Rivalry Round part 2 kicks off with the battle of South
Queensland as the Broncos travel to Skilled Park to face the Titans. Newly
re-signed Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin's philosophy of resting his origin
stars from back to back matches during rep season will prove a stroke of genius
over the coming weeks, starting with this Friday night ripper. His entire
forward pack, it seems, is finally back together after weeks of tinkering with
line-ups.
They will play with a freshness and enthusiasm that
should be enough to break through the Titans and give the likes of Wallace and
Norman all the time they need to find space for some very talented outside
backs. Speaking of outside backs, keep an eye on the matchup between Jamal
Idris and Justin Hodges. With time and a few injuries, these two behemoths have
lost a lot of their mobility and will look like a couple of trucks having a U-turn
competition. Enjoy.
My tip: Brisbane 24-12
Manly Sea Eagles v Canterbury Bulldogs
The 'good stock' from the Northern Beaches might be
chomping at the bit to exchange pleasantries with former Eagles coach and
favourite son Des Hasler, but on Friday night at Brookvale Oval, their bark
will be bigger than their bite. I dare them to top the performance of one footy
fan I witnessed a few years back; Shirtless, rubbing his naked chest up against
the coach's box to celebrate his team's victory, 2 feet away from the losing
coach and staff.
I'm not one to name names but Steve Folkes should have
been rewarded for his self-control on this occasion, under extreme duress.
Speaking of duress, 34 of the NRL’s finest will be under the pump to perform in
this match as the 'Dogs travel north to take on Manly in an absolute beauty.
The Eagles of 2012 have been inconsistent but are a team that still turn up for
big games. You can bet they will be ready for this one and will whip their home
fans into a frenzy. They win in a close one.
My tip: Manly 20-16
New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights
Much like their opposition in last year’s Grand Final,
the Warriors seem to be waiting for the big games and do not look concerned
with anything but late season form. They seem to be cruising along, doing just
enough to make the finals and while they sit just outside the 8, have come
under heavy criticism for not playing to their potential. With 7 weeks
remaining in the season, it’s time to find some momentum.
That time is this Saturday at 5.30pm when the Newcastle
Knights come to Mt Smart Stadium. The Knights are winners of three from their
last 4, including a hammering of the reigning premiers last week at Hunter
Stadium. This win does not seem to have impressed the bookies as Newcastle are
still heavy underdogs but it will be close with the Warriors coming home
stronger. The Timana Tahu v Konrad Hurrell matchup a mouth-watering highlight.
My tip: Warriors 24-18
Parramatta Eels v The Melbourne Storm
The Nathan Hindmarsh Farwell Tour continues on Saturday
night at Parra Stadium. This is the last time Hindy will enjoy that special
Storm wrestling style with a ‘rolling pin’ and a ‘chicken wing’ to bid him
adieu in style. Whilst the battle of the ruck is always an important one, this
match will be decided, quite simply, by the respective halfbacks and never have
there been two number 7's with more opposing styles.
Chris Sandow will play off the cuff, kick well for the
most part and hardly ever yell at his forwards. Cooper Cronk will play to a
perfectly designed game plan, kick well for 80 minutes and yell at everyone on
the field, for his entire life. Only the brave will tip against Cronk and the
Storm in this one and that aint me. Melbourne continues their slow recovery
from the rep season and win for the first time in a month.
My tip: Storm 18-8
South Sydney Rabbitohs v St George Illawarra
Dragons
For many of us with Rugby League upbringings, the dinner
table would ring out with stories of Billy Smith, Eric Simms and 'Changa'
Langlands; about the 1965 grand final with 78,000 people jam packed into the
SCG; about how Mum and Dad were both there. Times sure have changed, but with
the merged entity still flying those famous colours, what better way celebrate
Rivalry Round than Saints v Souths at Homebush on Saturday night.
If Saints have got their mojo back, this could be a
beauty. Dragons coach Steve Price certainly thinks his crew have found their
mojo in attack; so they should be ready to face a top 4 team like the Bunnies.
Speaking of the Bunnies, their biggest challenge will be getting up for this
match after last Monday's miracle against the Roosters. They do. Souths are
unbeaten at ANZ Stadium since round 1 and if Inglis is fit, should come home
stronger.
My tip: South Sydney 20-14
Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders
Canberra travel to Toyota Stadium to meet the Sharks on
Sunday afternoon and these clubs come up evenly matched on paper. Unfortunately
for Raiders fans, they don't play these games on paper because in the violent
world of Rugby League, the sword is so much mightier than the pen. If that
piece of literary genius didn't rock your world, how about some comedy.
Remember when Blake Ferguson left the Sharks because he 'wanted to win a
premiership'? Gold.
Todd Carney has shown glimpses of his early season form
in recent weeks but as so many before him have learnt, origin takes its toll on
the body and this match against the Raiders is exactly what he needs to get his
legs back. Carney leads the way after his forwards eventually get over the top
of a brave but out-gunned Raiders pack and if the home side is fair dinkum,
they should win well.
My tip: Cronulla 30-14
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters
It seems that off-field distractions have been the story
surrounding these two clubs for some time now. Little wonder they own places 14
and 15 on the ladder as those famous words are now being uttered to describe
their semi-final hopes... 'Mathematical Equation'. With rumours swirling about
a number of players looking to leave and unhappy with their coaches, these
teams have a combined 1 win from their previous 11 collective matches.
So, with Mad Monday discussions all the rage at Bondi and
Penrith this week, the Roosters travel west to Centrebet Stadium to face the
Panthers on Sunday afternoon. If the visitors can bounce back from their soul
destroying loss to the Bunnies last week, they definitely have the troops to
cause Penrith some problems. The form of Boyd Cordner and Aidan Guerra get the
visitors home and make you wonder why the Chooks are chasing an expensive
second rower.
My tip: Roosters 24-20
North Queensland Cowboys v Wests Tigers
With injured players slowly making their way back to the
Tigers starting side, Benji and crew make their way to Townsville as only
slight underdogs. The fitness of Moltzen, Ellis and Matt Utai will no doubt
help the struggling Tigers as they hope to turn around some poor form and
squeeze into the top 8. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are winners of 3 from
their past 4 including impressive victories over the Storm and Broncos.
So, Rivalry Round part 2 concludes with a replay of the
2005 Grand Final, when Curtis Sironen was only 12 years old...... How time
flies. Speaking of flying, the home side will be ready for this game after
gaining a truckload of confidence from last Saturday night’s big win and will
be too good for the Tigers. Up against the likes of Matt Scott and James Tamou,
the visitors pack starts to look a little skinny.
My tip: North Queensland 30-18
For live updates throughout the weekend, go to http://leagueunlimited.com/
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