In another huge week of rugby league, Rick Stone got the flick, Geoff Toovey got the sack and the Wests Tigers announced they might be heading home to the southwest of Sydney.
But here are your tips for this week, in a refreshing, footy-themed change of tune.
Round 21 of the NRL starts with the Captain America Sydney Roosters clashing with Captain Graham’s Canterbury Bulldogs.
It should be the match of the round and a big crowd will help Mitchell Pearce celebrate his 200th first grade appearance. In the other Friday night clash, which could get pushed back into a later timeslot on Channel Nine for a rerun of Dirty Harry, Wests Tigers play the Melbourne Storm at Leichhardt Oval.
Shaun Johnson will be watching from the stands when his Warriors host Cronulla, Johnathan Thurston and Blake Austin come face-to-face in Townsville while Super Saturday concludes with Manly and Brisbane meeting at Central Coast Stadium before ducking over to Iguanas nightclub.
Danny Buderus and the Newcastle Knights will hope to slay the struggling Dragons before South Sydney tackle Penrith at ANZ Stadium.
Monday night footy is a “let’s not and say we did” when the hapless Gold Coast play the hapless-less Parramatta.
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Cowboys, Broncos, Dragons, Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Titans.
“I’m tipping the Roosters to turn up the volume for Mitchell Pearce against the Doggies on Friday night. It’s the least they can do for their ever-reliable clubman as he sets a new record for most stick copped in 200 first grade games. The milestone man should be primed to outpoint his rival Trent Hodkinson, a man who one day may challenge for the same record.
“And does anyone see any issues with the Warriors performing without Shaun Johnson? It’s really hard to gauge a read on this. Unless they can dust off Gary Freeman, something tells me they’ll be severely impaired. It’s the Sharks and their high antagonistic fettle for mine in this one.
“Then the round wraps up at Cbus Stadium on Monday night with the highly vital clash of the Titans and the Eels. Make sure you set your alarm for this one, and as soon as it sounds at 7pm on Monday, immediately cut the electricity supply to your house.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Cowboys, Broncos, Dragons, Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Titans.
“I’m tipping the Roosters to beat the Bulldogs, but not with much confidence, while the Storm should beat Wests Tigers.
“The Sharks to continue on their winning way by beating the Warriors away, I love my Raiders but this is about tipping, not support. Cowboys to win but I really hope my boys prove me wrong!
“Broncs to do it tough against Manly but they’ll get the points.
“How often does a side with a new coach get a win up? Can the Knights? No, no they can’t. Dragons for the win.
“Rabbitohs to beat the poor old Panthers and the Titans to beat the Eels up north.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Cowboys (Powerplay), Broncos, Dragons, Rabbitohs, Eels.
“Friday night kicks off with the Roosters versus the Bulldogs. This match will be a lot closer than people imagine with the Bulldogs trying to regain momentum. The Roosters, however, look too strong and will notch up a win. The Tigers host the Storm and I am tipping the Storm to continue with their strong form and trounce the Tigers.
“The Warriors look rudderless without Shaun Johnson and I am tipping the Sharks to cement a spot in the top 8 with a win. The Cowboys at home will beat the Raiders in what I am tipping to be a high scoring match. The Sea Eagles play the Broncos and the Broncos are nearly impossible to go past on current form and will enjoy a big win.
“The Dragons have forgotten how to win but face a very disappointing Knights side. Danny Buderus will have the Knights fired up but it is impossible to go past the Dragons who will bounce back to the winners list. The Rabbits will be the Panthers in the other Sunday match although I am tipping the Panthers to be a lot closer at the end of the match than people are predicting.
“Finally Monday night football and I am tipping the Eels to beat the Titans although this is largely a heart led tip.”
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Bulldogs, Storm (Powerplay), Sharks, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Knights, Rabbitohs, Titans.
“I’m picking with my head and choosing the Dogs over Roosters. I can’t pick the Tigers against anyone, so the Storm are my powerplay.
“I’m eliciting the famous ‘sacked coach = first-up win’ for both the Knights over the Dragons, and surprisingly, Manly over Brisbane.
“The rest all pick themselves. Or not…”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Roosters, Storm, Sharks, Cowboys, Broncos, Dragons, Rabbitohs (Powerplay), Titans.
“I love watching Canberra and Cronulla play for obvious but different reasons. Despite the clash being in Auckland, Cronulla’s style should break the Warriors down who are also missing their best player in Shaun Johnson. Almost tipped the Raiders but the class of John Thurston and his mates will get them home.
“Wests Tigers have had a big week but you still can’t tip them.
“In the clash of the decade, a sold out CBus Super Stadium will see the might of the Gold Coast sneak home against the Eels.”
| Round 21 | Tim | Mary | Ryan | Curtis | Dane |
| ROOvBUL | Roosters | Roosters | Bulldogs | Roosters | Roosters |
| TIGvSTO | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm |
| WARvSHA | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks |
| COWvRAI | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| EAGvBRO | Broncos | Broncos | Eagles | Broncos | Broncos |
| DRAvKNI | Dragons | Dragons | Knights | Dragons | Dragons |
| RABvPAN | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| TITvEEL | Titans | Eels | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| POWERPLAY | Rabbitohs | Cowboys | Storm | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs |
| LAST ROUND | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| OVERALL | 106 | 101 | 98 | 93 | 91 |
Mike L
Guest
I think this game is on the Central Coast WDD. So hopefully that takes away some of the home ground advantage.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
I think us brisbane boys are about due for a loss. Too many wins coming too easily. Other than the dogs (and even that match looked more like the Broncos could lose rather than the dogs could win) I don't think we've had a game finish within a 20 point margin since the storm in Rd 15. Having said that though brisbane have been incredibly consistent all year. Really hasn't been much difference between their best and worst performances if you take away the tropical hit out in Rd 1. We'll see how Bennett primes his forwards for a battle they should win despite missing both starting props. Niko will still want to prove keeping him was the right choice after Parcell's run of form. Small injury cloud over hodgo who we'll be needing defensively on a monster manly backline. Also Brookevale isn't our happiest hunting ground.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I'm a bit worried that everyone has picked the Sharks... I don't think that's happened this year! Anyways I've only got 2 tips wrong in the past 3 weeks so in good form at the moment. The two hardest games for me are the manly-brisbane and knights-dragons game because of the impact of the sacked coaches... that said, its hard to go against Brisbane so i'll tip them and back a coachless knights to upset the dragons. Roosters Storm Sharks Cowboys Brisbane Knights Souths Titans
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Unless it is an alias Tim Prentice (who I think is on the expert list) is up there in equal third on 107 with me. The editor of the NRL roar section is also playing under his own name and doing pretty well. Last year, I was hopeless in the tipping, but I have been in the top 5 for ages. The real problem is how to get there in the early season before the teams have some form that is predictable. Once it is predictable then it is hard to go backwards but also hard to improve. I am a Dragons supporter so that has not been good for the last 7 weeks and I am predicting them again without any confidence against the Knights. The Dragons have tried hard this year, which was good enough early in the season, but they cannot compete either in defence and certainly in attack at the back end of the season against the top 8 and others. If McGregor thought their defence was going good against the Storm last week, he should review the video and start counting cheap Storm metres straight up the middle of the Dragons tired "soft pack".
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
HA HA
Dane Eldridge
Expert
You'll see me languishing in 114th under my alias of 'Dane Eldridge'.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Now I am currently coming third in the Roar NRL tipping and one thing I have noticed is that your names do not seem to appear amongst the 400 or so competitors, unless you are using code names. May I suggest that for the sake of transparency that you also enter the competition.
Lucky Green Frog
Guest
Roosters by 8 Tigers by 2 Sharks by 4 Cowboys by 14 Manly by 4 Dragons by 20 Rabbitohs by 20 Titans by 1
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Perhaps a talking point in the closing rounds will be who towels up 50 points against the teams who will not make the 8? I think this week it's going to be the Penrith side on the receiving end of 50 points. The only other match that looks capable of doing the same might be the Storm tomorrow night. Eels vs Titans looks like it might take the cake for the lowest quality match of the round. I think the titans might actually win this one in a defensive-less 60 point affair. So I'm tipping the titans 33-28 - Dave Taylor to kick a field goal.