The Roar's NRL expert tips: Round 8

It is one of the biggest days on Australia’s calendar, and no, it isn’t the Sydney Roosters up against the St George Illawarra Dragons.

This Saturday is Anzac Day and the NRL is privileged to bring us not one, not two, not three, not four but five blockbuster matches. It’s a big day for all Aussies and Kiwis with matches spread right across it.

For The Roar‘s experts, last weekend was a shocker in regards to their powerplays. Not a single powerplay was picked up.

This round’s big clash is off course the Roosters up against the Dragons with all tipsters backing the tricolours while both Parramatta and Canberra garnered backing despite big road trips to Queensland.

Melbourne are apparently the tip of the round with three powerplays to their name.

Enjoy the weekend of footy, enjoy Anzac Day whatever you may be doing and enjoy dissecting the expert’s tips for Round 8 of the NRL.

Tim Gore
Tips: Tigers, Warriors, Cowboys, Roosters, Storm (Powerplay), Eels, Sharks, Raiders.

“Tigers to beat Dogs because they’ll be hurting badly after that beating by the Raiders, Warriors to just beat resurgent Titans at home but not confident though while I have seriously no idea on Knights v Cowboys, the Tariq Sims factor worries me as well as the hurting from last week’s loss but the Cowboys form is too hard to ignore and they owe The Knights some special Cowboy love and attention, Cowboys 1-12.

“Roosters to beat the Dragons. The Chooks were very close against a very strong Storm side and I reckon may put the Dragons to the sword. And I bet they’ll win the second half penalty count too!

“Storm to beat the injury and morale depleted Sea Eagles, who are struggling to go forward.

“I have no idea why I’m tipping the Eels over Brisbane Broncos Ltd. but I am. Maybe it is because Alex Glenn is out, maybe because Reece Robinson is at fullback.

“Sharks to beat the injury riddled Panthers.

“The Raiders to beat the Bunnies in Cairns in a massive boil over.”

Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Bulldogs, Warriors, Cowboys (Powerplay), Roosters, Storm, Broncos, Sharks, Rabbitohs.

“Bulldogs will beat the Tigers again.

“The Warriors are hot and cold, but should be warm enough to be the Titans. Considering their form, the Cowboys will thrash the suddenly hapless Knights.

“In the traditional Anzac game, Roosters and Dragons should be a belter, and I’m picking the Chooks to end the Dragons winning streak.

“Manly are nowhere, and will be even more so now after Melbourne smash them.

“Brisbane should beat Parra but who knows what will happen in the Panthers versus Sharks game? I’m going Cronulla.

Lastly, the Rabbitohs will bounce back to form with a win over the slightly impressive Canberra.”

Dane Eldridge
Tips: Bulldogs, Warriors (Powerplay), Cowboys, Roosters, Storm, Broncos, Panthers, Rabbitohs.

“As all power and intranet privileges on the east coast have been smote by God after the higher power had himself became disgruntled with footy tipping, I am offline this week. In my place I have commissioned ‘Paul the Octopus’ to draw the names out of the hat.

Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Bulldogs, Warriors, Knights, Roosters, Storm (Powerplay), Eels, Sharks, Rabbitohs.

“With the torrential rain about in Sydney we are reverting to the mud lark form for the Sydney games in this week’s tips.

“The Bulldogs forwards will be too strong for the young Tiger pack on Friday night with Aiden Tolman and Greg Eastwood to revel in the conditions.

“Saturday sees five games beginning with the Warriors versus the Titans. I am tipping a big win for the Warriors who seem to have the edge over the Titans all over the park.

“I am tipping a big upset for the Knights to beat the Cowboys. The Knights were embarrassed by the Eels last round and will revert to tough no nonsense football which will not suit the Cowboys.

“The Storm will be far too strong for the decimated Sea Eagle and I’m tipping my beloved Eels against the Broncos, simply because of our record at Suncorp – I think this will be one of the games of the round.

“The Roosters have been unlucky three weeks in a row. Attacking footy beats defensive footy and I am tipping the Roosters to quench the fire of the Dragons. Sorry Dragons supporters but Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop are no Daenerys Targaryen!

“The Panthers injury toll has really hurt them and their make shift halves will not be able to hold out the Gallen and Bird-led sharks. The Sharks to win in a frenzy.

“Finally The Rabbits will trounce the Raiders in the final game of the round.”

Curtis Woodward
Tips: Tigers, Titans, Cowboys, Roosters, Storm (Powerplay), Broncos, Sharks, Raiders.

“Going out on a limb or four this round and hoping a couple of sides can prove me wrong including the Wests Tigers who somehow let a 22-0 lead at Leichhardt slip away last weekend against the Raiders. It’s a big call against the Bulldogs but Jason Taylor has instilled a grit about them and can trouble Canterbury.

“To make it even tougher on myself, I’m going with the Gold Coast in Auckland. It’s just too hard tipping the Warriors and I’ve been burnt one too many times, the Titans are playing some great footy at the moment too.

“And then the doozy with the Canberra Raiders upsetting the Rabbitohs in Cairns.”