Canberra v Canterbury-Bankstown
‘The Brave 300’ is what we should call the band of Bulldogs fans heading down to Canberra Stadium to watch Friday nights round 11 opener. Even more brave if they dress like the original Spartans who coined the phrase in the first place! Unfortunately for the home town Raiders’ fans, there will be no scantily clad pilgrims from Bankstown heading down the Hume for this match but rather a Bulldogs team hungry for victory.
Last week’s loss would have left a bad taste in their mouths and to wash it out, Ben Barba will need to be at his best and Frank Pritchard will need to provide the sizzle to Barba’s steak. He does. The dogs win their third straight in Canberra and Aidan Tolman has another blinder. Great matchup out wide as Joel Thompson faces Jamal Idris in very frosty conditions.
My tip: Canterbury 26-18
Wests v Penrith
Campbelltown Stadium hosts only its second game of the season on Saturday night when the Panthers make the short trip to play the Tigers. You’d think the lovely folk of the Macarthur region would deserve more than just two games when they are being harassed by an inferior code. But unlike some, they won’t hold a grudge against David Gallop, rather they will embrace Rugby League as only the old Magpies fans can. Drunk and excited.
Speaking of excitement, there is plenty on show in this match in the form of Benji Marshall and Lachlan Coote. The Tigers will bounce back from last week’s loss and it will start with their defence and finish with their superstar running rings around a tired Panthers forward pack. The return of Luke Lewis continues to inspire the visitors, as will this week’s return of Coote, but they will fall just short in a beauty.
My tip: Tigers 24-20
NZ Warriors v South Sydney
Who is your halfback? And what does he dooo? Has Chris Sandow been on some sort of steroid recently... or has he just gotten off them? Either way his form of late has been scintillating and Souths fans would be reaching for a different form of medication knowing this is Sandow’s last season at Redfern. However they will need to up the dose this Sunday afternoon when the bunnies cross the Tasman to play the Warriors at Mt Smart.
Match of the Round for mine. Anyone who saw the Warriors beat Newcastle last week would have seen a football team in form. Winning in Newcastle and keeping the home side scoreless for an entire second half? Impressive. Wearing the opposition down and scoring a bunch of points in the final moments? Top shelf. The Warriors will again display this discipline and confidence to come away with the win against Sandow and co.
My tip: New Zealand 26-24
Eastern Suburbs v Newcastle
For those who remember the way Newcastle five-eighth Beau Henry played in rounds 1 and 2 this year, before he was injured, you would have seen a player announcing himself to first grade with more than just the two tries he scored. Henry displayed a level of class and patience not often seen in a footballer his age. The rookie was also a big reason why Jarrod Mullen’s early season form was so impressive and why the Knights won their first two games.
They have since gone 2 and 5, beating Cronulla and the Raiders. Beau is back this week and barring match fitness issues, will give the visitors the edge in this one. The Roosters will be without halfback Mitchell Pearce and will rely on Todd Carney to steer them to a rare victory but he won’t be enough. Newcastle plays with too much enthusiasm for John Ibrahim’s men... sorry... Brian Smith’s men and their horror season continues.
My tip: Newcastle 20-18
Parramatta v Cronulla
13th v 11th on the ladder might suggest that Monday Night Football at Parramatta Stadium this week won’t be the greatest game of footy you will ever watch... but the recent history between these clubs might have fans singing a different tune about this match. The Sharks have won 4 out of the last 5 matchups including both meetings last year as heavy underdogs. Will they be able to continue this trend again the Eels?
No. The visitors have been hit hard by injury and the representative calendar. Their formidable forward pack has been whittled away to the bare bones and this is where they will struggle. Parramatta will work hard up the middle of the field and expose the Sharks’ second string line up and origin cast-off Jarryd Hayne will reap the rewards. The Eels play well at their traditional home ground and do so again here with Jacob Loko and Hayne the standouts.
My tip: Parramatta 20-12
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