Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars… Oh, sorry.
NFL fever has hit Australia, with Jarryd Hayne taking San Francisco and the United States by storm.
It’s almost impossible to get away from it, but thankfully we have a little thing called the NRL finals just around the corner!
With two rounds to play and September’s spring on our doorstep, business is about to pick up.
Someone get out their cell phone and dial 911 because we’ve got some fiery classics in the round, like Wests Tigers hosting the Warriors, and Penrith travelling to Canberra for a bunkhouse stampede with the Panthers.
Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos are in town to face the defending premiers in Thursday night football. Both sides got their asses slapped last week and will be hungry for some old-school George W. revenge.
You’ll need plenty of Budweiser to get through Gold Coast versus St George Illawarra, while the Knights and the smokin’ hot Dawgs could be anything on Good Ol’ Boys Day in Newcastle.
Thanksgiving comes early in the battle of the birds, when Manly Seahawks and the Sydney Roosterrrs go head-to-head.
The following night the Storm will try to lasso the Cowboys in the world’s seventh most liveable city (behind New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Dallas and Chattanooga), yeehhaaaaaaaa!
And in a bogey match for the 13-9 Sharks, they face Jarryd Hayne’s former rugby league side, Parramatta.
There’s a difference between rugby and rugby league?
Fuhgeddaboudit!
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Rabbitohs, Roosters (Powerplay), Eels, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers, Titans, Raiders.
“With a chunk of teams slaughtered after the gross carnage of last weekend, these closing weeks of the season now have the uncertain feel of the Origin rounds. This is a fantastic outcome for me, because as you can see, I really need a challenge.
“What about Danny Buderus? He has revolutionised coaching in the space of a month. His method? He hates coaching’s guts and it works. However, can his unorthodox style trump Des Hasler? As gritty as the newborn Knights have been, I don’t think Danny hates it that much. The Dogs to continue humming on their way to Destember.
“And what has happened to Canberra? They were everybody’s feel-good team for a while, but now after four straight losses, they’ve reverted to type as Ricky Stuart’s team. Luckily for them, they face the last side they beat in the Panthers. Ivan Cleary’s troops are a hard-working bunch who care about the jersey, but I’m backing their minds to be elsewhere now, probably somewhere like Seminyak. Surely this is enough for Canberra. Surely?
“As for the rest of my picks… well, I’m already in Seminyak too. The cocktails taste like nail polish.”
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Broncos, Roosters, Sharks, Bulldogs (Powerplay), Cowboys, Warriors, Dragons, Panthers.
“No Inglis, no chance. Broncos to beat the Bunnies.
“Manly will be suffering from their poor loos to the Eels, and despite their injury concerns, the Chooks will beat them.
“Sharks will hammer the Eels, Dogs will smash the Knights, and Cowboys will beat the Storm by one point.
“No coincidence that there is no ‘D’ in either the Warriors or the Tigers and that game will resemble touch-footy, with the Warriors winning.
“Lastly, the Dragons and Panthers will win.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Broncos (Powerplay), Eagles, Sharks, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers, Dragons, Raiders.
“Righto! Well I stuffed it last week and let Mary K right back into it with some dismal tipping. Here come this week’s chokes, I mean tips.
“Broncs to beat the Rabbits in a tight one. Roosters vs Sea Eagles is tough, but I’m going Manly because of no Jared Waerea-Hargreaves or Mitchell Pearce and the desperation.
“Sharks’ll beat Eels ‘cos they gotta, Bulldogs will get the job done versus the resurgent Knights.
“You beat the Cowboys in the outside backs. Storm aren’t their strongest in the backs. Cows to win.
“I can’t see the Warriors winning another game this year. Tigers to fumble to a win.
“The only reason the Titans won last week is the Raiders were worse still. The Dragons need to win to secure their finals spot. They will win.
“Raiders to win only their third home game of the season against the Panthers.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Broncos, Roosters, Eels, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers (Powerplay), Dragons, Panthers.
“The Rabbitohs play the Broncos on Thursday night with the Rabbits desperate to regain form. They will be missing Greg Inglis but welcome back Issac Luke, who will have a huge game. The Broncos however seem too strong across the park and I am tipping them to come away with the win.
“Sea Eagles play the Roosters on Friday and although this will be a hard-fought affair at Brookvale the Roosters should be too strong.
“The Eels play the Sharks at Pirtek and I am tipping the upset with the Eels to win and Semi Radradra to be on fire.
“The Knights may be rejuvenated, but the Bulldogs have too much to play for and will come away with the two points.
“While the Storm will improve form their woeful performance against the Knights, the Cowboys will take a big win.
“A fired-up Tigers will turn up against the Warriors. Wests will win by 20-plus and James Tedesco to score a hat trick.
“Dragons over the Titans in what will be a low-scoring game.
“Finally the Raiders have managed to lose their way, so I am tipping the Panthers to come away with the win.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Broncos, Roosters, Sharks, Bulldogs, Cowboys (Powerplay), Warriors, Titans, Raiders.
I heard a bloke outside the media boxes at Campbelltown Stadium the other day saying he always takes the home side in his tipping competition. I’ve taken that advice and tipped the struggling Gold Coast and Canberra as my only two home winners of the weekend. Go figure.
South Sydney were hammered by Canterbury last weekend and face a hardened Brisbane outfit that went down in a nail-biter against the Roosters. Can someone tell me if this is the first time in history the Broncos have played back-to-back premiership matches at Allianz Stadium?
Cronulla is the feel good story of 2015 and they should dispose of a plucky Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium.
| Round 25 | Tim | Mary | Ryan | Curtis | Dane |
| RABvBRO | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Rabbitohs |
| EAGvROO | Eagles | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters |
| EELvSHA | Sharks | Eels | Sharks | Sharks | Eels |
| KNIvBUL | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs |
| STOvCOW | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| TIGvWAR | Tigers | Tigers | Warriors | Warriors | Tigers |
| TITvDRA | Dragons | Dragons | Dragons | Titans | Titans |
| RAIvPAN | Raiders | Panthers | Panthers | Raiders | Raiders |
| POWERPLAY | Broncos | Tigers | Bulldogs | Cowboys | Roosters |
| LAST ROUND | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| OVERALL | 126 | 123 | 119 | 113 | 112 |
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.
1. Tigers earning their stripes The Tigers played Souths last year when the Bunnies were at their very highest point. Tim Sheens coached them…
It had all been going so well. Canberra were by far the better side for ten minutes, with Jamal Fogarty giving the Brisbane back…
Who are the hardest working big men in the NRL?
Graham Annesley has admitted the match officials got it wrong and the Titans should've been given a set restart after a Raiders player was…
Cranky old coaches Des Hasler and Ricky Stuart reportedly engaged in a post-match argument outside Canberra's dressing room following the Titans' controversial golden-point loss…
Ricky Stuart says Gold Coast coach Des Hasler is "on another planet" after the Titans boss blasted the refereeing in his side's golden point…
