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The Roar’s NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 11

19th May, 2021
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19th May, 2021
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The great high tackle crackdown of 2021 has arrived, but there are some huge games on the radar for Round 11 as the build-up to Origin hits full swing. Here is how The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel see this weekend playing out.

For weeks, the NRL had been touting the use of the sin bin and send offs for high contact, but at magic round, it got a proper workout with three send-offs in the same week, scenes not seen since… Well. Maybe The Roar’s older audience would remember if it has ever happened.

Anyway, removed from magic round where the on-field action was a little on the one-sided end, Round 11 promises some far more intriguing contests.

Whether it’s the Panthers taking on the Rabbitohs in Dubbo on Sunday, the Raiders looking to find something against the Storm, or Parramatta facing a rampant Manly at Bankwest, there should be some excellent games.

There may also be a couple of duds early in the week, with the Knights travelling to Townsville for a clash with the Cowboys on Thursday, the Sharks ‘hosting’ the Dragons at Kogarah, and the Tigers doing battle with the Warriors.

The other two games, both on Saturday, sees the Titans host the Bulldogs, and the Roosters take on the Broncos who, one week appear to be turning the corner, and the next heading back down the greasy pole of obscurity.

With only one upset last weekend, it was The Barry claiming another seven alongside Mary and The Crowd. David and myself had six, while AJ again brought up the rear with five. It means The Barry leads The Crowd by a point, with the rest of the field starting to look towards the three Origin games and the fresh scores that come with it for a chance at redemption.

Remember to get your tips into the form below by 6pm (AEDT) this evening to join The Roar’s NRL tipping competition for 2021 and be featured as part of The Crowd’s tips for Round 11.

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Mary will lead us away this week.

Mary Konstantopoulos

Tips: Cowboys, Warriors, Dragons, Titans, Roosters, Storm, Rabbitohs, Eels

Things looked dire for the Cowboys at the start of the season, but over the last couple of weeks, the team seem to be adjusting to Todd Payten’s coaching style. It’s for this reason and for their improvement over recent weeks they will beat the Knights.

The Knights have been inconsistent at best and with their own coach questioning the team’s fortitude, I am struggling to tip them.

The Tigers really surprised me last weekend and Michael McGuire’s changes to his squad were vindicated in the end. Unfortunately, the Tigers have also been inconsistent this year and it’s for that reason I’m tipping the Warriors. At times, the Warriors have demonstrated what exciting footy they can play, especially when Kodi Nikorima has the ball. I expect them to get the win.

Kodi Nikorima of the Warriors passes

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

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The Sharks look checked out in 2020 and it’s no surprise given the coaching changes that has happened. For that reason, I’m picking the Dragons.

I’m fairly confident in my next three tips; the Titans will beat the Bulldogs, the Roosters will beat the Broncos and the Storm should have no problem beating a Raiders team that is really struggling at the moment.

The next tips are trickier.

The Rabbitohs are a team that can genuinely challenge the Panthers. Given that the Rabbitohs are getting some key players back this weekend including Latrell Mitchell and Campbell Graham I’m tipping an upset.

I’m also tipping the Eels to beat the Sea Eagles. This game should give us a real indication of where the Sea Eagles are at the moment and whether they are actual contenders or a team simply making up numbers in the top eight.

The Barry

Tips: Cowboys, Warriors, Sharks, Titans, Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Eels

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Looks like we’re in for an interesting couple of weeks. Do teams adapt to the new environment? Does the NRL hold strong? Or, as tends to happen, do things so slowly slide back to how they were?

Either way should make tipping a little more spicy over the next month or so. Something needed to.

Cowboys had been on a mini-run prior to meeting the Roosters and were far from disgraced. Losing by 14 in 2021 is the new equivalent of a two-point ball game. I think the Cowboys attack will have too many points and so will the Knights defence.

Madge and his magic eight-ball cost me a perfect round last week. The Tigers haven’t won two games on the bounce this year. The Warriors are playing a bit tougher and you never know what you’ll get with the Tigers.

Judging by social media this week, the Dragons were good things beaten when V’Landys and his cronies conspired to sabotage it. Sure, Ryan Papenhuyzen has been knocked out of at least 150 minutes of footy but who’s fault is that? If he hadn’t ducked his head the swinging arm never would have knocked him out. Don’t get me started on poor old Josh “wasn’t me” McGuire. Sharks to add to Dragons woes.

I feel a bit of an upset brewing at CBus… Or it could just be the dodgy yum cha I had for lunch. Can’t bring myself to tip the Dogs although I’m looking forward to seeing the young blokes getting a run.

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I was sceptical of Trent Robinson looking after his young superstar. But credit where it’s due, even with the Roosters crippling injury toll what seemed like a matter of when has now become Suaalii or su-won’t-he. Roosters.

Josh Papalii was another player robbed by the refs. The Bulldogs’ Tui Katoa recklessly threw his head into the point of big Josh’s shoulder, who was minding his own business. Somehow he’s the one sidelined. What injustice awaits this week? Storm.

Souths have plenty of players returning but I still feel like they’d be wishing this game was in a couple of weeks. The Rabbitohs have conceded 122 points in their last four outings and that’s not a good recipe for success against the Panthers.

The last game is potentially the match of the round for mine. I give the Sea Eagles a red hot chance but the deciding factor is BankWest Stadium. Still wouldn’t blow my hair back if Turbo got Manly home.

David Holden

Tips: Cowboys, Warriors, Dragons, Titans, Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Eels

As if tipping wasn’t hard enough, now we’ve got to factor in the chance of your pick’s second rower forgetting that times have changed. You just can’t smack the opposition in the head and expect nothing to come of it.

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I really thought the Warriors were a chance against the Eels last week but I forgot the cardinal rule. The top five sides on the ladder simply don’t lose to anyone in the bottom eleven. It’s a rule to live by for the rest of the season.

With the magic over, Thursday footy is back. The Knights have had more than their share of injuries this year, but a team seen to be firmly on the up is heading the other direction with a bullet. Adam O’Brien will read the riot act but I’m not 100 per cent sure this team cares. The Cowboys are improving and will win in Townsville.

Kyle Feldt and Justin O'Neil of the Cowboys celebrate after winning

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

The Warriors cost me last weekend so do I trust them to rebound. I just don’t think Luke Brooks and Moses Mbye will turn the Tigers golden. I’m sure we have seen them mess up before. This is your last chance, Warriors, don’t let me down.

I told myself I wasn’t going to tip the Sharks again until they won, and despite playing an undermanned Dragons, I haven’t changed my mind. The Sharks are likely to be missing five of their best 17 as well, we just don’t read about that. It hurts, but the Dragons will win.

First up on Saturday we have the Titans and Bulldogs. Not too many sides can get out to a lead, play 13 on 12 and manage to find a way to lose. The Bulldogs are special, not in a good way, and Kyle Flanagan will be smirking. The Titans will win this one.

I’ll be honest, I thought Albert Kelly had retired. This isn’t shuffling the deckchairs, it’s manning the lifeboats. The Broncos are taking water. It won’t get better this weekend with the Roosters making the Broncos regret they let Sam Walker go.

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The Raiders may be sitting in eighth spot, but something is rotten in Canberra and this time, at least, it’s not the Australian parliament. Let’s face it, this year’s grand final will be the Panthers and Storm. The Storm just don’t lose these types of games.

Dubbo gets to host the match of the round between the Rabbits and the Panthers. The return of Latrell Mitchell definitely strengthens South Sydney, but they are playing a side that has conceded just 72 points all year. How do you beat that? The short answer is you don’t.

Here we go again, Manly and Parra. This one has all the makings of a classic. The Eels are just quietly going about their business in 2nd spot whilst Tommy Turbo’s Eagles have fought their way into the eight. Home ground advantage has a large bearing on this. I’m with the Eels.

Scott Pryde

Tips: Cowboys, Warriors, Dragons, Titans, Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Eels

There are going to be some excellent games of rugby league this weekend. Unfortunately, the first will not be one of them, but in Townsville, and with the Knights on who knows what planet at the moment, and still no Kalyn Ponga, the Cowboys should get the chocolates.

The Tigers made a stack of changes last week which we all laughed at, before Michael Maguire spent all of Friday night laughing at everyone else with egg on their face. Still, the Tigers have been an inconsistent commodity. Up one week, down the next. Not to say the Warriors are consistent of course, but their push for finals action needs a win here, and I reckon they’ll get it.

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The local derby on Friday night. Cronulla are not going all that well. The Dragons have a thousand (not literally, but thankyou NRL) players out. Still, I can’t bring myself to tip the Sharks to beat the men in red and white.

The next two should see 99.999 per cent of people tip the Titans and Roosters. Canterbury were gallant against the Raiders last week, but still don’t have any points in them. The Titans issue is defence, but it won’t matter here.

Meanwhile, suggesting the Broncos might beat the Roosters is like suggesting AJ will ever tip anything other than the Raiders by 56.

Speaking of the Raiders, and boy do they hate playing the Storm in Canberra. Normally, you’d give them the benefit of at least being competitive, but with no Josh Papalii against a Melbourne outfit firing on all cylinders despite injuries? Yeah, give me the Storm by 56.

Penrith are so overdue for a loss it’s not funny, and yet I can’t bring myself to tip them having one yet. South Sydney’s defence is a mess, and that isn’t a cause for a positive result against the Nathan Cleary-led Panthers.

Parramatta and Manly is the hardest game to tip for mine, but at Bankwest, and with the Eels on fire in attack during the first 20 last week, they should have too much for Turbo and his Sea Eagles, particularly if Reed Mahoney continues to exploit the pace of the game like he did against the Warriors.

Clint Gutherson of the Eels warms up

(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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AJ Mithen

Tips: Cowboys, Tigers, Dragons, Bulldogs, Roosters, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Eels

It seems there’s nothing NRL head office won’t do to stop me going back-to-back and a third title in four years. Just as I’m about to pounce, they change the whole setup and blow the game apart with sinbins, sendoffs and penalties just to rig the game against my tips.

It’s just disgusting stuff but not really unexpected, to be completely honest.

Cowboys to beat the Knights who pretend to be pretenders.

Tigers over Warriors, who remain completely and utterly untippable.

Dragons over Sharks on principle because Cronulla’s suit wearers have butchered their club for nothing but their own ego boosts.

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Bulldogs over Titans because I am going to need at least one miracle this week, and Roosters over Broncos because I love Trent Robinson. No frills, tells it how it is. An incredible coach and football brain. Also, lol, Broncos.

Your premiership favourites, the beautiful Canberra Raiders to overcome an incredible array of talent being stolen away by the NRL’s unjust crackdown, which clearly targeted the Raiders. People will be writing songs about how the men in green welcomed the wrestling, grubby purple people eaters to Bruce Stadium and sent them packing to the tune of 56 points!

Rabbitohs over Panthers, cos I am going to need at least two miracles this week. And I love Wayne.

FInally, Eels over the Manly Trbojevic but Tommy will make this one very close.

Round 11 AJ Mary David The Barry Scott Crowd
NQL v NEW NQL NQL NQL NQL NQL NQL
NZL v WST WST NZL NZL NZL NZL NZL
CRO v STI STI STI STI CRO STI CRO
GLD v CBY CBY GLD GLD GLD GLD GLD
SYD v BRI SYD SYD SYD SYD SYD SYD
CAN v MEL CAN MEL MEL MEL MEL MEL
SOU v PEN SOU SOU PEN PEN PEN PEN
PAR v MAN PAR PAR PAR PAR PAR PAR
Last week 5 7 6 7 6 7
Total 46 56 57 61 54 60

Remember to get your tips in on the form below by 6pm tomorrow to be counted as part of The Crowd for this weekend.

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