Round sixteen selections

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Parramatta Eels – Thursday night – WIN Stadium

First plays last but this isn't a formality, with a fair chunk of the Dragons seventeen backing up (and backing up quickly) from representative duties. Tyson Frizell won't play, but the other eight have been named. It's a big ask, but the Eels are a big basket case. There could be a few at Parramatta (Norman and Hayne spring to mind) who might be playing to pick up new contracts elsewhere next season, but that doesn't mean they'll play like a team.

Verdict – Dragons by 8

Result – Dragons 20 defeated Eels 18

New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks – Friday night – Mt Smart Stadium

On paper the Sharks look like they have an edge in the forwards here, and they've rushed the big teddy bear Aaron Woods straight into the seventeen – I expect he'll go well. Valentine Holmes at fullback will be wanting to impress too. There's no doubt he wants a gig somewhere as a fullback, and a few teams (Cowboys definitely and Broncos probably) will be keeping an eye on him. The Warriors have been tough to beat at home this season but I'm with the visitors here.

Verdict – Sharks by 4

Result – Sharks 18 defeated Warriors 15

Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm – Friday night – Adelaide Oval

This game heads back to Adelaide again and this time around Cooper Cronk will be facing off against the Storm. The absence of Waerea-Hargreaves and Cordnor for the Chooks have me leaning purple, although the Storm are missing a few big boppers themselves. If Asofa-Solomona can't find a functioning airplane I'd lean the other way, and if Billy Slater is rested I'd lean heavily the other way, but based on the teams as named it's the Storm for me. For those of you that don't have to tip as early as I do I urge you to keep your eye out for team changes.

Verdict – Storm by 4

Result – Storm 9 defeated Roosters 8

Penrith Panthers vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday afternoon – Panthers Stadium

The Panthers have named their Origin players and they should back up (although Maloney isn't getting any younger). Just as importantly Kikau returns and he adds an X factor in the middle. Manly look like a team that have put a line through their season already, and they haven't beaten Penrith at Penrith since 2011.

Verdict – Panthers by 10

Result – Sea Eagles 18 defeated Panthers 10

Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Saturday night – McDonald Jones Stadium

The Knights don't start as warm favourites too often but this Bulldogs side is barely recognisable. While this doesn't look like much of a game the Novacastrians will be out in force and the Knights will give the locals a good night out. And Ponga.

Verdict – Knights by 14

Result – Bulldogs 36 defeated Knights 16

Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

What a difference a Hodgson makes. The Raiders were an entirely different proposition with his return last round, and if they bring that form again they'll be winning here too. If they did I wouldn't be surprised but I want to see it happen before I'm convinced that the Raiders are still a top eight proposition. Their only two wins away from home this season are against the Cowboys and the Tigers, and I think the Broncos are better than that. Not much better mind you. Could be the game of the round this one.

Verdict – Broncos by 2

Result – Broncos 26 defeated Raiders 22

Wests Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – Leichhardt Oval

The return of Robbie Farah couldn't be better timed, as he's back for a Sunday afternoon at the picturesque Leichhardt Oval. But he's not the only new face at the Tigers, with Moses Mbye slotting into the fullback role. Handy inclusions and the Tigers are warm favourites, but I'm pretty keen on the Titans in an upset here. It's a good looking pack of forwards and a fairly settled backline, taking on a team that may take a week or two to get their combinations right.

Verdict – Titans by 4

Result – Titans 30 defeated Tigers 12

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs North Queensland Cowboys – Sunday afternoon – Barlow Park

I was lucky enough to be up north for the Cowboys narrow loss to the Warriors in round 15, and the general feeling in the room was that the loss that night spelled the end of their finals aspirations this season. I was also lucky enough to be up north for the Cowboys narrow loss to the Rabbitohs earlier this season. The Cowboys were a little unlucky that night, but back then they had something to play for, and the only thing they have left to play for is pride. I doubt that's enough against a genuine premiership contender. Note the location though folks. Maybe, just maybe, the extra travel for the Bunnies gives the Cowboys a sniff here. I can't tip them though.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 10

Result – Rabbitohs 21 defeated Cowboys 20

Wally Lewis - round sixteen selections (in bold)

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

  • DRAGONS vs Eels
  • Warriors vs SHARKS
  • Roosters vs STORM
  • PANTHERS vs Sea Eagles
  • KNIGHTS vs Bulldogs
  • BRONCOS vs Raiders
  • TIGERS vs Titans
  • RABBITOHS vs Cowboys

Comments

a's picture

Broncos win I think the top 8 is just about settled

Coach Potato's picture

**** Please watch, one and all ****

To all and sundry including Pabs and his devil on horseback mate, because the Earth ain't flat no more. It's Rugby Ball instead of a Rugby League ball but I trust it's a good enough example, even though it's the exact same principle as the ball out the window.

Resting my case on this one peeps.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.yout...

pabdul's picture

Though I admire your efforts to prove your right but again your wrong what I watched was interesting but in league the rule is to pass the ball to a player behind you so it’s where the player catches the ball not some imaginary grid lines on the ground . if your running and they catch it behind you is fine but just like in the car park when one party isn’t moving the player takes the pass in front of you because they are moving it’s forward every day of the week It’s not rocket science it’s physics

Coach Potato's picture

It’s not me saying you are incorrect, it’s the rulebook - notes page 22. You don’t know the rules. Yet I gave you a 2018 edition link and you refuse to read it - else just don’t comprehend the written word. What more can one do for those who plead ignorance.

Coach Potato's picture

This is a second copy and paste of notes on the forward pass out of this year’s rule book.

Whether you agree with it or not, is irrelevant, because it’s the rule.

“...The direction of a pass is relative to the player making it and not to the actual path relative to the ground. A player running towards his opponents’ goal line may throw the ball towards a colleague who is behind him but because of the thrower’s own momentum the ball travels forward relative to the ground. This is not a forward pass as the thrower has not passed the ball forward in relation to himself. This is particularly noticeable when a running player makes a high, lobbed pass....”

#IgnoranceIsNoExcuse

Coach Potato's picture

Lack of apology accepted.

pabdul's picture

Haha apologise?
I don’t need to say sorry to you
I feel sorry for you
One day you’ll get it right
#lackOfKnowledge

Coach Potato's picture

It takes courage and class.
I can see why you declined.

christine's picture

Pabdul
They've changed so many rules in the nrl they are going to have to re-write the rule book ...

Coach Potato's picture

That rule hasn’t changed though.

christine's picture

Pabdul
With my previous comment i'm not saying anyone is wrong or right what I am saying is the nrl have changed so many rules that they don't seem to even know there own rules anymore & at times as we do see even they seem to get it wrong ...

mark ashford's picture

Hi folks.
Have we had enough talk about forward passes.
Just watched the Cows/Bunnies game in the rain in Cairns.
A great contest with Reynolds boot winning it by a point.
Commiserations to the Cows supporters, you came so close.

mark ashford's picture

Coach, you seem distracted by the forward pass discussion.
Do you have anything to say about your Panthers poor performance.
This seems a good time for our old friend Fortress to make a return.

Coach Potato's picture

I’m just helping educate about the rules. I was just being helpful.

What isn’t helping is people’s refusal to believe the rulebook is right.

Nothing else.

a's picture

Is it just me or ism the top 8 settled

Mary S's picture

Yes Mark, it was soooo close - much closer than a lot of people expected.
I imagine JT is still kicking himself for missing the equalising field goal. He is his own biggest critic!
Cheers to all,
Mary

The Thinker's picture

Greetings football fans

I have updated the NRL ladder and the tipping comp. There is a clear gap between 8th and 9th on the NRL ladder and it will take a very good run home (or bad run home) to change the teams in the top eight from here.

In tipping news, honours were shared between our favourite Kiwi (Steel Panther) and our favourite Australian (Stinky McThinky). There you go....I should tip in the middle of the night while I'm watching soccer games more often.

Note that Steel Panther and I are making a run at the leaders in the tipping comp too. We're looming large.

I will have the tipping page for the next round published tonight, and will have my tips and previews published on Tuesday night.

Coach Potato's picture

Yes bad luck to lots of teams so close, Panthers not that close.

You will see in the post match chat with Anthony Griffin, he was happy to say the team was not good enough, and that Manly were better. Good stuff. A show of class amongst a dozen other coaches who would rather cop out and make excuses.

The Thinker's picture

Hook was probably grateful Tamou didn't get marched for dropping a knee into the face of Dylan Walker (in his comeback game from a fractured eye socket).

Coach Potato's picture

Tamou did it on behalf of players from the 15 other teams.

mark ashford's picture

Coach you're saying his foul was ok but he did it for the next 15 teams to play the game. WTF are you talking about.
I've tried to stay friendly but you are loosing it.
I agree you have a right to your opinions but mate sometimes you just go off the scale.
How about a reasonable report on a game any game...your choice,

Coach Potato's picture

Brazil Mexico @ midnight. Should be a cracker.

christine's picture

Coach when I was saying that the nrl don't seem to know there own rules I was referring to the time keeping mistake when a player on the manly team was sin-binned when playing against storm & then the said player was allowed back on before even being off for the said number of minutes it doesn't matter that the nrl wasn't actually in charge of playing time keeper it was the blame game that followed that I was referring to ...

Coach Potato's picture

You're definitely right christine.
So often the rulebook goes out the window.
It's total rubbish that they can do that without being answerable to anyone.

Coach Potato's picture

The other night there was a scrum where the shot clock was down to about 8 seconds and then it stopped for no reason. The scum took another 20+ seconds to pack without any penalty. They obviously don't want to blow this penalty anymore, but it's in the rules, so they should have no choice about it.

Coach Potato's picture

Milford back from Samoa to play in Origin III.

Didn’t he fail badly in Origin I ?
Wasn’t his online defence found wanting ?

The Qld greats of the last decade have retired, but surely the depth in Qld talent can’t be as bad as bringing back a dropped player. Surely ?

christine's picture

Don't we the followers & supporters of this great game of ours nrl deserve better than that lets face it , it cost us enough to go to see these games in the way of tickets / membership just to have them make mistakes when refereeing or with bunker calls , they really are ruining this game & it's us as viewers / spectators that pay the price & it cost teams a chance to move up on the ladder because of incorrect refereeing or bunker calls , it's just not good enough todd Greenberg ...

Coach Potato's picture

Hey Thinker, it’s a soft game we play if Tanou should have been sent off for momentarily resting his knee on Walker’s cheek. There did not appear to be any force used at all. It was a bit of a cheap shot admittedly, but otherwise pretty harmless.

Somehow, you did not mention the luck that Will Chambers received for not even being pulled up during Origin for his deliberate knee (while running at full speed) to the solar-plexus of Damien Cook ? Martial Arts training would have you know that this particular area of the body is deadly. As in causing death.

Seems a bit like chalk and cheese, only you’re eating the chalk and drawing with the cheese.

The Annoying Devil's picture

Good one pabs
I can’t believe that a simple discussion of forward passes could go for so long
The egomaniac was frustrated by your common sense return of serves where he was diving into the rule book and digging up pointless videos to prove his point
Then gets nasty as people on the Back foot do calling you a joker no class and ignorant if he only knew
There’s a difference between someone that has played in a team and someone that plays with themselves
Looking forward to the video

Coach Potato's picture

Where else are people referencing to check a rule on the game - other than the rulebook?

Laugh a minute that you regard the rulebook as not the actual rule.

The Annoying Devil's picture

The best way I can explain it to how it feels you returning to this site
Remember the old corner shop usually family owned and if you were 50 cents short they would say don’t worry about it pay me next time
Well your like the aggressive franchise that takes over
I’m 50 cents short can I pay you next time? No that’s impossible reaching for his book of rules
Page 17 Section 26 verse 10 clearly states you cannot I repeat cannot give credit to a customer
Can I speak to your manager then?
No but I have this video that will make you apologise to me
Watching this video is silly it’s just a girl throwing a ball out of a moving car
Yes but her father is driving and is making her do it as punishment for not paying the full amount
I think I will take my business elsewhere
Wait come back I have a rugby version

Mary S's picture

Interesting analogy TAD - I applaud it.

Coach Potato's picture

Must’ve taken a long time. Didn’t read it but sure it’s hilarious.

Keep it up though. The more you write, the more there is to ignore.

Coach Potato's picture

People near and far are free to have their opinions on the game but this is the key.

The laws of the game are not open to opinion. They are points of fact.

There is no argument.

bradapple's picture

Hi Thinker

Are these picks able to be added as I was to late to make them normally?

pabdul's picture

Well done TAD (the annoying doctor)
You’ve come up with a win/win situation diagnoses of egomaniac personalities can be tough.
But now help can be sought
You can attend EA meetings and I will be a couple of doors down at SA (sarcastic anonymous) and TAD at IA
no it’s not Irish Anonymous it’s Immigration Australia you’ve over stayed your visa again
We’re here for you coach

Coach Potato's picture

So just to check -

Do you, padbul and devil, have opinions on various topics, and so you think you are right? (Or question around the other way, do you hold any personal opinions, where you believe you are not right?)

And do you share your thoughts and opinions with others?

Where is the ego in having an opinion. Only a fool would think that.

pabdul's picture

Alright coach
For the sake of others let’s call a truce
Not that you’ll listen but there are 2 things I would like you to consider
1. When someone disagrees and you get frustrated try not to show that occasional nasty streak that rubs people the wrong way
2. How hard is it to get my name right.

pabdul's picture

By the way coach
The truce is from me I can’t speak for TAD as I know he holds grudges
When we were at SOO I showed him a picture of my wife and he like everyone before him said your punching above your weight
Then he showed me a picture of him and his wife and I said is she really short or are you making out with a leprechaun he punched me in the arm and said your lucky it was only your arm
2 days later we spoke on the phone within 30 seconds he asked so how tall is your wife? He’s a great guy but I’ve had to hide the rabbits

Coach Potato's picture

I’m all for truces, just as I was happy to continue to discuss. Not a fan of being told I have an ego problem just for expressing my opinions (like everyone else)

My bottom line is (imo) the rules are the rules, yet refs continue to
not abide and rule as they please. This leads to confusion over what the rule actually is - and understandable to a degree, although (imo) it’s the fans responsibilty to know the rules, not just assume that the ref has it covered. They clearly do not.

The Annoying Devil's picture

Yeah I’m in
Pabs I didn’t punch you till after your second comment so where is wife from in Ireland?
Dublin, Belfast, Lilliput ?

Coach Potato's picture

Fairy taps don’t hurt

Coach Potato's picture

Padbul
1/ You certainly are no leader when it comes to interacting with others so recommend you don’t make rules for others to follow
2/ Also would recommend you don’t make rules which you don’t think should apply just as equally to yourself

The Annoying Devil's picture

Pabdul got more interaction skills in his little finger why are such a tosser
Even when he’s trying to get on with you you have to be crude

Mary S's picture

I believe the question was asked by 'pabdul' Coach, " How hard is it to get my name right."

The fact that you deliberately continue to misuse/misspell it is disrespectful to say the least.

The Annoying Devil's picture

Wow pabs I’m really impressed
Jody Foster only silenced the lambs
Mary S managed to silence the Jack Ass

Pages

The latest in NRL news