Roll up, roll up, it is rugby league season, the greatest game of all.
Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages.
Welcome to the greatest show on earth!
The National rugby league is about to begin so delve inside if you dare, through this door and into the world of big hits, big heads, blood, sweat and tears.
Join The Roar‘s tipping competition here
A world of Tigers, Panthers and Sharks.
Hear the undisputedly, positively legendary voice of the timeless Mr. Ray ‘Rabbits’ Warren or be mesmerised by the one they call GI, half-man, half-goanna.
If you’re lucky you just might meet the demonic Viking from England’s dark north, ‘Captain Bulldog’ James Graham, a man who crushes human bones with his bare hands, the South Sydney monsters, identical twins Tom and George Burgess, ‘The Beast’, ‘Dogzilla’ or the laughing assassin they call JT.
And then there are us, The Roar‘s expert tipsters for 2015. Okay, so we can’t crush bones like James Graham or roar like a tiger but we can have a crack at the hardest job in rugby league.
Tipping NRL games is a mug’s game because it’s quite simply that damn hard, but we’re going to have a go anyway.
So here they are, our Round 1 expert tips.
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Warriors, Titans, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Sharks (Powerplay), Storm.
“Some tough games to start The Roar tipping comp, but I’m picking the defending premiers to kick-off the 2015 season by accounting for an unsettled Brisbane. I also get the feeling that Manly and the Gold Coast will respond to off-field issues by treating their games as a welcome break from all the dramas surrounding the respective clubs.
Who really knows what Warriors team will turn up, by I’m hoping it’s the ‘good’ one. Meanwhile, premiership favourites the Dogs, Cowboys and Storm should all get up in tight affairs. Lastly, my powerplay sees me pick last year’s wooden spooners, the Sharks, to beat fellow cellar-dwellers, the Raiders.”
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Knights, Tigers, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Sharks (Powerplay), Dragons.
“Going public with the hazardous uncertainty of my Round 1 tips? Well excuse me while I just stand in the middle of George Street in nothing but a polka dot g-string. I’m feeling really exposed.
What can I cling to? Souths already look like their new Daddy- ruthlessly business, Manly will shove a sock in Choc’s gob and the Warriors and Storm will stall on the starting line because that’s where my darts landed on the board. Locks of the week: the Sharks to unveil a new dawn, and the Titans to field a team.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Rabbitohs, Eels, Knights, Tigers, Cowboys (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Sharks, Storm.
“First up is Thursday night footy and the Rabbitohs who have shown impressive pre-season form should beat the Broncos (but as the season progresses, I am expecting great things from Anthony Milford).
The Storm and Bulldogs with their professionalism and get over the line approach should edge out their opponents. The Eels without Jarryd Hayne have a much tougher look about them and I tip them to beat Manly who have early season injuries to overcome.
The Warriors are full of talent but away form is not their strong point so I am tipping the Knights who are always hard to beat in Newcastle.
The Cowboys are going to be very hard at home and will beat the Roosters who will miss Jake Friend. I am looking forward to Aidan Guerra and Boyd Cordner’s strong running at the fringe of the rucks.
The Raiders will begin what I predict will be a woeful season with a loss against the Tigers. Finally what can I say about the Titans. Although they will come out firing I predict a Tigers team full of young unpredictable talent to come up trumps.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Broncos, Eels, Warriors, Tigers (Powerplay), Roosters, Panthers, Sharks, Storm.
“Broncos will still be smarting from their defeat at the hands of the Rabbits last year – including that Inglis try. Missing Te’o and Sam Burgess will remove a lot of grunt from the Rabbits pack. Though the knights looked good in trials, I’m tipping the Warriors to have a good season this year and challenge for the title.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Eels, Knights, Titans, Cowboys, Panthers, Sharks, Storm.
“I definitely think the Rabbitohs are going to have some down periods throughout the season but it won’t be Round 1 against Brisbane, I’m putting my powerplay on Souths to keep their amazing pre-season form going.
I also think the Titans are going to shock everyone with a gutsy performance against Wests while the Cowboys might get the points in Townsville against the Roosters, this will end up being the match of the round.
The Raiders would be confident of snatching a win at Shark Park but Cronulla now have their focus back and one too many quality players for Canberra on Sunday night.
| Round 1 | Mary | Tim | Ryan | Dane | Curtis |
| BRO v RAB | Rabbitohs | Broncos | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| EEL v EAG | Eels | Eels | Sea Eagles | Sea Eagles | Eels |
| KNI v WAR | Knights | Warriors | Warriors | Knights | Knights |
| TIT v TIG | Tigers | Tigers | Titans | Tigers | Titans |
| COW v ROO | Cowboys | Roosters | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| PAN v BUL | Bulldogs | Panthers | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Panthers |
| SHA v RAI | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks |
| DRA v STO | Storm | Storm | Storm | Dragons | Storm |
| POWERPLAY | Cowboys | Tigers | Sharks | Sharks | Rabbitohs |
| LAST ROUND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OVERALL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Raiders will beat the Sharks, that is my tip of the round and I've put my money where my mouth is irrespective of the big thing that the Sharks are with all their big sign ups.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I missed out on putting my round 1 tips into the tipping comp..Maybe I'll make it up through the year, so far so good lol
Tim Gore
Expert
I'm looking good for that honour...
scott
Guest
Apparently Julian's working in a mine in PNG.
The Barry
Roar Guru
They don't need many minutes from the bench. Graham and Tolman play 50-60 mins each meaning they only need 20-30 mins each from Browne and Kasiano. Browne will play 15-20 mins in the second half. Dogzilla will play about 30 mins in two spells. I'm guessing Eastwood and Klemmer will rotate through the 13. Jackson and Williams can both play 80 if needs be. Pritchard will probably get 30 mins in two spells. It's going to be a tough, hard game but I'm not worried in the slightest about the dogs running out of juice. They still may play Mbye off the bench but Lichaa's on decent coin - he needs to earn it. He may need a breather later in the season but if he can't play 80 in round one...
Russell Johnson
Guest
Best part of the year in a lot of ways SL begun, NRL about to kick off Hours and hours of TGG to look forward to and all to play for! " And here begins our lasting joy!"
chook
Guest
Rabbitohs Parramatta Warriors Tigers Cowboys Bulldogs Sharks Storm
steveng
Roar Rookie
M pick - GO THE RABBITS FOR 2015 Rabbitohs Sea Eagles Knights Tigers Roosters Bulldogs Raiders Storm
Baldie
Guest
Someone should tell Mary that the raiders aren't playing the tigers.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Guest
Ha ha,are you searching for a bite/bark Jay C?
JOHNY BULLDOG
Guest
Mybe may still play yet mate...its going to be very hot,so Des may drop Browne off the bench.
Joe
Roar Rookie
You could be right as they did fade pretty badly against the Storm in the trials, but then again those are just trials. I tipped them because of the big boys on the park AND on the bench plus they have the backs to take advantage of it. I'm thinking it will work both ways, sure the big boys will get tired in the heat but so will the guys tackling the big boys so in the end will probably come down to weight of possession.
Joe
Roar Rookie
This game was probably one that I was more confident about. Cows built a great reputation for their home ground last year, doubt they'll be giving it up so easy in the first round this year. Also the weather and travel with it being the first game I expect the Roosters to be done around the 60 minute mark. Cows have trained up there all summer so shouldn't bother them as much.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Looking at these tips there are sweet FA that I would put big money on. It is pretty cool going in to week 1 with so much uncertainty. the only result you all picked was Sharks.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Half the guys on this site are Dogs supporters is why...
Jay C
Roar Guru
Too hot for chooks up there mate. Don't be nervous. Just hope it doesn't rain.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Lots of rotation, but not many minutes in that bench early in the season I would think, Penrith aren't going to shrink away from a physical contest either one thinks. Interesting to see how Lichaa goes if he has to play the full 80 -- I was half expecting a 3 forward and Mbye bench.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Josh, don't sweat it buddy. I think greeny has them in a good place mentally, their pre-season has been solid, there's depth where it's important ie; everywhere. Don't even know why we're bothering with the first 26 rounds, should just head into the finals now. I am still smarting from the finals loss to the Roosters, so if the Cowbies are half as cranky as me they wont leave anything in the tank at full time. Wish I could get up there for the game.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Guest
You enjoy TB,really looking forward to the game & seeing how young Lichaa & B Moz go.Give the boys a cheer for me!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Plenty of forward rotation with Klemmer, Kasiano, Pritchard and Browne on the bench. Pritchard and Eastwood are typically slow to get to match fitness after injuries but they've both had a full off season. I'm going to head out to the foot of the mountains for what should be a cracking game!