The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 7

Remember how I was saying last week looked to be the easiest of the season? Well, it wasn’t.

More upsets created a cracking round of footy, and continue to shape the ladder as one of mass confusion. This is The Roar‘s NRL expert tipping panel for Round 7.

Ah, weren’t we all so certain before last week. Most of The Crowd’s tips were clear of 70 per cent, the Experts were unanimous with just a couple of differences between four of us across all eight games and everyone though finally, we were in for a good week.

And wasn’t it anything but a good week?

Tim and Tom managed five tips for the weekend, getting the Tigers and Broncos games right respectively. The rest of us, Crowd included, it was a measly four out of eight.

While last week’s looked easy, this looks anything but. The Roosters are struggling just a little bit and take on a rampant Bulldogs outfit to open the week, before a top-of-the-table clash sees the Warriors and Dragons got at it in Auckland. Then there’s the Broncos and Storm in the free-to-air slot on Friday.

Swing it forward to Saturday and things don’t get easier. A Raiders team off two straight take on the Rabbitohs, who just knocked over the Roosters with relative ease, before the Tigers face the Knights in Tamworth with Ivan Cleary’s side looking to strengthen their position some more.

The Cowboys still aren’t winning, just like the Eels who are still winless for the season, but both will like their chances when they host the Titans and Sea Eagles respectively, before the round closes with the Sharks and Panthers.

Don’t forget to submit your tips on the form below by 5pm (AEST) to be part of The Crowd as you take on the experts.

Tom to start us off this week.

Tom Rock

Tips: Roosters, Dragons, Storm, Raiders, Knights, Titans, Sea Eagles, Panthers
It’s incredibly rare for all eight away teams to chalk up a victory on a given weekend, but that’s exactly what I’m tipping in Round 7.

It starts at ANZ Stadium in a clash between two sides that’ve been streakier than a tradesman’s toilet bowl – the Bulldogs and the Roosters. I really liked what I saw from Canterbury last weekend, but when I look at the strength of Trent Robinson’s roster, I struggle to tip against the tri-colours.

On Friday night the Warriors host an in form St George Illawarra side, and despite New Zealand’s strong start to the season, I can’t see them keeping pace with the Dragons. Look for Matt Dufty to notch up his first career hat trick in an old fashion trashing.

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Back in Brisbane, the Storm do battle with the Broncos in a battle of the Super Coaches. Wayne Bennett has been outstanding at getting his side up for big games, but until they show that they can rise to the occasion for consecutive games, I can’t tip them. Storm by 12.

The Raiders will make it three straight against the inconsistent Bunnies, the Titans will continue the rot for the decaying Cowboys, and the Sea Eagles will heap further misery onto a Parramatta season that is quickly spiraling out of control.

I tipped Cronulla to do big things this season, but they’ve chopped and changed their spine for about the sixth time in seven games. The side just hasn’t been the same since Jimmy Maloney left, and the NSW veteran will remind them of this by tearing Cronulla apart at Shark Park.

In Tom’s “Rock Solid” tip of the week, I’m predicting the Newcastle Knights to pull off a shocker against Ivan and his snarling Tigers. I’m still not convinced that Wests’ style of play is sustainable, and I haven’t been impressed by their attack, despite the copious inches dedicated to talking up Luke Brooks. The Knights will give them a touch up.

Tim Gore

Tips: Bulldogs, Dragons, Storm, Raiders, Tigers, Cowboys, Eels, Panthers
Might as well start with Canberra again – I bleed green, but not with myrtle. The Raiders refound defensive application will edge out South Sydney.

Upset alert! The Bulldogs forward pack seems to have clicked. The Roosters backs won’t have enough room to do their thing and Dylan Napa is a defensive liability. Oh yeah, and The Eels losing streak ends against the Panthers. It has too. If it doesn’t all hell will break loose

(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

I’m totally guessing in tipping the Dragons to beat the Warriors. It’ll probably come down to luck, but I’m not with the other Friday game. The Storm play very well in Brisvegas. It’s like they’re telling the Broncos who really owns the town. I reckon the purple will prevail.

Speaking of Queensland based teams – surely the Cowboys can’t lose again. Surely not. Right?

Who’s game to tip against the Wests Tigers? Not I. In the box it’s a wizard up against Brown. Enough said. In the final game of the round, I’m guessing Panthers. Either side could win. Both sides a bit injured. Jimmy Maloney will want to beat his old team lots.

AJ Mithen

Tips: Roosters, Warriors, Broncos, Rabbitohs, Tigers, Cowboys, Eels, Panthers
My match of the round sees South Sydney host the now spritely Canberra in a game with big ramifications for both sides. It’s a crucial two points up for grabs. Who wins them? The Bunnies, who have shown more consistency. Canberra have won two on the trot, but the quality of opponent was questionable. If the Raiders’ defence stays locked in, things might well be different.

Speaking of good games, we get a top of the table clash in New Zealand, with the hosts stung by a loss to the retooled Broncos and the Dragons rolling into town drunk on points, points, points. Both teams have fantastic attacks, but the Dragons have the defensive edge and I’ll back them for that.

The Roosters beat ordinary teams and they lose to decent teams. While the Dogs got up last week, I’m not sold eon their decency yet. Roosters.

The ‘reborn’ Brisbane face their commercial nemesis Melbourne on Friday night at Lang Park. The Storm are a bit all over the place this year, putting good performances on but following up with some frankly amateur stuff. I’m on the Wayne train here. We never should have doubted the master.

Wests went on a surprise rampage against Manly last week. So I’m going to pick them for the first time this year against the Knights. Change your gambling accordingly.

North Queensland desperately need a win. Well, the players do, anyway. Paul Green can kick back and read the luxury car catalogue in the coaches box after re-signing for three years during the week. Surely they beat the Titans. Surely…

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Eels versus Sea Eagles games used to mean something. Now it’s pretty much just two homeless dudes throwing leftover cabbage at each other. It’s sad, yet somehow inspiring. Eels to break the duck.

The round finishes with Cronulla beating the tripe out of Penrith, and the Panthers winning. See what I did there?

Scott Pryde

Tips: Roosters, Dragons, Storm, Rabbitohs, Tigers, Cowboys, Eels, Panthers
There are some absolute crackers coming up this week – a fan’s joy and a tipsters nightmare is probably how I’d going about describing it.

Might as well start across the ditch in Auckland. This is about as nervous as I’ve been for a Dragons game ahead of this year – the Warriors are a different side and while they cracked against Brisbane last week, every team is going to lose at some point.

They don’t look a team who is going to get into a rut, but with the Dragons undefeated and coming off a 40-point outing, it’s hard to tip against them.

The other Friday game won’t be bad either – Melbourne have a damn good record up north though and should knock over the Broncos.

Another game which thoroughly excites me this week is the Tigers and Knights – hard to go against the great wall of Ivan though, especially with their attack now starting to click into gear.

The game directly following that one is tough to tip. The Cowboys are out of sorts, to say the least, but the Titans look worse. Their defensive issues which hampered them at the back end of last year seem to have made a return, with the club letting in some shoddy long-distance tries against the Panthers on Sunday. You can read more about my thoughts on them in last week’s talking points

I’m going to take the Eels to finally get off the mark on Sunday. Manly have been dreadful away from home so far this year and I can’t see them reversing that, while the Panthers should beatdown the Sharks. Cronulla’s left edge defence was a disaster last week against the Dragons and it’s not going to exactly improve with New South Wales second rower Wade Graham out of action.

(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

That leaves just the two games. The Raiders are now due for a loss, having won two on the fly and while I reckon The Crowd will go with Canberra, South Sydney will continue their run after beating the Roosters last week.

Speaking of the Roosters, and I’ve got a vote of no confidence in a lot of what they are doing at the moment, but refuse to tip Canterbury despite their win over North Queensland last week. I’m just not sure they have it in them to back up from the Townsville heat and play in Sydney off a short turnaround, even if the Roosters aren’t quite on song. The other factor pointing to the Roosters is their general inconsistency points to this week as a victory, rather than a loss.

Crowd tipping will close at 5pm (AEST) on Thursday evening. Be sure to submit your tips on the form below before then to make your opinion count as part of The Crowd.