It is official.
Round 6 of the National rugby league was the toughest round to pick in the history of the universe, or so I keep telling myself after scoring a disastrous two from eight.
That’s right, I’ve given up first place to Mary who amassed a score of seven last round, only missing out on her own team while Tim Gore swooped into second with a swashbuckling nine
With Ian Baker-Finch trepidation (me), The Roar‘s expert tipsters (them) welcome you to Round 7 of the Telstra Premiership.
Friday night will see Wayne Bennett return to Kogarah, not as a Dragon, not as a Knight, but as a Bronco. Bennett’s team are on a hot run and come up against the best defensive side in the league St George Illawarra.
There are stories across the round including Mitchell Pearce’s State of Origin dress rehearsal in Melbourne against the Storm, NRL back at Leichhardt Oval, Johnathan Thurston versus Shaun Johnson and a southern Sydney derby to finish the round on Monday night.
Welcome to Round 7 and enjoy the expert’s tips.
Tim Gore
Tips: Bulldogs, Broncos, Titans, Cowboys, Storm, Tigers, Knights, Rabbitohs.
“Bulldogs to beat Manly but I really don’t know why. Both are in bad shape. The Bulldogs do like backs to the wall though. BrisVegas Broncos touchdown to beat the Dragons in a tight one, Wayne has them singing.
“Titans to beat injury depleted Panthers who really need some luck with injuries while the Cowboys are now flying and the Warriors aren’t, Cows to win. Thurston is unstoppable.
“The Storm to beat Roosters and you can bet Jim Maloney will add to his missed tackles. I doubt Josh Hodgson or Shaun Fensom will play so I’m going the Tigers while Beau Scott is back for the Knights against an injury depleted Eels. Big Knights win.
“I’ve really got no idea for Sharks v Bunnies. I’m guessing Bunnies with no confidence.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Broncos, Bulldogs, Panthers, Cowboys, Roosters, Tigers (Powerplay), Eels, Rabbitohs.
“The Dragons have been very strong in defence but the Broncos keep on improving and Anthony Milford hasn’t yet hit his potential in his new position of five eighth. I am tipping the Broncos in a close one.
“The depleted teams of the NRL are the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles – they play each other in the other Friday night fixture. The Bulldogs forwards look too big and strong for the Manly pack and so I’m tipping the Dogs.
“The Panthers should beat the Titans and the now impressive Cowboys should beat the Warriors in what I think will be a high scoring game. The Storm play the Roosters who have been unlucky in recent defeats. I am tipping the Roosters to come back with an impressive and big win this round.
“The Tigers although losing last round put it to the bigger Warriors forward pack and I am tipping them to beat the Raiders.
“I am tipping the Eels to beat the Knights in the upset of the round for no other reason other than blind loyalty for me team (it worked for Tim a few weeks ago).”
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Broncos, Bulldogs, Titans, Cowboys, Storm, Tigers, Knights, Rabbitohs (Powerplay).
“Mitchell Pearce has an opportunity to put serious dibs on the Blues halfback spot this weekend when he crosses swords with Cooper Cronk. We all know who would win a poetry hoedown between the two, but less importantly, can he and his Chooks come away from Mexico with the two points? Computer says no.
“As for the rest, it’s just another buffet of Rubik cubes. The neutered Doggies against Northern Eagles 2.0, the Steelers versus the Powers Broncos and a struggle-fest between Newcastle and Parramatta? Are you serious? Gimme a break, rugby league!
“You’re killin’ me! Sometimes I just want to grab you by the collar and massage your temple with my cheek, Waerea-Hargreaves-style.”
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Broncos, Bulldogs, Panthers, Cowboys, Storm, Tigers, Knights, Rabbitohs (Powerplay).
“Two surprise packet teams face each other on Friday, and I’m actually tipping the Broncos to pip the Dragons. Just. In the other Friday night game, I’ll keep the faith in my Doggies, if only because they’re playing cellar-dwellers, Manly.
“Despite their injuries, I have Penrith beating Gold Coast, Cowboys should handle the Woe Woes at home, Roosters have looked scratchy and may be dealt a lesson by the precision of the Storm, Wests will just beat a suddenly promising Canberra outfit.
“Lastly, the Eels will lose again and the Rabbitohs will belt the Sharks.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Dragons, Bulldogs, Titans, Cowboys, Storm, Tigers, Knights (Powerplay), Rabbitohs.
“I am really starting to buy into the Dragons and what they’re achieving defensively. Last weekend against Canterbury, they scored some points too. Friday night however will be a big test on the big stage of primetime, at home however, they should sneak passed the Broncos.
“I’ve gone a couple of teams this week purely because they’re at home including Melbourne at AAMI Park against the Sydney Roosters and the Gold Coast Titans against the Panthers.
Expect anything from Gold Coast/Penrith and North Queensland/New Zealand but the class of Johnathan Thurston will get the Cowboys home while I can see the Titans grinding the Panthers into the dirt.
“Those who think the Sharks can’t beat the premiers are kidding themselves but I just feel like Michael Maguire will have them up, just enough, to down the Sharks.”
The Summary
| Round 7 | Mary | Tim | Curtis | Dane | Ryan |
| DRAvBRO | Broncos | Broncos | Dragons | Broncos | Broncos |
| BULvSEA | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs |
| TITvPAN | Panthers | Titans | Titans | Titans | Panthers |
| COWvWAR | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| STOvROO | Roosters | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm |
| TIGvRAI | Tigers | Tigers | Tigers | Tigers | Tigers |
| KNIvEEL | Eels | Knights | Knights | Knights | Knights |
| SHAvRAB | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| POWERPLAY | Tigers | Knights | Knights | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| LAST ROUND | 7 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| OVERALL | 32 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 25 |
steveng
Roar Rookie
I agree but Souths cannot take the Sharks for granted and they will have to put in a big effort to beat the Sharks on their current form. 21 premierships between them? The Sharks haven't won any?
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Game of the round will be Rabbitohs v Sharks These two teams have 21 Premierships between them :)
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Yep. The tigers remind me of my panthers in 2013. They're a young side but surprising many and playing good fast footy. I wouldn't be surprised if they made the eight this year but by next year or definitely 2017 they will be a staple top 8 side for 3 or so seasons. This however of course depends on whether brooks and moses mature in time.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
"I think the Raiders will be too good for a Tigers side that hasn’t really impressed me. How Aaron Woods is leading the Dally M count I will never know." Really? Three wins, and three losses (to the Premiers at full strength when they were very competitive, to the Dogs pre-Good Friday when they should have won but ran out of gas on the short turnaround, and to the Warriors away when the Warriors just got home on the back of some very questionable tries to big Manu). Tigers have been excellent, despite not really putting it together for 80 minutes yet. They'll win this weekend too. Hodgson and Fensom are massive outs for the Raiders, back to Leichhardt... Tigers by plenty.
Benny
Guest
Well don't worry, it's probably bad for the roosters as well so maybe the penalty count will actually be even this week
langerthebronco
Guest
I think this are the weekend winners. Broncos - they've won their last 7 meetings. If Dragons win it will be due to the difference between Dugan and Maranta Knights- they've won their last 7 meetings with Eel Eagles- Kieran to Keep Benji out of the Kiwi Storms- A win will be from JWH or Maloney conceding a penalty Cowboys- At Home Tigers- better forwards then their opponent this week Titans- Elgey, Sezer and Roberts Sharks- because Mat Rogers played for them Certainty: Eagles & Knights Coin Toss: Bronx & Sharkies
Joe
Roar Rookie
Nope, the stats of how many games the Storm win when Ashley Klein is the ref.
jamesb
Guest
Mary is showing the boys how its done.
Benny
Guest
What like the stats that the roosters have a penalty differential of -297 over the past 10 years (180 worse than other team) and have been given the least amount of penalties by far this year and last year and probably the year before. Yep refs favour the roosters
Joe
Roar Rookie
Ashley Klein is the ref for Roosters v Storm game which means Storm will lose.......go with the stats as the stats don't lie.
Tim Gore
Expert
I so wanted to brag. But I'll probably get 2 this weekend so I kept quiet...
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I would've had 8 last week of I had have been a man and stuck to my upsets instead of chickening out at the last minute. (Damn parra fans in my ear all week about "fortress Pirtek")
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Dogs also missing another 2 or three guys this week. J. Moz is out with an ankle injury despite being named as well.
Morfs
Guest
This is my first shot at tipping this season. So please, be gentle... Manly to get one over the dogs in a vicious affair. Foran & DCE to finally live up to their hype this season & lead their team to victoriy. I'm tipping the Dragons to just pip the Broncos, only because they're at home. Titans over Panthers, due to Penrith's injuries. JT to keep the Cowboys on their winnings ways over the Kiwis. My heart says Storm to get the win over the Chooks, with Cronk to be a late drop, replaced by Ben Hampton. Blake Green to get man of the match. Raiders to get the lollies against the Tigers, as I believe rain is forcecast & they did ok in the wet last week. Eels to bounce back against the Knights, and the Bunnies to pound the Sharks into submission. Powerplay: Storm. With the Broncos losing on Friday night, the Storm will have extra motivation to win on Saturday, as they can snag top spot.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Who would have thought before the season that in round 7 the game of the round would be between the Dragons and the Broncos? Tough one to tip... I'll go Dragons because heart before head when I cant decide. Haha, but seriously it's going to be an awesome game.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Every time I think of picking Manly, I remember how weak their middle third is -- Bulldogs need to play a bit deeper in attack and be more patient, but that should be coming sooner than later.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Lyon is slated to play and that ought to be the little extra Manly need. I doubt Penrith can limp through another season given who is already out, so I won't be picking them too often. Souths are meant to have Dylan Walker back and he will help a lot in attack, yep GI is carrying an injury, either his hip or knee or both, but when is he ever 100% ? Sharks are going to overuse young Bird and an astute coach like Maguire is just the one to target him. Roosters have serious confidence issues but Friends return is a massive boost. Not sure he will be enough though, the Storm are cruising along nicely and if they run at Malonely often enough they'll score heaps. JT is going to get whacked late and often so Cooper has an extra duty just keeping him safe, I expect Coote to do more general play kicking to spice up their attack along with Granville who is developing nicely from dummyhalf. The rest seem to be pretty straight forward. Yeah right.
Jay C
Roar Guru
So wait, did the Broncos game count as a point for you Mary? If so well done. Also Kudos for Tim for getting a perfect score and also for not spending 4 paragraphs bragging about it, as I would have done. You are starting to line up a bit better so that could be a good sign. I don't know with this round though. I am tipping the Broncos to get the job done in the middle third. A Sea Eagles upset, they have to win at some stage and I didn't see much from the Dogs last week without their stars. Titans, Cowboys, Storm to register at home wins. I think the Raiders will be too good for a Tigers side that hasn't really impressed me. How Aaron Woods is leading the Dally M count I will never know. The Raiders showed some great determination against a firing Storm and a barn storming Bromwich. The Knights/Eels game. I mean. Flip a coin. Are we going to see the Eels team that got flogged by the Titans last week? Are we going to see a Knights team fired up after slipping from pole. Who knows. And mostly, who cares. This game will present a great opportunity to take my puppy to the beach. And for the Monday night game I am tipping the Sharks. The Rabbitohs haven't got their halves sorted out yet, since the injury to Reynolds. Inglis is carrying an injury. Their back line is cobbled together. And moreover, they are flat. The Sharks will be up for this one and their forwards certainly won't be rolled over. Jack Bird appears to be the answer to their five-eight dilemma and with that spark outside him, Robson can focus on playing his brand of park footy well. There's not much in any of the games though.