Another week of finals football and another weekend where our expert NRL tipsters say goodbye to two more teams.
MORE NRL FINALS:
>> THE STATS THAT MATTER IN WEEK 2
>> WHO WILL WIN THE SEMI-FINALS?
>> ROOSTERS V BULLDOGS PREVIEW
>> COWBOYS V SHARKS PREVIEW
>> HOW TO WATCH NRL FINALS
Old rivals Sydney Roosters and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs come together in a 2004 grand final re-match.
In good news for the Bulldogs, Frank Pritchard has been cleared to play and lines up against a Roosters pack still smarting from a unanimous points decision loss to the Melbourne pack a week ago. The Roosters will also be boosted by the return of their leader and captain Mitchell Pearce while the Bulldogs will need to be a whole better after a nail-biting 11-10 victory over St George Illawarra last weekend.
More:
>> NRL Finals Week 2 preview
>> Who will win in the NRL finals this week?
And then on to Saturday night.
The porch light may still be on but there is word that Harold Holt has headed up the beach for a towel. Cronulla’s next mission is Johnathan Thurston and the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville. They may have beaten them earlier in the year but there is no pressure like finals pressure.
In good news for the Sharks, hooker Michael Ennis is in.
Without him, they never stood a hope. With him, Sharks fans can dream once more.
Ahead of them, waiting and repairing, is Brisbane and Melbourne.
Enjoy the footy!
Dane Eldridge
Tips: Bulldogs, Cowboys (Powerplay).
“There’s going to be an upset somewhere inside this second week of the finals, and I’m looking right at you, devilishly dastardly duplicitous Des Hasler. I desperately want to take the Roosters, but September is smothered in the cologne of the Dogs doyen and I simply can’t resist his charms.
‘However, I then expect a recalibrating cold shower on Saturday.
“Sadly, the Sharks mighty run of redemption will come to a halt at the hands of the Cowboys. What a dreamy one match run in this finals series it’s been. Unfortunately, the heat or travel or a Hand of God will probably get them in the end.’
Ryan O’Connell
Tips: Bulldogs (Powerplay), Cowboys.
“Dogs to beat the Chooks, because I go for the Dogs and everything always comes up Milhouse.
“In the other game, I have zero faith in the Sharks’ ability to go up to Townsville and beat a very good Cowboys side.’
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Roosters (Powerplay), Sharks.
“The Roosters will bounce back and beat the Bulldogs.
“I believe in fairytales so am tipping the Sharks to beat the Cowboys, with Jeff Robson to score the match winning try.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Roosters, Cowboys (Powerplay).
“Okay then. This weekend will be hard to get right.
“The Roosters versus Canterbury could go either way. While the Roosters on paper look to have the Dogs covered, the boys from Belmore are first rate at winning finals games. But they won’t win this one. Roosters to get up by a fair bit.
“Now that Michael Ennis is playing this match isn’t quite as easy as it was. Can the Sharks continue the fairy tale? No. No they can’t. They’ll give this one a good shake but the Cowboys will win this at home.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Roosters, Cowboys (Powerplay).
“My tip of a Roosters/Cowboys grand final is still a hope and I think they will both get through this weekend by the skin of their teeth. Could be an error, a spectacular try assist or god forbid (Cowboys fans) a referee blunder.
“Roosters by two, Cowboys by one.”
Curtis will be part of the Radiohub team this Sunday from 12pm bringing you both VB NSW Cup grand final qualifiers.
| Week Two | Tim | Mary | Ryan | Curtis | Dane |
| ROOvBUL | Roosters | Roosters | Bulldogs | Roosters | Bulldogs |
| COWvSHA | Cowboys | Sharks | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| POWERPLAY | Cowboys | Roosters | Bulldogs | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| LAST ROUND | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| OVERALL | 140 | 136 | 134 | 126 | 126 |
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