NRL tipping is a long and arduous and mostly fruitless expedition but we do it out of a love for the chase.
To be the grand poobah of The Roar‘s NRL expert tipping realm is the dream as we head toward the finish line.
Across the land tipsters tick their winners for round eighteen and put lines through others, they scribble a question mark next to said team and question it some more.
Competition-leading tipsters have a new problem. Do they tip conservatively, does their tipping rhythm change now their precious lead is on the line?
The chasing pack are coming but at huge risk as more and more underdogs are backed, tipsters desperate to claw their way to the top.
Good luck to all tipsters and enjoy round 18 of the greatest competition on the planet.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Raiders (Powerplay), Roosters, Bulldogs, Warriors, Sharks, Sea Eagles.
“Friday night Football will see the Raiders be too strong with their backs running havoc against the Knights.
“The Roosters will be too classy for the Panthers on Saturday. The Bulldogs versus the Broncos shapes up as match of the Round. I am expecting the Bulldog forwards to steamroll the Broncos who will have many key players backing up after a bruising SOO decider.
“The Warriors led by Shaun Johnson should beat the Storm and I am tipping the Sharks to upset the Dragons. Finally I am tipping the Sea Eagles to beat the Titans who continue to be disappointing.
“My power play for the week are the Raiders and of course, Parramatta to beat the bye (just).”
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Knights, Roosters, Bulldogs, Warriors (Powerplay), Sharks, Titans.
“Sage advice from some of The Roar’s readership last week has opened my eyes to the error of my ways. For too long, I have attempted to graft my way through life in this treacherous competition, taking safe selections in an attempt to dodge the wooden spoon and the subsequent review of governance at the Eldridge Forecast Bureau it would bring.
“But now, it’s time to throw off the shackles and aim for third place.
“So here’s the rub: the Roosters, Bulldogs and Warriors do not warrant any play time. However, I’m going pants-off and roof-dancing with Newcastle, Gold Coast, and to a lesser extent, Cronulla.
“Now sit back and watch the beginning of tipping’s greatest ever parallel to Parramatta 2009.”
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Raiders, Roosters (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Warriors, Dragons, Sea Eagles.
“The Raiders have been solid this season, and I expect them to beat Newcastle, Roosters still have plenty of non-Origin stars in their line-up, and should therefore pump the Panthers. The Doggies will beat Brisbane, because , well, because they’re the mighty Doggies.
“Warriors have always been a bogey side for the Storm, and with a few of their players backing up from Origin, I think New Zealand will win.
“Dragons vs. Sharks could be a tight affair, and I’ll wager the big Red V will get up.
Lastly, DCE gets to face the team he spurned, and either show them what they’ll be missing, or provide them with a ‘phew’ moment. I’m guessing it will be the former, not the later, in a Sea Eagles victory.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Raiders (Powerplay), Roosters, Bulldogs, Warriors, Sharks, Sea Eagles.
“I’ve been following my first instinct recently and it has been going alright. Can the Raiders actually win at home? They are up against a bolstered and dangerous Knights side. Neither side plays much on a Friday night but the cold may help the Raiders a bit. Raiders in a nail biter.
I love my Panthers but the Roosters may be a bit too much for them while I reckon a full strength Bulldogs will be too good for a tired Broncos side.
Warriors are hit and miss but they like playing the Storm. I reckon they’ll win at home, Jack Bird wants to show the Dragons what fools they were to let him go. I reckon he will.
If there was ever a team that the Titans wanted to beat it is any side that has DCE in it. Unfortunately, I think they are a Bird, Elgey, Sezer and Zillman short of pulling that off. Sea Eagles by a bit.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Raiders (Powerplay), Panthers, Broncos, Warriors, Dragons, Sea Eagles.
“Picking your powerplay should be easy but not when it’s the NRL. With the selections I’ve made, Canberra at home (with trepidation), should make light work of Newcastle. More likely it will be hard work and the Raiders to sneak home on the back of Blake Austin.
“I love the Panthers at the moment and I think the Brisbane combination of Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt might get them home against Canterbury.
“Good luck tipping the Warriors with any confidence, the same can be said with the final two matches.”
| Round 18 | Tim | Mary | Ryan | Curtis | Dane |
| RAIvKNI | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Knights |
| PANvROO | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Panthers | Roosters |
| BULvBRO | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Broncos | Bulldogs |
| WARvSTO | Warriors | Warriors | Warriors | Warriors | Warriors |
| SHAvDRA | Sharks | Sharks | Dragons | Dragons | Sharks |
| TITvEAG | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Eagles | Titans |
| POWERPLAY | Raiders | Raiders | Roosters | Raiders | Warriors |
| LAST ROUND | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| OVERALL | 88 | 81 | 80 | 76 | 74 |
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