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So we say goodbye to normal football for a while. This week we have the first of the bye rounds, with eight teams having a little rest. I am sure the Bulldogs, Cowboys and Broncos are delighted to be missing a heap of players this week. Still, that’s the way it goes sometimes.
I somehow jagged five from eight last week and maintain 45 wins so far this season.
Let’s see what Round 11 brings to the table:
Rabbitohs versus Eels
The Rabbitohs have dodged a bullet, with only Greg Inglis unavailable through State of Origin. While they still need some Rusteze, they were a bit smoother against the Storm. Alex Johnston will enjoy the chance to play in open space and Dylan Walker will be out to show his wares to the selectors. Chris McQueen will be hoping for a big game for the same reason.
Parramatta will be missing Will Hopoate, but to be honest their backline looks better for it. Something stinks out in the golden west though, with Chris Sandow being used as a pawn in some game played by others. I know he is hot and cold, but he can seriously play attacking footy. Anthony Watmough will be cranky about being dropped for Origin and is well overdue a leader’s game.
Still, Souths will win this one with a couple of overs to spare.
Tigers versus Cowboys
How lucky are the Tigers? They get to play the Cowboys without four Origin players (including Michael Morgan), plus Jason Taumololo injured. I know Wests are missing their front-row heroes as well, but it’s not a bad deal – like swapping Old Kent Road for Mayfair. Expect young guns Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco to run a lot of ball.
The Cowboys have to forget who ain’t playing and concentrate on who is. Lachlan Coote will have a lot of responsibility, as will Jake Granville. Also, Gavin Cooper and Ethan Lowe will need to hit their lines hard to help the backline break through.
I see a lot of Ugg Boots being thrown up in celebration as the Tigers win this one.
Raiders vs Bulldogs
The Raiders slipped-up last week, but have a great opportunity here. They need to hold their own for 20 to 30 minutes, then start running the Bulldogs off the park. Kurt Baptiste will be the key man for this to happen. Blake Austin was a little star struck last week, but now he can get back to just being a very good first grader. I expect the Raiders to bomb Sam Perrett and Corey Thompson a lot.
The Bulldogs are having one of those years. Des Hasler loves the Melbourne Cup concept, but they are in danger of being put behind a black curtain. They have a ray of sunshine, in that Trent Hodkinson is away – he has been poor all season and Origin may help him find form, as well as giving Moses Mbye and Josh Reynolds a chance to run the team.
If James Graham actually plays, expect the Bulldogs to bite back this week.
Knights vs Broncos
The Knights got sprinkled with the lucky dust this week with five Broncos in Origin. Newcastle need it too, as they were fairly innocuous against the Tigers last week. Still, they will be aiming to get early dominance in the forwards so their big running backs can get back to what they did about eight weeks ago. Dane Gagai will have a very big game.
The Broncos have the Mastercoach and hopefully a master plan. I am guessing it will be very simple stuff – solid sets, then kick to the corners, no seven-tackle sets, and wait for mistakes from the Knights.
It could just work, but I expect the Knights to have too much experience.
NSW vs Queensland
Apparently, there is another match next week too. I will preview it a little further on, but I can predict two things. NSW will play a boring, forward-dominated game – a “battle of nutrition” as Ben Elias once called it. Queensland will bide their time, and will need two moments of brilliance to score more points.
Despite those two predictions, I actually expect this game to be won by the concussion rule. Which superduperstar will be out of the game? Only the shadow knows.
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