Paully's Picks - Round 2

St George Illawarra v Canterbury


The corresponding encounter last year was one of the best games of season 2009. These Sydney suburban neighbours also played one of the best games of 2006 (Follow this link to the match review - go to Round 19 2006). Both matches were played at WIN Jubilee Oval and were very entertaining and physical battles, mixed with tremendous attacking flair. The rivalry will continue this year in the form of a defensive struggle, with Saints edging out the Dogs.
Man of the Match prediction: Jamie Soward’s kicking game.
Tip: Dragons 1-0
Result: Dragons 26-6
Man of the Match: Ben Hornby
Match Review:
The dragons are on the verge of something here. Opposition attacks cannot simply put together a few good sets of six; get a couple of repeats and hope to score points. Possession must be maintained for sustained periods and must be aimed at the middle of the field before even thinking about using your outside backs. Translation? The Dragons seem to be headed for another minor premiership. The Bulldogs have not yet started their season. Very timid and apparently very hung-over from their success last year. Weyman and Dean Young standouts for the Dragons.


South Sydney v Gold Coast
Historically, Sandow and Sutton do not produce every week… Historically, Scott Prince and Greg Bird do. Together, the latter will turn up for this game and probably teach the former a thing or two about the following nuances of 1st grade football:
1. Clock management
2. Leading your forwards around the field
3. 5th tackle options
The Rabbitohs halves should be taking notes during this game and if they do they will note themselves losing. The Titans defy their horrible away record and get the W.
Man of the Match prediction – Nathan Friend
Tip: Titans 26-16
Result: Titans 19-18 Extra Time
Man of the Match: Scott Prince
Match Review:
Experience told the difference in this match. This Titans unit has been together long enough to withstand a comeback from Souths and still compete when exhausted and on the wrong end of momentum swings. Referee bagging aside, the Titans proved their mettle in this game and have impressed so far this season. Isaac Luke and John Sutton look good enough to win games on the back of good forward play, unfortunately they just don't do it very often. Greg Bird seems to be building towards something special.



NZ Warriors v Cronulla
Down and dirty. Both teams will be trying to exorcise the demons of last year and will be desperate to get their first win of the season. It will be a slog from start to finish. Errors will decide the winner and the Warriors will come out ahead by controlling possession and not give away penalties. Brett Seymour shares a few shire secrets with his new team and Lance Hohaia shines amid the darkness of this game.
Man of the Match prediction: Brett Seymour
Tip: Warriors 18-14
Result: Warriors 30-16
Man of the Match: Manu Vatuvei
Match Review.
Lance Hohaia did everything to suggest he should be in the halves permanently. With Brett Seymour missing from this game, Hohaia kicked well and controlled the direction of his forwards with aplomb. Combine a talented forward pack with Seymour and Hohaia, and the Warriors could restore their near infallible home ground advantage. Wade McKinnon would assume his natural role as starting fullback and young James Maloney is your interchange. Why does all this matter? I like watching the Warriors when they play well, and they do still have the ability. The Sharks, on the other hand, are not enjoyable to watch. They have not won a football game since Andrew Ettingshausen and Mark McGaw were running around Caltex Field. I feel for them. Ricky Stuart has replaced Ivan Cleary as coach most likely to be fired.



Newcastle v Melbourne
Ryan Hoffman is a big loss for the defending premiers. However with Inglis in the squad and Brett Finch coming off an impressive performance against the Sharks, and playing in front of his family, the Bolsheviks will be too good for the Knights. Ben Cross to have another great game against his old club. Watch for Jarrod Mullen’s kicking game against Billy Slater's positional play in a chess match that will last 80 minutes and be a pleasure to watch.
Man of the Match prediction – Brett Finch
Tip: Storm 17-16
Result: Storm 20-14
Man of the Match: Aidan Tolman
Match Review.
Bellamy's Red Army marched all the way to the Hunter and came away with the two points. A wonderful display of commitment and desire by the Storm. They had no business winning this game after being down 14-0 and then, after clawing their way back into the match, giving up a mountain of possession in the second half. It did not matter. Bellamy made one adjustment and suddenly The Bolsheviks fell into a routine that simply pummelled the Knights into submission. Ryan Hinchcliffe taken off, Cameron Smith returns to hooker, Brett Finch plays halfback and they don't even bother with an official number 6. Only a team with the Storms resolve, professionalism and Communist attitude can pull this off. Aidan Tolman the standout up front.


Nth Queensland v Penrith
Willie Tonga v Michael Jennings – I truly hope they match up against each other for an origin preview. It will be tantalising. Travis Burns will probably start 4 or 5 fights against his former club. Coincidentally that’s about the same number of clubs he has played for in the NRL. Hard to see Thurston allowing the Cowboys to lose their first home game of the season.
Man of the Match prediction – JT
Tip: Cowboys 28-22
Result: Cowboys 28-20
Man of the Match: JT
Match Review.
The Tonga v Jennings battle never happened. I was hoping Jennings would switch sides but the only thing he did was create more doubt in the minds of the NSW selectors about his defence. The Panthers started very well and the forward battle in this match was impressively brutal - you could hear each hit through the television. When it all settled down and Thurston asked for the ball, Aaron Payne responded in kind and JT pointed his attack towards Jennings' side of the field. The result? Tries to Tonga, Scott Bolton and Michael Bani down the left flank. For the Panthers, Luke Walsh and Kevin Kingston are moulding quite well and they looked impressive at times, but their teammates simply could not stop any traffic in the second half.



Parramatta v Manly
Brett Stewart’s injury has robbed us of a wonderful battle between the two best fullbacks in NSW. I’m sure it has robbed him of much more. Parramatta can’t possibly lose their first two home games as premiership favourites, can they? No. They finish stronger than an Eagles team still blooding a new halfback. Here's hoping Tahu and Matai match up. Both very aggressive footballers.
Man of the Match prediction – Nathan Hindmarsh
Tip: Parramatta 24-8
Result: Parramatta 24-20
Man of the Match: Jarryd Hayne
Match Review.
Unbelievable and ridiculous at the same time. Parramatta did not simply fall behind on the scoreboard and then mount a comeback; they were sloppy, unprofessional and lazy for most of this game. When the Parramatta players did finally engage, it was still only a couple of sublime efforts from Hayne that made the difference. Forward passes aside, a very enjoyable comeback to witness and a magnificent 109 metre try that looked straight out of a NFL highlights package. The young Manly halves did not have the experience to respond to this, and Anthony Watmough couldn’t do it alone. If the Eels ever play 80 minutes of motivated football - it will be scary.



Eastern Suburbs v Wests
In a perfect world, we would see a battle between the boys from Campbelltown and the bourgeois from Bondi. Unfortunately, the Leichardt coffee class is well represented here and both teams come from the same Starbucks tribe. How times have changed. What we will have instead of a brawl will be a fast paced and entertaining match. Brian Smith tries to slow the game down but Tim Sheens out-coaches him and finds a way to win with superior game plan. Probably something to do with keeping the ball out of Todd Carney's hands.
Man of the Match prediction – Robbie Farah
Tip: Tigers 32-22
Result: Roosters 44-32
Man of the Match: Mitchell Pearce
Match Review.
The Roosters are truly the surprise team of the season for us. Their forward pack did not look like it could trouble the more experienced sides but they have a self belief that defies the shambles of last year. Can this really be the same team? By the same token, the poor Tigers looked like their defence had been orchestrated by a Rugby Union player. There were times in this game where certain attempted tackles looked more like a man hug and a pat on the bum. Just goes to show how injuries can affect a football team. The Tigers had to make a couple of late changes and suddenly, all cohesion in the defensive line was gone. The Roosters look more like they are in a d-tox year rather than a 'gap year'.



Canberra v Brisbane
Round 21, 2009…… Canberra beat the visiting Broncos 56-0. Darren Lockyer will remember this and have his team ready on Monday night. They will meet an equally ready Raiders team who will be keen to avenge the disappointment from last week’s loss against Penrith. This means we have a cracking game of footy on our hands. The Raiders home ground advantage is hard to resist. They win, but it’s a fight to the end.
Man of the Match prediction: Bronson Harrison
Tip: Raiders 26-24
Result: Raiders 22-14
Man of the Match: Bronson Harrison
Match Review.
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