Rivalry round begins with what was once perhaps a
rivalry, but now an absolute mismatch. The Eels might be good enough one day to
perhaps recapture the old hatred that exists between these two famous Sydney
clubs, but on Friday night at ANZ Stadium it will be one way traffic. In what must
be an insult to the great Parramatta teams of the past, this 2012 version of
the Eels will take no motivation from history and continue to defend like they
have somewhere better to be.
The 'Dogs are rolling from 1 through 17 and if motivated
for the 80 minutes, should be ahead by plenty at the final siren. If you are
curious about what 'plenty' means.... The Eels have been given an 18.5 start
with some betting agencies and considering the 'Dogs have been scoring more
points than that in bursts of 15 minutes this season, it is probably a tad
generous. Also, let this be the last time I use 'tad' in a sentence.
My tip: Canterbury 40-12
Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors come into this match as underdogs. Even after winning 3 of their past 4, the bookies are not impressed. Perhaps understandable though as the Broncos welcome back their representative players; are at home on Friday night; and have had two full weeks to prepare for what shapes up as a beauty and your match of the round. This will be fast paced throughout with some of the best young footballers in the NRL on display.
The dazzling footwork of Shaun Johnson and Corey Norman,
the youthful aggression of Josh McGuire and Ben Matulino, all mixed with the
experience boasted by both clubs; we have the makings of a classic. Brisbane
were basically mugged last start against the Sharks who treated their young
reserves as speed humps on their way to victory. The home side will be out to
atone for this treatment in front of their home fans and that intent will be
the difference.
My tip: Brisbane 28-22
The Melbourne Storm v North Queensland
Cowboys
It seems almost scary to imagine what Craig Bellamy has
cooked up this week as he prepares to bounce back from the Storm's biggest loss
of the season. A spoonful of rage, a bucket load of anger, a tank full of blue
language and you have a broth ready to set on fire at AAMI Park on Saturday
afternoon in Melbourne. If his players respond, the Storm will be at their best
defensively and this makes for a cracker against the visiting Cowboys.
Speaking of the boys from Townsville, there is no worse
time to be travelling to 'Bleak City' than in the middle of winter, after the
home side has been belted by 40. Thurston and company will freeze their
proverbial chaps off and won't warm up in time to overcome a committed
Melbourne defence. Cameron Smith returns to find enough weaknesses in the
Cowboys to get his side home in a low scoring grind.
My tip: Melbourne 18-12
In your second 5.30pm match on Saturday and one with
plenty of history to fit right into rivalry round, the Knights host the Eagles
at Hunter Stadium. Footy fans will never forget the 1997 Grand Final and
neither will the TV station showing this match. Indeed it was a beauty and
wonderfully representative of the hatred that existed between the bourgeoisie
from the Northern Beaches and the hard working miners of the Hunter.
Pity that none of the young men involved in this match
would remember, but Manly coach Geoff Toovey would know exactly how nasty those
times were. Fingers crossed that Timana Tahu and Steve Matai get a hold of each
other to turn back the clock but unfortunately is seems that times have
changed. The Knights attack has not. It remains as stagnant as it was early in
the season and the Eagles will benefit from a glut of possession and come away
with a win.
My tip: Manly 25-12
Never has the influence of Robbie Farah been more evident
than in the past month. The Blues' best over three games in the origin series,
Farah almost single handedly won the decider through his attack last week; and
led the way with his defence in game 2. For the Tigers, he's proven to be more
than their hooker and captain. Farah has fronted the media to face rampant
criticism earlier this year and defended his teammates without hesitation.
Wests have lost their past three matches without him
after winning 7 in a row. Lucky enough for the Tigers faithful in Campbelltown
this Saturday night, Robbie is back. Even luckier for everyone wearing black
and white and gold, they play the Panthers. Losers of their past 4 matches and
struggling for morale after the media circus around Luke Lewis this week,
Penrith will struggle to keep up. The Tigers bounce back.
My tip: Wests 30-14
The Green Machine have won three from their past four and
more importantly, two in a row against noted defensive specialists, the Dragons
and the Storm. The era of the grind is over as Sam Williams joins Josh McCrone
to put on the free-wheeling football we've been waiting for since that dark day
when the very first wrestling coach was hired. And yes, I’ve just paid homage
to the Canberra Raiders for the emergence of a new era. Deal with it.
Hyperbole aside, it’s always a tough road trip to our nation’s
capital and faced with a Raiders team high on confidence, this is a very big
ask for the Titans. John Cartwright has them within a whisker of the top 8
after a horrendous start to 2012 and he will again have them ready for this
match; but very hard to tip against the home side here. William Zillman returns
to the city that made him famous but he goes home disappointed. And yes, I just
called William Zillman famous.
My tip: Canberra 24-20
One of the last remaining 'local derbies' in the NRL and
how fitting for it to be played on the Sunday afternoon of Rivalry round. WIN
Stadium in Wollongong will be thumping at 2pm and the out of form Dragons might
even draw a big crowd with the visiting Sharks bringing with them a travelling
band of faithful supporters. Not a long drive through the 'nasho' but long
enough for them to build that resentment the Sharks fans seems to have for
their southern Sydney rivals.
And rightly so. The Dragons have posted some very big
wins over the past few years of this rivalry until the resurgent Sharks taught
them a lesson in round 6 this year. The challenge this time will be for
Cronulla to bounce back from their Monday night marathon last week. They do.
Saints attack still struggles and with their season on the brink, cannot break
through the visitor’s defensive line. Carney the difference in a tight one.
My tip: Cronulla 18-12
In the 205th meeting between these clubs (thank you interwebs), the Roosters host the Rabbits at Allianz Stadium on Monday night to finish off Rivalry Round part 1. Brian Smith and his men have plenty of work to do mid-week if they are to be any chance here. The Bunnies are rolling along this season and sit equal 4th on the ladder but more impressively, their style of play has been consistent throughout 2012.
They do not fade in and out of games and are disciplined
for 80 minutes, every week. Speaking of discipline, we've all heard about the
Roosters troubles with the whistle blowers this season and if they can't
rectify this part of their game, or their struggling defence, or their morale,
then its curtains for the Bondi boys. Adam Reynolds continues his good form and
the Bunnies forward pack fire right up for this one as they seek revenge for
that round 1 heartbreaker.
My tip: South Sydney 34-18
For live updates throughout the weekend, go to http://leagueunlimited.com/
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