South Sydney v Manly Warringah
With the Rabbits opening their account for season 2011 last Friday night against the Eels, fans and media alike may lay off them for at least another week. A week is all you get in the NRL; a week to prepare, a week to get over a loss, a week to hopefully recover from injury... you get the point. South Sydney now has this week to prove their critics wrong about inconsistency and about the performances of Chris Sandow and John Sutton.
Sutton will again be the focal point of the Bunnies’ attack in this match; and for the Manly defence. Speaking of which, how brutal have they been in the last fortnight? Credit must go to the Eagles as they turn back the rugby league clock and win games by bashing their opponents into submission. Will it work against South Sydney on Friday night in Gosford? No. Asotasi and co. rise to the challenge and another blood-bath ensues. Souths in a close one.
My tip: South Sydney 24-22
Brisbane v Penrith
Difficult to pin point exactly what the problem is out at Penrith. An indifferent start to the season has them under the rugby league media spotlight and has their coach facing questions about his job security. One thing is certain though, it does not get any easier with a new halfback and hooker combination and it gets even harder when you face the Brisbane Broncos at home, 2 days after Darren Lockyer announces his impending retirement.
So, with a seemingly impossible task set and the bookies against them to the tune of 8.5 points, the Panthers walk into Suncorp Stadium on Friday night with a mountain to climb. No doubt they will give it everything they have but eventually their foothold will slip, the ropes will give way, the landslide will come down quickly and I will run out of exaggerated metaphors. The Broncos too good.
My tip: Brisbane 24-12
Canberra v Gold Coast
We are getting closer to the time of year when it is almost foolish to tip against the Raiders at home. It’s getting colder and colder by the day in our nation’s capital with temperatures as low as 9 degrees predicted for Saturday evening. Meanwhile, the visiting Titans have been training their guts out in balmy conditions up at Robina and would be beyond desperate to score their first victory of the season.
So, with that weather report out of the way, it’s tough to give up on the Titans after the stellar season they had in 2010 and I’m tipping Scott Prince and Greg Bird drag them kicking and screaming over the line in a nail-biter. The Raiders have plenty of young stars on paper but it will be the wily old veterans from the Gold Coast who play smart, disciplined football and the Titans win for the first time ever at Canberra Stadium. Upset of the week.
My tip: Gold Coast 22-20
Parramatta v North Queensland
So, to the Cowboys... Which incarnation of the Townsville club will turn up on Saturday night at Parramatta Stadium to play against the struggling Eels? The disciplined and controlled 17 that outlasted the Broncos in round 1? The weekend warriors that were trounced by the Knights in round 2? Or, the dominant force that destroyed the Melbourne Storm last Monday night at Dairy Farmers?
Whatever the answer is, you can count on one thing. Jonathan Thurston looks to be returning to the form that had many pundits tagging him as ‘World’s Best’. His shoulders have healed, he is getting support from his number 6 for the first time since Jason Smith graced us with his presence and his forwards are protecting him. JT shines above the pack and delivers another win for the visitors. He is also in my NRL fantasy team, so fingers crossed I’m on to something here.
My tip: Cowboys 30-20
Cronulla v NZ Warriors
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has reached the point, admittedly rather early in the season, where changes are required. Partly due to injury and partly due to performance, these changes reflect the New Zealand clubs’ struggle for scoring options so far this year. So with that in mind, Feleti Mateo finds himself in the number 6 spot outside James Maloney and if these two can’t produce points for the home side, they are in trouble. Why?
The visiting Sharks have looked positively thrilling over the last fortnight and bring this good form across the Tasman on Sunday afternoon to begin your triple header for the day. For those of you wondering why the Sharks have moved their home game to Owen Delaney Park in Taupo, this beautiful town on the North Island on NZ speaks for itself. As will the Warriors players who stand up and finally open their account for 2011 in a close one.
My tip: Warriors 21-14
Newcastle v St George Illawarra
Having been robbed of the chance to see future superstar Beau Henry saddle up against his old club, footy fans should tune in to see one of the great recent rivalries continue when Newcastle host their first home game of the season on Sunday afternoon at Ausgrid Stadium. A notoriously tough road trip for any club, the Knights home ground has undergone a facelift and will be unveiled against the reigning premiers.
As usual, their loyal supporters should turn out in numbers and the return of injured captain Kurt Gidley will only help their chances of an upset. Unfortunately for the Newcastle faithful, they need more than a chance to break through the best defensive team in the land. The Dragons stifle the home side’s enthusiasm early and grind out another win but the highlight of this match, for the purists, will be the kicking display put on by Jarrod Mullen and Jamie Soward. Two of the best.
My tip: St George Illawarra 23-16
Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers
A very early test of depth for the Tigers but one that sees a number of players brought in with 1st grade experience. Such is the wisdom and foresight of coach Tim Sheens who has been around long enough to know that Rugby League is a brutal game. No better example of this brutality than Chris Lawrence’s dislocated hip injury from last week. Horrible scenes. Fingers crossed for this future superstar and a speedy recovery.
The Roosters, on the other hand, have their stars in good condition. Todd Carney will benefit from the 2 games he has played since groin surgery and Jake Friend returns to the starting line up to bring cohesion back to the Bondi club. Something they have been lacking in the last fortnight. This proves the difference as Carney shows glimpses of his 2010 form in a bottler at the SFS on Sunday. A dry track and plenty of points to entertain us all in this week’s (re)match of the round.
My tip: Roosters 32-24
Melbourne v Canterbury Bankstown
The undefeated, top of the table Bulldogs face another big test for their new look roster when they travel down to Melbourne for Monday Night Football at AAMI park. The home side are favourites here, with bookies predicting that catching the Storm after such a heavy loss could be too much to overcome for the visitors. However, the matchup looks a little less simple than applying the ‘bounce back factor’.
Canterbury brings with them a host of talent that could break through Melbourne’s notoriously stingy defence. Ben Barba and Jamal Idris, both in white hot form already this season, could run amok if the ‘Dogs forwards get on top and we predict they do. The likes of Frank Pritchard and Aidan Tolman will bend the Storm line backwards and Barba and Idris do the rest. The ‘Ennis the Menace’ show will again be a highlight, or lowlight depending on your views, this time against the Australian hooker, Cam Smith. A beauty.
My tip: Canterbury Bankstown 20-18
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