Golden Boot Winner, Clive
Churchill Medallist, Member of the Indigenous All Stars and NRL Premiership
Winner, Greg Inglis talks to the Sydney
Morning Herald about Close the Gap round, “By the time I leave this earth I
want to see a big change in indigenous health and the communities around
Australia”…”It is vitally important to raise awareness and truly understand
what close the gap is”
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Brisbane Broncos
We acknowledge that this match
is being held on the traditional lands of The Wangal people, and pay our
respect to elders both past and present.
Seems like everyone has an opinion about Souths lately, don’t
they? Apparently they are predictable, apparently this is their best chance win
the competition in recent years. Blah blah blah. The ‘pride of the league’ is
certainly playing some bloody good footy and that’s enough for me, for now.
They’ve won 4 straight and have looked good doing it. In fact, they’ve looked a
little scary since the bye week and young Luke Keary looks to have changed
things on his own.
This kid wouldn’t stop barking at the Sea Eagles last
week. He basically sledged Jamie Lyon for 80 minutes and by gum, it worked. That
kind of bastardry will take them a long way and this week, at ANZ Stadium on
Thursday night, it will get them past the Broncos. Brisbane have bounced back
from some internal rumblings, it seems, and were good enough to trounce the ‘Dogs
last week but it may not be enough here. Keary the standout again.
My tip: Rabbitohs 24-14
We acknowledge that this match
is being held on the traditional lands of The Wangal people, and pay our
respect to elders both past and present.
Plenty of talk about the eels replicating their famous
2009 run into the grand final whilst across the way, their most hated rivals
might be replicating something a bit less memorable and a lot more frustrating
for ‘Dogs fans. After winning 7 in a row at one point this year, holding the
best defensive record in the comp and sitting atop the ladder, Canterbury have
taken quite the fall and are now being shat upon from a very great height. Tough
times in Belmore.
Can they turn it around? Can they lift for the most
intense rivalry in the NRL? It seems a mountain to climb and you can guess why.
Jarryd Hayne is enjoying himself. He was too good for the greatest origin team
ever assembled and more recently he’s torn apart Titans, Sharks and Raiders in
quick succession. Not exactly the NRL’s elite, but really, it’s like a backyard
game of footy for the big fella and he is having a ball. Not even the possible
return of Tony Williams to the halves for Canterbury will get them out of
trouble here.
My tip: Parramatta 20-14
Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons
We acknowledge that this match is being held on the traditional lands of
The Ngunnawal and Ngambri Peoples, and pay our respect to elders both past and
present.
Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital and this one
has plenty of history – you know the drill. Saints have not won in Canberra
since the Menzies Pri-Ministership, they’ve not beaten Canberra since before
the GST existed and somehow, some way, they are favourites here. The only
possible reason could be that the bookies pay no attention to history, or, that
they’ve actually watched a Raiders game this year.
The poor Raiders. 1 win in their past 11 weeks and owners
of the worst defensive record in the comp, they can only hope that Anthony
Milford sees plenty of ball here. The Dragons, judging by their performance in
a big match at home last week, could well oblige the Canberra pivot. They gave
up possession at a frightening rate last week and if former Raiders Josh Dugan
and Joel Thompson can’t rally the troops here, Saints are done for.
My tip: Canberra 21-20
Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
We acknowledge that this match is being held on the traditional lands of
The Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respect to elders both
past and present.
Saturday evening from south of the border as Cronulla
head to AAMI Park to face an un-backable favourite. Good lord, the odds are
long for the Sharks here as we all pray for a quick and painless end to 2014
for Paul Gallen and his crew. Speaking of Gallen, he is named to return from
injury in this match and let’s hope he does. The entertainment value of the Sharks skipper
sledging his way through 80 minutes against origin rivals Smith, Slater and
Cronk will be off the charts.
Speaking of entertainment, if Melbourne are serious about
this one (and of course, history has shown that they are hardly ever serious
after losing a match at the death), the score could be anything. Look for big
games from the Storm forwards as they set the platform early. Ryan Hoffman and
Kevin Proctor in particular will enjoy running at young Fa’amanu Brown and late
in the second half, things could get ugly for the visitors.
My tip: Melbourne 30-6
Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters
We acknowledge that this match
is being held on the traditional lands of The Cadigal and Wangal peoples, and
pay our respect to elders both past and present.
Whatever is happening at Concord Oval this week, it won’t
be enough to set things right for the embattled Tigers. A Mick Potter magic
show? A Robbie Farah bonding session? Skills work? Fitness training? You just can’t
see a world where the Tigers can bounce back from losing by 60 in Townsville last
weekend to be ready to face the defending premiers on Saturday night. Even the ‘8th wonder of the world’ that
is Leichhardt Oval won’t get them out of trouble here.
But, somehow, you know they will try their hardest. The
Tigers might be completely out-gunned at nearly every position, but you get the
feeling that the players will stick together as they have done over the past
few horrific weeks. If the chooks give half a stuff, they will have a field
day. Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney would have noticed already that Cory Paterson
and Chris Lawrence can’t keep up with Michael Jennings and SKD. And if you
thought the Cowboys’ back rowers had a field day last week, watch Boyd Cordner and
FPN unleash the beast here.
My tip: Roosters 32-10
Newcastle Knights v New Zealand Warriors
We acknowledge that this match is being held on the traditional lands of
The Awabakal and Worimi Peoples, and pay our respect to elders both past
and present.
Not again! Surely! If the Newcastle Knights somehow pull
off another miracle at Hunter Stadium this weekend, I’ll pub crawl from Sydney to
Newcastle for old boys’ day. For the 3 of you reading this – you’re welcome to
join me. The Knights upset the reigning premiers a few games back after a week
of turmoil and then, against Melbourne last week, scored two tries in the final
moments to cause another unbelievable upset.
Speaking of upset, we won’t mention that Newcastle were
on the right end of a 7-0 2nd half penalty count against Melbourne
but we digress. This week, they host the Warriors on Sunday afternoon and are,
again, outsiders. With the visitors boasting the return of Shaun Johnson this
week and the fact that they are up to their eyeballs in a race for a home semi-final,
they’ll be too good here. NZ get off to a good start and hold on.
My tip: Warriors 23-16
Gold Coast Titans v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
We acknowledge that this match is being held on the traditional lands of
The Yugambeh People, and pay our respect to elders both past and present.
And so the Neil Henry era begins for the Titans and this
bloke has a CV to die for. The architect of Queensland’s Origin attack; the architect
of the Titans success earlier this year, pre injury debacle; the architect of
the Cowboys’ run to the semi-finals over the past two years, before diabolical officiating
destroyed his career in Townsville. Now, Henry gets his shot to audition for
another coaching role and his first test is a tough one.
A challenge to get his crew ready for a very angry Manly
team… And they will be angry. The Eagles were effectively pushed around by Souths
last week. Their forward pack looked slow and small and completely over-powered
and if they are to get back to the winners circle on Sunday afternoon in
Robina, it’s their pack who will have to step up. They will. Especially with
DCE and Kieran Foran yelling at them for 80 minutes. Manly bounce back.
My tip: Sea Eagles 24-14
Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys
We acknowledge that this match is being held on the traditional lands of
The Mulgoa Tribe of the Darug People and pay our respect to elders both past
and present.
A beauty to finish ‘Close the Gap’ round on Monday night
as the Panthers host the resurgent Cowboys. North Queensland have won 4 on the
trot, including 2 away wins and now travel to Sydney’s west to face a Penrith
team with a bunch of superstars sitting on the sidelines. The bookies can’t
split them. The visitors forward pack looks fantastic on paper and played like
it last week, but on the road this week, it’s a big test.
Look for another huge game from Panthers hooker and
former Cowboy James Segeyaro as he continues to ignite the home side; and this
will get them home. Yes, I’m tipping against a team that won by 60 last week
but more importantly, this is your match of the round. A classic from the foot
of the mountains as Johnathan Thurston faces Jamie Soward and the Cowboys
monster back row of Jason Taumalolo, Tariq Sims and Glenn Hall take on the surprise
pack of Isaah Yeo and Adam Docker.
My tip: Panthers 19-18
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