Opinion
A draw? Nobody saw that coming last weekend, especially not Anthony Seibold with his Manly side up by eight with less than two minutes remaining in regulation time against the Warriors.
The good news is nobody loses but the bad news in tipping parlance is that nobody gets a point either.
Parramatta scored the biggest upset of the round by knocking over the Cowboys while the depleted Roosters’ win in Newcastle and St George Illawarra toppling the Tigers also caught most tipsters unawares.
And sometimes when you lose, you win, like Jason Demetriou, who was spared the axe by South Sydney after his team put up a gallant performance amid a raft of injuries before going down to Cronulla.
Among The Roar’s panel of experts last week, there were a few fives but no perfect rounds with Mike Meehall Wood surging into outright possession of the overall lead.
Looking ahead to Round 7, the Thursday night opener between the Roosters and Storm should be a classic clash, while the two Sunday games are tough to call with the Bulldogs hosting the Knights and Cronulla at home to North Queensland.
Here’s how the experts see Round 7 unfolding.
Storm, Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Knights, Sharks
Talk about a fall from grace. A horrible week for me last time out and time to make amends.
Bad news at the Roosters set to galvanise them against the Storm? I don’t think so, yet another win at the death for Bellamy’s men. The Warriors are a far better football team than the Dragons and should get the job done in the Gong.
In a first for the year I’ll side with the Eels against the wounded Dolphins and cannot see the Tigers getting anywhere near the Panthers on Saturday afternoon in Bathurst. Logic says the Sea Eagles beat the Titans on the Gold Coast, yet this one has me worried. Plenty of points and golden point possible.
The Broncos sprang to life last week, yet the consistent Raiders will be no pushover. Home ground might be the swinging factor here. Goodness me, the Bulldogs and the Knights is a certain toss of the coin! Traditionally, Newcastle is a bogey team for the blue and whites and that is enough for me to side with them.
The round ends with what looks the best of an average bunch of matches and the Sharks at home should have the running power to threaten the Cowboy backline defence enough times to make inroads that result in plenty of points.
James Fisher-Harris. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Roosters, Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Knights, Sharks
Blimey, we at Round 7 ALREADY? Chooks at home, but this is the coin flip of all coin flips. Both sides have a few changes and a few outs and ins, but given their own field strengths, it is a pure game of who plays smarter, not harder.
The Dragons have had a nightmare turnaround, and with Jack Bird stood down that will only make things more difficult for the hosts. Wahs are a more cohesive side, so they get the pick for me.
The Eels did well at home against the Cowboys last week, and with barely any changes to their side, they’ll hopefully view this as a good opportunity to pick up some momentum. Dolphins have been so hot and cold, and are even more unpredictable on the road.
God darn it. I tip them ONCE, and the Tigers let me down! Fortunately, this one is a lot easier. Panthers by a landslide.
The Titans advanced in leaps and bounds down in Canberra, but they are far from firing right now. Throw in a few more changes to their squad, and I think Manly has enough to get the job done.
Raiders have been stringing some wins together, but I always find them spotty on the road. That Canberra air does something to them. Broncos have minimal changes, so I see them getting the job done at home.
Ponga in, the Knights are favourites. Should be a close match at Homebush, and the Bulldogs look to be improving after last year, but the Knights will know this is a crucial opportunity on the road. I think they’ll take it.
Tell you what, Cronulla are really growing on me this season. Like the way they are playing, and the approach they are taking. Plus, it is always good to see Kayal Iro doing well! Cowboys have had minimal changes, but I reckon a second week on the road will come back to bite them.Anyone reckon Souths will win the bye?
Storm, Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Bulldogs, Sharks
This should be a quality match between two teams who are still looking to find their best in 2024. The Storm make me look a fool whenever I tip against them, so I am picking them to beat a Roosters team still missing some key players.
The Dragons are one of the most inconsistent teams in the competition and seem to have one good game followed by a bad game. On that basis I am tipping against the Warriors, even though the Warriors have an appalling record in Wollongong.
The Eels will beat the Dolphins who are struggling with injuries to key players and a lack of depth to cover it and the Panthers will beat the Wests Tigers.
The Sea Eagles will beat the Titans, who have looked appalling for most of this season and I think the Broncos will beat the Raiders in a high scoring contest.
The Bulldogs have been much improved in recent weeks and Viliame Kikau is back to his best. I’m tipping an upset here and think they will beat a Knights side, who is having a lot of troubling icing their finishes at the moment.
The Cowboys are wacky and unpredictable, but in this game I think the Sharks pack will be too strong, especially when the Cowboys interchange comes on. Sharks to win.
Storm, Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Broncos, Bulldogs, Sharks
The Roosters vs Storm encounter to open the round should be the best contest, at least the one with the highest skill level with a lot of mismatches to follow. It’s hard to get too excited about the Roosters – they are a nearly team so far this year whereas the Storm have continued to be a machine. Melbourne in a close one.
St George Illawarra were good last weekend so they will be on the rocks in Wollongong this time around against the Warriors if their season pattern continues.
Parramatta were committed against the Cowboys but they pretty much only have to ensure they board their flight to Darwin to be certain of two competition points against the Redcliffe Queensland Cup team.
The Tigers upset Penrith in the corresponding match last year. Lightning won’t strike twice.
Gold Coast were desperately unlucky to lose to Canberra – whether they are fortunate or not, Manly will make a meal of them.
Brisbane will put a big score on the Raiders if the Green Machine is as clunky as Sunday night’s performance against the Titans.
Canterbury to beat the Knights although each team has a habit of playing poorly when you tip them and well when you don’t.
Cronulla and the Cowboys are both in the top four but neither coach is too happy with what each team has displayed this year. Shark Park advantage should prove decisive.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Roosters, Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Raiders, Bulldogs, Cowboys
The Roosters kick off my journey back to tipping glory after they knock over the Storm. The Warriors in a squeaker over St George Illawarra, Eels to take care of business against the Dolphins’ back-up back-ups.
Panthers in a grind over the Tigers, Manly unconvincingly over the Titans, and your presumptive champions, the people’s team the Canberra Raiders will put the NRL’s attempt to steal a win off them into the past as they head north to lay a casual 56 on the hapless Broncos.
Bulldogs are a chance to put a crooked number on the Knights, they’ve been trying to bust out all year and this might be it. Finally, Cowboys to show some mettle and sneak past the underwhelming yet winning Cronulla.
Roosters, Warriors, Eels, Panthers, Manly, Broncos, Dogs, Sharks
Melbourne have been a little lucky in their recent wins, and with a few bodies back on deck, I’ll go for the Chooks with little confidence.
The Dragons are better than they were but are still a long way off the Warriors. Up the Wahs.
Parra in Drawin tends to end badly but if they can’t beat a knackered Phins side then we can all go home. Parra take it.
The Panthers are on the back of a bye and, barring a monsoon like last year in Bathurst, will be far too good for the Tigers.
The Titans were unlucky on the weekend but are still broadly rubbish, which means even with my love of reverse psychology, I’m taking my Beaches Boys.
The Bronx lost this game last year but they won’t be that bad twice. Brisbane to win though it’ll be close.
The Dogs are better than their results suggest and will get a much needed win over a Knights team that might yet lose Ponga. If he’s out, Canterbury are favourites.
The Sharkies have been great and will score enough while having the requisite defence to frustrate the Cowboys.
| Round 7 | Stuart Thomas | Nick Wasiliev | Mary Konstantopoulos | Paul Suttor | AJ Mithen | Mike Meehall Wood | The Crowd |
| SYD v MEL | Storm | Roosters | Roosters | Storm | Roosters | Roosters | ? |
| SGI v NZW | Warriors | Warriors | Warriors | Warriors | Warriors | Warriors | ? |
| PAR v DOL | Eels | Eels | Eels | Eels | Eels | Eels | ? |
| PEN v WST | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | ? |
| GCT v MAN | Manly | Manly | Manly | Manly | Manly | Manly | ? |
| BRI v CBA | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Raiders | Broncos | ? |
| CBY v NEW | Bulldogs | Knights | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | ? |
| CRO v NQC | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | ? |
| Last Round | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 2024 tally | 30 | 30 | 25 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 31 |
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