There is nothing better than semi-final time in rugby league. 12 teams are already gone and by Sunday morning, two more will join them. Any closer to the business end and you’d be drinking a latte with Richard Branson and Tim Cook.
Welcome to The Roar‘s NRL Expert tips for Week 2 of the NRL Finals.
It is the 2015 grand final rematch between North Queensland and Brisbane from Townsville with the winner going through to face Cronulla in Sydney. The Cowboys are back home after going down to Melbourne at AAMI Park last weekend and will face a Broncos outfit missing James Roberts. While much was made of the refereeing performance last Friday at Suncorp Stadium, the likes of Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt proved again they will be tough to beat. But do they have enough to eliminate the Cowboys on their home patch?
While the Sharks were the fairy tale story for the large portion of the season, Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers have both shown that fairy tales come in all shapes and sizes. The Green Machine and the Panthers have been the form sides in recent times but Canberra’s task is a whole lot tougher with star hooker Josh Hodgson out of the team. Penrith is the little red engine that keeps on chugging and no matter where Anthony Griffin throws his players they respond like seasoned professionals.
Age is just a number and so say all of Penrith.
*Catch Curtis Woodward and Lewis Shepperd this Sunday from 3pm for Mounties and Wests Tigers on steelesports.com.au*
Lachlan Bickley
Tips:Cowboys, Raiders.
“The Cowboys are favourites with the bookies on account of the home ground and that’s a strong argument for them. While both spines and backlines are stacked with quality players this one will be won in the forwards with the tidal wave trio of Matt Scott, James Tamou and Jason Taumalolo to improve on last week’s showing and be the difference.
“Canberra were somewhat disappointing in their return to finals football allowing the Sharks to control the tempo and with Josh Hodgson going down and without Blake Austin there to provide his unique brand of creativity the team never got the spark they needed. Whether those two players return on Saturday night remains up in the air but at the very least the style of game should suit the Green Machine better this week with the Panthers also preferring a more open contest. I’m taking the Raiders in the expectation that the injury turmoil will in fact set whichever players line up free to play the freewheeling style that got them this far in the first place.”
Tim Gore
Tips: Cowboys, Raiders.
“Going to go the Cowboys because they win in Townsville and I’m not sure the Broncos have any centres left. The loss of James Roberts must be tough to handle for coach Wayne Bennett. The Broncos need their speed on such a fast track in Townsville.
“Raiders. I don’t know why. The match is statistically too close to call. Yes, Canberra will be missing their English hooker in Josh Hodgson, who has been sensational again in 2016, and Blake Austin will go into the game questionable (if he makes it) but I’m going to tip the home team. It really is almost too close to call.”
Patrick Effeney
Tips:Cowboys, Raiders.
“I’ve been searching for reasons to try to tip the Broncos, but I really can’t see an area in which they’re superior. Seeing Tim Gore’s piece on Thursday morning only confirmed that to me. Sadly, I think this is the end of the line for my boys. They’re just running into a superior footy team, and James Roberts being out only makes it worse.
“The Raiders and Panthers is an intriguing battle, but I think Canberra have it in them to bounce back from a gut-wrenching loss and take this. Not sure if they’ll make it any further than that, though.”
Curtis Woodward
Tips: Broncos, Panthers.
“I totally understand why most people are probably backing North Queensland at home against the Brisbane Broncos who will be without James Roberts. But I am not convinced the Broncos are going to fall over like everyone thinks. They almost put fifty on Gold Coast last week and the Cowboys have the short turnaround after a gruelling clash with the Melbourne Storm.
“It has been a hell of a year for Canberra but I fear it’s all catching up to them. To lose Josh Hodgson the way they have is heartbreaking and they’ll fight valiantly against Penrith but I just feel like the momentum is swinging and the Panthers will come home the stronger.”
| WEEK 2 | Tim | Lachlan | Pat | Curtis | The Crowd |
| COWvBRO | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Broncos | Cowboys |
| RAIvPAN | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Panthers | Panthers |
Now it’s your turn! Tip against the experts:
monday QB
Guest
should be a couple of really good games. Lowe is a huge loss for the Cows tonight and I just don't see this game as the foregone conclusion that some are suggesting it will be. I'll take the Cows in a close one but it won't surprise if the Broncos get it done. If you're liking the Broncos there are some really good odds straight up and at the line around. Panthers for me in the second game. Got to go with what you see and that was incredible last week against the Bulldogs. Playing Canberra in Canberra is a different kettle of fish, but the Panthers are flying.
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Going with the Cowboys and Raiders but it's a real close call. Just tipping on the basis of home support and the fact that the Cows have had the better of the Broncos in recent times (albeit only by a point) and the fact that the Panthers are very inexperienced. My tip for the Raiders seems primed to backfire though.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! I'm with Curtis ! The Cowboys are battling injury ! Some won't play ( Linnett & Lowe) , some will play with injury ( Scott) or with tapered off form ( Morgan, Coote, Tamou). JT is not at his best ( injury ?) . I think the Broncos defence is improved with Opacic back and Kahu replacing Roberts, and Millford & Hunt are will be probing all night. I tip the Broncos. The Panthers are intact, full of confidence and improving every match whilst the Raiders look like being without their key playmaker and ruck defender Hodgson and possibly also Austin. Huge losses. The Panthers have a good left side defence ( Mansour, Peachey, Yeo & Cleary) to counter the Raiders main attacking right hand ( Rapana , Leilua & co). The right side defence for the Panthers will be their worry. I tip the Panthers.
MAX
Guest
Lowe and Linnett are a huge losses for the Cowboys compared with the suspension of Roberts. The Raiders without Hodgson reduces the scoring to the ordinary.The stats say nay but Curtis could be in for a really good weekend.
Benedict Arnold
Roar Rookie
How good has this years finals series been? The match ups are have been great and we are treated to a grand final rematch elimination final. I am tipping the cows to produce the goods against the broncos this week. They were extremely good last week against the storm who put in one the great defensive displays. And that's what I think will be the key for the NRL premiers. I think you will find none of tamou, scott or JT13 ran for more than a 100m last week, expect that to change, and I expect more points from them... mainly because the broncos defense last week was bad. Even by their standards. You just can't afford to be leaking 28 points in the finals. I realise both teams are losing some key men (lowe/roberts) but I think they cancel each other out. So I'm tipping the Cows to progress to a qualifier. As for the Penrith vs Raiders game... well, Penrith were really impressive last week. I think that the game will be won on the edges as IMO that is both teams' key strength. Mansour/Peachey vs Leilua/Rapana is a scintillating prospect and both teams will be hoping their respective flanks continue to perform. Again I think the key will be how each team approaches their defense. Both teams play flamboyant styles and ask a lot of you so whoever steps up and pressures the halves will be the key. I was really impressed with the way penrith wore the dogs out last week and I think they can do the same thing to the raiders this week, so I'm tipping them to get the chocolates. I thought against the sharks last week the raiders showed they were a bit more affected by the pace of finals footy. That along with an injured hooker and no real affirmation that Austin is playing, I just can't go past the Panthers.