Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels
The worst time of year for most tipsters – except for
your humble leagueunlimited ‘previewer’, who goes into every week as blind as
we all are now. Welcome to the swirling, stinky, cess pool where my tipping
lives. Round 14 kicks off with the battle of the west at Sportingbet Stadium
and this one will be all about Jarryd Hayne. The Eels custodian deserves a week
off after his all-world performance on Wednesday night and if the rumours are
true and he is rested, the Panthers win.
Penrith and Parramatta sit 3rd and 4th
on the ladder respectively so get ready for a beauty and get ready for home
side to seek revenge for their round 4 shellacking at Pirtek Stadium. Things will
be very different on Friday night. Jamie Soward leads the way in attack for the
mountain men whilst in defence, the early return from injury of Elijah Taylor
keeps the Panthers middle tough enough to handle anything.
My tip: Penrith 24-14
Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders
Saturday evening from Allianz Stadium has the defending
premiers hosting the struggling Raiders. This is a mismatch. The Chooks play a
style where their forwards are mobile and control the edges in defence and
attack. Very modern. The visitors, by contrast, are almost prehistoric in their
attempt to complete sets, smash out a few hit-ups and let their halfback play
at the line. They’ve lost 3 from their past 4 and are owners of the worst
defence in the NRL.
The bookies have the home side at $1.22 and this might be
generous. Unless a thousand women in yellow dresses turn up to watch this game,
there will be no distractions for an almost full strength Roosters outfit and
they should run away with this one. James Maloney the standout as he finds
plenty of gaps in the green machine’s retreating defensive line and look for
RTS and SKD to be the major beneficiaries.
My tip: Roosters 30-14
North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm
1300 Smiles Stadium hosts Saturday night footy this week
as the hobbled Storm travel to Australia’s tropical north to face the Cowboys.
With Craig Bellamy’s recent history of resting the big three during the rep
fixtures, he may have no choice here with Cooper Cronk already out and Cameron Smith
seemingly on one leg for most of the second half on Wednesday night. This
leaves everyone guessing – except the Cowboys.
North Queensland are on a high. They’ll conveniently
ignore last week’s loss in Canberra, which they should, then realise they have
won 3 straight games in Townsville. If betting ever opens on this game, the
home side should be favourites and should have too many weapons for the
undermanned Storm to handle. ‘Should’ being the operative word here, my
friends. This match could easily turn into a Q-Cup exhibition, considering there
are 7 players backing up from Origin. Heaven help them.
My tip: Cowboys 24-12
New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights
A big day for the Warriors and a huge test for the
downtrodden Knights as they travel across the Tasman for Sunday afternoon
football. New Zealand play their first game at Mt Smart Stadium for 2014 and
will also celebrate their captain’s 200th first grade match. Simon
Mannering will lead them out to a throng of adoring fans and the visiting
Knights will be in the deep end, from kick off, if they don’t get their act
together.
They sit at the bottom of the table and have lost 4 in a
row. The owner of the franchise has abandoned them, possibly on his way to
jail, and their prize performer, Darius Boyd, has been completely disengaged at
times this year. Jeremy Smith makes a timely comeback for the Knights but it
won’t make a lick of difference as the Warriors celebrate with a triumphant
return to their home ground. Manu Vatuvei v Akuila Uate always a fun ride.
My tip: 26-12
Brisbane Broncos v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
2nd v 8th on the ladder and your
match of the round comes from Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With Sam
Thaiday and Kieran Foran slated to return, the post Origin triage has less of an
effect here. Smart money says Manly will be without Anthony Watmough and Daly Cherry-Evans
but truth be told, I don’t really know what ‘smart money’ means. Either way,
Manly will be pilgrims in an unholy land of two-headed heathens.
Surprisingly, the Broncos have won only 2 from 5 at
Suncorp this year, whilst somehow winning all of their matches in NSW. Their performance
at Campbelltown a week ago was as disciplined an 80 minutes as you’ll see – and
coach Anthony Griffin will know the home side will need to be just as good on
Sunday to beat the most dangerous team in the NRL. They won’t be. Manly will
survive without their injured superstars and come home stronger.
My tip: Manly 19-18
South Sydney Rabbitohs v St George Illawarra Dragons
Souths were accused of playing the most boring game of
footy ever witnessed last Monday night at Remondis Stadium. Sometimes the
talking heads do that, don’t they? You beat an injury/origin ravaged team 18-0
and get abused for not entertaining the fans. Well, I usually subscribe to that
theory, always hoping for quicker play-the-balls, tired forwards and more
tires, but Souths gotta do what they gotta do and without Greg Inglis, they
don’t do much.
Speaking of not doing much, the famous red V has done
very little over the past 7 games, losing 6 of them. Exit Coach Steve Price and
enter caretaker Paul McGregor. How will
the Dragons respond? Not well. For one thing, their attack is still getting to
know a new halfback. So, while fans wait for Benji Marshall to get used to a
new system, they’ll hopefully stop marching on St George Leagues club and
interrupting my old man’s trips to the TAB inside.
My tip: South Sydney
25-18
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