If everyone has calmed down… if you’ve come down… if
you’ve settled down…. Then join me on a trip down to the nation’s capital for Friday
night footy. Raiders fans are notorious for their long-standing rage towards
the NRL and broadcasters for not showing enough free-to-air Canberra games.
Well, Greenhouse, here is your chance. You sit 14th on the ladder
and are proud owners of the worst defence in the NRL.
What could possibly go wrong with ratings if we show the
Raiders on Friday night footy? Nothing, baby. This’ll be a beauty. Canberra are
celebrating the 20 year anniversary of their 1994 grand final victory over the
Bulldogs and in attendance on this night will be some of the game’s greatest
ever, as well as your humble previewer. So, I’ve packed 72 jackets and a beanie
to see the Bulldogs return to the winners’ circle, but only if their halves
have anything left in the tank.
My tip: Bulldogs 20-12
New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos
Saturday night in Auckland as round15 continues from
across the Tasman and the Broncos continue to power through the rep season.
They’ve won 4 straight and sit in 6th place. Their defence over the
past month has been outstanding. Credit coach Anthony Griffin for turning this famous
franchise around and allowing kids like Ben Hunt the chance to improve. He
surely has. Griffin has also shown remarkable patience with Ben Hannant and Ben
Barba and it seems they are about to reward him.
The Warriors also have a coach to thank. Matt Elliott was
fired a while back and this team is 4 and 2 under Andrew McFadden. They will be
ready to fire here, with no players backing up from origin 2 and a bunch of players feeling more comfortable in
their skin and comfortable in their positions. None more than Sam Tomkins at
fullback. Shaun Johnson will combine well with the Englishman and the Warriors
win.
My tip: Warriors 18-16
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Saturday night in the Shire and this place will still be
buzzing. The Sharks’ favourite son and captain, Paul Gallen will come home a
hero whether he takes the field or not. Speaking of taking the field, the bye
week certainly has done more for the Sharks than any bye week has done in the
history of rugby league. Possibly. Point is, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Luke
Lewis, all returning for the home side and they could finally be capable of
something special here.
Manly won’t care who is wearing the famous skye blue and black.
They sit second on the ladder and have all the experience in the world to
handle a trip this far south. It will be a lovely, crisp and celebratory
evening at Remondis but after the origin love, comes the battle of the beaches.
Cronulla may finally look like a first grade team here, but it simply won’t be enough.
Kieran Foran and the Manly forwards too good. They win the ground game and
finish stronger.
My tip: Manly 22-20
AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon has the Eels bringing their
horrendous away record to Melbourne to face the Storm. If Jarryd Hayne is
rested here, after another herculean effort on Wednesday night, possibly the greatest
night of my life, then Parra are next to no chance. Melbourne have not been fantastic
at home this year and god knows they don’t strike fear into opponents the way
they used to, but Craig Bellamy has begun to trust his backups.
This should be enough to get them home against a very
good Parra side. Their forwards will be willing via the likes of Pauli Pauli
and the Paulo boys. In fact, this crew of big men with trouble the Storm plenty
in this one, but the experience of the home side will get them home. Ben
Roberts will enjoy playing against his old teammates whilst they will not enjoy
playing in 11 degree temperatures. Roberts v Chris Sandow could send twitter
into a meltdown.
My tip: Melbourne 23-22
Gold Coast Titans v St George Illawarra Dragons
Stuck at the wrong end of the ladder and the wrong end of
good form, these two clubs are struggling. 12th and 13th
on the ladder, respectively. They’ve won only one game of football over the
past 12 combined weeks and the grind of the NRL is certainly to blame for both
teams. Their disastrous fall from grace after sensational beginnings this year
can only be due to injury, exhaustion and a weakening of the most important
positions on the field, the 7 and 6.
The Titans will start another brand new halves combo in
Maurice Blair and the one and only Daniel Mortimer, whilst the Dragons are
getting more comfortable with Benji and Englishman Gareth Widdop. The latter
will lead the way in this one and after showing good signs against the Panthers
last week, will be too good for the Titans. Fingers crossed that Greg Bird,
Trent Merrin and Josh Dugan don’t miss the bus to this match and pass the
breath test. Bless them.
My tip: Dragons 24-18
Newcastle Knights v North Queensland Cowboys
With no less than 7 players asked to back up from origin
in this one, we already have two who won’t make it. Brent Tate and Matt Scott
have serious injuries keeping them sidelined and the Cowboys, again, could see
their season slip away through a hat full of bad luck. Speaking of bad luck, ladies
and gentleman, your Newcastle Knights. Once nearly unbeatable at home, the Novocastrians
are now beatable everywhere. They’ve lost 7 in a row and are wooden spoon
favourites.
Their biggest chance to turn the season around could be
on Monday night against an understrength Cowboys. It will take a massive effort
from the likes of Willie Mason and Jeremy Smith to play like they are young
again. If they do and the home side win the battle of the forwards and win the
ruck, Jarrod Mullen will show he hasn’t given up on the season just yet, unlike
some Knights fullbacks who shall remain nameless. Newcastle find a way here.My tip: Knights 18-16
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