Hey Roarers!
After another epic Origin match, it’s back to regular footy.
Fans didn’t need to worry about watching a boring Origin-affected Cowboys/Panthers game last Friday night in Townsville, because it was an absolute cracker! Both sides out on their feet battled for 88 minutes until Scott Drinkwater scored a tremendous golden point try for a 27-23 win for the Cowboys.
Oh, Newcastle. (Sigh) The Roosters have been playing like busteds for weeks now, and despite losing Luke Keary mid-game with a suspected fractured jaw, and the Knights playing at home and having approximately 17,859 chances to score tries, they still lost to the Tricolours 18-16.
Mitch Moses who? It was the King Gutho show on Saturday night at CommBank Stadium when the Eels had a party against a woeful Sea Eagles for a 34-4 win. And Ryan Matterson at five-eighth – that was not on my 2023 Bingo Card!
Tigers and Storm at Campbelltown………..players ran around…….made some tackles…….did some stuff…….Storm won 28-6……….AND ALEX TWAL SCORED HIS FIRST NRL TRY IN 116 GAMES!!!!!!! And Vossy’s call of the history-making moment was just as glorious. Stuff to tell the grandkids about.
And the Sharks bounced back on Sunday afternoon from a few bad losses to trounce the (not in the Top 8) Bulldogs 48-10 at Shark Park. Nicho had a great game, while the poor Dogs are definitely on Struggle Street.
Stuart and Paul both tipped 4, AJ, Mary, you legends in The Crowd and myself tipped 3, while Mike got 2. Stuart extends his lead out to 74, with Mary and Mike tied for second on 70. Paul and The Crowd are in third on 69, AJ is in fourth on 62 and I’m out the back playing LIV Golf on 59.
OK, onto Round 17!
The Dragons – who have had a nice calm week off with no distractions or anything disastrous happening – host the Warriors tonight at 8pm at WIN Stadium. All eyes will be on Ben Hunt – will he play?
Super Saturday kicks off at 3pm in lovely warm conditions at Sunshine Coast Stadium when the Dolphins take on the Eels. Can the visitors make it five wins in a row or will Bennett’s men get back into the winner’s circle?
Make sure you pack a beanie as we make our way down to BlueBet Stadium to see an Origin-weary Panthers take on a Knights team fresh off the bye at 5.30pm.
Then get out all the Eskimo gear as we continue travelling south for the last game of the night, when the Storm host the Sea Eagles – minus the unluckiest man in footy Tommy Turbo – down at AAMI Park.
Lucky for us, we also get a Super Sunday this weekend. Heading back up to the warmer conditions of Suncorp Stadium for the Broncos and the Titans at 2pm. Not only are there 1000 Origin players in the mix from both sides, but let’s see how the sacking of coach Justin Holbrook also affects Tino and his men.
The Rabbitohs and the Cowboys do battle at Accor Stadium at 4.05pm, then it’s a hop skip and a jump across to Allianz Stadium for the Roosters and the Raiders at 6.15pm.
The Bulldogs, Tigers and Sharks get the bye. I think Twal is running a try-scoring class for those who can make it.
If you would like to 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!
Stuart Thomas
Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Storm, Broncos, Rabbitohs, Roosters
I’m not quite sure why I’m picking the Dragons over the Warriors on Friday night. Actually, I’m not. A late change of heart and Andrew Webster’s men to continue their roll towards the finals.
As I wrote a fortnight ago, this is the run of matches the Eels have been waiting for, with the Dolphins their toughest opponent in the short term. Deeper inside the top eight head, Parramatta with a comfortable win.
Penrith will be challenged on the backup after Origin, yet should be able to cobble together a team good enough to get the points against the Knights.
Melbourne are looking a little more like their old selves and ready to inflict a second straight comprehensive loss on the Sea Eagles.
The Broncos backline keeps performing and in what looms as an interesting match and opportunity for the Titans, will do so again at Suncorp on Sunday.
The Rabbitohs will beat the Cowboys.
In the final match of the round in the weekend twilight, the Roosters will earn their second win on the trot in a golden point thriller against the Raiders.
You heard it here first!
Josh Curran. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Mary Konstantopoulos
Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Storm, Broncos, Rabbitohs, Roosters
The Dragons seem to be in the media for all the wrong reasons at the moment. Given it is unlikely Ben Hunt will play and how little the Warriors have been impacted by Origin, the Warriors get my tip in this first game.
The Dolphins always play stronger at home, so their game against the Eels will be close. Both teams have some massive ins, but given how well the Eels have been playing in recent weeks, they get the two points.
I can’t deny that the Knights have been playing brave footy, but brave footy doesn’t get you two points. A near full-strength Penrith will win this game easily.
The Sea Eagles were appalling last week. The return of Tommy Turbo and DCE will help, but Melbourne have looked more like themselves over the last fortnight and will win this game.
The Broncos will beat their little brother in a high-scoring game and the Bunnies will bounce back with a win against the Cowboys.
The next game will be a good one. The Roosters have been struggling over the last month, with the Raiders also up and down. With Joey Manu back to centre and a more settled spine, the Roosters will get the two points.
David Fifita. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Paul Suttor
Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Storm, Broncos, Rabbitohs,
St George Illawarra have punted their coach and their captain doesn’t want to be there. Can the last person left please turn the light off? Warriors by 4.
Dolphins are sinking mid-year, the Eels are back in the swim. Parra by 10.
Even with their galaxy of stars in Origin midweek, Penrith should be too strong for Newcastle. Panthers by 12.
Melbourne have been for the most part impressive in the past couple of month, Manly unimpressive and now they have Tommy Turbo sidelined again. Storm by 20.
Brisbane are galloping along nicely, the Titans waited until after the bye week, after he’d selected the team to then sack the coach. Broncos by 34.
Souths are depleted and this is a danger game against the Cowboys but the home-ground factor should just get them over the line. Rabbitohs by 2.
Roosters are going backwards despite beating the Knights last weekend. Raiders by 8.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Mike Meehall Wood
Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Storm, Broncos, Rabbitohs, Roosters
The Warriors have gone from untippable to, err, tippable. They’ll beat the Dragons.
Parra are on the charge, the Phins are not. Eels to win.
Penrith will walk all over Newcastle. I would love it, love it (in the Kevin Keegan voice) if we beat them…but Manly are useless at the moment and do not stand a chance in hell of getting anything out of Melbourne.
This could be a cricket score (and a Bazball one at that)The Bronx usually batter the Titans and will do so again.
Souths are less than full strength, but assuming everyone backs up, they should have too much at home for the Cowboys.
The Roosters absolutely have to win, which means they probably won’t, and it’s set up for a Sticky ambush. With no confidence, I’ll take the Chooks.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
AJ Mithen
Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Storm, Broncos, Cowboys, Raiders
I’m within touching distance of all you pretenders! And I continue to rise like a glorious, glorious tipping soufflé.
New Zealand will beat the Dragons but it’ll be close.
Eels over the Dolphins in an expected one.
Penrith to get the Knights but it’ll be reasonably tight.
Melbourne to walkover Manly.
Brisbane and the Titans will be a belter for 50 minutes before the Broncos waltz away.
Cowboys over the Bunnies in the ‘upset’.
And finally, we’ll all have a wonderful Sunday evening watching your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders as they head to Sydney to lay a casual 56 on the hapless Roosters.
Joseph Tapine. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Danielle Smith
The Dragons put on a miracle win against the Roosters after Anthony Griffin got the sack, I can’t see that hap[ending again after the Ben Hunt drama this week. Warriors for the win.
Everyone else has gone Eels, so I’m going Dolphins – Phins Up!
Melbourne are looking like themselves again and will have an easy time against Manly who have lost their way.
I think Broncos and the Titans will be a lot closer than people are saying – but Broncos will get the two points.
Another close one, but Cowboys to win with my mate Reece Robson to back up from Origin and put on another top performance.
Coin flip time! Hmmmmmmm…………..Raiders.
The Panthers were lucky earlier in the year to get away with a win thanks to a golden point field goal. Not this time! As always, I’m tipping my Knights.
| Round 17 | AJ | Danielle | Mary | Mike | Paul | Stuart | Crowd |
| STI V WAR | NZL | WAR | NZL | NZL | NZL | NZL | ? |
| DOL V PAR | PAR | DOL | PAR | PAR | PAR | PAR | ? |
| PEN V NEW | PEN | NEW | PEN | PEN | PEN | PEN | ? |
| MEL V MAN | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | ? |
| BRI V GLD | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI | ? |
| SOU V NQL | NQL | NQL | SOU | SOU | SOU | SOU | ? |
| SYD V CAN | CAN | CAN | SYD | SYD | CAN | CAN | ? |
| Last week | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Total | 62 | 59 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 74 | 69 |
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DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Aha!! now you know why I don't advertise my tips anymore ;)
Bernie
Roar Rookie
you know, i've figured it out ... all i have to do is tip the same as you, and i also would have been leading the tipsters!!!
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
LOL... Canberra v Roosters not so easy either eh? And you're very sure of Eels and Broncos?? And Who are you tipping tonight?? You sure??
Caractacus
Roar Rookie
I think the opposite, the first five games look fairly one sided on paper at least with only Souths v NQ hard to predict, Canberra should be good enough to beat the Roosters but being at home I’ve a feeling that they might sneak a win.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Afternoon Bernie - must be something wrong with my keyboard. :happy:
Bernie
Roar Rookie
david, there's something wrong with my computer. your tips have Dragons spelt W-A-R-R-I-O-R-S.
Bernie
Roar Rookie
Dragons, in a superb show of reverse psychology, run rampant over the Worriers, after B.Hunt pulls a pectoral muscle taking his seat belt off in the carpark. Showing that there's life after Benny, the Dragons pile on the points, with The Pie Man crossing for a double & 5 try assists. A still intoxicated Queenslander in a Titans shirt is evicted at half time, after trying to approach Ben, who was relaxing on the Saints bench, with a suspicious brown paper bag and the real estate section from the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Col in Paradise
Roar Rookie
You know the Roars NRL Fixtures Round 17 does not have the Roosters V Raiders game on it?...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Not so obvious round IMHO, Only the Penrith game arguably beyond much doubt. The Knights, who couldn't defeat an injured and out of form Roosters, with guys dropping like flies, don't deserve much consideration here. Panthers by plenty and O'Brien to start looking over his shoulder and updating his CV online.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I like the knights call David but I’m not sure I’ve got the confidence to tip them. I have the same feeling on the cowboys too and more likely to actually tip them.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I have always been a sucker for tipping the warriors, paying off this year.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Which means warriors are unbackable in my tipping experience...
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
I’ve always thought there has been good money to make betting agains the Warriors when they are favourites and for them as underdogs. Likewise mid-match when they get out to a two try lead, bet against them. I don’t think it would work this season, but in general you’d be making a tidy profit. I have to admit a certain satisfaction watching most tippers reluctantly start to back then, but I admire you sticking to your guns!
Redcap
Roar Guru
Fixed - forgot there was a late game on Sunday. :thumbup:
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Most games seem pretty easy to tip this week. This is the kind of game the Warriors would drop in the past (particularly against the Dragons that they have a horrible record against), but you’d have to hope they have turned a corner and the Dragons have enough distractions for them to get the win. If anything it should be a comfortable one. Most are going the Eels, but I have a sneaky suspicion the Phins will turn up for this one. I’ll go the home side in a close contest. After that it’s probably pretty ugly, with both the Storm and Panthers likely to run away with things, even with some battered up troops returning. Teams have this odd habit of winning when their coach has been sacked, but hard to see the Titans even keeping this respectable against the Broncs. Rabbits and Cows should be a really good one, and the Cows have been looking better lately. Rabbits at home, but without much confidence. The Roosters must be one of the biggest disappointments this season, and it’s about to get worse when the Raiders sneak another win against them. All in all some interesting matchups, hoping for a couple of (post-Friday) upsets.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Missing the last game mate
NQR
Roar Rookie
Truely iconic. A Bradbury moment on the League field.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Warriors – these are the games they should be winning – and winning well – if they’re the genuine item. __ Parra – the Meta-verse will put up a good fight, and Parra will probably try to sabotage themselves along the way, but will get home semi-comfortably __ Newcastle – just a feeling in my waters __ The peril – easily over the hapless Manly __ Broncos to retain the championship belt __ Nth Qld – Souths still a bit discombobulated, I reckon, and the Cowboys look like they’re back on track. __ Canberra – I’ll probably be beyond caring by 6:15 on Sunday night, but I assume the Raiders will still be on.
brookvalesouth
Roar Rookie
Manly by 8
KenW
Roar Rookie
It may not change the tips, but Hunt has confirmed that he will play this week 'I will play this week. I wouldn't let down my mates'. I haven't been very complimentary towards his actions this week but I've never seen him take the field half-hearted. Probably depends more on how his team mates are feeling - Dragons are likely to have an extreme performance this week - good or bad is the coin toss.