Hey Roarers!

We were back to eight games for Round 14. Some were sensational, and others certainly were not.

Let’s recap – 

On Friday night the Cowboys cruised past a very average Dragons side to get a 31-12 win in Townsville. Val Holmes backed up from Origin to put in a solid performance for his 150^th game, and my mate Reece Robson had another brilliant 80 minutes that hopefully made Freddy finally take notice. Who was that Roar Expert that put Robson at hooker for the Blues in her team the other week? Poor Ben Hunt, once again busted his gut for the Red V, he must be looking at real estate around Redcliffe by now. 

Alex Johnston grabbed himself another hattrick and another milestone on Saturday, bringing up his 150^th try for the Bunnies during their 30-16 win over the Titans. Young Lachlan Illias had a great game, and Murray and Cook did well after Origin. Souths were too strong against the injury depleted Titans, who are well and truly on struggle street. Big Tino backed up from last Wednesday night and was once again the Gold Coast best.

Grant Anderson and his beloved ‘Pop’ won everyone’s hearts on Saturday night during the Storm’s 26-18 win against the Roosters. Scoring two tries on debut and then his emotional embrace after the game with his elderly neighbour that took on the role as his grandfather figure was just beautiful. Not so beautiful was Felise Kaufusi’s elbow on Luke Keary who escaped a charge. How did you see that one Roarers?

We watched the Broncos put on a ‘never give up, never surrender’ effort against the Raiders, holding on for a 24-18 win. After losing Haas, Reynolds and Farnworth it looked like Canberra were going to snatch victory, but Brisbane showed they are a force to be reckoned with this season and got the job done despite being down to 14 men. Did you happen to hear the audio of Patrick Carrigan micked up during that game? What a champion he is turning out to be.

Brett Kimmorley’s first taste of top-level NRL coaching was very bitter, with his Tigers copping a 30-4 smashing at the hands of Manly. The Tigers were very poor, and Brent Naden was sent off for a terrible tackle on Jurbo. On top of losing Madge and a having board that seems to be made of Teflon, it must be very frustrating being a Tigers supporter at the moment. 

On that note, I know that it is EXTREMELY frustrating to be a Knights supporter. They put on an absolute dumpster fire of a performance against a side you just cannot give an inch too. Nathan Cleary bounced back from a terrible Origin One to guide his Panthers to a 42-6 thrashing. He never put a foot wrong, whereas the Knights all looked like they had two left feet. It showed exactly why Penrith are the premiers and Newcastle are just nowhere.

And then the third riveting Sunday match saw the Warriors shoot out to an early 12-0 lead only to fizzle out and go down 38-16 to the Sharks. Club legend Stacey Jones was the second interim coach to take the reins this weekend, and the second to kick it off with a loss.  Cronulla tried to prove their recent critics wrong, shaking off their slow start to take an eight tries to three victory. Nicho Hynes needs some extra goal kicking practice, only making 3/8, and poor Ben Murdoch-Masila needed a green whistle after suffering from a shocking elbow dislocation. Did anyone else see Josh Curran ripping into Shaun Johnson in the background of DWZ’s post-match interview?

And then on Monday, it was the Dogs of War! The Bulldogs played like the Canterbury of old, putting on their best performance of the season to flog the unsuspecting Eels 34-4 and jump off the bottom of the ladder. Matt Burton was on absolute fire setting up three of the Dog’s tries and embarrassingly stopping Mitch Moses from getting one, and the Foxx showed Freddy what he was missing in Origin by scoring a glorious hat-trick. Parramatta thought they could just phone it in, and Canterbury said, ‘Not today!’ 

The Dogs spoilt Mary, Paul and The Crowds perfect rounds, tipping 7/8. AJ, Mike and I were just behind tipping 6/8. AJ is still out in front on 78, Paul coming in second on 75, with Mary and you legends out there just behind in third on 74. Mike is on fourth on 66, and who would have thought, I’m still last on 65.

Ok, let’s check out what’s coming up in round 15!

Tonight the Rabbitohs travel down to Wollongong to take on the Dragons. Can the Red V lift for Andrew McCullough’s 300^th game? Probably not.

Our first Friday night game sees Manly host the Cowboys at 4 Pines Park at 6pm. DCE is back on deck for the Sea Eagles after being rested from Origin duties, as well as Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai for the Cowboys. Manly will need to be at their best to beat the in-form Cowboys. 

We then head to down to AAMI Park to watch the Storm and the Broncos battle it out at 8pm.This had the potential to be a huge game, but there are some big names missing. Paps was due to make his return from injury, but a positive Covid test has put a stop to that. Reynolds and Farnsworth are out for the Broncos, but Staggs and Cobbo are back. 

Super Saturday kicks off at 3pm where the Sharks and the Titans meet in the middle in Coffs Harbour. You would think this will be a walk in the park for Cronulla, with the last placed Titans in a world of pain. 

The Panthers travel up to Redcliffe to take on the Warriors at 5.30pm. Penrith are a juggernaut – this one could get ugly. 

Then at 7.30pm the Eels host the Roosters at CommBank Stadium. It was an absolute cracker when these two faced off earlier in the season. I think we will be in for more of the same. 

Sunday sees Newcastle head down to Canberra to take on the Raiders at 2pm. The Green Machine are playing very well, and the Knights are not. Another one that could get ugly. 

Then we are back out to CommBank Stadium to see the Dogs and the Tigers play in the last match of the round. Luciano Leilua has left the club for a warmer climate, but Adam Douehi makes his long-awaited return to the bench. Will he be enough to spark something in the Tigers, or will the Dogs make it back-to-back wins?

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.

For this round I’m going to let Mike lead us off.

Good luck with your tipping everyone!

Mike Meehall Wood

Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Eels, Raiders, Dogs

Souths need to win and are coming into form, so I’ll be backing them this week. Manly for the upset – they’ve played themselves into a bit of form and this is a tough old trip for the Cowboys. 

The Sharkies are decent, the Titans are definitively not, so easy there.

Brisbane are decent, but I never tip against Melbourne in Melboune and won’t be starting that now.

Storm all the way.Panthers over Warriors because obviouslyEels-Roosters by far the hardest to tip…Parra tend to arc up against better sides, and will have spent the week stewing about their loss to Canterbury, so I think they’ll bounce back. 

Raiders need to win and Australians tell me Canberra is cold so I suppose the Mithen-Smith derby will go to the presumptive champs people’s team.

Dogs vs Tigers is the spoonbowl we all deserve – Doggies have been better of late so I’m going for them.

Paul Suttor

Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Eels, Raiders, Bulldogs

Even the Dragons don’t think they’ll beat Souths without Latrell Mitchell. 

The Cowboys are a machine at the moment and will be too strong for a fragile Manly side.

Melbourne v Broncos would have been a great contest if the Broncos weren’t busted – Storm will win by double figures.

Sharks could win by triple figures the way the Titans are going. Just kidding, Gold Coast fans. Both of you.

Penrith are actually a realistic chance of triple figures against the Warriors. Only kinda kidding this time.

Eels v Roosters could be the match of the round – Parra to bounce back after Monday’s misery.

Newcastle has a terrible record in Canberra and that will continue on Sunday.

And the Bulldogs are favourites for a game – this could go either way, but the Tigers are most likely to lose.

AJ Mithen

Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Eels, Raiders, Bulldogs

I continue to decimate all pretenders as I barely go through the motions to my inevitable victory. Here’s this week’s winners.

The Bunnies will win a wholly unconvincing effort against the mediocre Dragons. 

Manly will continue to blow against good teams as they are wrangled by the Cowboys. 

Melbourne will crush an undermanned Brisbane in Melbourne. 

Cronulla will beat the Titans in Coffs Harbour, maybe not by as much as we all think.

Penrith will absolutely murder the Warriors. 

Parramatta will beat the Roosters in unconvincing fashion. 

Your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders will notch a casual 56 against the hapless Newcastle who are without noted Raider killer Bradman Best and have Kayla Ponga’s sketchy availability. 

Finally, Mick Potter will finally wreak his deserved vengeance on Wests Tigers as the Bulldogs continue their charge to the finals.

Mary Konstantopoulos

Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Broncos, Sharks, Panthers, Eels, Raiders, Bulldogs

It may have only been against the Titans, but last week was a big win for the Rabbitohs which will do plenty for their confidence. The Rabbitohs are improving slowly this week and I see them being far too potent on their edges for the Dragons.

The Cowboys continue to grow from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of players like Jason Taumololo and Scott Drinkwater. They will beat a Manly side that continues to battle the impact of injuries to their best players.

The next game should be a cracker and it’s unfortunate that it has been so impacted by injury. The Storm have the home ground advantage and without Adam Reynolds, Corey Paix and Herbie Farnworth I think it will simply be too much of an ask for the Broncos to jag a win.

I cannot imagine what it would take for me to tip the Titans again this season, but I certainly won’t be doing it against the Sharks. Same goes for the next game with my only question being how much the Panthers will beat the Warriors by. 

The Eels should be absolutely disgusted in their performance last weekend against the Bulldogs and I’m hopeful that they can bounce back at home this weekend against the Roosters. The Roosters remain tough to get a read on and I remain curious to see how Luke Keary pulls up after suffering a head knock last week.

The Raiders will put the Knights away by plenty and after their resounding win against the Eels last week, the Dogs are on the rise. They have too much attacking class to lose to a Tigers team that still doesn’t seem to have responded to the change in coach.

Danielle Smith

Souths, Cowboys, Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Roosters, Knights, Bulldogs

Ben Hunt can’t keep carrying the Dragons. Souths for an easy win.

All aboard the Cowboys train! 

The Broncos are on fire, but I can’t go past the Storm at home.

Like I said last week, I cannot tip the Titans. Sharks are specials. 

As above, I cannot tip the Warriors. Panthers will destroy them. 

This will be a top game; I’m going Roosters in a very close one. 

If they play how they did last week, Bulldogs will be way too strong for the Tigers. 

Oh man, we have Canberra. Dammit. As always, I’m tipping my Knights. 

Round 15	AJ	Danielle	Mary	Mike	Paul	Crowd
STI vs SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU
MAN vs NQL	NQL	NQL	NQL	MAN	NQL	NQL
MEL vs BRI	MEL	MEL	BRI	MEL	MEL	MEL
CRO vs GLD	CRO	CRO	CRO	CRO	CRO	CRO
NZL vs PEN	PEN	PEN	PEN	PEN	PEN	PEN
PAR vs SYD	PAR	SYD	PAR	PAR	PAR	PAR
CAN vs NEW	CAN	NEW	CAN	CAN	CAN	CAN
CBY vs WST	CBY	CBY	CBY	CBY	CBY	CBY
Last Week	6	6	7	6	7	7
Total	78	65	74	66	75	74