North Queensland v Gold Coast
It all moves along so quickly. Round 5 is upon us and with only weeks until the representative season and some clubs already seem in trouble whilst others appear to have turned around their poor form of last season. Two teams at either end of this spectrum face each other to open the weekend’s football at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville on Friday night.
The game within the game here is the battle between Jonathan Thurston and Scott Prince. Two of the game’s great stars, captains and scheming halfbacks will no doubt bring their best in a bid to outplay each other and the winner of this skirmish will no doubt come away with the 2 points. Thurston too good for mine as the exhausted Titans take the field a little sluggish after their epic encounter in Canberra last week. Back to back away games take their toll.
My tip: North Queensland 20-16
Wests Tigers v South Sydney
Match of the Round for mine. Even with the Tigers devastating injury toll, their defensive performance against the Roosters last week signalled an intention to not go down without a fight. It continues here when they face the Bunnies on Friday night at the SFS. Robbie Farah will scheme, Benji Marshall will attack feverishly and the Wests’ forwards will give their very best, but it simply won’t be enough.
The ‘visitors’ pack is something to behold. Dave Taylor will continue his phenomenal season so far and will be ably assisted by a rejuvenated captain in Roy Asotasi, the return from injury of Sam Burgess and an interchange bench that will leave the Tigers breathless in the end. Field position wins this one and South Sydney gets it in spades to give John Sutton and Greg Inglis just enough of an edge in a fight to the death.
My tip: Souths 24-20
NZ Warriors v Eastern Suburbs
In the corresponding match last year, these two teams played out an enthralling game of football in torrential rain, only decided when a freakish Warriors try at full time got them home. Tune it to see more of the same here as Brian Smith’s team travel across the Tasman to kick off your Saturday night triple header at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland. A huge test for New Zealand.
Weather predictions suggest a dry track, which can only be good for the Roosters as their speed and mobility proves too much for the home side. The Warriors wrestled their season back on track last week with a win over the Sharks, however they will find it difficult to contain the Roosters attack this week as Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce remind us all why they’ve been touted as this years’ origin halves combination. Carney again the standout.
My tip: Roosters 30-14
Cronulla v Manly Warringah
It was only a few short years ago when tipsters would never bet against the Sharks at home on a Saturday night. The often wet and windy conditions would always favour the home side and I can still see David Peachey and co. tearing teams apart in front of the shire faithfull. For tortured Cronulla fans this must seem like decades ago... but fear not, those heady days are about to return.
Next up; the Manly Sea Eagles. In the 80th meeting between these clubs, the youth and renewed spirit of the home side will give them the advantage in a physical encounter. The Cronulla spine has been combining well so far this season and with Albert Kelly and Nathan Gardner shining bright, they produce the goods against an aggressive Manly side who give it everything they have, as always. Props Douglas/Snowden v Kite/King a must see.
My tip: Cronulla 22-18
Penrith v Canberra
To close out your Saturday night, we head out west to the foot of the mountains to see two teams under the pump. Both clubs come into this match with one win from their opening four matches and with this, comes the inevitable pressure from fans and media alike. The difference is that the Panthers have felt the brunt of this criticism as a team, whilst in our nation’s capital; all fingers of blame are pointed directly at Matt Orford.
Whether this is justified or not, it will be Orford’s form at halfback that controls the Raiders performance here. He has the weapons in front of him and the speed outside him to navigate Centrebet stadium and steer his new club to a win and that’s exactly what he does in a nail biter. The visitors forwards do plenty to assist Orford as he comes out shooting and gets the Raiders home in this semi final replay.
My tip: Canberra 28-24
Melbourne v Parramatta
The tantalising rivalry between two of the game’s best fullbacks is the first thing that springs to mind in this match. In recent seasons, Jarryd Hayne and Billy Slater have fought for Australian Jersey’s, Origin glory and an NRL premiership. Slater getting the biscuits in all three and copping a face full of Hayne for his troubles last year in a spiteful encounter at Parramatta stadium.
Let’s hope this spite continues on Sunday afternoon at AAMI Park when the Eels travel to Melbourne as heavy underdogs. The Storm dispatched the previously unbeaten Bulldogs with consummate ease last week and their defence will deliver more of the same here. The visitors will battle gamely and may even keep it close if wet weather predictions come true, but Cameron Smith once again slices them up. Storm too good.
My tip: Melbourne 24-10
St George Illawarra v Canterbury Bankstown
A match that signifies Heritage Round like no other, this local derby has too much history to simply be forgotten post merger. How fitting that we now get to see these famous jerseys run out at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon as the Dragons host Canterbury Bankstown in what will be a low-scoring, grinding style of match that coincidentally pays tribute to the 80’s style when these two clubs were kings.
With the ‘Dogs coming off their first loss of the season and the Dragons as consistent as ever, the opening 20 minutes of this match could decide the outcome. If the Bulldogs come out firing with enough aggression to set the tone, they have enough fire power to break the Dragons defence. They won’t. Saints too professional and too strong up front and the Canterbury attack stalls at the finish line.
My tip: St George Illawarra 19-12
Brisbane v Newcastle
The Brisbane Broncos have the best defence in the NRL after 4 rounds and this is a glowing reflection of the breeding ground that is Queensland Rugby League. For the amount of youngsters in their first grade squad you would expect a more cavalier approach to their football. The Broncos method in 2011 in anything but. Led by an experienced halfback and a future immortal, they sit atop the ladder.
The visiting Newcastle Knights bring with them a halfback in tremendous form who is capable of leading his team to an upset victory in Monday Night Football this week. Unfortunately for Jarrod Mullen, his forward pack simply won’t have the plums to get on top of the Broncos and with Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday leading the way, the home side wins with their defence again.
My tip: Brisbane 16-10
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