Round 26 and your match of
the round kicks off a weekend where dreams will come true for some and Mad
Monday will begin for others. Either way, rugby league can’t lose. First cab
off the rank? Your match of the round and what a beauty this will be. It’s the second-best
rivalry going around this weekend behind ‘rickygate’ in Canberra but we dare
say this will see some better footy played.
And most of that footy will
come from the Chooks. Seeing the best of Mitchell Pearce should be so rewarding
for those that have stuck by him. Seeing this team play a brand of footy that
is true to the spirit of the game and entertaining as well should set the
example for all future coaches out there. By contrast, anyone watching Souths
should watch Greg Inglis and avoid making eye contact with anything else that
Souths dish out.
My tip: Roosters 16-12
Melbourne Storm v Brisbane
Broncos
If you haven’t worked out
that wrestling has potentially already destroyed the greatest game of all –
take a look at this match a little closer. Your Friday night neck breaker from
AAMI Park in Melbourne highlights two clubs who’ve done well in the squared
circle over the years. The Storm have led the way over a number of years when
it comes to the old sleeper hold and should be proud of what they have ruined.
Now, ironically, to make the
top 8, Brisbane need to beat the home side without their captain and best
player, Sam Thaiday, after he was suspended for wrestling. Apparently the NRL
can suspend people but have admitted this is not going to be a deterrent. Just wonderful
stuff. Speaking of wonderful stuff, keep an eye on the two halfbacks in this match.
Cooper Cronk and Ben Hunt put on a clinic.
My tip: Melbourne 19-12
Wests Tigers v Cronulla Sharks
Saturday afternoon from Leichhardt
Oval and the rugby league puritans could not think of a better way to bid
farewell to a couple of teams who’ve done it very tough this year. The Tigers
kicked off the season in style, mostly, but have since come under fire because,
effectively, their captain is not ‘one of the boys’. Well, Robbie certainly
deserves to hit Mad Monday with style and we are sure he will.
Speaking of Mad Monday, they
may as well honour what this great footy ground was built for – punters to hit
the sauce very early on their weekend and continue into a happy and hazy
evening on Balmain Road. If you think Farah and his crew won’t make it all the
way to the Sackville, you’re kidding yourself. Cronulla may not be able to find
their form of a week ago but if its form you’re after, look elsewhere.
My tip: Tigers 14-12
Canberra Raiders v
Parramatta Eels
Last time these clubs met, a
round 22 special from Darwin, the Raiders led for most of the contest until
Jarryd Hayne found a hole and taxied right through it. This time, Parra must leave
everything on the field if they are to be any chance of sneaking into the
playoffs. A huge ask for a young team with a horrific away record in 2014 and perhaps,
by kick off, nothing to play for.
Look for the Raiders to dominate
here as a promising season for the visitors comes to a disappointing end. A tip
of the hat to Brad Arthur and his crew though, they have avoided a 19th
straight wooden spoon. Speaking of hat tipping, here’s to Brett White who plays
his last NRL match and speaking of farewells, keep an eye on Canberra fans
shedding more tears as they watch another all-star half leave their club.
Anthony Milford, we hardly knew ya.
My tip: Raiders 30-20
North Queensland Cowboys v
Manly Sea Eagles
An emotional night for the
home side. Firstly, they’ll be bidding a fond farewell to retiring centre,
Brent Tate and secondly, this could be the last time in 2014 where a refereeing
decision goes their way. So, with the starting 17 fully recovered from the flu
and their motivation reaching its peak, the Cowboys are justified favourites
against Manly at 1300SMILES stadium on Saturday night.
Some fantastic matchups
here. First and foremost, two quality, premiership contenders who don’t wrestle
as part of their Plan A. Secondly, Johnathan Thurston against DCE. Finally and
most importantly, keep an eye on the Cowboys back row outplaying the likes of
Justin Horo and Tom Symonds and this is where the home side has an edge. They
control the ruck and control the edges to win.
My tip: North Queensland
20-16
Newcastle Knights v St
George Illawarra Dragons
Ahh, the godfather of the
wrestle, Wayne Bennett. Fingers crossed that El Capo realises what a horrible
mistake he made when he first hired a wrestling coach in Brisbane all those
years ago. I doubt it. Moving on, The Bennett coached Knights have had a terrible
year. Unable to grasp his defensive instructions, the Wrestle, it would seem,
is not part of the DNA of this great town’s footballing culture. Thank god.
So, they finish a
forgettable season hosting the Dragons for old boys’ day and it will be a huge
ask for the visitors to march into Mad Monday with a win here. The Knights are
undefeated at home over their past 4 matches, average just under 30 points per
game in attack over that span. They’ll turn it on again here and put away the
Dragons after another brave effort from Paul McGregor’s men.
My tip: Newcastle 22-18
Gold Coast Titans v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Sunday afternoon from Robina and what a place to organise
your Mad Monday festivities. Firstly, you can bet John Cartwright will be a
part of the fun; secondly, you can bet Dave Taylor will be falling out of beds
all over the Gold Coast next week and finally, a tip of the hat to one of this ‘columns’
favourite players over the years, Luke “Bull” Bailey.
From his humble beginnings at St George-Illawarra, Bailey
always looked like a leader and played like one. This is his last match and it’s
only fitting that the Bulldogs’ monster pack will make sure it’s a tough one.
The ‘Dogs are limping into the finals with a stuttering attack but their season
long commitment to defence should get them the win here.
My tip: Bulldogs 18-16
Penrith Panthers v New Zealand Warriors
By kick off, the Warriors will know everything they need
to know so fingers crossed for the Puppets and Muppets in charge of your pay-tv
broadcaster that this match is not a ‘dead rubber’, so to speak. Either way, we
hope that all the Dad’s out there enjoyed their father’s day by not getting off
the couch for the entire Sunday arvo triple header.
You made it, you mad bastards. So strap yourselves in for
the regular season finale as the Panthers give it all they got to ensure a top
4 finish at Sportingbet Stadium in front of their loyal fans. Matt Moylan the
standout again but it’s the tough-as-nails Penrith forwards who turn up to
ensure another win.
My tip: Penrith 24-18
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