The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 21

Hey Roarers!

Hooley Dooley. That was some round of footy.

Let’s recap – 

We all thought Thursday night’s match between the Manly Under 8’s and the Roosters was going to end in a hammering after Rainbow-Gate. But the Sea Eagles who actually played put up a decent fight, going down 20-10.

The world seems to have a bit more order about it after Melbourne beat the Warriors 24-12 on Friday night. Sorry Warriors fans, but I don’t know if my fingers would have been able to comprehend typing “Storm lose five in a row”. And for the record, I’m convinced NAS is made of Teflon. 

Our jaws all hit the floor during the second game between the Eels and the Panthers. While I told you guys that Parra would cause an upset, Nostradamus himself would never have predicted Nathan Cleary getting sent off. The Eels won the match 34-10, and both sides will be without their number sevens for a while with Cleary in the naughty corner and Mitch Moses suffering a broken finger. 

The Raiders just keep on keeping on, with a solid 36-24 win against Titans on Saturday afternoon. Even the most ridiculous sin binning couldn’t stop Joseph Tapine from having a blinder. Canberra sit in ninth and ready to jump into the top eight, while the Titans are now dead last. 

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Then we had a golden point marathon between the Sharks v Bunnies that took three hours to finish. With both teams refusing to give an inch, and after 1000 attempts at field goal, a Tom Burgess brain fart gave Nicho Hynes the perfect position to kick the winner for a 21-20 win. Did you see the footage of Cody Walker not shaking Cam McInnes’s hand after the game? What a sooky la la. 

Shout it from the rooftops, Tigers fans! “Who are who are who are we?!” The boys finally got to sing their victory song that they should have sung the previous week, this time causing a huge 32-18 upset against the Broncos (which I tipped.) The win was unfortunately soured when Jackson Hasting succumbed to a nasty hip drop from Pat Carrigan which broke his ankle and ruled him out for the remainder of the season. 

In a surprise to no one, I did not get to sing the Knights victory song on Sunday, after the Bulldogs beat us 24-10 loss. Canterbury have turned their season around under Mick Potter and are playing some beautiful footy. I think Newcastle have forgotten how to actually play footy all together.

And in the final game of the round, the Cowboys were far too strong for the Dragons, downing the Red V (legitimately) 34-8 at Kogarah. The boys from the north are charging towards the finals, while the Dragons are watching their chances of playing in September slip through their fingers. Like I’ve been saying all year, surely Wayne Bennett is sizing Ben Hunt up for a Dolphin’s jersey. 

Mike, Paul, you legends in the Crowd and myself (yes, me) tipped 6/8. Mary and AJ tipped 5/8. Can someone please check on AJ and get him a brown paper bag? He must be hyperventilating that I did better than him this round. But fear not, he is still in the overall lead on 111, with Paul right behind him on 110. The Crowd are third on 106, Mary fourth on 105 and Mike fifth on 98. I’m still dead last on 90.

Ok, onto round 21 – five more to go!

The Roosters and the Broncos face off tonight at the SCG at 7.50pm. Brisbane will be trying to get back into the top four, while the tricolours will be clinging on for dear life to their top eight spot. 

The Gold Coast head down to AAMI Park tomorrow night to take on the Storm at 6pm. Don’t watch this one Titans fans, Melbourne have kicked back into gear, and it could get ugly.

In the second game, Manly host the Parramatta at 4 Pines Park at 7.55pm. Can Mary’s Eels go back-to-back after their huge upset against the Panthers? Or will Mike’s Sea Eagles bounce back from their drama filled few weeks?

Super Saturday kicks off at 3pm, with Souths and the Warriors battling it out at Sunshine Coast Stadium. The Bunnies will be looking to make amends after their golden point loss to the Sharks last week. 

The Panthers head down to the nation’s capital to take on AJ’s Raiders at 5.30pm. Penrith are missing their dynamic duo in the halves, and Canberra have found their groove. This should be interesting. 

The last game of the day sees the Sharks and the Dragons face off in front of a sold out PointsBet Stadium crowd at 7.35pm. Can the Red V claw their way back into the top eight, or will Cronulla hit the final nail in their coffin? 

On Sunday, the Bulldogs take their home game to Salter Oval Bundaberg to take on North Queensland at 2pm. Did someone not tell them that’s still Cowboys territory? 

Then at 4pm, we finish off the round at Campbelltown Stadium to watch the Tigers with a spring in their step take on my Knights with two left feet. 

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.

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

Good luck with your tipping everyone!

Mike Meehall Wood

Roosters, Storm, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Sharks, Cowboys, Tigers

The Roosters are red hot, and while I have been burned lately by tipping against the Broncos, I’m gonna do it again. Chooks for me.

Storm by a thousand over the Titans

My assumption is that everyone else will go for Parra, and as I’m far enough behind that I have to zig when others zag, I’m gonna tip my Sea Eagles. Manly hates you too.

Bunnies are good, Warriors are not. Souths to win.

Raiders v depleted Panthers is a toughie…but I’ll apply the principle that you tip the team that needs the win and go for Canberra.

Sharks are good, Dragons are not. Cronulla easy for me.

Cowboys v Dogs will be a lot of fun. Hard to go against NQ, and though this is a Canterbury home game, it’s actually in Bundaberg. Cowboys it is.

I cannot believe that the Wests Tigers are $1.54 to win a game of rugby league football, but that’s how bad the Knights are. Sorry Danielle, I’m going Tigers.

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Paul Suttor

Roosters, Storm, Eels, Rabbitohs, Panthers, Sharks, Cowboys, Tigers

Roosters are on a roll, not just at Red Rooster. They should beat the Broncos at the SCG in a close one.

The Storm will be too clinical for the Titans in a double-digit win.

Manly vs Parra is usually a tight one but the Eels can get up in this one despite no Mitch Moses.

Rabbitohs should smash the Warriors.

Penrith are missing their halves, Canberra are at home, it’s all set up for the Raiders to fade in the second half Panthers to prove why they’re the premiers, winning in a close one.

Another derby means the Dragons will fire up but Sharks to win by around 10.

Canterbury are improving and the Cowboys have been patchy but Nth Qld to get this one.

Wests Tigers deserved their win over Brisbane on the weekend and should double up against the woeful Knights. 

AJ Mithen

Roosters, Storm, Eels, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Sharks, Cowboys, Tigers

Only a few more games until my inevitable re-coronation as The Roar’s premier rugby league expert. Ride along with me, folks!

Roosters over Broncos with no real confidence – neither team entertained last week but I just think the Chooks take an edge.

Storm over Titans but they won’t get the usual blowout. This should put Melbourne back on top four track.

Eels over Manly, who if reports are to be believed can’t stand the sight of one another right now. Eels should have the class.

Bunnies over Warriors but the kiwis are putting up more of a fight these days.

Your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders will welcome a busted up yet still arrogant Penrith and tan their hides to the tune of 56 points, continuing their charge to a home final.

Sharks over Dragons cos Dragons can’t beat anyone good. 

Tigers over Knights cos WTF is going on in the Hunter, my god.

Mary Konstantopoulos 

Roosters, Storm, Eels, Rabbitohs, Panthers, Sharks, Cowboys, Tigers

One of the features that I have loved about the 2022 season is that just five weeks from the Finals, the makeup of the top eight remains in contention. This game is important to both teams as they push for different positions on the ladder. The Roosters have a positive record in recent years against the Brisbane Broncos and I expect this to continue on Thursday night. Pat Carrigan is a big loss for the Broncos as he is a big part of their success in pushing down the field. With more on the line for the Roosters in this game, I’m picking them.

The Storm will beat a Titans team that has really lost its way and bizarrely made the decision to rest Toby Sexton this week. 

I’m curious to see how Manly will come together as a team following the debacle with their jersey last week. It’s also unclear how Parramatta will turn up given the loss of Mitchell Moses and the inclusion of Jake Arthur. I still think Parramatta will win this game, but for Manly either the team will come back more united, or struggle given the challenges the team faced last week.

The Rabbitohs will bank two points against the Warriors ahead of what looks to be a challenging run home for them.

The Sharks will beat the Dragons and secure their top four position. The Dragons look finished for this year and in particular the injury to Cody Ramsey has really hurt them.

The next game will be interesting as it may take the Panthers some time to adjust to have Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai out. I’m still picking the Panthers but given the Raiders season is on the line, I expect this one to be close.

The Cowboys will beat the Bulldogs, but I am predicting that plenty of points will be scored given the attacking flair the Bulldogs have shown in recent weeks.

The Tigers will also win against the Knights, who have been absolutely diabolical.

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Danielle Smith 

Broncos, Storm, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Sharks, Cowboys, Knights

I’m going the Broncos purely because the Roosters should have belted Manly last week missing the Rainbow-Seven.

Melbourne are back! And the Titans are at flight centre booking their end of year trip.

I’m tipping Manly for the same reason I tipped the Broncos – because the Eels should have put on a cricket score against a 12-man Panthers side, and they ended up losing the second half. And without Mitchell Moses I think they are in for a tough night. 

This will be a lot closer than people think. Bunnies just. 

This will be a great game. The Raiders to get home not just because of no Cleary and Luai, but because they are playing some great footy. 

Cronulla to smash the Dragons in the local derby. 

This one will be such an entertaining game, but the Cowboys will get the job done.

You all know that I’m a sucker for punishment. As always, I’m tipping my Knights. 

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