What’s better than State of Origin next Wednesday?
State of Origin next Wednesday and four games of NRL footy before it!
That’s right, the NRL never sleeps and it’s back again for Round 11 as we inch closer and closer to the first kick-off between New South Wales and Queensland in Game I from ANZ Stadium.
Parramatta face a dangerous South Sydney on Friday night with the defending premiers desperate to get back that winning feeling and come up against an Eels outfit struggling big time for form and consistency.
Saturday night we’ll be in the time machine and heading back to October 2005 as the Wests Tigers celebrate their first and only premiership against the North Queensland Cowboys. The glaring difference this time round is the Cowboys will be without Johnathan Thurston. All signs lead to Campbelltown and a victory for Wests, that’s what they’d have you think anyway.
Sunday footy heads to Canberra and look out, the Raiders have a free-to-air game!
Will they be too strong for the Bulldogs or does dropped State of Origin pivot Josh Reynolds have other ideas?
Wayne Bennett is back in Newcastle on Monday to see his Brisbane Broncos battle the Knights.
Will it be a glorious return or a knightmare for the iconic coach?
No matter your tips, enjoy the footy as we prepare for State of Origin, version 2015!
Tim Gore
Tips: Rabbitohs, Tigers (Powerplay), Raiders, Knights.
“This week the poor old Eels will go down to the pretty much undisturbed Rabbitohs side. While Alex Johnston ain’t Inglis yet, the key word is yet.
“On Saturday the Cowboys will not be able to cope with the loss of their Origin players and will go down to a desperate Tigers side in Sydney.
“On Sunday arvo Canberra will do it tough in taking on a very depleted, yet very dangerous, Bulldogs side. However, the boys in green will get the points.
“The Knights will make it two in a row against the undermanned Broncos.”
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Tigers, Raiders, Knights.
“I like Souths on Friday night, mainly because they play Parramatta and it’s at ANZ Stadium. For all the long-suffering Eels fans, the humanitarian in me initially wished for one of their team’s capricious bursts just to break up the frustration of their patronage, but that was before the humanitarian in me picked the Rabbits.
“Then to Saturday night, a fixture which is theoretically simple. High on the fumes of their 2005 premiership celebrations and against a sans-Thurston Cowboys, the Tigers have a mandate to succeed at Campbelltown. Don’t talk to me about Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods, I’ve stacked the numbers and it’s a deadset cert and I definitely won’t be face palming myself at full-time.
“My remaining predictions: Canberra and Newcastle to roll up the sleeves and grit out super mega-fugly wins at home, and a deep plunge in to an existential tipsters crisis by myself over the coming nine weeks.”
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Cowboys, Bulldogs, Broncos.
“Considering Origin duties will rob many teams of their best players for this round, almost all four games are coin tosses.
“So I chose ‘heads’.
“Unfortunately, they’re not playing, so I’ve gone Souths, Cowboys, Bulldogs and Broncos instead, #champagnecomedy.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Rabbitohs, Tigers, Bulldogs, Knights (Powerplay).
“Only four games this round beginning with the Rabbits who will smoke the Eels on Friday night.
“I am tipping the Tigers to beat the Cowboys who will be missing key plays because of Stat of Origin selection.
“Canberra has been impressive but I am tipping an upset with the Bulldogs to be too professional and strong and come away with a win.
The Newcastle Knights should beat the Origin-decimated Broncos to conclude the round.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Tigers, Raiders, Knights.
“It is dangerous tact to presume that the apparent “easy rounds” in the NRL are indeed that as we’ve seen time and time again. Speaking of which, the Tigers scare me at Campbelltown on Saturday night against North Queensland who are without Johnathan Thurston and their Australian props.
“I was there the night the ‘Baby Broncos’ lapped Wests and for whatever reason, I have a feeling it is going to be really close. The fact the Tigers still have James Tedesco, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses should be enough to get them over the line.
“The other danger game for me is Canberra at home to Canterbury-Bankstown. This is a game the Raiders should win, all the more reason to be shaking in your boots.”
| Round 11 | Tim | Mary | Curtis | Dane | Ryan |
| RABvEEL | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| TIGvCOW | Tigers | Tigers | Tigers | Tigers | Cowboys |
| RAIvBUL | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Bulldogs |
| KNIvBRO | Knights | Knights | Knights | Knights | Broncos |
| POWERPLAY | Tigers | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| LAST ROUND | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| OVERALL | 52 | 51 | 49 | 46 | 45 |
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