Is there ever a dull week in rugby league?
On Monday morning Jarryd Hayne didn’t even give us a chance to have our first spoon of Nutri-Grain before announcing to the world that he was quitting the NFL for the Olympics and thus sending the NRL into a frenzy over where he may be after Rio.
This is clearly a ploy to overshadow the ratings juggernaut that is The Roar’s NRL Expert tips – welcome to Round 11.
Then there’s State of Origin and the constant and laborious speculation about who’s in and who’s out, what colour boots they’ll be wearing at ANZ Stadium and will Aaron Woods get a haircut or at least wash before the big night?
EVERY NRL GAME THIS SEASON WILL BE LIVE ON FOXTEL
Round eleven 11 is shaping as a Michael Bay movie – starts with a bang, ends in a bang and goes bang, bang, bang all the way through.
Two desperate clubs, South Sydney and St George Illawarra, face off on Thursday before a heavyweight showdown of mass proportions between North Queensland and Brisbane.
And on Monday, Melbourne Storm head to Parramatta to face the Eels.
If any team knows what the Eels are going through it’s the Storm. Is this the best or worst time to get Cameron Smith’s Melbourne?
Good luck with your tips and god speed.
Lachlan Bickley
Tips: Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Wests Tigers, Warriors, Sharks, Panthers (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Eels.
“Regardless of the Cowboys’ loss last week these remain the top two teams in the comp, this should be a cracker and I’ll take the Cowboys to just edge it over the Broncos.
“The Raiders made 19 errors in the gloom of Kogorah last week so you would hope that will improve. But it won’t be enough to overcome their recent poor record across the ditch.
“The reinforcements have arrived for the Roosters but the team is far from running on all cylinders. And if that metaphor isn’t mixed enough I’ve got bridge to sell you. Dogs to win.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Dragons, Broncos, Knights, Warriors, Sharks (Powerplay), Panthers, Bulldogs, Eels.
“The Dragons made it across the line due to a Jack Wighton error and the Bunnies made it across the line due to a forward pass (granted, one of Parramatta’s tries also came off a forward pass so it all evened out). I see this as an even contest so it could go either way, so I flipped a coin and am tipping the Dragons.
“Penrith is a long way from home for the Titans and they will need to pull out something special if they are to win.
“The Eels have a habit of making their supporters believe in miracles and then ripping their hearts out at the last minute. On that note, the Eels will be looking to begin the #12from14 campaign with a win. I’m calling this game the Salary Cap Superbowl.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Wests Tigers, Raiders, Sharks (Powerplay), Panthers, Roosters, Storm.
“The Raiders will get their act together against the Warriors and jag a win over in New Zealand.
“I think the Roosters will beat the Dogs who had their win last week and despite Sydney’s shocker against the Titans.
“Melbourne will grind out a win against the Eels.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Wests Tigers, Raiders, Sharks (Powerplay), Titans, Bulldogs, Storm.
“Thanks to friends, work colleagues and strangers alike for helping me with my tips this week. I’m on struggle street and instead of making myself look like a complete buffoon again, I asked others for who they thought would win this week.
“A little skeptical about my Reader’s Digest colleague Alek’s choice of Titans over Penrith but hey, let’s go with it!
“And a big thanks to my partner Tepra who in her infinite wisdom took Melbourne over the highly-emotion Parramatta.
“Catch The81stMinute team this Saturday from 2.45pm on steelesports.com.au”
| Round 11 | Lachlan | Tim | Mary | Curtis | The Crowd |
| RABvDRA | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Dragons | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| COWvBRO | Cowboys | Cowboys | Broncos | Cowboys | Broncos |
| WESvKNI | Wests Tigers | Wests Tigers | Knights | Wests Tigers | Wests Tigers |
| WARvRAI | Warriors | Raiders | Warriors | Raiders | Warriors |
| SHAvSEA | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks |
| PANvTIT | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Titans | Panthers |
| BULvROO | Bulldogs | Roosters | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs |
| EELvSTO | Eels | Storm | Eels | Storm | Storm |
| POWERPLAY | Panthers | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks |
| OVERALL | 59 | 57 | 55 | 54 | 62 |
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