Vince Lombardi once said, “Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing… the result.”
Results drive us, they fuel our passion and they gift eight lucky NRL clubs September glory. But right now it is round 22 and we still have sixteen teams. Some are already fading, no chance of moving on while others are jostling to scrape in and a few are already pumping out their chests, beating the top four drum.
With only weeks to spare, the sprint for the finish is on.
Will your club survive another week or will it fade into history like so many before them?
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Broncos, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sharks, Eels, Storm, Roosters, Raiders (Powerplay)
“Geoff Toovey has flipped the bird exquisitely towards Manly since his sacking, but if his side can put away Souths this Friday night and keep their playoff sniff alive, it will upgrade to a two-handed salute with an optional mooning. I long to see this continue, and that’s why I’m going to take the Rabbitohs in a nailbiter.
“Come Sunday, the Roosters should further expedite Danny Buderus’ resignation from coaching forever, but I do expect an improved 65 minute showing from the home side. Then down in the dirty south, Melbourne desperately need a win to reverse their fading sheen, so thankfully for them the Titans are in town looking for a game.
“Plenty of other beauties await us, most notably the Seven Tackle Shield at Remondis on Saturday. Let’s hope the refs have packed an abacus.”
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Cowboys, Panthers, Storm (Powerplay), Roosters, Raiders.
“I tip the Bulldogs every week so why would I not pick them against the league-leading Broncos who are also coming off a loss and will therefore be highly motivated?
“Bunnies versus Sea Eagles will actually be a very close game, and I’m tempted to go Manly, but chickened out.
“No Johnson equals no chance for the Warriors, so the Dragons should account for them. The Cowboys should continue on their winning ways against the Sharks, the Panthers will beat the Eels, and the Chooks will smash the Knights.
“And lastly, Blake Austin will remind Wests fans of how bad a decision it was to let him leave, by leading the Raiders over the Tigers.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Broncos (Powerplay), Eagles, Dragons, Cowboys, Panthers, Storm, Roosters, Raiders.
“Friday night football sees the Broncos versus the Bulldogs. I am tipping the Broncos to be pumped after their disappointing performance last week and come away this week with a big win. I reckon Anthony Milford will have a blinder.
“The Sea Eagles were very impressive last week and are always hard to beat at Brookvale. I am not totally convinced by the Rabbits this year and am tipping the Sea Eagles in a tight match.
“The Warriors play the Dragons and I just can’t warm to the Warriors without Shaun Johnson. The Dragons should win this one. The Sharks versus the Cowboys will be a great game but I am tipping the Thurston Factor to result in a Cowboys win. The Eels were woeful against the Titans and I am tipping a big Panthers win.
“The Storm will have a huge win against the Titans on Sunday because Craig Bellamy would have given them plenty all week long after their abysmal showing last week. And the Roosters will beat the Knights by just as many on the other Sunday game. 13+ wins in both these games.
“Finally the Raiders play the tigers in what I am expecting to be a high scoring affair. The Raiders have more to play for and will come away with the win.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Broncos, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Cowboys, Panthers, Storm (Powerplay), Roosters, Raiders.
“Well last week I failed to follow my considerable gut and – although I initially tipped the Wests Tigers – I chickened out and got Curtis to change my tip to the Storm. What an A-Grade idiot!
“This weekend I reckon if Josh Reynolds were playing the Dogs would beat the Broncs. The Broncs front row is makeshift at best. This match will be close. I’m going Broncs.
“Gee the Sea Eagles look good all of a sudden. Hands up if you’d written them off like me. This match will also be close. I like the Rabbits’ pack more. Souths narrowly.
“Dragons to beat the Johnsonless Warriors in NZ, Cowboys to beat Cronulla and Do I just want the Panthers to win or do I think they will? Dunno. Tipping the Panthers.
“Storm to beat the Titans in Melbourne.
“Roosters to make Buderus dislike coaching but making him witness a hammering of his side.
“Raiders to just see off a very good Wests Tigers mob on Monday night to win just their third home game of the season.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Broncos, Eagles, Warriors, Sharks, Panthers, Storm (Powerplay), Roosters, Raiders.
“The New Zealand Warriors have been my dirty little secret all season and I refuse to count how many times I’ve backed them and they’ve let me down. Now they’re without Shaun Johnson and I’m still taking them against St George Illawarra. I must be nuts.
“I love Manly this weekend at Brookvale against the premiers. This is a huge challenge for the Eagles but who loves a challenge more than Jamie Lyon and company?
“The other scandalous call this weekend is backing against North Queensland who boast a bloke called Johnathan Thurston. I’m loving Cronulla at the moment and I think they have the game that can worry the Cowboys.”
| Round 22 | Tim | Mary | Ryan | Curtis | Dane |
| BROvBUL | Broncos | Broncos | Bulldogs | Broncos | Broncos |
| EAGvRAB | Rabbitohs | Eagles | Rabbitohs | Eagles | Rabbitohs |
| WARvDRA | Dragons | Dragons | Dragons | Warriors | Dragons |
| SHAvCOW | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Sharks | Sharks |
| EELvPAN | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Eels |
| STOvTIT | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm |
| KNIvROO | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters |
| RAIvTIG | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| POWERPLAY | Storm | Broncos | Storm | Storm | Raiders |
| LAST ROUND | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| OVERALL | 113 | 107 | 103 | 100 | 98 |
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
The Eels led 8-4 at half-time. They lost 44-16 in a Dolphins onslaught.
Who is this team and what have they done with the Dolphins? With Wayne Bennett consigned to his sick bed back in Redcliffe, the…
The ball kept falling off the tee for Gutho's penalty kick and the fans were giving him heaps.
The Dolphins were playing with fire on their own line as Kodi Nikorima went for a reckless offload.
In conditions described as "stifling" in Darwin, the Eels and Dolphins played out a lacklustre first half with Parramatta leading 8-4 at the break.…
Jack Bostock stayed down after Clint Gutherson's attempted tackle and the Eels' skipper gave him plenty of lip about it.
