Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Canterbury Bulldogs
A special night for Bulldogs coach Des Hasler. Finally,
Dessie can play a game close to home. Finally, Dessie doesn’t have to drive
from the northern beaches to Belmore to catch the team bus on time. A horrible
run, really. Military Rd – Eastern Distributor - Airport tunnel, how does he do
it every day? Hasler is a perfectionist, so he probably does it well and there
is no chance he won’t be prepared for round 13’s opener on Friday night at Brookvale
oval.
Its 1 v 3 on the ladder and the only issue that can take away
from this beauty would be injuries. With DCE and Choc Watmough rumoured to be
ready, we may not have to worry. The Bulldogs will miss Josh Morris
desperately, but with 2 weeks rest, Canterbury will be barking right from kick
off. Eagles props Brenton Lawrence and Josh Starling will need to show maturity
beyond their years to stand up to the visitors pack, but it’s the Bulldogs
bench forwards that will do the most damage here.
My tip: Canterbury 17-16
Parramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys
No secret that the Cowboys are winless on the road this
year. In fact, their remedy to this problem was to announce during the week
that they are in the market for a private plane to help ease the suffering of
interstate travel. They also announced that this is a 30 year plan. So until
Josh Hannay and Paul Bowman’s grandchildren can improve this clubs
away record, it’s up to Jonathan Thurston and his crew to march into Pirtek
Stadium and perform a miracle.
The bookies don’t agree – they have the visitors as
slight favourites but with the return of Jarryd Hayne and Parramatta’s record
at home this year, it’s tough to tip against them. So, since I’m not in the
business of making any tough decisions, let’s stick with Parra. Luke Kelly gets
a shot at the hooker position for the home side, replacing Nathan Peats and whilst
these are huge shoes to fill, Kelly and the Eels forwards should aim up against
the Australian front rowers and win a close one.
My tip: Eels 20-14
Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Panthers
Saturday afternoon from Robina has the 2nd
place Panthers visiting the struggling Titans. When they last met in round 7
this year, things were very different with the Titans sitting on top of the
table and looking like a team destined to upset the apple cart. Now, just over
a month later, John Cartwright’s men have only won 1 match since and are losers
of their last 3 while the Panthers are on a 3 match winning streak.
If you believe in momentum, well, Penrith will destroy
the home side with their disciplined attack, ferocious defence and a couple of
very hungry try-scoring weapons out wide. If you think the Titans have a little
bit of dynamite left in the kit bag, and that the return of Greg Bird will
light the fuse, then tip the home side and watch them play with that famous
Titan pride. Peter Wallace and Jamie Soward too good for Albert Kelly and
Maurice Blair, for mine. The halves win this one.
My tip: Penrith 24-14
St George Illawarra Dragons v Cronulla Sharks
13 v 16 on the table, but it won’t matter. This famous
local derby will still get the fires burning for Sharks and Dragons fans even though
their collective seasons look to be a complete mess, at best. Cronulla coach
Shane Flanagan has been replaced by the reluctant Peter Sharp whilst the
Dragons face their second week of the Paul McGregor era. A tough season for the
red V, after winning their first three matches but Wollongong might bring a
spring back to their step.
McGregor’s childhood playground and the Steelers spiritual
home ground, WIN Stadium may not be packed to the rafters for this bottom of
the table clash, but it will surely mean a lot to ‘Mary’ and the Saints. No, that’s
not a rock band; rather, they are my tip for Saturday night down south. The
electric Nathan Gardner returns to first grade but that’s where the excitement
ends for Cronulla. Their back-up halves simply won’t be creative enough.
My tip: Dragons 27-12
South Sydney Rabbitohs v New Zealand Warriors
The NRL’s annual trip to Perth’s NIB Stadium. As always,
the Rabbitohs take their home game across the Nullarbor but this time, it’s an
in-form Warriors team that will meet them. Both teams are winners of 4 from
their past 5 and both teams are improving as the year progresses. Just what you
want from a good side – don’t peak too soon. The Warriors certainly did not
have to worry about this earlier in the season but with their coaching changes
now settled, they look dangerous.
Souths will need to be at their defensive best to get
away with this one, and they will be. They shut out the Sharks a fortnight ago
and trounced the Dragons last week – whilst these opponents are not exactly
striking fear into our hearts these days, Souths’ are looking good. Sam Burgess
will get his team forward early and with this space comes a better kicking game
from Adam Reynolds. The Bunnies grind out another one.
My tip: South Sydney 18-12
Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers
Sunday afternoon football comes to you from Hunter
Stadium, with the all-powerful Newcastle Knights now simply a shadow of their
past glories. Darius Boyd’s 200th first grade match could be a reason
to celebrate, but intelligent Knights fans know that this mercenary of a
footballer is not quite happy in the Hunter, and not quite giving his best. So,
the search for inspiration continues for the home side and the odds are against
them finding any.
The Tigers, in contrast, are getting closer to their full
complement with more players getting off the physio’s table. James Tedesco came
back from the brink of anonymity during the week and now, also returns from
injury. If the visitors can find any of their early season form, they’ll run
over the Knights in this one. These teams have a combined 1 win from their past
9 matches so we hope to see some desperation. The class of Robbie Farah and Luke
Brooks make for another tough afternoon in Newcastle.
My tip: Wests 20-18
Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters
The last two NRL Premiers meet at AAMI Park on Sunday
afternoon and whilst the Storm will struggle to overcome the injuries to Billy
Slater and Cooper Cronk, it’s their defence that will be tested here. The reigning
premiers bring an arsenal of weapons and when they fire, it could get ugly for
Melbourne. The home side will do everything they can to slow this match down to
a grinding halt and hope that Ben Roberts and Tohu Harris can steer them around
the park, but.. you know…
Always a difficult time of year for Craig Bellamy and his
team – but this is downright nasty. The Roosters, if they care enough, should
get out of the blocks quickly and once they get the glut of possession, will be
too good here. Keep an eye on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with a point to prove
against a couple of New Zealand forwards picked ahead of him in the Anzac test
this year. Sober props have a very long memory.
My tip: Roosters 24-10
Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos
Monday night football from the nation’s capital and
finally, I get to talk about the weather. Nothing fills up a ‘column’ with
boring, witless, pointless opinion better than the cold weather in Canberra. 7
degrees at kick off, that’s the prediction. Your pay-tv commentators making
very shitty jokes about it – that’s another prediction. The Raiders starting a
lot quicker than the Broncos and then fading late in the half, that’s my last
prediction.
Can we put a multi on this? Moving on, the Broncos sit in
6th position on the ladder and are winners of their last 3. They
remain undefeated in NSW this year and since the ACT counts as one of ours,
they’ll keep this record intact after the Raiders lose their direction and the
Hunt/Hoffman combination causes trouble for Canberra’s league worst defence. Sam
Thaiday returns from a very long hiatus to spark a big finish from the Broncos.
My tip: Brisbane 24-22
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