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

Thursday has arrived, and so has Round 7 in the NRL. Kogarah gets its first taste of lockdown footy, and our tipsters are fairly unanimous across most of the eight games this week. So, who are they tipping in The Roar’s NRL expert tips?

We kick things off with a game that had to be moved from the chopped-up surface at Campbelltown, with Penrith to play South Sydney at Kogarah.

Melbourne then begin their journey away from home, to play the other exiled team in the Warriors, before the Dragons will aim to be somewhat competitive against the Roosters in what could be a prime-time thumping.

North Queensland kick Saturday off by trying to right some wrongs as they play the Knights, with the Broncos and Titans then set to clash, ensuring at least one Queensland team will pick up a win this weekend. Saturday concludes with Parramatta playing the Raiders in what should be a huge contest.

Sunday sees Manly take on the Sharks in the battle of the beaches, and the Tigers play Canterbury.

On the tipping front, there wasn’t much difference in scores last week. It leaves AJ handily out in front with his two-point lead to The Crowd, four to Barry, and five to the rest.

Remember to get your tips into the form below by 6pm (AEST) on Thursday to join The Roar’s NRL tipping competition for 2020 and be featured as part of The Crowd’s tips for Round 7.

AJ Mithen

Tips: Panthers, Storm, Roosters, Knights, Broncos, Raiders, Sea Eagles, Tigers

I don’t have much time this week because my household has been crook, which makes my lead so much more impressive if I do say so myself. Here’s the good oil in short form.

Penrith will beat the Bunnies in highly unconvincing fashion. Wayne’s men will pull them close but won’t hang on.

Melbourne will absolutely destroy the Warriors who now have much less than they started with in 2020.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Roosters will ease to a simple win over the Dragons, as will the Knights over North Queensland.

I’ve tipped the Broncos to beat Gold Coast but I would not be shocked with an upset here. Both of these teams are poopy.

The mighty Canberra Raiders were cheated by Des Hasler and Manly last week and to make amends they’ll put 56 on a hapless Parramatta.

Des’ boys should get the win against Cronulla but this one might be a tight contest. Manly have heaps out but they always have heaps out.

Finally, the Tigers and Bulldogs will grind, grind, grind out a filthy, charmless yet quite entertaining slog of an effort. Wests to win. God help us all.

Mary Konstantopoulos

Tips: Panthers, Storm, Roosters, Knights, Broncos, Eels, Sea Eagles, Tigers

The Panthers are one of the most exciting teams in the competition to watch right now and I’m tipping them to beat Souths on Thursday night. Souths are improving each week, but at this stage, I’m still unconvinced that they are a title contender for 2020.

The poor old Warriors have had a tough week and even though when a coach is sacked, we often see teams rally, I don’t see that happening this weekend. The loss of Stephen Kearney will have no doubt impacted team morale and we all know that the Storm seldom lose two matches in a row.

The Dragons have had two good weekends in a row, but that will all come to a halt this weekend when they play the high-flying Roosters. Despite a home-ground advantage, the Knights will beat the Cowboys, who have been my most disappointing team of the year so far. With the roster that team has, there is no excuse for the boring, predictable rugby league they play.

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

It’s incredible to think that all three Queensland teams are in the bottom eight, but here we are. The Broncos have been very inconsistent and have had some embarrassing performances in recent weeks, but they have a good opportunity here to get back into the winners circle.

Then we have clash of the round – the Eels and Raiders. Both teams will be hoping to bounce back after defeats last weekend. But based on the Eels’ performance against the Roosters, I am tipping them. To beat the Eels, the Raiders’ attack will certainly need to improve.

Manly will beat the Sharks, despite all their injury woes, and the Tigers will beat the Bulldogs. But as usual, the Bulldogs won’t go down without a fight.

David Holden

Tips: Panthers, Storm, Roosters, Knights, Broncos, Eels, Sea Eagles, Tigers

Well well well, my Cronulla tipping hoodoo didn’t work a treat last round so I’m back to more traditional tipping methods this week. Five points behind AJ is giving him a fair start, but I think he’s getting overconfident. All it takes is one little slip-up and the pressure will mount… But onto my tips.

The Panthers are looking like contenders this year, after burying a hoodoo of sorts against the Storm last week. Will they be a little tired and sore this week? Sure, but the jury’s still out for me on Souths this year, and the Panthers will win.

(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

The Warriors tend to sneak up on the Storm and beat them when no-one expects it. I can’t see it happening this weekend, however. A combination of an angry Craig Bellamy, confusion over the Warriors’ coaching drama and unconfirmed reports that the Takapuna Roosters are sending over some of their under-12 players to help the injury-hit NZ squad leads the pendulum to lean heavily towards the Storm.

It really hurts me to say this but the Roosters have now got to be at short odds to three-peat. Mary has had a good fortnight, but that comes to a shuddering halt this weekend, Tedesco or no Tedesco.

The Cowboys tend to rely on Jason Taumalolo a lot, but he can’t do it all. No Morgan, no Holmes again and they run smack into a Knights team that is looking the goods this year. I can’t see anything other than a Knights win.

People of Queensland, rejoice! Your state will get at least one winner this weekend. This one has an interesting side story, with big Mal at the Titans offering David Fifita $1 million a year, plus unlimited free use of the theme parks, to join the Titans. Fifita will need to choose between a team that may be good in a few years time and Wet ‘n’ Wild. But I digress. Broncos should get this.

Parramatta are no doubt dirty last weekend that they would have lapped any team other than the Roosters. However, it may have been the loss they had to have. They play a Canberra team that mirrors the COVID situation in Victoria. They come out of lockdown nicely but have been feeling a bit below their best in recent weeks. The Eels will bounce back.

(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Sea Eagles would have been bruised and battered after a torrid encounter against the Raiders. But fear not, Eagles fans, because you play the Sharks who just about never win against Manly. Tommy Turbo may be out, but that didn’t stop them pantsing Cronulla in last year’s elimination semi.

Tigers fans should be proud. Your team is rubbish but they come back every week and go their hardest. This results in losing to teams that are more skilful than you, but beating teams of equal ability. The good news for Tigers fans is that they play the Bulldogs this weekend. Enough said.

The Barry

Tips: Panthers, Storm, Roosters, Knights, Broncos, Eels, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs

Souths and Penrith have been improving over the past month, but the Panthers have been doing it against better quality opposition. That’s why I’m going the mountain men.

Tough week for the Warriors to run into the Storm. Both teams will be on the bounce back but for different reasons. Have the Warriors lost some of their goodwill by sacking Kearney? Storm by plenty.

Over the past couple of weeks, my SuperCoach team has taken a battering with Tom Trbojevic, Kotoni Staggs, Eliesa Katoa and Kurt Capewell injured, Ben Hampton and Billy Walters dropped and Patrick Carrigan and Bradman Best suspended. I’m crossing everything I can that Trent Robinson doesn’t rest James Tedesco. Oh, and Roosters to win.

(Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

With travel restrictions, the Cowboys should have turned Townsville into a fortress. I’ve got a nagging feeling the Cowboys could get this one with recent Knights teams struggling to string big wins together. I’m going to put that feeling down to indigestion and tip the Knights though.

With successive games against the Titans, Warriors, Bulldogs and Tigers coming up, it will be interesting to see if the young Broncos can kick-start their season. They should get it started this week.

The Raiders will be ruing not putting Manly away last week. They’ve looked a bit off the boil since beating Melbourne well in resumption week. The Eels also let an opportunity slip after going toe to toe with the Roosters for most of the 80. A Raiders win wouldn’t surprise but I’m going the Eels.

Battle of the beaches. No stats to back this up but I feel like Manly have had the wood on the Sharks. Despite missing Tommy Turbo and Dylan ‘The Pushover’ Walker, I’m tipping them to keep that record going.

I mentioned last week, I’m not going to get too many opportunities to tip the Bulldogs this season and this is one I’m going to take. The Dogs have won three on the bounce against the Tigers, who have a habit of dropping points against teams they “should” beat. Same game multi of Bulldogs 1-12, unders for total points and Foran any-time try-scorer.

Scott Pryde

Tips: Panthers, Storm, Roosters, Cowboys, Titans, Raiders, Sharks, Tigers

Righto then, I am taking my bat and swinging it as far as it’ll go into left field to make up some ground. Of course, this will probably back-fire horrendously and I’ll end up dead last.

But anyway. What isn’t out of left field is the Roosters. If Tedesco plays, they score 60. If Tedesco doesn’t play, the Dragons might just hold them to 40. I’ll be doing cartwheels if it’s not over by halftime. Do not ask for video proof.

The Panthers and Storm are favourites as well, so I’ll take them. Penrith have been surprisingly impressive, and while Souths haven’t been terrible, they need to show a lot more in a hurry.

There is every chance the Warriors get up with the dead cat bounce after Stephen Kearney was dumped during the week, but Melbourne will be angry. Angry at their form, angry at Craig Bellamy making them train 64 extra times this week after their results, and angry at the city of Melbourne not understanding that the way to stop a pandemic is to stay inside.

(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

So, yeah. Melbourne. By an angry amount of points.

The only other tip this week I’m making without potentially looking like a fool is the Tigers, although I reckon that match will be a grinding slog that could go either way against Canterbury.

The Cowboys are an interesting prospect at home. They have been, frankly, awful. I’m not sure Paul Green will still have a job next week if they lose this one at home. No Best for Newcastle, and they are due for a loss.

The Broncos are an absolute mess. Their attack is a shambles and they are yet to score a second-half point since the shutdown. I’ll roll the dice and take the Gold Coast.

Canberra are another side in urgent need of improvement. Parramatta were involved in a ding-dong battle with the Chooks last week, but that’ll have ugly consequences, fatigue being number one. Canberra to restore a bit of confidence.

And, call me crazy, but Manly can’t win with half their side out. They were woeful without Tom Trbojevic last year. Cronulla haven’t been great, but they are due to get a very rare win over their Northern Beaches rivals. So, south to beat north and my tipping to rescue itself.

This week’s tipping

Be sure to get your tips in on the form below by 6pm (AEST) this evening, and we will publish the results of The Crowd’s tips before the first game of the round kicks off.

var request = new XMLHttpRequest();

request.open('POST', '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', true); request.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded;'); request.onload = function () { if (this.status >= 200 && this.status