Round ten selections

Canterbury Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys – Thursday night – ANZ Stadium

A couple of important inclusions for the Cowboys in Coote and Granville, but the Thurstiest man on their roster won't be there. In one of the more unusual positional changes Asiata shifts from the halves to prop forward. If that's not a first in the NRL it's right next to first. The Cowboys will need all hands on deck in that engine room when they take on this mighty Bulldogs pack. Given that challenge, and the absence of Thurston, it all points to a victory for the home team.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 4

Result – Cowboys by 16

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla Sharks – Friday night – UOW Jubilee Oval

It's one of those special rivalires in the NRL but this clash has lost some of its lustre with the injuries to Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop. The battle of the forwards has me salivating and that alone will keep this game close, but that Sharks backline is intact and, all other things being equal, should outpoint those opposite. Worth watching though, particularly if you like big units belting the cheese out of each other for 80 minutes.

Verdict – Sharks by 8

Result – Sharks by 4

Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – ANZ Stadium

Finally we get to see Robbie Farah face his old club. I imagine Farah is feeling pretty comfortable with himself given how the Tigers have gone about unravelling themselves. What's more, the Tigers are actually paying most of his salary this season, and what they are paying him would be more than what most of the players actually wearing Tigers jerseys are getting paid. Three of the big four in Tiger Town are playing on Friday night but Aaron Woods isn't, and in this case he's probably the most important of the four. Without Woods the Tigers look set to struggle in the forwards and the consistent (if somewhat predictable) kicking game of Reynolds can help keep the Tigers pinned at the wrong end of the wrong paddock (note this Tigers home game has been taken to the Rabbitohs home ground). It's not particularly funny, but Farah gets the last laugh.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 4

Result – Rabbitohs by 20

Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternoon – Pepper Stadium

Here it is folks – this seasons most frustrating team taking on the winner of the most frustrating team award for the previous ten years in succession. And yet here I am tipping the Panthers again...I must be a very slow learner. There's nothing particularly rational about my choice, other than glass-half full thinking that at some point the Panthers are going to show us something this season, and many of these Warriors are backing up from international duty and another game in Australia. They usually save their worst for us. If they are near their best I'll have this completely wrong.

Verdict – Panthers by 2

Result – Panthers by 8

Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

Both sides lose one key man each with Jesse Bromwich (Storm) and Proctor (Titans) suspended from duty for off-field stupidity. I assume they won't be hitting Caxton Street together for a drink or two after the game. Now I've probably told you all a thousand times that tipping against the Storm is a mugs game, but I'm tipping against the Storm. They've lost just once this season but they're missing some key men in the middle. A lot of these Titans should be nice and fresh and they'll be well prepared for this game. They've struggled with injuries all season but they have so many of their key men available right now they've got Jarryd Hayne playing in the centres. They're rank outsiders and they probably should be, but I'm giving them a live chance.

Verdict – Titans by 2

Result – Titans by 2

Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

I'm tipping two upsets at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. Since round two the Sea Eagles have been taking on top eight teams and have proven to be more than competitive. They beat the Cowboys in Townsville and the Raiders in Canberra. Their only losses during this period were an absolute towelling by the Dragons and a narrow loss to the Storm – that's the top two teams on the ladder right now. Last start they absolutely ran riot over the Rabbitohs, a team that almost beat the Broncos in round eight. They're up to this, paticularly while the Broncos are without Hunt and Roberts. This game gives Mr Cherry-Evans an opportunity to show the QLD Origin selectors what he can do too.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 4

Result – Broncos by 10

Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – McDonald Jones Stadium

Insert logical reasoning here. None of you would be tipping the Knights so I can say just about anything can't I? My hovercraft is full of eels.

Verdict – Raiders by 16

Result – Knights by 14

Sydney Roosters vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Allianz Stadium

Shaun Kenny-Dowall really dropped the ball last week...which isn't unusual. He's resting this week, and he may struggle to get another contract from here. Mind you, for a backpacker who just turned up from New Zealand and thought he'd give the game a try he's made a pretty reasonable career out of it. It beats picking fruit for a living, which could be his next contract. Note that Bevan French is named on an extended bench so keep watching the skies in case he gets called into the seventeen. I'm a fan. In any case I'm with the chooks on Sunday – every time I look at that Roosters forward pack I start smiling like an idiot. They're so good Aiden Guerra can't even get a start. If the Eels played for 80 minutes I'd be tipping them, but they're likely to switch off in patches and the tricolours won't. That may prove to be the difference.

Verdict – Roosters by 4

Result – Roosters by 38

Wally Lewis - round ten selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

BULLDOGS vs Cowboys
Dragons vs SHARKS
TIGERS vs Rabbitohs
PANTHERS vs Warriors
STORM vs Titans
Sea Eagles vs BRONCOS
Knights vs RAIDERS
ROOSTERS vs Eels

Comments

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Fri 12/5/17 - 11:24pm AEST

Mark A - Dogs played like lame dogs and should be shot.
As a player, Josh Reynolds would be a good buy. He's cheeky and a niggler like M. Ennis was and tests the elements alright and many call him a grub. But he's a real unpredictable live wire and was sorely missed for setting plays up against Cowboys.

Sharks and Rabbits got home. Cracker match coming up between us.
Last season Fortress went to Brisbane with the Manly tour and we never heard from him for weeks. Thank heavens he's staying at home this time.

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Fri 12/5/17 - 11:28pm AEST

Evenin Pabdul - chip off the old block in the timber industry.
Great to see you in print again.
Hows things going with that possible new posting to Central Stn?
No, not the Fat Controller or Thomas, but close to it.

Cheers - good luck on Sunday against The Slipperies.

Submitted by Mary S on Sat 13/5/17 - 8:09am AEST

Hi BigPete,
You have a wonderful way with words!! The potatoes are then purchased, cooked and eaten, with excess being disposed of through the bodies natural process!
Cheers to all
Mary S

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 8:34am AEST

Coach could of surfaced as either Spartan or handy they both have appeared from no where ...

Submitted by a on Sat 13/5/17 - 9:14am AEST

Yes Coach could post a comment anytime

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 9:31am AEST

Good morning Miss Mary S.
Hope it is nice weather in your part of the woods.
Really into Autumn here and leaves everywhere - frosts included.
Descriptive as my words might have read/sounded, yours on the biological front, describes the process of re-entering the soil site to be "bagged", yet again.
Hmmmmmmm.......State of Origin nearing and I'm sure we will read of "diggers" coming forth. The cross border camaraderie that exists, truly excites.

Keep well and all you Thinkers - have a great weekend.
Big Pete

Submitted by Spartan Warrior on Sat 13/5/17 - 10:28am AEST

Greetings from the Spartan Warrior,
I must firstly give my thanks to The Thinker who has kindly allowed me to grace his page. It was remiss of myself to forget such a basic courtesy, so thank you The Thinker.
When King Leonidas, was being asked to lay down his arms, his reply was "Come take them". As in life, as in sport, you must be prepared to defend your territory.
The Spartan Warrior has spoken.

Submitted by tigerholic on Sat 13/5/17 - 10:33am AEST

The spartan warrior could be Coach Potato, if it is he is behaving to an acceptable level.

Has Rocket Ryan gone back to NASA to see where it all went wrong this year in his tips, he has struggled ever since Coach disappeared.

Look forward to the Manly/Bronco match tonight, Manly should be too strong, as long as Marty Tapau doesn't lose his head.

Submitted by pabdul on Sat 13/5/17 - 10:44am AEST

who did King leonardis play for ?he sounds like a good tackler

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 10:54am AEST

I bet Spartan warrior is coach & if that is the case we are just giving him what he wants by talking about him ...

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 10:57am AEST

Thinker please try & bring back johnny ray I miss that man with a bag on his head ...

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 11:37am AEST

I think coach is both Spartan warrior & handy ( split personality ) ...

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 12:53pm AEST

Johnny awesome I have to use pain relief both tablet or cream form with ms you get inflammation so I have to take epilim for nurological pain which is actually epilepsy medication but I don't have epilepsy it helps with nurological pain & migraines which I get a lot of now with the ms but I have to be careful because I also have a kidney problem which is inherited from my fathers side of the family I have cysts on my kidneys & cysts on my liver they go hand in hand so for me drinking is out I can't do it at all

Submitted by a on Sat 13/5/17 - 12:58pm AEST

Yeah I think Spartan Warrior is Coach too because he has similar grammar and remember how Steel Panther has Panther in his name but is a Warriors supporter well Coach could have done the opposite and put Warriors in his name even know hes a Panthers supporter

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 1:02pm AEST

You can tell the difference from before when coach was posting comments & stats you would have in range of four hundred comments or more posted right now this comment i'm posting makes it one hundred & forteen so that's a lot of stats , stirring , abuse ...

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 1:25pm AEST

You know what Pabdul, Christine, "a" and Co.
You guys might be on the money there.
Remember that Penrith were called The Chocolates Soldiers, back in the days prior to NRL. Maybe Warrior was adapted from that, to go with Spartan.

I checked out some historical pages from ancient and modern history, that I often access.
Leonidas I (ca. 530 BC-480 BC) was a Spartan king, immortalized in Greek literature and legend, because of his heroic last stand against Persian invaders.

Could be what The Coach in the Couch attests to, heroic last stand and us bloggers, the invaders.
You never know with Coachy, always adding a conundrum to things. But he does do it in an exploratory way.

Cheers and enjoy your Saturday.
Big Pete

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 1:42pm AEST

Yes by means of attention seeking ...

Submitted by pabdul on Sat 13/5/17 - 1:51pm AEST

big pete you have too much time on your hands i just wanted to know if he could tackle.
i dont think he's spartan coz ive heard of him before i think he's a health blogger.
but handy im pretty sure . what is a handy potato maybe one that comes already peeled?

Submitted by Fortress on Sat 13/5/17 - 1:52pm AEST

Agree with you big Pete,and Christine once a coward always a coward how sad !!!!!!!!;

Submitted by pabdul on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:00pm AEST

ah fortress my mate whos one click of the fingers short from the hypnotist who put him under a trance that when ever he hears a negative word towards manly to get angry how are you?

Submitted by a on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:00pm AEST

Yes how sad Coach trying to be other people Spartan and Hindy so no one knows its him come on Coach we know those people are you

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:03pm AEST

Hello there Pabdul (SBAB).
Very fresh outside here today with rain forecasted. I remain inside but have heaps on my plate, with things to do. I de-stress by blogging with you nice people. Most Saturdays I have to go out in the afternoon (around 5pm) and return home around 7.30pm, have tea and check The Thinker site and my In Box for messages.

To be a warrior, he'd have to tackle and be tackled, all whilst he is wearing a steel armour.
A handy potato maybe one that comes already peeled - Aaaahhhhh, a shoestring french fry. Love em with a nice condiment.

Cheers with a beer - BigPete

Submitted by pabdul on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:07pm AEST

SBAB love it.
why do you cut down the trees between 5 and 730
as a concern brother remember timber means run

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:10pm AEST

Hey "a".
There's your answer.
You mistyped Handy to be Hindy and "Hindy" was Nathan Hindmarsh, the former Country Kid and Parra Eel from spud growing (potato) area of Robertson in Sth Coast region.

Oh well, nothing better than a try.

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:18pm AEST

Dont know SBAB, the timber bit or what it has in common to a post I may have previously made. But there are heaps of leaves falling here and I don't like the idea of cutting down trees. I hope in the mean time, I haven't burnt any bridges.
I go out and do a community thing and do secure lockup afterwards.
Not stables mate.
There was once a galloper called Saintly and yes, I know you now get my drift.

Submitted by pabdul on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:34pm AEST

pete disregard the tree cutting thats from a previous post ill explain another time. going after work to gws v pies near my place should be good.
got the job I'll be based mostly at petersham
do the locomotion with me ...hummin or what

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:38pm AEST

Bring on the comments about Penrith & well soon see weather or not it's coach ...

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:42pm AEST

Hey Pabdul - well done mate with Petersham.
You can't get away from me, can you.

Our former Staff Training College used to be there and when we came from the country to a conference or whatever, held there, we'd go to Petersham RSL for lunch. Top spot mate or it was.
The Sec/Mgr they had, Danny Fitz was a former ASU union rep.

The Locomotive Hotel was on Great Western H/way around near there somewhere, years gone by.
Do the locomotion with me - Carn The Pies!!!!

Cheers and enjoy, might speak tonight and will give you blessings b4hand.

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:42pm AEST

I bet you if Penrith win todays game coach resurfaces , what odds are you going to give me on that one ? but now he's read the comment I posted he will do the opposite ...

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:48pm AEST

Not wrong there Christine.
Give it time, we might see The Mulgoa Spud hurling his spear our way.
Keep well and have a lovely Mothers Day to you and all the lovely abiding ladies we have on this site.

Cheers - Big Pete

Submitted by a on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:53pm AEST

Oh there is something else Panthers play Warriors so maying Coach could be tricking us into thinking that Spartan Warrior is a Warriors supporter but really is a Panther supporter

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 2:58pm AEST

Catch you guys later.
Walk right in - step right out.
I've got to go get ready. Hawaii Five O -clock.

Catch you on the roundabout in a round and about way.
Cheers - Big Pete

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 3:02pm AEST

Like it "a".
Coach Spud must love Sherlock Holmes movies and is setting the scenes with us.
The Pink Panther Pussycat - bet he had a share in that place as well, in days gone by.
Pabdul might know, as it was in his inner City CBD jaunts, of yesteryear.

Cheers and out for now mate. Keep well and nice having a chat.

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 3:46pm AEST

Big pete bx just love it mulgoa spud hurling his spear whilst wearing panthers colours for the indigenous round kind of paints a picture really doesn't it ...

Submitted by Fortress on Sat 13/5/17 - 3:50pm AEST

Yes padbul I will defend my beloved my eagles to the end,look mate I'm fine if people say they hate manly that's cool but when they make criticise my club when they should look at there own clubs and there misgivings than u wonder if there is more to it !!!!!!

My club isn't perfect no club is but there are double standards out there take the drug problems,double standards if it was me or you doing this crap we would cop the full brunt of the law they earn more than enough money yet when they do all this we should all weep for them SNF feel sorry for them to hell with them,no one player I'd bigger than the game other talent always comming through stamp them out get rid of them listen to the footy commentators 2gb for example talking bout crap everyday and not takeling the real issues I love this game but it needs to be cleaned out stop the double standards ,and get rid of the know it alls who are destroying this once great game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Johnny Awesome on Sat 13/5/17 - 3:55pm AEST

Hello all,
It's funny Big Pete you use the term the Kandos kid. When I first arrived in Canberra, that was my catch cry. Actually my signature song was New Kid in Town by the Eagles and still a favourite. I've been living in Canberra since 85', basically 32 years, this is fairdinkum, you only start getting treated as a local after 30 years here ha. Anyway, I might have been here 32 years and actually love Canberra, but you still can't get the country out of me. The best part of Canberra which did for me was meeting my life partner here 30 years ago. Anyway, can't wait to get a Raiders home game, its been a long wait. May 28 and they play the Roosters in Canberra. Nothing beats live footy. Yep, didn't notice your avatar Big Pete, all good. Out of interest Big Pete and Mr Fortress, being Manly boys, what's your take on the latest CEO drama there with Tim Cleary resigning? I'm telling ya, as much as I like Bozo and respect him, that club will always have CEO issues as long as he is pulling the strings. Fairdinkum the CEO role at Manly is just a figure head position, Bozo will always have the final say and Scott Penn will follow whatever Bozo says. In reality, they would just be better off just giving that role to Bozo as well, he's calling the shots anyway and lets face it, that wouldnt be such a bad thing. My views only, got a soft spot for Manly.
Cheers from Mr Awesome.

Submitted by a on Sat 13/5/17 - 4:49pm AEST

Spartan Good comeback by your Panthers

Submitted by Fortress on Sat 13/5/17 - 5:15pm AEST

What a farce that game was penrith were a rabble before the ref decided to give them all the ball in the second half,penriths last try contained two blatant forward passess,the refs are pitttyful what a disgrace if the warriors and that game was fair dinkum the kiwi boys would win by 50 !!!!!

Where is this once great game going to shocking !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 5:17pm AEST

Spartan warrior / handy your panthers finally did something right but I have to feel sorry for the worriors .

Submitted by a on Sat 13/5/17 - 5:21pm AEST

Yeah good comeback by the Panthers right Handy and Spartan Warrior

Submitted by a on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:23pm AEST

Wow what a game storm and Titans was equal biggest score by a losing team

Submitted by Trrinaldi on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:24pm AEST

you picked titan's by two.. unreal

Submitted by Johnny Awesome on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:24pm AEST

Yep, that game was a ripper. I picked storm to win but Im glad the Titans won.

Submitted by Christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:28pm AEST

I'm having the worst tipping week I've only got 2/5 so far what a shocker but I tried to take a few different to everyone else to jag one or two & it's gone against me this time...

Submitted by Christine on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:30pm AEST

I'll make up for it next week.

Submitted by Johnny Awesome on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:37pm AEST

Hello Christine,
Sorry for the late reply to your post. I usually have a couple of wines on a Friday and Saturday whilst watching the footy and allow myself a beer or two at a live footy game. I have no alcohol any other day of the week including Sunday. It sounds like you have good medical people around you where you are. As you know I'm from Kandos/Rylstone and just visited my folks a few weeks ago. The medical care in a small country town of 1200 is amazing. I hope you keep on top of things.
Cheers from Mr Awesome

Submitted by Johnny Awesome on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:39pm AEST

Hello Mr Thinker,
Nice pick on Gold Coast winning by two.

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:46pm AEST

Thanks Christine - thought you might like that.
His boys made a big comeback against Warriors and playing at home, they should start redeeming themselves or forget about this season and then think about who they'll lose to maybe Campbelltown next.

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:57pm AEST

Evenin Johnny A -
Over the years whilst dual club ownership has been in "fashion", Manly's board has been the issue. But now hoping things might be changing a little. Bozo has been mainly involved in player recruitment and the final decision or bringing a "problem child" along, which he has been known to be successful at doing. Lets say a father figure and speaking about life issues and experience as a player. It does help in this age.
I'll do a check on the Tim Cleary issue, but maybe there is a difference with managing a football club and a boys school.
However, good players don't always make good coaches or managers, especially in the business world of club management.

Yes Mudgee Guardian, I'd figure over the years of Manly coming to Jubilee Oval to play pre-season matches with Mudgee Dragons, that the soft spot started with that. Manly is a club that has thrived on being hated and they love it and know it well.

Submitted by BigPeteBx on Sat 13/5/17 - 7:58pm AEST

Hahahaha "a" love that Spartan take on comeback.