin’ big and half of ‘em had more facial hair than I had on my whole head! That and the fact that I couldn’t see that well when it was a dark and wet winter’s day because I had to wear those “football glasses”. They were worn by some players in the local WA Aussie Rules comp but with league, all the opposition players wanted to do was rip ‘em off my head. Got too hard in the end trying to protect myself in tackles blah blah blah so I called it off and decided to chase girls and drink alcohol instead (ha-ha).
So, with limited “game time” I’ll have to put Alfie Langer forward as my favourite. Him and the King. I think that’s why I have a soft spot for Qld in the SOO. Remember watching those early SOO games and thinking how awesome it was. All these years later and I still think the same.
Dude, Sunny Boys, Samboy Chips and mixed bags of lollies! I’m assuming the Sunny Boys were those triangular ice block things? Ah the memories that brings back. Orange Sunny Boys were good but I liked the Rasberry ones better. Chicken flavoured Samboys were addictive. A mixed bag of lollies for threepence or if you had excess funds, a “big bag” for sixpence! For those who can remember, you could get 4 x Cobbers (chocolate covered toffees) for a penny. Geez Louise, a bloke’s showin’ his age eh? Nah not really, I was very very young when I started eating lollies (ha-ha). A year later and we got decimal currency.
Admission to the Royal Show was 50c and show bags about the same. Playing doogs (marbles) at recess, choir practice, compulsory sport at school, your first kiss, bus fare to school cost 3c and so on and so on. Yeah, childhood was a great time indeed. I wonder if the youngins of today will be able to look back at their childhood and feel all warm and fuzzy like us old dudes do. If not, what a shame.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with footy and I gotta skedaddle. It’s getting on and Newbie needs his booty sleep as he’s getting up at 4 tomorrow morning (Fridays are always early starts at work). Cheers…
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Hi all,
Last day for the week yee haa. Bus is running a few minutes late, how dare he hey? Big Pete, Mr Newbie, Mr Pabdul hello. Great memories from the sixties hey. I think your’re right Mr Newbie, it was 4 cobbers for a penny but when decimal came in 1966 back in Kandos, it got reduced 3 cobbers for a cent, Mrs Mac’s lolly shop had to survive I guess. You want to know something, I saw Mum and Dad recently in Kandos and the lolly shop sign is still there but it’s a house now. The lolly shop was established in the late 1940’s and went through to 1999. How good were the sunny boys, they went up in price to 3 cents each when I was a kid, used to be a cent. What about the Sherbets, everyone’s favourite. We used to walk to the swimming pool bare feet on the hot tar, then cut through across Henbury golf club to get there. It was 2 cents to get in. I remember when they jacked the price up to 5 cents, it was an outrage. My weekly pocket money in those days was 2 cents. You are right regarding the local show ground/ footy ground in Kandos and Portland , Big Pete. The days were as cold as an ex wife’s heart and combined with the cement dust and frost on the ground the oval was as tough as leather. Fairdinkum, great footy was still played there.
Cheers all from Johnny Awesome.
Submitted by pabdul on
great memories if not sunnyboy they had glug coke flavour or razz which was the rasperry one. id look into my bag of mixed lollies and saw cobbers bananas musk sticks and teeth. i used to like the occasional golden rough or mint Pattie but usually left with a choc wedge or a banana paddle pop.
Submitted by newbie from perth on
pabdul - choc wedges every time! They were the best. Thanks for reminding me what was in the bags of lollies. Brought a smile to my face. Now I'm hungry...
Submitted by Mary S on
I do know what you mean 'newbie from perth'. The trip down memory lane was a most delicious one, particularly ending with the choc wedge! Thanks guys!!!
Submitted by a on
Yep the trip down memory lane was very delicious
Submitted by BroncoSwimmer on
OH dear me, my week 14 tips didn't save from last week, via my phone, DOH, missed out on 6 points............Oh woe is me. Bloody internet not working on my lap top. Drats.
Submitted by Dragons-fanboy on
Hello everyone, my tips for this week are:
Rabbitohs by 8- Titans just have too many injuries and not to mention that they have Hayne, Peats, and Wallace out for Origin. Rabbitohs still have the same side as last week besides Gray. That side last week improved immensely against the Broncos. The Rabbtohs will turn that improvement last week to a much needed win this week.
Storm by 2- Both teams have their stars out. I believe that the 1,6,7 and 9 are very important in this match and whoever is the best in with that combination alongside the forwards will win. In the forwards sense, the Storm have that won by a long stretch. I think that the Storm will win because of their team culture and they still have some depth that will cover those out for Origin.
Sharks by 10- Geez weren't the Tigers real poor last week. Now minus Tedesco and Woods, I still can't see the Tigers beating an origin-effected Sharks side who have a poor record at home this season with the only sides they've beaten at home being the bottom 8 sides and the Tigers are one of them. So Sharks to grind their win to victory in what I think will be a low scoring game.
And finally... the mighty Dragons by 6- Although we have Dugan and Frizell out, we've still got a good side on paper. I believe that we can bounce back form last week although the Eels themselves will be looking to bounce back from last week's shocking hammering from the hands of the Cowboys.
Awesome. Good luck with everyone's tips for this week and for everyone's teams this week. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Dragons-fanboy on
Hello everyone, my tips for this week are:
Rabbitohs by 8- Titans just have too many injuries and not to mention that they have Hayne, Peats, and Wallace out for Origin. Rabbitohs still have the same side as last week besides Gray. That side last week improved immensely against the Broncos. The Rabbtohs will turn that improvement last week to a much needed win this week.
Storm by 2- Both teams have their stars out. I believe that the 1,6,7 and 9 are very important in this match and whoever is the best in with that combination alongside the forwards will win. In the forwards sense, the Storm have that won by a long stretch. I think that the Storm will win because of their team culture and they still have some depth that will cover those out for Origin.
Sharks by 10- Geez weren't the Tigers real poor last week. Now minus Tedesco and Woods, I still can't see the Tigers beating an origin-effected Sharks side who have a poor record at home this season with the only sides they've beaten at home being the bottom 8 sides and the Tigers are one of them. So Sharks to grind their win to victory in what I think will be a low scoring game.
And finally... the mighty Dragons by 6- Although we have Dugan and Frizell out, we've still got a good side on paper. I believe that we can bounce back form last week although the Eels themselves will be looking to bounce back from last week's shocking hammering from the hands of the Cowboys.
Awesome. Good luck with everyone's tips for this week and for everyone's teams this week. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by mark ashford on
Padbul
please stop with the lollies thing. Almost brings a tear to my eyes.
We had the same here in QLD but most of the time couldn't afford them.
Mum & Dad and 5 kids in a housing commission house with only Dad working at the PMG (now Telstra)
Once a fortnight we had fish & chips from the local takeaway.
An amazing treat, with lots of salt and vinegar.
My brother (5 years older) did a clean up job for a neighbor and was given 2, 2 bob pieces for his efforts.
Being a loving brother (still is) he gave me one.
I immediately ran to the fish & chip shop and ordered 2 bob worth of chips.
This equated to about 2kg of potatoes, deep fried and salted.
Took the package into the bush and ate about 2/3 of it.
Was sick for 3 days and didn't eat chips again for years.
But I wouldn't change those days for anything.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hey Newbie
Sorry mate haven't acknowledged your posts for a while.
Thanks for the support of the QLD origin team.
Tell me if a fish is swimming through the bubbling surf and farts do the other fish know?
Submitted by pabdul on
sorry mark wont mention food again maybe you could of got yourself a paper run. lost a little sleep and gained a little treat.
corner milk bar hamburger with the lot must have beetroot and a choc malt milkshake ......sorry
Submitted by mark ashford on
Paddy
You've done it again, I'm salivating but would have ordered a vanilla shake.
There were no paper runs available so I went door to door offering to wash windows. The unfortunate people who said yes had to supply the bucket, washers, soap etc. One lovely lady who felt sorry for me gave me a 10 shilling note. Unheard of. I was 10 years old.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Titans /Rabbits who will win?
Titans look the better team at the moment
Submitted by pabdul on
was her name mrs robinson?
Submitted by mark ashford on
Paddy be nice I was 10 years old and knew nothing of the "hows your father" . Give me another 5 years and I would have given the 10er back!
Submitted by pabdul on
sorry i forgot you were 10.
do you know why they name cyclones mainly after women?
when they first arrive their wet and wild and by the time they leave they usually take your house and car.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Paddy I know only so well. But you still gotta love em.
What would we do without our women.
Enough.
Souths taking the lead by determined footy.
Go you Rabbits, deserve a win.
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