Oh you can just see it now. Referees boss Tony Archer and his stooges throwing a shindig in the NRL Bunker and partying like it’s 1990. And there above the crowd, Archer, decked out in his favourite Hammer pants, doing “The Running Man” to ‘Can’t Touch This’.
For you see – you can’t touch this – welcome to NRL expert tips for Round 8.
And outside the bunker, waiting patiently, is Penrith’s Sam McKendry. Eventually one of the touch judges, decked out in the worst Hawaiian shirt since The Brady Bunch touched down in Honolulu, answers the door.
“Hey boys! Get a load of this!” the touchie bellows back over his shoulder, “McKendry wants to come in!”.
There’s some noise behind the door before Archer peers his head out laughing.
“Sorry McKendry,” Archer chuckles, “can’t touch this!”.
Yep the NRL and its referees are onto something. Players should never make deliberate contact with them. It’s a slippery slope if these guys aren’t penalised for their actions.
As for Johnathan Thurston, you ask?
Well he plays his own tune.
Tim Gore
Tips: Broncos (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Cowboys, Sharks, Knights, Roosters, Warriors.
“Look away Souths fans. Broncos to smash Rabbitohs at home on Friday night and the Rabbits to go into crisis mode.
“Going to go for the Wests Tigers in Canberra. I think they’ll grab the two points in a grubby match against the Raiders.
“And tipping a couple of upsets to end the round with the Knights and Warriors to get up.”
Lachlan Bickley
Tips: Broncos (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Raiders, Cowboys, Sharks, Knights, Roosters, Storm.
“Dogs are an utterly maddening team to tip at the moment but a big Saturday afternoon crowd should get them home.
“Parramatta travel to Townsville in what could be the match of the round on paper. The Eels get to find out just how close they are to the top teams and I suspect they might get a little reminder how much further there is to go.
“The Sharks ran riot in Canberra on Sunday but the Panthers will provide a stiffer test. The Shire men should still have enough to win though.”
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Broncos (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Cowboys, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm.
“The Eels have been very impressive in the last couple of weeks and the Cowboys have been the Cowboys. I’m tipping with my head here. I think it will be too much to ask the Eels to win three in a row particularly with the Cowboys home advantage. My tip – watch this game.
“I tipped the Sharks to win the Premiership, yet have not been tipping them week to week. For that reason alone, I am tipping them this weekend to be much too strong for the Panthers.
“Is it too early to call the Roosters try last weekend, try of the year? I expect both teams to lift for one of the most emotional games of the year and I am tipping the Roosters for the win. It will be too much to ask the Dragons to score points two weeks in a row, let alone to win two in a row.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Broncos (Powerplay), Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Cowboys, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Warriors.
“I really didn’t want to tip either Canberra or Wests Tigers in what could be a classic or a dead set bludger of a match.
“St George Illawarra showed enough last week to prove to me they can outlast the Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day.
“Love the look of the Warriors, despite the loss of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, they’ll have too many points in them for the Melbourne Storm.
| Round 8 | Lachlan | Tim | Mary | Curtis | The Crowd |
| BROvRAB | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| BULvTIT | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs |
| RAIvWES | Raiders | Wests Tigers | Wests Tigers | Wests Tigers | Raiders |
| COWvEEL | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| SHAvPAN | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks |
| KNIvSEA | Knights | Knights | Sea Eagles | Sea Eagles | Sea Eagles |
| DRAvROO | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Dragons | Roosters |
| STOvWAR | Storm | Warriors | Storm | Warriors | Storm |
| POWERPLAY | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| OVERALL | 40 | 40 | 38 | 37 | 42 |
Join The Crowd’s tipping against the experts again next week. You’re currently leading.
The power of Will
Roar Pro
Broncos, Souths choice a no brainer! Reckon the raiders will pick up the win
Lachlan Bickley
Roar Guru
My suggested blurb for the Knights v Eagles game was: "no I don't know why I tipped the Knights either. Lets just move on shall we"
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Big call going for the Knights after that shocking performance against the Broncos. Their confidence must be shredded. Saw Barrett interviewed by Sterlo the other night and was impressed. Would be surprised if the Eagles didn't get up.
MAX
Guest
Lachlan and Tim go for the statistically favoured Newcastle. Lyon and Stewart will bounce back and despite Manly's abysmal record at Hunter coach Trent Barrett has that look of Eagles in delivering his assessment of the game . When you see that look, horse or human, get on.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more. Raiders will play like they did against the Dogs, Warriors have a great chance of beating Storm and Cowboys to come through against the eels, although that's hardly an upset.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Well no one seems to want to pick the Raiders this weekend. Tim's jumped off and Lachlan seems to be the only one giving them a chance. If the Raiders don't lift after two successive insipid performances I'll be shocked. Especially at home. I have a suspicion they could win by plenty but if they don't heads should roll. Here's hoping Mitch Barnett gets a a game. The Warriors are a good chance against the Storm and the Eels should be right in it against the Cowboys.