Here we are, the home stretch of the NRL season, and another round of NRL expert tips. This time Curtis is off on an adventure, so I’m here to fill the void. I know, it’s a downgrade.
But to the tips! Last week was a shocker for basically everyone, as all the prior favourites started losing and all the teams people thought had tanked picked back up.
Are the Broncos back? Our tipsters this week seem to think so.
Are the Sharks dead in the water? Some seem to think that if you go by the tips this week.
Can The Crowd catch Tim Gore? They’re four points behind.
It all points to an intriguing tipping battle leading into the finals.
So with no more delays, here are your NRL tips for this week.
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Broncos, Panthers, Titans, Storm, Warriors, Raiders, Roosters, Rabbitohs
Greetings from Perth! I must be honest, in my travels through Adelaide and Western Australia I have not seen much footy. That being said, the show must go on.
Brisbane and Canterbury-Bankstown should be a cracker, but I’m inclined to think we’re bound to see a much slicker Broncos outfit this weekend.
I’m taking Sydney against St. George Illawarra who shocked Cronulla last week. But I just don’t know if the Saints can muster another performance like that.
South Sydney put plenty on the Warriors last start. Can they upset the Sharks? Sure, why not?
Lachlan Bickley
Tips: Broncos, Panthers, Titans, Storm, Cowboys (powerplay), Raiders, Roosters, Rabbitohs
The Broncos got the sinking Eels at just the right time to play them back into form, and providing Anthony Milford plays they should be too strong for the Bulldogs.
Penrith got a nice tune-up playing the hapless Knights and should get past a Teddy-less Tigers outfit
The Titans kept their season alive with a hard-fought win in Campbelltown and will look to pile on the points at Hunter Stadium
Woe to the team that plays the Storm coming off a bad loss. Craig Bellamy will have his team well primed to bounce back after the loss in Canberra, and the beat up Eagles may well be the victims
The Warriors continued a rich tradition of being maddeningly unpredictable following up a convincing win on the Gold Coast with a lifeless loss to the previous browbeaten Rabbitohs. Expect them to struggle in the far north.
Despite feeling pretty confident in both games, I tipped against the Raiders the last two weeks to make sure they would win. You’re welcome Raiders fans. This week, however, I’m taking the Raiders in front of hopefully 20,000 fans to pile more misery on the Eels
This one sees two teams who have vacillated week to week in remarkable fashion with the Dragons ending a five-game losing streak with a win against the high-flying Sharks. Meanwhile, the Roosters went from whipped by the Panthers in Round 22 to doing the whipping against the Cowboys. I’ll take the Roosters in what should be a battle of the forwards.
The Rabbitohs’ season may be over but they will no doubt relish an opportunity to put Cronulla under further pressure, as the once cruising Sharks begin to look over their shoulders at the fast finishing Raiders for the second top-two spot and the all-important home final in Week 1 of the playoffs.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Tips: Broncos, Panthers, Titans, Storm (PP), Cowboys, Raiders, Roosters, Sharks
This is a very big test for the Broncos but I think they are up for it. Last week’s defeat of the Eels saw Corey Oates with a hat-trick and Anthony Milford with a spectacular solo try. If that was the start of Milford and Oates playing themselves back into form, then the Bulldogs should be very afraid.
The Tigers were very brave last week in their loss to the Cowboys, but I seem them struggling this week without James Tedesco and have a very limited hope of making the finals. The Panthers, on the other hand, will have sky-high confidence after their thrashing of the Knights and they will be looking to cement their spot in the eight.
I almost nearly picked the Knights here, but unfortunately the Hayne-inspired Titans should be too strong for them. Hayne was solid last week and with a sniff of finals still in play, I expect a big game from the Titans this weekend. I don’t think Hayne will be brash enough to call Hunter Stadium his house.
The Storm had a wake-up call last weekend, being defeated by the in-form team of the competition at the moment the Raiders. The battle for the minor premiership is well and truly on, with the Storm still leading the Sharks by one point. I can’t see a Craig Bellamy side losing two weeks in a row this close to the finals, and the Storm should easily dispose of a Manly side that has very little left to play for in 2016.
This one should be a cracker! The question is, which Warriors team turns up? Regardless, the Cowboys have found themselves in a form slump in recent weeks. So close to the finals and in front of their home crowd, I’m expecting the Cows to get the job done against the Warriors.
This one could get ugly. The Raiders are the in-form team of the competition at the moment and the Eels have been decimated both on and off the field. With no Foran, no Radradra, no Peats and no Norman I see no hope for the Eels this weekend. Jarrod Croker to score plenty of points and the BJ/Rapana combo to work more magic.
Who would have believed that both these sides would have had wins last weekend against top eight teams? Who would have believed that the Dragons had more than 10 points in them. Dare to believe. This should be a cracking clash, particularly if both teams replicate the form they showed last weekend. I have a feeling the Roosters will want to finish the season strongly and with a bit of added confidence from their win against the Cowboys, look to Mitch Pearce to fire.
There have been whispers in rugby league land that the Sharks have peaked way too early and that dreams about a premiership were dreamt too early. I don’t believe this, and still see the Sharks in firm contention for a grand final berth. The Sharks should be more than capable than defeating the Rabbitohs whose season has been characterised by dropped balls, ill-discipline and plenty of errors (and that’s just from the Burgess boys).
Tim Gore
Tips: Broncos, Panthers, Titans (PP), Storm, Cowboys, Raiders, Dragons, Sharks
Broncos to beat the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, continuing their resurgence.
Panthers to beat the Tedescoless Tigers at Panther Park.
Hayne to declare Hunter Stadium to be ‘his house’ while towelling up the poor old Knights of the doomed season.
Storm to begin their next winning streak by beating the Sea Eagles at Brooky.
It’s now or never for both the Cows and the Warriors. I’m going for the Cows at home.
Raiders will struggle without Josh Hodgson against a determined Eels side but will just edge them out.
Roosters Dragons may be match of the round. No idea who will win… Guessing Roosters.
Lastly Rabbits Vs Sharks at the Olympic stadium should be a cracker. The Bunnies are trying to restore lost pride, the Sharks to get back top spot. I’ll go with the Sharks to win.
Powerplay: Titans
| Round 23 | Tim | Curtis | Lachlan | Mary | The Crowd |
| BROvBUL | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos |
| PANvTIG | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers |
| KNIvTIT | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans | Titans |
| SEAvSTO | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm | Storm |
| COWvWAR | Cowboys | Warriors | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys |
| RAIvEEL | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders |
| ROOvDRA | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters |
| RABvSHA | Sharks | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Sharks | Sharks |
| POWERPLAY | Titans | TBC | Cowboys | Storm | Titans |
| OVERALL | 144 | 135 | 133 | 15 | 140 |
The experts have had their say, now it’s your turn. Who will take out this weekend’s games in the NRL?
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