Round two selections

Three things The Thinker learned in round one

  1. Never underestimate the power of home ground advantage – excluding the neutral games in Perth, the home teams won 6 from 6.
  2. There are at least four teams with a history of drifting in and out of games and failing to play for 80 minutes (Panthers, Eels, Titans, Raiders). That hasn't changed, and if they want to play finals football it needs to change.
  3. The Melbourne Storm are so predictably good that we have a tendency not to appreciate how predictably good they are – we should be celebrating them like Winx.

Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Thursday night – Southern Cross Group Stadium

While I concede that the Sharks were up against a strong opponent in round one, some of the stats from that loss to the Cowboys are a concern. The Sharks made just one line break all game, and their backline is full of attacking wizards (Holmes, Dugan, Moylan, Feki, Leutele) that should be breaking the line more often than that. Their forwards too, were soundly beaten by the Cowboys in the middle. Any team that misses 38 tackles in 80 minutes is going to struggle – it's stunning to think they only lost by 6. I've flagged the importance of home ground advantage and the crowd will be particularly vocal for the local derby, but Hunt and Widdop worked and they'll only get better, and that Dragons pack is an absolute ripper.

Verdict – Dragons by 4

Result – Dragons 20 defeated Sharks 16

Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Friday night – Allianz Stadium

Round one had its fair share of surprises, but surely the Roosters losing to the Tigers was the biggest surprise of all. The last time the Chooks lost to the Tigers was in 2011, and that's the first time Cooper Cronk has lost a round one NRL game since forever. The Bulldogs lost too, but that result was expected by almost everyone. There were some positive signs – Mbye at fullback looks a smart move and there was nothing wrong with the performance of the big teddy bear (Woods) in his first effort in Blue and White. I'm sticken with the chickens – they just look like a superior outfit and I'm assuming these new combinations will get better as the season progresses.

Verdict – Roosters by 7

Result – Roosters 30 defeated Bulldogs 12

Brisbane Broncos vs North Queensland Cowboys – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

The Broncos were crap last Thursday, but I still wanted to go to this game on Friday night. Clearly I'm not the only one, because there are only single seat lefts available if you want to tag along. Wayne Bennett did his best drill sergeant impersonation at training this week, but is that enough? Do the Broncos have a team that can still compete with the best of the best? I can see why people are starting to doubt them, but under Wayne Bennett this side has finished the last three seasons in 2nd, 5th and 3rd place. I'm prepared to give them time to prove the doubters wrong, but I can't tip them on Friday night to beat the team I have pencilled in as Premiers in 2018. It's the game of the round, even with the Broncos in 16th place on the ladder – these two sides have given us too many extraordinary contests in recent years to think otherwise.

Verdict – Cowboys by 8

Result – Broncos 24 defeated Cowboys 20

New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday afternoon – Mt Smart Stadium

The Warriors have a recent (and awful) history of losing their first home game of the season, but at least this season they're playing their first home game at their home ground (and not travelling to Wellington or Christchurch). They also broke the hoodoo of the Perth game, with a convincing display over the Bunnies. I can't trust them to back it up in round two because this is a side that cannot be trusted, but the NRL is a much more exciting competition when the Warriors are going well. I hope like heck it continues. Thankfully the Titans came home strong against the Raiders and got me out of a pretty deep tipping hole in round one, but it's the home side for me.

Verdict – Warriors by 4

Result – Warriors 20 defeated Titans 8

Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Saturday afternoon – Panthers Stadium

The Penrith army should be back in numbers on Saturday afternoon given the way they finished off the Eels in round one. It was three tries apiece in that game, but it was the kicking game of Nathan Cleary that saw the Panthers win by 10. Speaking of kicking games, Adam Reynolds won't be playing for the Bunnies, and Cody Walker was hobbling on one leg at the end of their loss to the Warriors. With a home crowd pushing the Panthers up the paddock and playmakers with a superior kicking game they look the logical way to go.

Verdict – Panthers by 8

Result – Panthers 18 defeated Rabbitohs 14

Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers – Saturday night – AAMI Park

Cooper Cronk has left the building, and Billy Slater wasn't available, but one of the big three was enough for the Storm to continue on as they always do (their last loss in a round one game was in 2002). A few journalist took some pot shots at Cameron Munster over the off-season, but his display in the number one jersey was a masterclass. The top four (at least) beckons for the purple machine once again. The Storm will be keen to show the people of Melbourne they have a team to cheer for before the AFL season gets underway. They won't take the Tigers lightly and they'll just win. It's what they do.

Verdict – Storm by 10

Result – Tigers 10 defeated Storm 8

Manly Sea Eagles vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Lottoland

I've spent more time pondering this game than any other, so if you have a different opinion please don't be swayed by mine. The Eels looked the goods early last weekend and switched off, and I'm hopeful that they won't be switching off this weekend. An 80 minute performance from the Eels and they win, but 80 minute performances from this side are few and far between. I've never been less confident in my life, but:

Verdict – Eels by 2

Result – Sea Eagles 54 defeated Eels 0

Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – GIO Stadium

If my reasoning for picking the Eels is good enough for them it's definitely good enough for the Raiders. They let a game slip that shouldn't have slipped against the Titans and Ricky Stuart will drill the message that his team has to steer the course for the full 80 minutes. 80 minutes of the Raiders at home on a Sunday afternoon is a joy to behold, and good enough to beat just about everyone. Clearly the Knights (like Darren Lockyers' hair) are showing signs of promising growth, but I'm seeing green.

Verdict – Raiders by 8

Result – Knights 30 defeated Raiders 28

Wally Lewis - round two selections (in bold)

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

  • SHARKS vs Dragons
  • ROOSTERS vs Bulldogs
  • Broncos vs COWBOYS
  • WARRIORS vs Titans
  • PANTHERS vs Rabbitohs
  • STORM vs Tigers
  • Sea Eagles vs EELS
  • RAIDERS vs Knights

Comments

Screaming Eagle's picture

Hello,

I am having trouble entering my tips for this round. I cant seem to be able to do it?

thanks
Andy

Baggy_Gee's picture

Your right Newbie, All I needed to see what the band appear in the top tab after I opened it and it lifted my day over here in the east. Last song was good but as I said not my cuppa. Lets see what can be done by both our BOYS this weekend after shockers last week. Have a good'un over there.

The Annoying Devil's picture

Hey Baggy
Newbies song this week was a vast improvement over last one
I really enjoyed the first 10 seconds then realised it was the Sportsbet commercial

manyana's picture

Hi Thinker, I must have just beaten the early closing time. I was very lucky that the link was there.
Great to know that you took the tips from "comments".
Hope I do better than last week.
Thanks again for letting me into the competition.
Cheers, Manyana.

Mary S's picture

Hi Andy (Screaming Eagle),
Why don't you put the remainder of your picks for Round 2 in the comments section, as several of us had to. There was a 'glitch' this week as The Thinker explained in the comments. You may be lucky with the remainder of the games if The Thinker accepts the entry before today's games begin.

I hope I'm not speaking 'out of turn' here Mr Thinker?
Cheers,
Mary

Screaming Eagle's picture

Cheers Mary S - I will post my tips for the remainder of the round and hopefully The Thinker will pick them up.

Hello The Thinker – I missed the opening game chance to tip and apparently there may have been a glitch in the system. Anyway, could you place the below tips for the rest of the round?
Roosters
Cowboys
Warriors
Panthers
Storm
Manly
Raiders

Cheers
Andy

Baggy_Gee's picture

TAD next you'll be telling me I "can hear it thinking, you can hear it drinking, you can hear it any old how, as a matter of fact I can hear it now!(played during the Cowboys first offensive set tonight)". Or "I can hear RATM tuning up". It is a great song, very good at stirring the blood.

The Thinker's picture

Greetings Screaming Eagle

The rest of your tips for round 2 will definitely be included. I will push through when I get a chance to do so.

All the best

The Thinker

Esra Star's picture

Damn forward passes. They are tipper killers. :(

Esra Star's picture

Can someone explain the off side and forward pass rules to those two idiots that refereed the Bronco's Cowboys game please.

a's picture

That damn goal post

Rocket Ryan's picture

Tigerholic how did you like those apples, any chance you might pick a winner this round I see you have abandoned your Tigers again even Tiger girl has folded, but seriously what did you think of the Broncos, your date at Suncorp is noted Baggy don't tell me your not concerned.

Rocket Ryan's picture

Now Tiger look ahead to next week will be on your team or mine, the whole thinker site will watch you crawl into the Bronco camp I bet, bring Tiger Girl with you.

Mary S's picture

Agree with you 100% 'a'. As per usual when these teams meet it is by no means a boring match - kept me on the edge of my seat to the final buzzer!
Cheers everyone
.

a's picture

Yep I can't wait for them to meat again

Baggy_Gee's picture

No not concerned Ryan it's been 2 insipid performances by the Broncos. A bit of misfortune for the Cowboys spared you a second loss. We'll see how the BOYS play at the beach tomorrow before I start getting twitchy. My thoughts on forward passes are if you catch the ball in front of the passer it's a turn over, offside/forward pass take your pick.

The Annoying Devil's picture

Baggy
Don’t get me started on forward passes especially when the touchie is right inline you can rule on them in rugby go figure
The biggest hurdle for parra tomorrow is the heat I hope brown and Alvaro bring the 50+ cancer council approved stuff

Screaming Eagle's picture

So true re forward passes. The refs missed at least four of them last night by the Broncos!
The one where the touchjudge was right on the spot was unforgiveable. What the hell are they paid for?
I think these days they are too sacred to make a call due to the potential blowback from the media (Im looking at you Gus Gould),

cheers
Andy

Rocket Ryan's picture

Too hard to make an accurate call from your loungechair eagle.

a's picture

So Broncos won with 15 man on the field

The Annoying Devil's picture

Haven’t you heard of the expression eagle eye ?

Brad S's picture

What a cracker of a game last night! A and Mary S you can rest easy, even though you lost last night, you definitely won the game that matters the most (I'm still having nightmares from that game). I'm a Broncos supporter and will put my hand up and say that Oates' try clearly came from a forward pass. In saying that, the Broncos were the better team over the 80 minutes even with help from a goal post. Cowboys switched off after 15 minutes and didn't turn back up until the last 15 minutes. They definitely missed Coote at the back and I'm happy Morgan wasn't playing so he couldn't isolate Milford defending his try line to brush him off for a try like the many times he has done in the past. Bring on game 2 in Townsville!

Baggy_Gee's picture

My mate and I were talking about how scared/useless Touchie are. It seems that they are just there paying their dues, marking time, until they are allowed on the field to run the game. 299th games, only 2 more to go. There needs to be passion for the game, rules and fans rather than worrying about shitting in the pool and messing up your chance of being a top flight ref.

Baggy_Gee's picture

TAD, the problem is the weather during our trial was hotter and with the cooling off coming it hopefully shouldn't be an issue. Maybe we overcooked in it the preseason and need to have a few weeks of skills to allow the BOYS to get back into proper shape. We'll see how badly each team fares after a sad opening round.

Baggy_Gee's picture

New coaching tip for Griffin. Let the start with a 14-0 score line and they won't cross the paint for the next 80 minutes and you won't lose a game.

mark ashford's picture

Great to see all the whingeing about Bronco forward passes.
Did anyone see the Thurston pass that allowed them back in the game, at least half a metre forward and led to their last try.
When they woke up Broncs shut down Taumalomo and Hess and for once in his career Thurston made some poor decisions.
I thought he looked a bit rattled last night.
In 2018 the game is faster than ever.
All you knockers, put on your refs jerseys and get to an NRL game.
It's so easy to criticsise after many slomo replays

Rocket Ryan's picture

Im in shock

Rocket Ryan's picture

Not brainboob the tigers.

a's picture

Wow Tigers upset both the Roosters and Storm

Mary S's picture

Don't think we are doing too well in your comp 'a' with all the upsets in the 2 rounds so far.
Congrats to the Tigers but a shock result all the same!

a's picture

Yeah 15 out of 27 people on 2 strikes maybe 16 if the Raiders lose

The Annoying Devil's picture

Great weekend so far in the nrl as the warriors and the tigers who most had down for the wooden spoon showed their first round wins were no fluke.
And the surprise result of Slaters 300th at home who would of thought
And on Friday night in the qld derby the man of the match going to the right hand goal post for that try saving tackle
Bring me on today’s games

The Annoying Devil's picture

Baggy
For today’s game remember the tooheys ad
So here we go again manly and parra eels are ahead but the gap starts to narrow
Just goes to show what and eagle can do to an eel had do you feel
Can’t remember the rest

Baggy_Gee's picture

All I remember is that we are a head. It'll be good if we keep our heads and play like the first twenty last week. We have a good bunch of BOYS and can do the job. Just have to do the job now.

Steel Panther's picture

Geez Manly 30 nil up at half time!! Baggy you'll be doing it tough if you're watching.

Baggy_Gee's picture

It's not a good afternoon so far. But we can score that many as well if we pick up our game.

Steel Panther's picture

Eels certainly have the cattle to do it. No doubt about that & we've see our fair share of comebacks already this season. Good luck!!

Rocket Ryan's picture

Thats it im off to mow the yard the beach boys are home eels are embarrassing

mark ashford's picture

Baggy
WTF happened today.
Norman was being talked about as a QLD half.
A nil score is a bit embarrassing.
Bet you're glad your club brought Hayne back.
What a waste of salary cap he is.
Interesting to see the Tigers with 2/0 after off loading another waste in Woods and a good back in Tedesco. Maybe egos were the problem.

Baggy_Gee's picture

Hayne wasn't bad. Out of all louts on the park he kept putting in and did make some good tackles. I am glad he is home though. All 17 let us down.

Rocket Ryan's picture

In my opinion the eels surrendered like pussys.

a's picture

Knights have won from 2 from 2

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