Hey Roarers!

It was another fantastic round of rugby league, with many doing their best to impress the Origin selectors.

Thursday night’s game included 50 sin bins, 200 penalties and 1000 stoppages and felt like it went on for three days. Somewhere in amongst it all some points were scored, and eventually, the Storm kept their winning streak against the Broncos intact, with a 24-16 victory.

On Friday night, it was the ex-Penrith assistant coach that everyone thought would succeed against the other ex-Penrith assistant coach everyone underestimated. Andrew Webster got the last laugh over Cameron Ciradlo when the Warriors took out a 24-12 win over the Bulldogs.

We then made our way out to Penrith to watch the Panthers absolutely embarrass the Roosters with a 48-4 thumping. I don’t know what is getting put into the lattes out at Bondi, but it doesn’t seem to be working.

It wasn’t to be for the Tigers and their dream of three wins in a row, with a red (and green) hot Rabbitohs taking out a 20-0 win on Saturday afternoon. You can see why the Bunnies are shaping up to be favourites this year.

The Cowboys found some much-needed form and spoilt Ben Hunt’s 300th NRL game party with a dominating 42-22 win over the Dragons on Saturday night. It was the Red V’s sixth loss on the trot, and we all know what happened next…….

Then it was down to the nation’s capital, where the Raiders were too strong for a Moses-less Eels with a 26-18 win. That flogging by the Panthers seems a distant memory now, as the Green Machine made it five wins in a row.

The trip to Bali that all of the Knights (just Bradman Best) went on obviously did the trick, as they smashed the Titans 46-26 on Sunday afternoon. People should say they all went on holiday more often!

The woes continue for the Sea Eagles, going down to the Sharks 20-14 in the last game of the round. Remember at the start of the season we all thought this was their year?

It was even across the board in the tipping this week with everyone getting six………….. EXCEPT FOR ME! Yours truly won the round with seven.

Mark it down in your diary my friends! Stuart is still leading the pack on 55, with Mike close behind on 52. Mary is third on 51, with Paul and the Crowd on 49. Then I’m on 45 with AJ back in last place on 44.

Kalyn Ponga brilliance wins the Try of the Week! ???? pic.twitter.com/7ELl3CkqtE

— NRL (@NRL) May 16, 2023

Ok, onto Round 12, and not only is it the last chance to impress before Origin selection, it is also the very important Indigenous Round – Moving Forward Together.

It’s 2nd v 3rd with the Broncos and the Panthers at 7.50pm tonight at Suncorp Stadium, home of the Yuggera & Turrbal Peoples. Reece Walsh will be doing all he can to get into the Maroons’ starting side, while Jarome Luai will bring out the big guns in his last chance to hold onto his NSW jersey.

The Dragons play their first match without Anthony Griffin at the helm on Friday night. They face the Roosters at 6pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, home of the Bidjigal and Bediagal Peoples. Will James Tedesco silence the critics that keep saying he shouldn’t be the Blues fullback?

Then it’s off to Allianz Stadium, home of the Gadigal and Bidjigal Peoples, to watch the new ladder leaders the Rabbitohs take on the Eels at 8pm. Will Campbell Graham do enough to get the call-up in Origin I?

We hit the open road for Super Saturday, making our way up to Coffs Harbour for the Sharks’ annual trek to their home away from home. They take on the Knights at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, home of the Gumbaynggirr Peoples, at 3pm. Will Nicho Hynes get the nod for NSW? Can Kalyn Ponga show everyone why he is the man to wear the number one for Queensland?

Then we make our way to Leichhardt Oval, home of the Wann-gal Peoples, for the Tigers and the Cowboys at 5.30pm. Let’s all hope there are no crazy game-defining bunker penalties on full-time again! So many Cowboys made their Origin debuts last year – who will be there again? And has Api Koroisau done enough at his new club to make the squad?

We are back to Suncorp Stadium, home of the Yuggera & Turrbal Peoples to see the Dolphins fresh off their bye take on the Storm fresh off their ‘Craig Bellamy is staying’ announcement. Will Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow surprise everyone and be the Queensland fullback?

Sunday footy kicks off at 2pm, when the Bulldogs host the Titans at Accor Stadium, home of the Burramattagal and Wann-gal Peoples. Will Josh Addo-Carr prove his fitness and earn a NSW comeback? Has David Fifita done enough to make his way back into the Maroons?

Then it’s down to GIO Stadium, home of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri Peoples, to see the Raiders and the Sea Eagles finish off the round at 4pm. Corey Horsborough and Hudson Young will be doing their best to shine, and all eyes will be on Tommy Turbo.

The Warriors get the bye – they might go and watch a few of their games over again to check out some of the penalties.

If you would like to have a go against the experts, just remember to get your tips in by 5pm tonight to be counted in The Crowd’s tips.

Happy tipping everyone!

Paving the way ????#NRLIndigenousRound pic.twitter.com/KTbmTXU62I

— NRL (@NRL) May 16, 2023

Stuart Thomas

Panthers, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Cowboys, Storm, Titans, Raiders

With Origin looming and players looking to impress, the Panthers should be far too strong for an Adam Reynolds-less Brisbane at Suncorp. Nathan Cleary will school Jock Madden and the Broncos will receive a taste of what it takes to compete deep into the NRL finals.

It will be Anzac Day all over again when the Roosters pip the Dragons in what appears to be an irrelevant game considering the battling fortunes of both teams. Neither will seriously contend in 2023 and frankly, the Roosters will go in as favourites based on little more than reputation.

Goodness me, the easiest tip of the week. The Bunnies are flying and the Eels are rubbish. Circle up for another 40-plus-points performance from the Rabbitohs.

The Knights will be buoyed by their Round 11 win over the Titans, although the men from the Gold Coast were poor and Justin Holbrook said as much in the post-game. The Sharks keep winning and are now up to fourth on the ladder heading into the weekend. Cronulla to be far too good in Coffs Harbour.

Are the Cowboys actually finding something? Five wins and six losses suggest that things are looking brighter for Todd Payten’s men. Woeful Wests could not muster a point against the Bunnies last week after two more promising recent weeks. North Queensland by plenty in a match they simply must win.

Never, ever, ever, ever write off the Storm. I did it once and looked like a goose. They were sure things against the Broncos last week and will be so once again against the Dolphins, as Craig Bellamy commits to another year at the helm.

After what appeared to be a promising start to the season, the Bulldogs are slipping. Sure, injuries have played a role, yet the troops coming back don’t appear to be helping at all. One win from their last six is far from solid form and the Titans will be better than last week after a poor fadeout against the Knights.

The Raiders have suddenly loomed into contention and the Sea Eagles look ripe for the plucking at GIO Stadium. You baffle me Ricky, but credit where it is due and the Green Machine looks likely to step into the top four with a win in this one.

Mary Konstantopoulos

Broncos, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Cowboys, Storm, Titans, Raiders

For so many of my tips this week, I’m basically flipping a coin. It speaks to the closeness of the competition this year and is a good thing.

I’m looking forward to the game between the Broncos and the Panthers and given the Broncos’ form in recent weeks, I am picking them to win. The Broncos have demonstrated they have a lot of points in them and with the confidence they are playing with, I think they can beat any team in the competition.

The Roosters to beat a Dragons team that is really struggling at the moment.

The Rabbitohs to beat the Eels, as they have done for the last couple of years in almost every clash.

The Sharks have been in exceptional form and will beat a Knights team who have shown a lot of ticker this season.

The next game should be interesting too. For some reason, I can’t recall the Tigers performing well at Leichhardt so I’m tipping a Cowboys win.

The Storm will beat the Dolphins, even though both teams love playing at Suncorp Stadium.

The Titans to have too many points in them for the Bulldogs.

The Sea Eagles are really struggling at the moment, so I’m tipping the Raiders to continue their exceptional winning streak.

Mike Meehall Wood

Panthers, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Knights, Tigers, Storm, Bulldogs, Raiders

The Broncos were decent last week, but the Panthers are cooking now and will be too strong.

The new coach bounce is a myth – Roosters to win.

The Bunnies love Indigenous Round more than anyone and will want to make the SFS feel like home too. They’ll make sure they get the points.

I wouldn’t be amazed if Newcastle turned over the Sharks, especially with this game being in Coffs Harbour, where likely they’ll have as many fans as Cronulla. I’ll take the Knights.

The Tigers at Leichhardt is not the proposition it once was, but the Cowboys are also liable to be anything at the moment. I’ll push the boat out and say Wests.

The Storm will have too much for the Dolphins. Bellamy’s men don’t make the mistakes that Redcliffe have thrived on.

The Dogs love to attack, the Titans can’t tackle. I’ll take Canterbury based on home advantage and very little else.

My Beaches boys are stinking the place out at the moment. They’ll lose to Canberra and maybe by a lot.

Paul Suttor

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

Broncos have no Adam Reynolds so they should have no chance against the premiers. Panthers by 10

Dragons are in disarray and the Roosters aren’t much better. Roosters by 8

The Eels are in danger of missing the finals, the Rabbits should win the minor premiership. Souths by 12

Newcastle are a danger team for Cronulla, particularly at close enough to Knights territory at Coffs Harbour. Sharks by 10

Leichhardt used to be a tough place for visiting teams, the Tigers will give Nth Qld a run for their money but are still lacking class. Cowboys by 2

The Dolphins will be up for the Melbourne clash with a few old Storm players in their ranks. Storm by 6

Canterbury and Gold Coast will probably let each other score 30. Bulldogs by 4

Manly have been unpredictable and it’s hard to tip them with any confidence until Tom Trbojevic and Josh Schuster are fit and firing. Raiders by 10

AJ Mithen

Panthers, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Tigers, Dolphins, Bulldogs, Raiders

It’s time to make my move. Away we go to more tipping glory. It begins here…

Penrith will strangle the Broncos cos they’re in really good form at the moment.

Roosters over Dragons but with absolutely no confidence.

Bunnies over Eels in a surprise thriller.

Sharks over Knights in another decent game I reckon.

Tigers will do over the Cowboys, just you wait and see.

I haven’t tipped the ‘The’ all season and I’ll start now for the massive upset.

Bulldogs over the Gold Coast who are now officially untippable.

Finally, your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders will wander onto Bruce Stadium and lay a casual 56 on the hapless Sea Eagles, who are running with a bunch of sponges taped together as their forward pack

Danielle Smith

Panthers, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Knights, Cowboys, Storm, Bulldogs, Raiders

I would have confidently tipped a full-strength Broncos, but without Adam Reynolds and against a Panthers side with many out to impress Origin selectors, I’ll go with Penrith.

I heard a stat this week that teams lose their first game with an interim coach. Not that I needed much convincing to tip against the Dragons, but let’s go with that.

Souths will embarrass the Eels with a cricket score.

It will be entertaining, but I don’t think Tigers and Cowboys will be as close as last year. Cowboys for a comfortable win, with my mate Reece Robson to have an absolute blinder and finally get the NSW number 9 jersey that he deserves.

Wow. This one is my coin flip – and I’m actually here arguing with the coin. Storm.

Oh dear, this game could be anything. I’m going Bulldogs but not with confidence.

This one I have full confidence. The Raiders are playing great footy and will easily beat the struggling Sea Eagles.

We played really well last week, and I just know we will do it again! As always, I’m tipping my Knights.

Round 12	AJ	Danielle	Mary	Mike	Paul	Stuart	Crowd
BRI V PEN	PEN	PEN	BRI	PEN	PEN	PEN	BRI
STI V SYD	SYD	SYD	SYD	SYD	SYD	SYD	STI
SOU V PAR	SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU	SOU
CRO V NEW	CRO	NEW	CRO	NEW	CRO	CRO	CRO
WST V NQL	WST	NQL	NQL	WST	NQL	NQL	WST
DOL V MEL	DOL	MEL	MEL	MEL	MEL	MEL	DOL
CBY V GLD	CBY	CBY	GLD	CBY	CBY	GLD	CBY
CAN V MAN	CAN	CAN	CAN	CAN	CAN	CAN	CAN
Last week	6	7	6	6	6	6	6
Total	44	45	51	52	49	55	49