The Roar's NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 13

Daly bloody Cherry bloody Evans. Finally, hopefully, the DCE circus is put to bed forever and we can go back to our regular broadcasting which begins with, oh god, Manly-Warringah! But NRL tipping is back!

The Sea Eagles bring in the thirteenth NRL round of 2015 with a clash against the high-flying Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The other Friday night clash will see the toothless Wests Tigers host the Gold Coast Titans, anno domini DCE.

This weekend’s match of the round might end up being a game played in Perth with South Sydney heading west and the New Zealand Warriors heading west and then west again for a showdown at nib Stadium.

Can Shaun Johnson’s Warriors bring down the premiers or will South Sydney rise again?

Sunday will see old foes Canterbury and St George Illawarra go at it with the competition leading Dragons looking for another big scalp in James Graham’s Bulldogs.

Sit back and relax, another 640 minutes of NRL footy coming at you!

Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Broncos, Tigers, Raiders, Warriors, Storm, Roosters (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Cowboys.

“A full round of NRL with most players back from SOO duties. An exception is NRL Fantasy God CP13 who is being rested. It proves the biblical notion of a ‘day of rest’ even for God. The absence of CP13 will not stop the Broncos from winning on Friday night and beat the improving Sea Eagles. The Tigers will need to improve their offensive output to beat the Titans. I am expecting them be ferocious on Friday night and win comfortably.

“The Knights versus the Raiders will be an interesting tussle. I feel the Raiders will be too strong in the backline, unhorsing the Knights and coming away with a much needed win, Souths are bouncing about disappointingly and I am tipping the Shaun Johnson led Warriors to cause an upset while the Panthers remain decimated by injury and I am tipping the Storm to be too disciplined and professional and come away with the win.

“The Roosters are on a roll and will be too strong for the toothless Sharks and I a tipping James Graham to have a big game and lead the Bulldogs to victory over the Dragons.

“Finally a head over heart tip only with The Cowboys to maybe not so hopefully beat the resurging Eels.”

Dane Eldridge
Tips: Broncos, Tigers, Knights, Rabbitohs, Storm, Roosters (Powerplay), Dragons, Eels.

“The Eels will be keen to atone for their 2005 preliminary final loss when they host the Cowboys on Monday night, and by jingoes, I’m 51% convinced they will. Even though this is a bob each-way affair much like the rest of this spitefully cruel round, the sum of the factors facing North Queensland (cold, damp, Monday, Harris Park) will see them overpowered in to a loss they are plainly due to have.

“Remaining half-hearted, I also declare that Cronulla’s callous torturing of the Roosters is due to stop this week. For no other reason than a hoodoo being past its use-by date, it simply has to.

“Also, one of the unlikely competition leaders in Brisbane and St George are due to experience failure, but I’m just not sure who.

“Because I’m due a successful round and my logic is due to be logical, I’ll pick both.”

Tim Gore
Tips: Broncos (Powerplay), Titans, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Storm, Sharks, Bulldogs, Cowboys.

“Broncs to beat Manly at home because the Sea Eagles aren’t as good, Titans to beat the Wests Tigers because they want to prove DCE doesn’tmatter. Raiders will beat knights because Raiders only win on the road and the Rabbitohs to beat the Warriors because both can’t lose.

“The question is whether Melbourne are past it or not. If they aren’t they’ll win this in a tight one and I don’t think they are done with just yet.

“I reckon the Sharks will roll the Roosters. The Roosters will be full of themselves after Monday night and the Sharks will make them pay for over confidence.

“Dogs at nearly full strength will roll the Dragons and the Cowboys are due a loss but it won’t come against the Eels.”

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

“I’m on the bandwagon now – Go Brisbane!

I have no idea who will win between Tigers and Titans but I’ll go Wests, Raiders have been quietly impressive, and I’ll tip them over the hapless Knights.

I’m going an upset, with Warriors over Souths plus I’m hoping the Dogs can get on a roll by knocking off the Dragons.

Storm and Roosters to also notch up victories while lastly, the Cowboys will continue their winning streak against Parramatta.”

Curtis Woodward
Tips: Broncos, Titans, Raiders, Warriors, Storm, Roosters (Powerplay), Dragons, Cowboys.

“It is one thing sitting down and tipping the eight NRL games this weekend. It’s another realising you’ve only tipped one home team for the entire round and sticking to your guns. But think about it for a moment. Brisbane is the only home side I’m backing this round and with good reason.

“The other games are a different story.

“I’m not tipping Wests until they find something in attack and the Gold Coast have more points and more confidence than the Tigers at the moment. It’s a similar story in Newcastle and I can’t go passed Blake Austin and the Raiders against a Knights side ripped apart by injury and a horrible few months.

“Melbourne will bounce back against the depleted Penrith Panthers and I’m expecting the Sydney Roosters to make light work of the Sharks.

“South Sydney and the Warriors is real tough but I like the New Zealand outfit in a tight one.

“I don’t care where the Dragons are playing, I’m a believer and they’ll scrape home against Canterbury.

“Parramatta and North Queensland is a mismatch in every sense.”