Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers – Thursday night – Suncorp Stadium
The Panthers were pre-season premiership favourites but have won only twice this season, and only against poor opposition. We salivated at the potential of this Panthers backline but they've scored only ten tries in those six losing games. Something is missing. Trent Merrin has earned himself another Test jersey but he's missed 14 tackles in his last three games. He has some (bad) company in that Panthers pack as Campbell-Gillard and Peter Wallace have been found out in defence in recent weeks too. I expect the Broncos to focus on that, with Milford and Nikorima ready to expose the Panthers right up the hi-diddle diddle. The Broncos have had an extra day to prepare and are preparing at home. The logical tip.
Verdict – Broncos by 8
Result – Broncos 34 defeated Panthers 18
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles – Friday night – Allianz Stadium
Note that the Rabbitohs are playing this home game away from home, although Manly fans are notoriously poor travellers so the Bunnies should have the majority of the support in the crowd. The shoulder charge by Burgess (George) was deemed worse than the shoulder charge by Burgess (Sam). George takes a seat on the sideline as a consequence. Manly have surprised most of us (especially me) with the quality and consistency of their performances this season. I have to accept they'll turn up to play...and they're good enough. The Cherry-Evans/Green partnership in the halves is working, and their fullback has slotted in to fill the space once filled by Brett Stewart. The local lad looks like he'll be wearing the number one jersey on the northern beaches for the next decade. This is a football team, and I'm tipping them here.
Verdict – Sea Eagles by 4
Result – Sea Eagles 46 defeated Rabbitohs 8
North Queensland Cowboys vs Parramatta Eels – Friday night – 1300SMILES Stadium
All eyes will be on the Cowboys line-up on Friday night, with Jonathan Thurston named on the extended bench. Rugby League may be a team game, but Thurston is among a handful of players that can make a mockery of that truth. I've tipped against the Eels in their last two victories and I'm taking them on again. Surely I'll get it right...eventually. Coen Hess has replaced Gavin Cooper as the Cowboys try-scoring back-rower – he's racked up 6 tries in 6 games. With that in mind, the Eels will be watching Hess like a hawk, so it's probably time to back Gavin Cooper in try-scoring markets. It's so darn crazy it just might work.
Verdict – Cowboys by 4
Result – Eels 26 defeated Cowboys 6
Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday afternoon – Cbus Super Stadium
15th plays 16th but fans of both teams can, at the very least, appreciate the efforts of both sides. While both are competing against superior opponents, the Titans do appear to have more upside.The Titans forwards look set to dominate, and one has to assume that Peats, Taylor, Roberts, Hayne and Elgey (off the bench) can create enough try-scoring opportunities on the back of that.
Verdict – Titans by 10
Result – Titans 38 defeated Knights 8
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium
For some time I've had doubts about the ability of the Bulldogs to cross the stripe. Thus far in season 2017 they are averaging a snifter more than 15 points per game. That's not enough, particularly against the Raiders who are racking up (on average) 25 points per game. That's a lot of points for a team who have lost as many games as they've won, and the Bulldogs haven't scored 25 or more points in a game all year. You score more points than your opponent and you win folks...it's not rocket surgery.
Verdict – Raiders by 8
Result – Bulldogs 16 defeated Raiders 10
Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday night – Leichhardt Oval
Aaron Woods has announced when he will make his announcement (I'm disappointed he didn't announce when he was going to announce when he will make his announcement but I'm hard to please). I suspect he's holding off until after he has played this game at his 'spritual home'. Given that, I'm expecting a bit of a battle here and I've got this game pencilled in as the match of the round. The Sharks will be keen to win after the shock loss last week, and the stripey cats could step up for Woodsy. The Sharks are clearly the better team and I'm tipping them, but I'm expecting a closer contest than most.
Verdict – Sharks by 4
Result – Sharks 22 defeated Tigers 16
New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters – Sunday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium
Where the bloodity heckity heck are my team lists for the Sunday games? Sheezus McSneezus won't somebody think of the Thinker? Anyhoo...the four teams playing on Sunday are the same four teams that played on ANZAC Day, which seems fair. And I think it's fair to say that the two ANZAC Day games gave us the highest standard of NRL we saw for the round – perhaps everyone just lifted given the occasion. Now these sides have to lift again, and I'll take a little punt on the Warriors having a little more to play for this weekend. They're at home where they are an entirely different proposition and there is an ANZAC Test coming up.
Verdict – Warriors by 2
Result – Warriors 14 defeated Roosters 13
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm – Sunday afternoon – WIN Stadium
Again no team lists are available at the time of writing so I'm shooting fish in a very dark barrel with this prediction. One thing I do know is that Gareth Widdop is out for six weeks. I can't say that means the Dragons can't win, but it certainly makes it an awful lot harder. As for the Storm, they are a pretty predictable piece of machinery regardless of who laces on the boots. I may be in the dark, but it's dark purple.
Verdict – Storm by 10
Result – Storm 34 defeated Dragons 22
Wally Lewis - round nine selections (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
- BRONCOS vs Panthers
- Rabbitohs vs SEA EAGLES
- COWBOYS vs Eels
- TITANS vs Knights
- Bulldogs vs RAIDERS
- Tigers vs SHARKS
- Warriors vs ROOSTERS
- Dragons vs STORM
Comments
Submitted by a on
Yeah no JT for the Cowboys seems like this website had been turning into a soap opera in the last few weeks I mean ever since the Cyclone I hope we can all be friends
Submitted by mark ashford on
Agree "a"
I've had a few disagreements with Coach and freely admit I got a bit carried away. YES have some passion but stay friends.
Submitted by Fortress on
First half and the mighty eagles simply magnificent!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Fortress on
Thanks thinker hope ur enjoying the game the mighty eagles in a clinical display stunning attack and rock solid defence !!!!!!!
Submitted by christine on
Thanks Thinker for your post before hopefully this site can get back to being semi normal again ...
Submitted by mark ashford on
Fortress
Manly are on fire! Go the Sea Eagles!
Submitted by The Thinker on
They're on fire Fortress. Manly and the Dragons are neck and neck for the over-achievers award this season at the moment.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
I don't really mind Mark, I'll back the BOYS to the hilt, if your not convinced that they can do the business that's all good. I keep thinking back to last few games where we have shredded their right edge defence but not had the discipline to go the full 80 to get the win. Hopefully tonight it will be different.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Thinker
Thought your "over achievers award" comment a bit harsh.
Submitted by The Thinker on
I mean it in a good way Mark. Basically they're doing much better than most people thought they would...including me.
Submitted by a on
Yeah some teams may suprise you
Submitted by Fortress on
Thinker and mark and *a* they were magnificent I'm over the moon the attack working like a swiss watch razzle dazzled them the defence rock solid the Anzac's would be proud of .
Its OK mark I understand what the thinker meant no one expected them to play this well but its a long season hope we can keep it up.
The girlfriend said to me if we win will you take me out I said win or lose I will still take you out.but after this smashing performance I'm getting a hotel room down near manly beach lol!!!!
Good evening everyone!!!!!
From the fortress where the mighty eagles are soaring !!!!!!!;
Submitted by mark ashford on
Fortress 46 to 8
You, Big Pete and other Manly supporters take a bow!
Baggy your Eels are going well, can you keep it up?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
We lead 32 points to blot one year. Then let in 36 points in 15 minutes, I'll celebrate at the end of 80 minutes and we are still leading.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
That was forward from Edwards. Dammit, call passes forward.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Baggy from what I've seen so far there is no way you will lose this one.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Sorry that was a BS penalty. Bad play the ball, should be cows ball.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Was hoping that Clint would have been there to finish that try off. When was the last time one player scored all the points in a game?
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFAR out. Twice, twice some bonehead forward throws a offload without looking and hands easy ball to the Cows. Fire the sod.
Submitted by The Thinker on
Baggy it would be one of those 2-0 games or 4-0 games at some point. It happens...not sure when the last one was.
The most points by an individual in a game - the chronically under-rated Dave Brown who played in the centres for the Roosters in the 1930s.
He scored 45 points against Canterbury in one game, back when a try was only worth three points.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
45 points in a game, wow that's just amazing. And a bondi boy as well. Nice bit of history, imagine the haul with 4 points and 2 points for the conversion.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Now I'm starting to feel nervous. We might get desperate to score and blow what has been a decent lead.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
For sale, 1 5/8, free to good home, bugger it, we'll pay you to take him.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
How do you lose a scrum these days, a bit of luck our way.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Now I'll accept that we might not lose. Gut wrenching down to 12 and defending on your own line with a horrible history of giving up leads.
Submitted by a on
Cowboys really miss JT
Submitted by Mary S on
Hi 'a' - the Cowboys certainly do miss JT but also Jake Granville, Lachlan Coote and Matt Scott - they got thumped tonight.
Hi Fortress & Baggy_Gee (just because you 2 are more vocal), congrats on you teams win - have you come down from the clouds yet? Coach, Padbul, J-Jones & Christine - you will also be really pleased with the way Eels played tonight and hope it is a sign of weeks to come if they are your team.
Have a good one guys & gals.
Mary S
Submitted by a on
Yeah we need JT back
Submitted by The Thinker on
Baggy,
He scored five tries in that game so if they were worth 4 points back then he would have cracked the half century. And he did it all with one good hand and about four good fingers.
Brown was one of the most gifted sportspeople of that era. He could have played any number of sports but League was his passion. He retired from the game at 28, seems young now, and spent the rest of his life promoting the game.
He deserves a statue I tells ya.
Submitted by pabdul on
ah dave brown roosters legend holds the record but it was against a Canterbury side in their first year. the game changed when they were told their Labradors had to leave the field.
for me mel meninga who in 1990 put on 38 points against a more competitive roosters side was a greater performance even though tries were now worth 4 points they both scored 5 tries.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
When I make my first million thinker we'll have a Dave brown statue bung hand and all. It's not a surprise that all points records are kickers, but the Beaver still rates in my top five players along with Hindmarsh, to quality players who performed week in and week out.
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
Mary once we stop giving up good leads easily then I'll be stratospheric, but they have yet to turn in good week on week games. So happy that we closed it out last night, as Mark said its a brutal road trip to Townsville, and anyone who gets the 2 points has done well. But our edge defence folded a few times, should have kept them to 0 as that kick and try should have been shut down and at the end of the first half we should have taken advantage of the fact they weren't getting to the 40 coming out of their own end. But all in all a solid game and I'm a very satisfied man today.
Submitted by pabdul on
dave brown was such a gentleman he would give away his headgear and scoop up his sand after his conversation and give it to the ball girl
Submitted by The Thinker on
Agree Pabdul that Canterbury were pretty ordinary that year. The Chooks played them twice that season, and in the other game he scored 38.
And he wasn't the Chooks only goal kicker in that team. They had two. One guy who kicked all the easy ones. Dave Brown kicked all the hard ones.
That 38 from Mal is special no doubt about it...but that Roosters side were pretty awful (I should know). That said, they would have beaten that first Canterbury team.
Submitted by pabdul on
you reckon there were any hard ones?
Submitted by pabdul on
no shock the coach got the flick and the brought in frank burge in 1936 from the bears.
imagine pre season training when he asked them to take up their normal positions..they would of all headed under the goal posts
Submitted by The Thinker on
That's a fair point Pabdul. I wasn't there to kinow...and if I was, I doubt I'd remember that I was.
Submitted by Fortress on
Top of the morning to you thinker,I would like hear your opinion on what I'm going to point out to you.
Why do some commentators and some members of the media continue to not praise the winner more so,how the loser of the game played,for example thee defence was shocking,there minds was not on the job,the team that played great football couldn't possibly of played that well,I disagree when go out there u must be prepared to give it your all for the full 80 minutes its not the team that wons fault if the opposition was not on there game.
Havn' t they ever thought in there peanuts for brains that the team that won was too good and that maybe there is a gulf in standard.
Why go out there and perform if these so called know it alls only want to go on about how bad the opposition was,when in actual.fact they should be giving praise for the performance of the team that won.
You can only play as well as your opposition allows you too,and if your too good then your too good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Fortress on
Have a listen to the south Sydney coach after his team was demolished.
He hardly gave praise to the eagles more so telling us how badly his team played,how embarrassed he was for there fans.
Its a shame that the might eagles who put on a master class performance have been blamed by the South's coach and some members of the media for been just simply too good.
The whole thing just stinks the might eagles didn't let South's play,they smashed them up front,and our backline was was far too quick,maybe that's what Madge and his co- horts should be saying !!!!!!!!!
Cheers from the fortress ,where the mighty eagles dare!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Hi all,
Can't believe I'm still picking Souths. That performance was disgraceful and Manly were doing a Manly, coming out to play. I liked Trent Barretts take on Uate. He said a player dosnt play representative football and forgets to play. They need their motivation back and I got to hand it to Barrett he's getting good stuff out of his team and Uate. I underestimated him as a coach and Manly as a team. What I found disappointing is McGuires and Burgess take on the game. Too many excuses but no apologies. Cheers from Mr Awesome
Submitted by pabdul on
lunchtime is about to start at the nursing home where i volunteer at and my job is to control the wine consumption. its 80% women and after a couple they become flirtatious and get a bit naughty and even asked to be helped back to their room as they are feeling tipsy. god love em i dont have the heart to tell them that the wine is non alcoholic.
.
Submitted by Fortress on
Good on ya johnny awesome totally agree with you mate,no praise for the winning team at all only sour grapes from Madge and burgess.the girlfriend was hoping we would win so I could take her out did more than that got a posh hotel room down here in gods country I think she was happy with my performance as well lol!!!!!
The mighty eagles through to the grand final in the Harold Mathews ciup well done boys is this our first silverware of many this year go get em boys were behind ya !!!!!!!
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
But they would have been answering the media's questions. The coach only has control of his 17 players and then only up to kick off. Who cares less how well the other team played if your the coach, you job is to pick apart what your team did right, wrong and where their heads are and address that. All you need to do is review footage of the other team for weakness and patterns, and once you have identified those train your team to those points. Being magnanimous is something that the victor has the right to. Even then as the winning coach you should still be dissecting what you missed. Focus on what you can control and ignore the other team, win, lose, or draw.
Submitted by a on
Yeah the Coach should only focus on their team and not the oppersion team
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Hi all and good to hear from you Mr Fortress. I think you"ll find the upper Rachel on coaches will give praise to the other team. Bennett and Belamy in particular. Bennett said in his post game interview they knew they were up against a really good side that can score anywhere on the park. I can see McGuire is frustrated but when your own supporters boo your team, just give them something for goodness sake. Most of them with kids probably blew up to a hundred bucks to watch them play. Admit it wasn't nowhere near good enough, no excuses, admit Manly were the better team, and then say sorry to the fans and commit to having a go. As a Dragons supporter, I'll support them through thick and thin and if they put in and lose then I'm still happy....a little. Fairdinkum, this is the NRL no excuses for flogging these days, take a leaf out of Newcastle and the Titans Mr McGuire and Mr Burgess....it's called ticket, cheers from Mr Awesome
Submitted by Fortress on
Totally disagree I'm sorry then why go out and perform its up to every team to put there best foot forward instead of a million excuses to why they lost who wants to hear that.
For example oh you only won because we bad really well maybe train harder maybe think better maybe they just don't have it,.
Its funny how I'm all sport more attention is focused on the losers rather than the winners.
Some people think that been successful and too good is a sin
And that's where I get to my last point and an important one at that.I once met bobby Fulton at the footy club I asked him a question I said bozo why are manly not by everyone but a fair few hated so much
He replied with a candid answer its success the tall poppy syndrome its like its not good enough for some folk that a club can be so successful so becomes s witch hunt people jump on the band wagon because they think its cool to hate when in actual fact they dont know why the hate is for you see it against some other teams as well and we see it with a few on this site !!!!!!!!!;
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Stupid spell check errors upper eschelon at top and ticker at the bottom. Mate I'm too old for these electronic gadgets. Cheers from Mr Awesome
Submitted by Fortress on
Johnny awesome mate that last post was not directed at you.
Tottally agree with you johnny its a shame that we don't aspire to be winners OK ur not going to win all the time,so what lose for 4 months and same excuses,
Chat soon johnny ur awesome !!!!!!;
Submitted by Baggy_Gee on
You missed the point fortress. Yes you can praise the opponent till your blue in the face and your ass catches fire. But that has no bearing on how you should view your teams performance. Every day should be a chance to be better, catch that harder pass, hit the line harder, continually improvement is what everyone, not just sportsmen, should be aiming for. To take your focus off your teams strengths and weaknesses is just doing your boss (the fans) an injustice.
Submitted by Johnny Awesome on
Catch up later all, Mr Fortress and Big Pete. She who must be obeyed requires my attention. Cheers from Mr Awesome
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