The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 4

Hey Roarers! How great was round 3?! We had some wet weather footy, a few close matches and blow outs, a thrilling golden point victory, a spectacular comeback – just glorious!

Let’s recap – 

The Sharks were too strong in atrocious conditions on Thursday night, beating the Dragons in their local derby 36-12. 

The Wests Tigers sunk to 0-3, going down the Warriors 16-12 at Campbelltown on Friday night. Both teams were their own worst enemies, with the Warriors just doing enough to snatch the win.

The second match was between the Roosters and the Bunnies, and this is always a feisty encounter. It was pumped up even more with Manu and Latrell finally facing off, with many expecting fireworks and a Tri-Colours victory. Souths obviously didn’t get the memo, not letting emotion get in the way of their game plan and convincingly beat their rivals 26-16.

A top of the table clash to kick off Super Saturday was spoilt by a Mitch Barnet brain explosion, elbowing the Panther’s Chris Smith in the jaw, and getting sent off for his efforts. The Knights were down to 12 men for 47 minutes and did their best to keep up with the premiers, but in the end, Penrith were just too good, downing Newcastle 38-20.

We saw an absolute cracker of a second match between the Storm and the Eels, one of the best games so far this season. With the scores locked at 24-24 at full time, a Mitch Moses field goal attempt the hit the uprights was pounced on by Ray Stone who crossed for the winning try. Mary still has high blood pressure from the match! 

The third match of the day looked like it was going to be an absolute whitewash with the Titans going to the half time break leading the Raiders 22-4. What we witnessed in the second half was one of the best comebacks in Canberra’s history, taking the two points in a hard fought 24-22 victory. AJ would have been strutting around if it wasn’t for the bunged-up leg!

The Cowboys got one up against their big brother during the second local derby of the round, beating the Broncos 38-12 at Suncorp on Sunday. The Cowboys are starting to get a good rhythm going – and howe good is Jeramiah Nanai?!

The Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs rounded out the weekend finally back at Brookie on Sunday night. Playing in weather that resembled the Thursday night match, the teams were hard to split but, in the end, a DCE field goal secured 13-12 win for the home side, their first win of the season.

Mary, Paul, and all of you legends out there in The Crowd took the biscuits this weekend, tipping the most with 5/8. AJ was just behind on 4/8 with Mike and I rounding the group out with 3/8. I tipped 8/8 last week, so I am not enjoying my massive fall from grace! 

Overall, AJ is still in front with 16, Mary and Paul are on 15, with Mike, The Crowd and I on 14.

Ok, onto round 4!

The Titans and The Tigers start us off in tonight’s match at 8pm up on the Gold Coast. The Tigers will be desperate for a win, and the Titans will want to make up for the 18-point lead they squandered last weekend. 

The Knights travel to Cronulla to take on the Sharks at 6pm, followed by the much-anticipated grand final rematch between the Panthers and the Bunnies in Penrith at 8pm. The home side have a few big names returning including one Nathan Cleary, so this should be a cracker. 

Super Saturday starts at 3pm with the Warriors taking on the Broncos at the Warriors home away from home, Moreton Daily Stadium. They will be hoping for back-to-back wins, and Brisbane will be wanting to put on a better performance then they did in their loss to the Cowboys. 

Manly and the Raiders travel to Mudgee for their clash at 5.30pm, with both coming off much needed wins they will be desperate for another two points here. Then in the last game it’s the Cowboys hosting the Roosters at 7.30pm. The Cowboys are on a roll and Trent Robertson is in isolation and won’t be travelling with the Roosters – how much of an impact will that have on the Tri-Colours?

Sunday afternoon sees the Storm take on the Bulldogs at AAMI Park at 4pm, with the Eels and the Dragons playing in the final game at 6.15pm at Commbank Stadium. 

If you would like to see how you go up against the Experts this round, just remember to get your tips in below by 5pm tonight to be counted in The Crowd’s tips.

After her Eels put on a spectacular performance last weekend, I’m going to let Mary start us off today.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mary Konstantopoulos

Titans, Sharks, Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Roosters, Storm, Eels. 

The Titans are one of the most intriguing teams in the competition. They know how to score points, but boy can they blow a lead. I’m tipping them to beat the Tigers because the Tigers have been awful. There are several problems at the Tigers at the moment and I don’t think they have enough points in them to beat a team that seems to score points for fun.

The next game should be an absolute cracker. I’m tipping the Sharks based on the fact that Nicho Hynes has continued to steadily improve in each game he has played. The X Factor for the Knights is Kalyn Ponga who is due to return.

I’m still undecided on South Sydney at the moment, so I am tipping the Panthers who continue to be one of the dominant teams so far. The return of Nathan Cleary will be a massive boost for the Panthers and will help them get across the line against a South Sydney team still finding their feet.

The Broncos should beat the Warriors, who continue to be just average. Despite a disappointing performance from the Broncos last week, they are the much stronger team. If the Broncos can use their forward pack to dominate the middle with Adam Reynolds playing a controlled game they will have no problem beating the Warriors, who barely scraped home against the Tigers last week.

The Manly Sea Eagles still haven’t worked out that the rule changes mean that they can’t just play how they did last year. Without tired forwards in the middle, Tom Trbojevic hasn’t had the same impact and that has a flow on impact with players like Jason Saab, Brad Parker and Morgan Harper also looking average. The Raiders have been inconsistent too, but off the back of their comeback win last week, I expect them to win this week too.

The Roosters will beat the Cowboys and the Storm will beat the Bulldogs, the only question being by how much.

The Dragons are a team that have troubled Parramatta in the past, but the return of Ryan Matterson will be a boost for the Eels. I’m hoping after seeing what the Storm did to the Eels middle, that that will be a focus for Parramatta this week. Parramatta’s forwards are stronger than the Dragons and if they can win that battle, will be well on their way to winning this game.

Paul Suttor

Titans, Sharks, Panthers, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Storm, Eels

Gold Coast have a few injuries, but the Tigers have more and are struggling to complete a set let alone an 80-minute match.

Cronulla were impressive in the wet of Wollongong last week and should have too much strike power for the Knights.

Penrith are primed for the grand final rematch and will maintain their edge over Souths.

The Warriors probably should be winless if not for a bad refereeing decision so Brisbane in a close one.

Manly will grind out a win over the hot-and-cold Raiders.

The Cowboys will give the Roosters a good run for their money but the visitors to win in Townsville.

Melbourne could put a big score on Canterbury at AAMI Park.

Parramatta could do likewise to the Dragons in the other Sunday game.

AJ Mithen

Titans, Knights, Panthers, Warriors, Raiders, Roosters, Storm, Eels

All I’m hearing in season 2022 is how hard it is to tip each week… I don’t know what these people are talking about, cos I am flying away with this yet again. Want to have this week’s tipping template? Here you go.

The Gold Coast will beat Wests Tigers, but it may not be the explosion of destruction some fear.
Newcastle over the Sharks in a defensive contest. I liked the Knights last week until the send-off, and they’ll want to add to their scalps from good clubs.

Penrith to take Souths in what should be a good fun one.

The Warriors can beat the Broncos if they clean up their attack, but the Broncos have better players. Work that one out.

Fresh from a glorious club record comeback, your presumptive champions, the people’s team the Canberra Raiders will put 56 on a hapless Manly, who are in all sorts when they’re trying to score points.
I almost tipped the Cowboys cos I’m starting to take a shine to them, but I can’t see them dismantling the Roosters defence. This will be closer than people think.

Melbourne will take a little while before working out the Bulldogs to win handily, and the same for Parramatta against the Dragons, who are two losses away from being gone for 2022

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Mike Meehall Wood

Titans, Knights, Panthers, Broncos, Manly, Roosters, Storm, Eels

The Tigers are untippable, so I’m onto the Titans. 

The Sharks – Knights game is the hardest to pick, because I intrinsically rate the Sharks, but I think with Ponga back I like the Knights to cause the upset. 

You can’t tip against the Panthers at home, and I refuse to tip the Warriors at all, even when the Broncos have been unconvincing.

Manly looked to have turned it around and were superb in Mudgee last year and the Roosters are too good to go 1-3, so I’ll be taking them over the Cowboys.

The Sunday games are the easiest, because Melbourne won’t lose twice in a row at home and the Dragons are rubbish, so I’ll take the Eels.

Danielle Smith

Titans, Knights, Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Cowboys, Storm, Eels

I’m tipping the Titans. I can’t see much improvement in the Tigers until some of their sidelined stars return. 

I’m tipping the Panthers but not confidently. The Bunnies played very well last weekend – this game will go down to the wire. 

In another close one I have gone the Broncos over the Warriors.

The Raiders will still be buzzing from their victory against the Titans, so I am tipping them over the Sea Eagles who were very lucky to get the win over a Bulldogs side that didn’t have much to offer. On that note, I’ve tipped the Storm to thrash the Bulldogs down in Melbourne. 

I’m still on the Cowboys! They are playing some great footy, and I think they will upset the Roosters at home. 

The Eels played brilliantly on Saturday, and the Dragons seem to be one step forward two steps back. I’m tipping the blue and gold to win comfortably. 

I was so proud of the rest of my team’s effort last weekend, playing with 12 men after Barnett stupidity let them down. As always, I’m tipping my Knights.

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