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Opinion
Are you ready? Hey are you ready for this?
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip to the sound of the beat, yeah
Another coach bites the dust
Another one gone, another coach bites the dust
Brad Arthur on Monday became the second NRL coach to be sent packing and we are not even halfway through the season.
The Eels were a train wreck against the Storm on Sunday at Magic Round and the board pulled the oldest trick in the book, a vanishing act of making the coach disappear.
Tipping wise there were a couple of upsets with the Warriors knocking over the Panthers and Canberra getting the better of Canterbury.
Looking ahead to Round 12 and the Eels, with Trent Barrett at the helm, will try to salvage their season against the other team that has a caretaker coach, South Sydney were his old St George Illawarra teammate Ben Hornby is guiding the last-placed side after Jason Demetriou recently got the punt.
There are a few toss-ups this round with the Bulldogs hosting the Dragons, Tigers travelling north to face the Cowboys, injuries bringing Melbourne back to the field against Manly, the rejuvenated Raiders in Canberra to greet the Roosters and the Dolphins no sure thing in Auckland against the Warriors.
Here’s how the experts see Round 12 unfolding.
Bulldogs, Cowboys, Storm, Roosters, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Dolphins
There are few better rivalries than the Dogs and the Dragons, yet neither will be winning the premiership this season. Quite honestly, this is a toss up and as much as I loathe tipping my mob, the Dogs should win this one with Ben Hunt the only real danger of that not happening.
Are the Cowboys building towards something? Hard to see it but they do have far too much in the arsenal for the Tigers in North Queensland.
With Hughes back (maybe) and after a loss, it is hard to see the Storm losing two on the trot. I think they beat a bumbling Manly team that does not appear to be able to take a trick at the minute. I’m baffled by the Roosters and the Raiders yet have been in Canberra over the years to see the home side do well against them. This time around it
will be the Chooks, despite Dominic Young conceding tries through dopey errors. High scoring affair.
The Sharks and the Panthers looks the match-up of the season thus far and the mountain men will be too good in the forwards. Yet another season where the Sharks have plenty but just not enough? Will anyone turn up to watch the Rabbitohs and the Eels? Two essentially coach-less teams and Trent Barrett set to finally be jettisoned from the coaching ranks after doing nothing to improve this awful Parramatta unit.
The Broncos should beat the Titans and are steadying the longer the season goes, despite being without their inspirational half-back. Most will be cheering on the Titans but this might just be a bridge too far. Can the Warriors back up the heroics of Round 11? They probably can but something tells me this Dolphins outfit is heading for the top
eight in 2024 and they might have too many points in them for the home side.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Storm, Roosters, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Warriors
It’s the two big improvers kicking us off, and I’m hype! However, I think the Doggies have been the more consistent of the two, and I love even more that its followed by the two sides that are literally walking question marks.
It’s good to see the Cowboys finally get a win, but the fact it was over the basketcase that is the Bunnies also says a lot. I think the Tigers can spring a surprise, and seriously hope we don’t a repeat of the fixture last year.
This’ll be a closer game than expected, especially because the Sea Eagles are at home, but the Storm have been looking good, even despite the Sharkies loss.
Dare I go against the Green Machine at home? Their record is good, but I reckon the Chooks will be up for this one – especially after Magic Round’s loss.
Oh blimey…. probably the match of the year so far! Actually think we’re gonna be in for a thriller in the shire. You know what? I’m flipping a coin on this as I type it. Sharks. Yep, feels right. I love that straight after this match we’ve got the two sides that couldn’t be farther from the top of the ladder!
It’s a weird weekend of pairings! Bunnies have been the slightly more competitive of the two, if you can say that. Plus, they’re at home. Broncos should get this game done convincingly – Des’ Titans are growing week on week but this is a step too far in my opinion.
In typical fashion, this round finishes with the two most unpredictable sides – I’ve honestly found it perplexing getting a read on both the Wahs and the Phins. I’m going Warriors at home – but then they’ve slipped up a few times!
Bulldogs, Cowboys, Storm, Roosters, Sharks, Eels, Broncos, Warriors
The Bulldogs were extremely disappointing at Magic Round but I continue to be impressed with their improvement this week. The key for them is to get Viliame Kikau plenty of ball and it should be enough to see them get the win against the Dragons.
The Tigers made some really poor decisions last week in their game against the Dolphins and it doesn’t get any easier given their injury concerns. This is an important game for the Cowboys who will win and clock up another important victory before Origin starts to wreck havoc with their roster.
Even without Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes the Storm continue to play some exciting attacking footy. Manly look lost at the moment after a couple of tough weeks. Storm to win.
The Roosters may be coming off a loss, but it was a loss where they still played really well. I’m looking forward to this game and even though I think the Roosters will win, it will still be a good test for the Raiders to see where they are really at.
The Sharks will continue with their impressive form and beat the Panthers and more out of desperation, I’m picking the Eels to beat the Bunnies.
The Broncos will beat the Titans in a high scoring affair and the Warriors will back up their sensational win at Magic Round with a victory at home over the Phins.
Bulldogs, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Warriors
If anyone says to you they know who is going to win on Thursday night, you are allowed to get out your duelling gloves and apply a light slap to their face. Bulldogs looked like they were getting some momentum then they lost to the Raiders at Magic Round. The Dragons are rested off the bye but unreliable. Dogs, just.
The Cowboys will turn a five-game losing streak into a two-match “revival” by beating the bumbling Bunnies at Magic Round and the struggling Tigers coming off a five-day turnaround.
Manly are getting Melbourne at the perfect time – no Munster, Hughes not totally fit if he does play, Papenhuyzen out. Sea Eagles in a close one.
Canberra keep getting disrespected and under-rated so in keeping with that, the Roosters to win in Bruce.
Cronulla are playing better at the moment than Penrith and with Nathan Cleary out, the home side should get up.
Souths and Parra will be the best match of the round … of NSW Cup. As far as an NRL standard clash, hopes are low. Eels should not lose better than the Bunnies.
Titans usually arc up against Brisbane but the Broncs will have too much firepower. The Warriors need to back up their Magic Round renaissance but the Dolphins are too consistent.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Dragons, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Raiders, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Broncos, Warriors
I feel this week to be season 2024’s ‘round of upsets’. Which of you cowards will have the courage to follow this tipping confidence?
Dragons will get the Bulldogs who can’t score against 13 men, or keep 11 men out. Cowboys beat bad teams so they’ll beat the Tigers.
Manly will get past the Storm after blowing a massive lead and barely hanging on. Your presumptive champions, the people’s team the Canberra Raiders will welcome the hapless Roosters to the capital and prove their hospitality by laying a casual 56 on their outmatched opponent.
Panthers over the Sharks cos they have the defence. Bunnies over Eels cos they’re both horrible. Broncos on the Titans, the Warriors to keep their noses in front of the Dolphins.
Bulldogs, Cowboys, Storm, Roosters, Sharks, Souths, Broncos, Warriors
This is a real tight clash with the Dogs playing decent footy and the Dragons off a bye, though it could be a bit of a bludger to watch with defences on top…I’ll take Canterbury on home advantage.
You couldn’t give me a low enough price on the Cows. They’ll thrash the battered Tigers.
I actually think Manly will win this game, as we have a decent record against the Storm and at Brookie in general, but in the interests of reverse psychology, go the Storm.
The Raiders at home on a Saturday afternoon should be a challenge, but this Roosters team will have the points in them to make it count. Great game in the offing, though. The Sharkies are on a roll and the Panthers are off a defeat.
It’s probably the first time I’ve tipped against Penrith in a long time, but I can’t see past Cronulla.
I backed Souths last week and they very nearly did it for me. Being a glutton for punishment, I shall do so again here, with hope that their new halves combo pays off.
The Bronx are a little shaky, especially if Haas is out (as might well happen) but nobody in their right mind can tip the Titans against them at the moment.
The Wahs at home against a Phins side on a roll…it should be a belter and is tough to pick, so I’ll take NZ on home advantage
| Round 12 | Stuart Thomas | Nick Wasiliev | Mary Konstantopoulos | Paul Suttor | AJ Mithen | Mike Meehall Wood | The Crowd |
| CBY v SGI | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Bulldogs | Dragons | Bulldogs | ? |
| NQC v WT | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | Cowboys | ? |
| MSE v MEL | Storm | Manly | Storm | Manly | Manly | Storm | ? |
| CBA v SYD | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Roosters | Raiders | Roosters | ? |
| CRO v PEN | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Sharks | Panthers | Sharks | ? |
| SSY v PAR | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | Eels | Eels | Rabbitohs | Rabbitohs | ? |
| BRS v GCT | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | ? |
| NZW v DOL | Dolphins | Warriors | Warriors | Dolphins | Warriors | Warriors | ? |
| Last Round | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 2024 tally | 57 | 58 | 49 | 59 | 52 | 59 | 58 |
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