Round seven selections

Manly Sea Eagles vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Thursday night – 4 Pines Park

Manly will be pleased to be returning to Brookvale, particularly so against an opponent whose record at the ground is poor. That said, the Sea Eagles are on a very short turnaround from a Saturday game in Perth, and that flight from Perth to Sydney isn't easy for anyone. They are facing a third consecutive loss here, but there last two opponents do look like top four teams. The return of Jason Saab won't hurt either. The Dragons were big winners over the Titans last week and I think they're going better than most realise. With an extra day to prepare, I'm willing to tip them to pull off the upset. Val Holmes to (hopefully) find his radar and seal the win with a late field goal.

Verdict – Dragons by 1

Result – Dragons 20 defeated Sea Eagles 18

Canterbury Bulldogs vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – Accor Stadium

A very good Friday indeed for the Bulldogs, with some talk they'll get 70,000 through the turnstiles. That's not impossible if the weather is kind, but anything in the 60s can make this the highest attendance for a regular season NRL game since...the NRL. Some important inclusions for both teams - Burton is back in the halves for the Bulldogs, and an early candidate for buy of the season (Tupouniua) returns on the bench. For the Bunnies, Walker is back in the halves and Graham returns on the wing to replace Johnston. High profile English recruit Lewis Dodd gets his first taste of an NRL game, either off the bench or in the halves with Walker. Keep an eye on the team lists in case the wily old coach decides to shift Mitchell back to the centres before game time. The scheduling of this clash has to help the home side, who have had a week off to prepare for one of their regular season blockbusters, while the Bunnies are backing up from the trip to the West Coast. I was probably leaning to the Bulldogs regardless, but now I'm leaning a little more.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 10

Result – Bulldogs 32 defeated Rabbitohs 0

Redcliffe Dolphins vs Melbourne Storm – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

Whatever the outcome on Friday night, those in attendance are in for a treat. Tabuai-Fidow has found his mojo, and the Storm have named one of the most exciting prospects in the game on the wing (Faalogo). Both are likely to make the highlight reels. I would have given the Dolphins a real chance in this, but for the inclusion of Jahrome Hughes for the Storm. They're a next level opponent when he's out there conducting the orchestra, and assuming he's fit and well, the Storm all but pick themselves. Their record at this ground in particular, is better than anyone. In any case, this is a great test for the Dolphins and this could be the game of the round. Eyeball-worthy.

Verdict – Storm by 10

​​​​​​​Result – Dolphins 42 defeated Storm 22

New Zealand Warriors vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday afternoon – Go Media Stadium

Expect another sold out home ground for the Warriors (if it isn't already), but they'll need all the support they can get in this. They've lost Fisher-Harris, Nicoll-Klokstad and Berry this week - not easy shoes to fill. The Broncos will be hoping to bounce back after the surprise loss to the Chooks, and Kiwi Jordan Riki returns to bolster the pack. The Warriors often lift for this clash and I do expect a contest, but I think that Broncos pack can get on top in this. Note that Staggs is likely to ink an extension to his Broncos contract any day now. Back him in try-scoring markets now...if that's your thing.

Verdict – Broncos by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Warriors 20 defeated Broncos 18

Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

15th plays 16th (yes...really) in the battle of the duds. It's hard to fathom these contemporary NRL giants being where they are but there they are. In round two the Roosters surprised everyone with a win over the Panthers and the Panthers haven't been able to win a game since. They need to resurrect their season in quick time or they may not even make the finals this year. They continue to start favourite in every game on the basis of what they might do, but I can't tip them until they actually do it. Talagi looked out of place in the halves last week - perhaps he'll be better for the run around but, again, I want to see it happen before I believe in it. The Chooks know they can beat Penrith, and they knocked off the Broncos in Brisbane last week. I think that's good enough.

Verdict – Roosters by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Panthers 40 defeated Roosters 12

Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders – Sunday afternoon – Cbus Super Stadium

People don't talk about the advantage the Sydney-based clubs have over the other teams because they travel less. With that in mind, I'll point out that the Raiders this year have played at following locations - Las Vegas, Canberra, Sydney, Townsville, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast. More time on tour than Bob Dylan. This won't be easy for them either, with the Titans welcoming back Fa'asuamaleaui (times two). For the Raiders, Hosking returns to bolster a pack of forwards that are doing everything right at the moment. The Queenslander in me is really hoping Hudson Young gets injured in the middle of the year (sorry Hudson). I have to stick with the Raiders, and hope that they don't treat an Easter long weekend on the Gold Coast as some sort of holiday. A game that could surprise to the upside, and likely to be much more interesting than the game they'll be broadcasting on free to air televison on Sunday afternoon.

Verdict – Raiders by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Raiders 30 defeated Titans 20

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – McDonald Jones Stadium

Mrs Thinker is working interstate this year, and I still think I could score more often than the Knights at the moment. In their last three games they have scored one try or less, and last week they didn't get their one try until the 79th minute. They're offering next to nothing with the ball in hand and you can understand why they are hoping Dylan Brown can fix that in the seasons ahead. Dylan Brown can't help them on Sunday and I can't see the current Knights line-up challenging the Sharks defence too often. Typically I'm reluctant to tip against the Knights at home in these Sunday afternoon games, but not this year.

Verdict – Sharks by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Sharks 34 defeated Knights 14

Wests Tigers vs Parramatta Eels – Monday afternoon – CommBank Stadium

A big out and a big in for the Easter Monday game - with Galvin getting punted to park football for rejecting a contract extension with the Tigers (bit harsh maybe) and Moses back from a long term injury for the Eels. Now I'm not as fit as I once used to think that I may have been, but to my eye Mitch Moses looks like he's going to need the hitout on Monday. That doesn't mean he can't make a difference, because he does have a handy boot on him, but still. The best of him may be a while off. Dylan Brown is offering moments of magic but he does tend to drift in and out of games. I don't think you can afford to play like that when you're on $13 million, but I'm an old fashioned fool. I assume the Tigers are trying to make a statement about 'team first' or something similar with the punting of Galvin. Perhaps that will spark the rest of the Tigers to give their all. I was going to tip them anyway, because I think they're playing pretty well. Hopefully this off-field silliness doesn't derail what could otherwise be a much better year for the stripey cats.

Verdict – Tigers by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Eels 38 defeated Tigers 22

Wally Lewis - round seven selections (in bold)

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

  • SEA EAGLES vs Dragons
  • BULLDOGS vs Rabbitohs
  • Dolphins vs STORM
  • WARRIORS vs Broncos
  • Roosters vs PANTHERS
  • TITANS vs Raiders
  • KNIGHTS vs Sharks
  • TIGERS vs Eels

Comments

The Thinker's picture

Greetings football fans

I have updated the NRL ladder and the tipping comp after round six. Two of our tipsters top-scored with 7 from 8 - one of them was some bloke who calls himself The Thinker, and the other is our standalone leader (Gummy Sharks). Well done to both, especially to The Thinker who is finally finding some winners.

As always, if anyone notices any issues with the scoring just let me know.

I'll have my previews and selections for round seven published on Wednesday.

All the best

The Thinker

The Thinker's picture

In other news, I've had another crack at trying to remove more ads on the website. It's a bit of an ongoing battle - everytime I create a page for a new round we get a bit swarmed. Hopefully the changes I've made this morning will put a stop to many of them.

Apologies to those of you putting up with them - I know they are annoying. They do also cover the cost of the tipping prizes...so I do need to have some of them or Mrs Thinker will give me the side eye :-)

All the best

The Thinker

a's picture

Yes I want those Temu ones gone

Esra Star's picture

I have no problem with them at all,Mr Thinker. I just delete them.

Tiyen Motz's picture

I'm getting used to it

Dragons-fanboy's picture

Hi everyone,

My tips for this week are:
Dragons by 2
Bulldogs by 12
Storm by 18
Broncos by 10
Roosters by 6
Raiders by 8
Sharks by 20
Tigers by 4

Best of luck with your tips everyone! Take care!

RyzPaz's picture

I’m seeing a few upsets again this week. Long weekend big home crowds I can see the titans finding some form over the raiders especially with big Tino boosting the forward pack. Eels with Moses back will be a completely different side, his leadership and encouragement to the team + his kicking will probably see him kick the winning field goal in the end. Knights have a better suited side, have a good record against sharks and with the Sunday arvo long weekend time slot the crowd will be roaring… and Klein doesn’t favour sharks much 😏 up the mighty knights!

Ellelicious270707's picture

Hi,

My Tips for Round 7.

Manly
Bulldogs
Storm
Broncos
Panthers
Raiders
Sharks
Tigers

Thank you.

frank CLANCY's picture

RD 7 Tips
eagles
dogs
storm
broncs
roosters
raiders
sharks
eels

Chook_Dan's picture

Hi thinker.

Could I tip manly, souths, storm, broncos, titans, sharks, roosters and tigers.

Steel Panther's picture

Hi Mary,

Thanks for your concern. We are over the worst now but to be honest it wasn't too bad here in Auckland. Should still be a good track tomorrow night when the Broncos ride into town.

And yes my visit to the Sunshine Coast turned into a disaster. Cut my holiday two days short to "escape" but with Brisbane airport being closed had to fly out of Maroochydore to Sydney then home. Couldn't get a flight to Auckland until the next day so one of my holiday nights was spent in Sydney airport!!

It feels like the bad weather is following me around.

Hope you are well.
Take care
SP

MGM's picture

A bit of a fiasco on Thursday night !
Normally players are pretty good these days at biting their tongue when they aren't happy with the ref.
Peter Gough was the man in the middle (quite literally!).
First it was Clint Gutherson pinged for Dissent for saying too much about Gough's decisions and then later Luke Brooks warned "Be Very Careful Luke!" for his critical remarks.
For senior players from both teams (not inexperienced young hotheads) have to be warned or penalised for dissent against a referee, , does that tell us more about the players' performance or the Referee's .....?
Verdict :- .... Off you go Peter , see you in 2 weeks provided you pass your exams!

MGM's picture

Well now they're just taking the p!ss !!
90 seconds into Rabbs v Dogs and Reed Mahoney from dummy half semi-drops his pass and it rolls forward along the ground ..... no whistle from Grunt Atkins , Touchie Dave Munro had the best view and touchie Phil Henderson was also right in line .... the groan from the crowd was enough to tell you there was an error even if you had your f#n eyes closed but it was "play on" !
WE ALL KNOW the bunker gets in the ref's ear when it SUITS them , but Ashley F#n Klein stays silent also.

Now whilst I'm typing I see Matt Burton chase a kick when he was IN FRONT OF the kicker, Ashley F#n Klein says "based on the onfield call of onside" it's play on ..... WTF !... That's YOUR call Ashley F and you knEW he was in front or you wouldn't have qualified your judgement by basing it on the ref's MISTAKE and now Rabbits have a player in the bin !!

MGM's picture

If there truly are "Footy Gods" then Rabbitohs will win this match.

Steel Panther's picture

There's a sin bin for a jersey grab when Burton was never going to get there, but two guys get put on report for high shots when in previous weeks, both would have gone to the bin. Zero consistency from one week to the next...

MGM's picture

Are you fed up with me ? ... I'M fed up . Fed up with forward passes , especially those that lead to tries . And today we have the worst offender in the NRL on the field.

At 32:25 Reed Mahoney throws fwd from dummy half to Jack Todd , then the next play of the ball he throws forward again from dummy half to Burton, and on the next play Tupouniua scores.
Second half -
@ 42;18 Mahoney fwd pass to Jack Todd from dummy half and on the next play J.Preston scores.
Again at 46:30 Mahoney passes fwd from dummy half to Kurt Mann. Then at 53:18 Mahoney passes fwd from dummy half to Max King(no8). Then 2 plays later @53:33 Mahoney passes fwd from dummy half to B. Xerri.
At 54:48 Reed Mahoney is replaced by no.17 Bailey Hayward.
At 55:42 ( only 54 F#n seconds LATER!) Bailey Hayward passes fwd from dummy half to T.Sexton.
THEN @ 68:33 from Dummy F#nHalf, Bailey Hayward passes the ball FORWARD to B.Xerri who scores the last try of the match.

You all may be doubting all of this , which is why I've include the exact time of each of these ... so you can check them yourself easily (I have kayo and can keep rewinding to double and triple check the footage).
I pause just as the ball is released and pause again when it is caught.
They are thrown from dummy half so there's no momentum factor , .. they are Forward Passes !
Disgusting.

MGM's picture

Wild Oscar ! .... You Genius!

The Thinker's picture

@MGM

I'll take a look. Your point about passes out of dummy half (and momentum) is an interesting one.

All the best

The Thinker

Esra Star's picture

It is very frustrating,mate. Same with that damn 6 again. Half the time the bunker has no clue what it is for or,even if it has been called! How can we,the spectator know if they don't?

The Thinker's picture

Roosters fans cranky with the officials tonight. Not having a lot of luck (thinker being polite)

MGM's picture

@Thinker , Esra and anyone else that might still be interested :
This afternoon we've been given Two almost Perfect examples of the effect forward momentum can have on a pass that has been thrown backwards out of the hands.
It's hard to measure such a thing , but I have identified some factors that should be taken into account that make it easier to judge.
1st - How fast is the ball carrier traveling ? .. If it's full pace then, by NRL standards, that's pretty fast (especially if it's a winger or full back or half).
2nd - If a support player is keeping pace with the ball carrier , where is he in relation to the ball ?
3rd - If the support player is almost a metre back from being parallel then it's the perfect set-up.
4th - provided the ball receiver doesn't need to stretch forward to catch it , then it's a copybook pass and catch at Full Speed , which takes all the skills and timing that only the elite players in the game we love possess.
5th - They are already running flat out in this scenario so , unless they have a turbo booster strapped to their back , any ball thrown forward will go to ground.

Now let's go to the 40 minute mark of the Warriors v Broncos match today. .. It wasn't free to air, but here's a 13 second clip -
https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/04/19/absolute-scenes-at-halftime/
There was better vision on Kayo but I can't isolate that section.
Please believe me when I tell you the pass from Walsh to Cobbo was almost exactly the same as the previous pass from Staggs to Walsh but the Staggs vision jumps from one camera angle to another.
I was listening on 2gb in the car and the way Mark Levy and Darryl Brohman were blowing up I knew I had to see the replay.
Chris Butler got this wrong ... He was a few metres behind the play with two Warrior players obstructing his view. It was a Bad call. .... And it altered the result.

Butler is no stranger to this kind of controversy.
In last seasons semi-final Ivan Cleary was so vocal about a bad call from him in the bunker that robbed his team of a try that Butler was dropped from the Grand Final gig.
I only hope that Michael Maguire can have the same kind of influence.

MGM's picture

@Thinker
These passes from players charging downfield at full pace are in stark contrast to lazy passes from a dummy half who has taken two steps sideways and one step forward before passing to someone that is AlReady parallel with him or slightly in front of him (or before throwing a pass that causes a properly positioned 1st receiver to stretch forward in order to catch it).
The NRL has only themselves to blame for this plague of sneaky/lazy forward passing . .. They are the ones that have allowed "Flat Pass" to become an acceptable and common term instead of calling it what it IS ... an illegal pass. .. and they are the ones that have not instructed the refs and touch judges to stamp out the Flat Pass from Dummy Half.
It's the easiest one to police and to spot. .. Here's a clue from me to them and I'll give it free of charge - If the first receiver is parallel with or slightly in front of the dummy half just before he releases the ball, then PUT your whistle in your MOUTH and get ready to BLOW.

The fact that "flat pass" is such a common and acceptable term in rugby league has encouraged players and coaches to push the envelope further and further. ... They must LOVE watching replays where they hear commentators calling a questionable pass "Flat" and an obviously forward pass "Very Flat". .... And I Don't blame Them. .. The blame for this prolific plague lies squarely on the shoulders of the NRL and it's match officials.

Esra Star's picture

Mate,,they can use all the scientific stuff they like to justify their version of a forward pass,but the fact of the matter is that a forward pass is when the ball is projected forward from the hands. On a legal pass,if it drifts forward after release it should still be a legal pass. The momentum thing from a running player (i think) is a load of BS. This is where the linesman are not doing their job. If they keep up with the play they should ping the FWD pass every time.
I have said for years now that the game is now too fast for just two linesmen to run the full length of the field. There should be one for each quarter.

MGM's picture

That'll be double the mistakes ! :-)

MGM's picture

But seriously Esra , I get your point on the Linesman.
The momentum thing is only BS from dummy half or if a player is running sideways.
Please take a look at the link I gave above and Watch where the two players are when the ball is projected Backwards out of the hands and then where the two players are when the ball is caught. ... these guys are running Fast (straight towards the try-line) and it creates forward momentum of the ball .... no BS.
Take the time and have a Good look.

EarlStTav's picture

Hi all
Been a sideline watcher, had to re register as ditched telstra and no longer had registered email, didnot know how to continue without old email
Just a heads up i usually browse here on iphone, i see the main man and others mention ads,
Just a heads up, or little help, i use firefox focus as my browser on iphone, it get rid of ads showing up etc etc, unlike safari, no setting up required , thus no ads for me thinkers site
Its in the app store , any way if interested just thought id post , as seen comments about ads cpl years now
happy tipping

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