The 2014 NRL finals are upon us and the opening round provides some highly intriguing match-ups.
Throughout the series The Roar‘s NRL expert tipping panel will provide you with their tips and predictions for the weekend’s games.
It was always going to be fascinating putting Steve Turner, the seasoned footballer, against the statistical master Tim Gore, against humour master and mug punter Dane Eldridge, Newtown Jets connoisseur Kris Swales and banter king Ryan O’Connell. At this stage the footy player is trumping the lot, which is to be expected probably.
We’ve also got full previews of both games, and Roar expert Tim Gore has run the statistical rule over both games, so you can get his extended thoughts on the Roosters-Cowboys here, and the Sea Eagles-Bulldogs here.
So let’s read what the experts have got to say about all the games.
MORE NRL Finals:
» FULL NRL FINALS DRAW
» 2014 NRL Finals: Full guide to week 2
» Tim Gore’s stat attack: Roosters vs Cowboys is too close to call
» Full match information, team lists
FULL ROOSTERS V COWBOYS PREVIEW
Sat 19, 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Last meeting: Cowboys 42-10 Roosters
History: Cowboys 9, Roosters 21
TV: Live Channel Nine
Betting: Roosters $1.47, Cowboys $2.75
Kris Swales says: My pre-season grand final prediction comes early, which seems to happen to me a lot. Physically, the battering the Roosters copped from Penrith should pull their vaunted pack back to the Cowboys’ level, though the loss of Tariq Sims to suspension robs the North Queensland mob of their firebrand. Which brings us to the backs, and JT. He’ll be the difference in a cracker. Cowboys by 4.
Dane Eldridge says: Can the Roosters rebound from a handling performance last week that was more unkempt than a hipster’s chin? With Paul Green upsetting the establishment and it’s grand poobahs looking for at least another week of Sonny Bill Williams, I smell a late bad call coming against the Cowboys. Roosters by 4.
Ryan O’Connell says: The Roosters welcome back some important players – in Aidan Guerra and Jake Friend – from suspension and injury respectively, while the Cowboys will be without Tariq Sims, courtesy of his late hit on Justin Hodges last weekend. The addition and subtraction of said players gives the Roosters a slight advantage, despite North Queensland’s red-hot form. For that reason, I think the Chooks will win by the slightest of margins, in what should be a cracking game of football.
Tim Gore says: Will the Cows choke away from home or will the Roosters fumble their chances away with another high error count? Or Both? Cowboys by 2
Saturday 20th September, 7.45pm AEST
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Last Meeting: Bulldogs 23 def Sea Eagles 16, Round 17 2014
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins
Head-to-Head: Sea Eagles 5, Bulldogs 5 (Last 10 meetings)
Betting: Sea Eagles $2.30, Bulldogs $1.62
Kris Swales says: I have absolutely no idea what either of these teams were playing at last week. While I can imagine the Bulldogs forwards being as ruthless, I can’t imagine Manly’s being so spineless. Because they love to triumph against adversity I’m tipping Manly by 10, but with every expectation we’ll get several days of ‘end of an era’ post-mortems when the Doggies roll them.
Dane Eldridge says: Brett Stewart wouldn’t back his side without Anthony Watmough and Des Hasler reckons he’s coaching the outsiders, so this sub-radar battle for siege rights is hard to read if you listen to the Latin coming from both camps. In saying this, I’m taking the team carrying less bandages and more kinship in what should be a tiring slogfest. Bulldogs by 7.
Ryan O’Connell says: As a Dogs fan, I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a finals match with lower expectations than I did last week; I thought Melbourne would easily account for the Doggies. It’s funny what an impressive victory can do, because just a week later, I’ve already got my boys in the preliminary final against Penrith. Manly is a proud club, and I expect them to put up a strong fight, but in the end, their poor form – along with the fact they’ll be outmuscled upfront – should simply be too much for them to overcome. Dogs by 8.
Tim Gore says: Manly are crippled by injury and the Dogs have rediscovered their form. Should be a flogging, right? Manly will compete but it won’t be enough. Dogs 1-12
| Week 1 | Semi-finals | Prelim-finals | Grand Final | Total | |
| Kris | 1 | 1 | |||
| Dane | 2 | 2 | |||
| Ryan | 1 | 1 | |||
| Steve | 3 | 3 | |||
| Tim | 2 | 2 |
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