We are up to Round 7 in the NRL, and the times they are a-changing.
The Broncos are on top, the Sea Eagles are on the bottom and the rest are bobbing up and down like a cork in the ocean.
I have hit some tipping form, with five from eight last round. For me, that is good tipping form.
Let’s have a look at the matches.
Bulldogs versus Sea Eagles
Last year this would be one of the matches of the season, but now both teams are in a slump. The Bulldogs’ slump is slightly self-induced, but injuries are not helping.
They need to start moving forward before going sideways. The Dogs will clearly target Manly’s forward pack and expect to make big yards. Given that Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds are being carved up in the press, both halves will probably have a blinder.
The last tackle options need to improve as well.
Manly also have a lot of injuries, but it appears that their real issues are off the park, with Geoff Toovey wearing a bulletproof vest whenever the CEO comes walking around.
Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai are back, but the real issue is the forwards not going forward. The bench does not have any impact either so Manly may have to throw the ball around and wear the big Dogs out. I am taking the Doggies in this one.
Dragons versus Broncos
This match is the live game, sending the Dogs and Eagles to the 9:30 scrapheap. The Dragons are on fire, and now their attack has matched their defence. With Benji Marshall now the major conductor, the orchestra are playing as one.
Tyson Frizell is out with a sore forearm, but the team will absorb his loss without missing a beat. It is hard to recognise this team as the legless one from four weeks ago.
The Broncos would make Des Hasler proud – they are leading the competition and are under the radar. They still don’t look like contenders, yet they keep winning. They have Justin Hodges back, I think against Euan Aitken, so that should be fun. Now that Sam Thaiday has found his mojo, the whole team are thriving. I think Corey Oates off the bench will be much better than having him on the wing. I will pick the Dragons, but with no firm conviction.
Titans versus Panthers
The Titans are another team of born again footballers. When it clicks they are a highly entertaining team to watch. Dave Taylor saw open spaces and found his inner halfback. James Roberts, of course, is the hero at the moment, but beware, the intercept he eventually misses will bring six points to the opposition.
Ryan James is playing with conviction, while Greg Bird, Beau Falloon and Taylor are hoping not get convicted. (on the park they are doing fine).
The Panthers had a win last week. That’s all it was though – they were ordinary, and also lost Jamal Idris for the season. Without their front line halves and centres they will struggle. The forwards also took a long time to get on top of an ordinary Manly side.
I am really hoping Robert Jennings and James Roberts get it on a foot race at some point. At the start of the season I would never have believed that I am tipping the Titans, but so be it.
Cowboys versus Warriors
The Cowboys are the schizophrenics of the competition. You wouldn’t have fed them three weeks ago – now they have just finished gorging themselves on Rabbits.
Johnathan Thurston is proving how great he is, as long as his forwards do their bit first. Michael Morgan also showed a lot of attacking class last week. James Tamou has also lifted, as he should have, and the forwards are following him. The Warriors will need to watch the dummy half markers as the Cowboys had a great time up the middle against Souths.
I still don’t think the Warriors are on song. They made very hard work of the Tigers, who would not let them go. Shaun Johnson has certainly sharpened up and Chad Townsend is playing like he is off contract. The Warriors attack looked quite good, but it is their desperation that is in question.
They just don’t seem able to stop other teams scoring. I will take the Cowboys in a high scoring match.
Storm versus Roosters
The Storm struggled to beat a plucky but average Canberra last week. Of course they are missing Billy Slater, but they need to sharpen up all over. I think the big two missed him more than anyone else. Jesse Bromwich and Marike Koroibete continue to be the star performers, and Tim Glasby has looked the goods off the bench.
The Roosters have had a dose of reality in a tight match – their halves couldn’t bring them home, just like the bad old days. Just when Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney are being spoken of for State of Origin, they falter. The loss of Sam Moa and Aiden Guerra is covered off in the starting thirteen, but the bench looks much less inspiring. I think the Storm will manage the game well enough to get two points.
Tigers versus Raiders
All hail Leichhardt Oval – the Tigers are back. They were a bit unlucky last week but that will happen a lot this season. Young players only learn by going through hardship. They have the nucleus of a good side, they just need more electrons.
I think James Tedesco needs to demand the ball more – he can’t just wait for a gap to be fed to him. The young halves have also shown themselves to be in and out of games.
The Raiders did everything right last week and lost. They probably played as well as they can and unfortunately for Raiders fans that is all they have got.
This is Dane Tilse’s final match, so they have something to play for. Sisa Waqa and Blake Austin are the key men in attack, and Shaun Fensom must play all game for them to have any hope. The Tigers have a surprisingly poor record at Leichhardt, but I expect them to win this week.
Knights versus Eels
Another two teams that have fallen off their perch: the Knights and the Eels. The Knights will be hoping for a fast hard wicket after two bumbling efforts in the rain. They need to get back to what they do well – the forwards push hard and let the back five have room to run. However, for this theory to work, both Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts need to smarten up.
These guys should be challenging for State of Origin – they have the talent, but they stopped managing games in the past fortnight.
The Eels have a choice this week – be a contender or a pretender. They have the talent, but it seems their application was lost in the mail.
Yes, there are some injuries, but they are not Robinson Crusoe. Like all the out of form teams, it has to go back to the basics. The forwards must establish ground so the halves can give the speed men room. I can’t see Parra winning this one.
Sharks versus Rabbitohs
Here we go again – who would have thought the Sharks would be the inform team for this clash? They have simply played much smarter footy in the past two matches. Of course the Sharks have an uncanny ability to shoot themselves in the foot, this time Andrew Fifita being suspended on top of his brother being injured.
The team has confidence though, and it will be good to see how Jack Bird handles the premiers. If Ben Barba is fit, he will be a pest off the bench too.
The Bunnies have hit a pothole. After a lucky win, they were smacked by JT’s Cowboys. I get the impression that coach Mike Maguire is banking on experience, because that backline could be the slowest in the competition – especially as Greg Inglis is running lame. The forward pack is still very strong and they will grind this game for certain. Because of that I will tip the Sharks, who love a bruising forward battle.
So there you have it. Let me know what you think.
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