I was confident Round 8 was finally an easy round to pick a winner in NRL tipping – I thought I had a chance of a clean sweep.
I selected all the favourites except for the Roosters, picking my team the Dragons for an upset win.
Although the Dragons did pull off an upset, most of the other favourites lost and I ended up with only three from nine.
Going into Round 8 I was coming equal second in The Roar’s tipping competition, so I assumed that with only three out of nine I had blown it, but to my surprise I am still equal two, just with more company.
Almost everybody had major problems with the last round – The Roar’s Expert tipsters mostly scored less than me, ranging from 0-5.
Looking at the ladder, only eight points separate first and last, and only two points separate the Tigers in fifth and the 15th placed Eels, with Manly just a further two points behind in last.
At one third through the competition every team still has a chance at the top eight.
Fancied team the Roosters (four straight losses) are in 12th, with the heavyweight Bulldogs in 11th, and last year’s seemingly unbeatable grand finalists Souths (three straight losses) in sixth but will tumble out of the eight unless they win their next match against the defensive might of the top-placed Dragons.
The Bookies are hedging their bets at this stage and based on their current odds see a top eight of Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Roosters, Storm, Broncos, Bulldogs, Dragons and Panthers.
The Panthers may well be on the comeback trail, with numerous players including Jamie Soward due back in coming weeks, but next up they face a tougher test in the Broncos in Brisbane.
The Dragons have yet to meet Rabbitohs, apart from their 12-all draw in the Charity Shield. A loss to the Dragons will make it four losses in a row for the Rabbitohs – and seven wins on the trot for the Dragons.
The Cowboys and Bulldogs face each other in Round 9, with the Bulldogs looking forward to the return of some injured and suspended players. The Cowboys will have to deal with the loss of Jason Taumalolo but look likely to make it two losses in a row to the Bulldogs.
The Roosters are seeking to avoid five losses in a row when they play the hungry Tigers fresh from their big win over the Warriors. The Storm play the slippery Eels next, and will be looking to stamp their authority.
It is going to be a long season, and injuries and Origin commitments will play a vital part.
Manly, like the Panthers are looking forward to a number of players returning from injury, but other teams such as the Dragons, Warriors, Tigers, Roosters, Cowboys, Knights and Storm have had a relatively small numbers of injuries to date and are going into the rest of the year at near full strength.
My tips for the top eight are Cowboys, Roosters, Bulldogs, Dragons, Tigers, Storm, Rabbitohs and Panthers. The Broncos are playing very well, but will miss out due to Origin commitments and injuries.
Wayne Lovell
Roar Guru
I would say wishful thinking more than actual footy nous. But every prediction is fun. Boyd should be back soon, hopefully he can stay fit and misses origin, so we can throw him into the mix with Eden for the backline rotation. I am also a little concerned about the engine room, we still have a plethora of 2RF's and not enough props, when is Lexi due back?
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Broncos to miss out altogether is a strange call at this stage. However there is the possibility that they have up to 7 players involved in origin (Parker and Thaiday guaranteed. Hodges, Boyd and Gillett likely depending on form and injuries, McGuire and Copley bolters). It's nothing really that Bennett hasn't seen before though. In fact usually he loses his halves as well. I'm also pretty sure we have a very favourable bye period in terms of playing without our stars. There is also an issue with our forward stocks at present. Gavet and Dodds are both gone for the season (Dodds can't catch a break. Three ACLs in three years) however we do have Ajuma Adams and Ofahengaue in the waiting bay. Along with backrow depth in Stagg, Lowrie and Oates. The real Problem is that our outside backs are all injury prone apart from Maranta and Copley. Kahu, like Dodds, can't catch a break. Hodges is Hodges and you don't know what he's going to do in terms of breaking down. Reed tends to break down late in seasons as well. On the bright side if the worse were to happen we'd get to see Eden have a run. I've watched him a couple times now and I haven't seen anything in the way of stupid mistakes, although Q Cup isn't the greatest gauge for this type of thing. Basically it'll come down to injuries. Something brisbane aren't having a lot of luck with this year, but considering that of their final 16 matches they only need 7 wins To be all but guaranteed a spot in the 8 it'd take a brave man to tip against them making the cut.
steveng
Roar Rookie
sportsbet have the Rabbitohs 1.62 to the Dragons 2.20 which I can't figure why? The Dragons are the inform team and have to be favourites for this game. I won't be putting my money on the Rabbitohs as they have allot of injuries and realistically you can't pick the Rabbitohs to win except if you are picking from your heart instead of your brain, which I've been doing for the last 3 weeks and have lost points in my roar tipping comp, but I'm still coming 10th with 42 points, not bad as I only joined in the second round and in the first round I would have had 7 out of 8 right as my picks. lol
PNG Bronco fan#88
Guest
Broncos to miss out? Maybe you mean the Dragons ;)
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I get tigers and titans confused. Should just write about the Dragons exclusively.
Avatar
Roar Guru
"The Roosters are seeking to avoid five losses in a row when they play the hungry Tigers fresh from their big win over the Warriors." I'm sure you meant: "...fresh from their big win over the Bulldogs"?
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I thought I was travelling well in the roar comp', until rnd7&8. Two wins per round - woeful. I've been waiting for at least one side to be dominant by now, hasn't happened yet. Guess it will take until after origin until we see some firming up on the ladder. Closest year ever.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Well the bookies are still not believers so far as the Dragons are concerned. The bookies have had the odds against the Dragons in each of their 6 wins in a row and now against the Rabbittohs the odds are $1.50 to $2.45 against the Dragons. If I was a betting man I could have made some money but I suppose sooner or later the bookies must be right.