As we prepare for round 19 of the Premiership, Rise for
Alex round is dedicated to Alex McKinnon and also reminds us of the sacrifice,
the danger they face each week and the bravery of those we love to watch play
the greatest game of all. Perhaps something the likes of ‘buzz’, ‘kenty’, ‘bulldog’
and the rest of those lads from a nameless ‘newspaper’ might want to remember. This
is for Alex, and this is for them: Roosevelt said it best:
“It is
not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man
stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit
belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust
and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and
again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself
in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high
achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring
greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know
neither victory nor defeat.”
As always, any success they have will come from Jonathan
Thurston. The poor bloke – he must be buggered by now. Carrying his club side
and his state for a decade and then, when each season is over, representing his
country and his People with pride. Fingers crossed his forwards aim up against
what will be a brave Cronulla pack boasting the return of Andrew Fifita. If
Jason Taumalolo and Tariq Sims his peak form, Cowboys win.
My tip: Cowboys 24-12
Parramatta Eels v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Feels like it’s been ages since Greg Inglis played for
the bunnies. Well, not only is GI back for Friday night’s beauty from Pirtek stadium,
he’ll be joined by Souths’ number 7 Adam Reynolds, reportedly back to full
fitness. The visitors have been great to watch at times this year, with their
defence being the standout again, but it will be their attack that will return to
good form here. GI will threaten the Eels all over the park.
Speaking of threatening fullbacks, on the opposite side
of the field to GI will be none other than his holiness Jarryd Hayne. ‘The
Plane’ will have enjoyed the 10 days’ rest since origin 3 and his team will
need him, desperately. Of the very few moments that Souths let Parra into the flow
of this game, the home side will need to take advantage. They won’t. The
Bunnies forwards control this match from start to finish and Souths win their
first match in a month.
My tip: South Sydney 20-12
Saturday afternoon from Allianz Stadium. Broad daylight.
2nd v 5th on the ladder and some of the brightest stars
in the NRL suiting up for your match of the round as the Panthers head to town
to play the defending premiers. RTS set to return and Josh Mansour should prove
his fitness. The magical footwork of Dean Whare against the toughness of Mitch
Aubusson. Matt Moylan moves into the halves and will be able to hear James
Maloney sledge him for 80 wonderful minutes.
You get the picture. But while the outside backs and the
halves play tickles with each other, the real highlight here will be the
premiership winning forward pack of the Roosters taking on another pack trying
to steal their glory, as they have all year long. This time, they’ll come up
winners for the first time in 4 weeks. SBW and Boyd Cordner get the wood only slightly
over Elijah Taylor and Sika Manu on the edges. Tough bastards. Cracking game.
My tip: Roosters 19-18
Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders
Saturday night from AAMI Park and I haven’t tipped this
contest right for about 5 years. The Raiders have won their last two at this
ground and have beaten the storm 3 out of their last 4 encounters. What the
hell?! This time, Melbourne are coming off a heartbreaking loss at home to the Bulldogs
where they did everything but score the match winner. Their attack won’t find
the going as tough here against Canberra’s league worst defence.
But who knows – with the mighty Shaun Fensom playing his
100th game for the Green Machine, they may just be fired up enough
to continue their good run in Victoria. I’m not game enough to tip them, but
the 4 of you reading this (hi mum!) won’t be punting on me anyway. So, Cooper
Cronk has one of those games where he controls everything from turning on the
stadium lights to selling the hot dogs and leads the Storm back to the winners
circle.
My tip: Melbourne 30-12
Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors
Saturday night from Suncorp. Read that again you
magnificent people – the Broncos play their first Saturday night game in
Brisbane since 1991 (not fact checked). So, get comfortable for the final leg
of your triple header as the seemingly unstoppable Warriors travel across the
Tasman to face the Broncos. And they are coming over on a 3 match winning
streak and as underdogs. This could only be due to the injury cloud hanging
over Sam Tomkins.
If Tomkins plays, you’d be forgiven for leaning towards a
punt on the visitors, but the Broncos are due. They will be desperate to avoid
a 4 match losing streak and considering the form of Ben Hunt and Corey Parker,
they look like winners here. A great battle between a couple of oversized
centres in Konrad Hurrell and Jack Reed but the return of Brisbane hooker
Andrew McCullough will be the catalyst for the home side’s victory here.
My tip: Brisbane 30-20
A special day in Newcastle. Sunday afternoon footy comes
from Hunter Stadium as the Knights pay tribute to the courage of Alex McKinnon
and raise a few quid for his battle. The Titans are in town for the occasion
and they won’t let anyone down. They’ve been able to salvage some pride in recent
weeks as injuries and plenty of bad luck have destroyed their season. But the
bookies don’t care – they are rank outsiders here.
Much more at stake than a game of footy, but the Knights
turn up and play like a team on a 3 match winning streak, cos they are. Kurt
Gidley is enjoying his return to the 7 jumper and Jarrod Mullen looks like he
has more space every week. He might be due for one of those games where he
appears to have the ball on a string. If he doesn’t, the Knights forwards will
be knocking the stuffing out of Nate Myles and the Titans so it may not matter.
My tip: Newcastle 32-12
Your second Sunday match comes from Sydney Olympic Park
as the Tigers host the Bulldogs. Tigers’ home game – but they are struggling.
They’ve won only 1 from their last 4, a 1 point win over Canberra, and are
giving up over 27 points a game in defence over the past 5 weeks. For those of
you who love the numbers, here is one more – the home side has not beaten Canterbury
in their last 5 attempts. You’re welcome.
The bookies know this. They have the Bulldogs set as very
firm favourites and even without their star front rower in Aidan Tolman, their
representative half in Josh Reynolds and their captain in Frank Pritchard, they
should get home here. Expect a good shake from Robbie Farah and his crew as
they try to get their season back on track, but the Bulldogs defence will be
too good. Kasiano and Graham against Woods and Galloway an absolute highlight.
My tip: Bulldogs 21-14
St George Illawarra Dragons v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
The Dragons have somehow won 4 from their past 5 matches
and what a pity former coach Steve Price isn’t around to enjoy the fruits of
his efforts to bring Benji Marshall to the famous red V. Benji looks like a
leader and is showing the characteristics that highlighted his last years at
Wests. It helps that Saints have played their last 3 games at home and with the
bye in between, have been sleeping in their own beds for a month.
A danger game for the Eagles. Saints will be well rested
and as underdogs at Kogarah’s Jubilee Oval, they will be primed for a big one. Either
way, this will be an absolute cracker and one of the best Monday night games we’ve
seen for ages. Jorge Taufua and Anthony Watmough return for the visitors to add
more exciting ingredients to the broth that is already spilling over with the
thought of Josh Dugan up against Steve Matai.
My tip: Dragons 17-16
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