Onto Round 7 then, and here comes the internet’s most fearless (read – awful) predictions you to share.
But why not get there via a few of the talking points from last weekend.
– North Queensland Cowboys have woken up to the fact they are a side who should be finishing in the top 4 with 3 wins a row, and humbling no less a team than Souths. The premiers were down on players in key positions, but no returning player would have stopped Thurston in the second half.
– Golden point is great when it is settled with a try instead of endless field goal attempts or a contentious penalty. If they made it golden try it would be a great compromise for all. But that was some kind of game on Friday night.
– Friday night’s game went live into both states, and it confirms the argument that Channel 9 should just play the best game on Friday night, not worry about the geographic concerns. They just don’t have any faith in the game of the fans.
– Big Manu Vatuvei scored on his 200th start, and always good to see him playing well. The competition needs a character like him.
ROUND 7 TIPS
FRIDAY
DRAGONS v BRONCOS
Can you believe it? Broncos are playing on a Friday night. Not that I hate the Broncos (just Channel 9), but surely we don’t need to see them every Friday night.
Both teams are on long winning runs, Brisbane 5 and Dragons 4, and both teams looked likely to be lucky to win that many in a season after Round 1.
Brisbane look the more likely to win this game as their 5 games have included Roosters, Cowboys. St George Illawarra’s have come against somewhat easier opponents.
PREDICTION – BRISBANE TO WIN
FRIDAY
BULLDOGS v MANLY
This game has already been played and the return fixture is on Friday night. Manly got the chocolates first time around, and the rumours that Daly Cherry-Evans has reneged on his Gold Coast move and will stay at manly for plenty more may be the little boost they need.
The Bulldogs are still down on troops thanks to their behaviour on Good Friday. Similar to Jesus the Bulldogs will rise again, but after three weeks not days.
PREDICTION – MANLY +8.5 start
SATURDAY
GOLD COAST v PENRITH
Similar to the previous game, this fixtures was only played not long ago in Bathurst, and Penrith looked capable of putting a Bathurst 1000 on the Titans that night. It was only 40-0, but revenge will be sought on Saturday night, probably up against a crowd of a few thousand.
Penrith turned around a bad patch with a win over new whipping boys Manly, which would have been satisfying for everyone in Penrith, and not on the north shore of Sydney.
Have the Gold Coast improved by 40 points? Probably not. Will the Panthers win? We say yes.
PREDICTION – PENRITH -3.5 start
SATURDAY
NORTH QLD v NEW ZEALAND
Two sides that are the most unpredictable meet on Saturday evening in Townsville. The Cowboys are unpredictable over the space of a few weeks ranging from consecutive losses to consecutive wins. The Warrior meanwhile are unpredictable over the space of a half, prone to go from world beater to chump in minutes.
Given the quality of the opposition that the Cowboys have beaten over the last three weeks, it is hard to see a team like NZ getting anything other than a Thurston fed lesson in League on Saturday.
PREDICTION – COWBOYS -9.5 start
SATURDAY
MELBOURNE v ROOSTERS
Somehow this game isn’t one of the Channel 9 games of the round, maybe Rabs doesn’t feel like travelling to Melbourne. Don’t worry me none, I’ve got Foxtel, but it’s still the principle.
The Roosters have loss a couple in a row now and a trip to Melbourne probably won’t help that improve. Melbourne meanwhile keep doing what they do, improving leftovers and no names from the NRL into quality players alongside the superstars.
The young Cameron Munster, a recent replacement for Billy Slater is an exciting prospect, as he’s been one of the best Queensland Cup players on show so far this season.
Melbourne should win, but it’s hard to trust those Roosters with their star studded line up. We’ll be conservative (read pissweak) with our tip for this one.
PREDICTION – MELBOURNE +4.5 start.
SUNDAY
WESTS TIGERS v CANBERRA
These sides have a couple of things in common – young promising sides, and coaches who are ex halfbacks and quite prickly.
Ricky Stuart was one of the favourites to be booted first this year, but Canberra have looked OK in patches, and Geoff Toovey at Manly has stolen the title of next coach sacked potentially.
Canberra will also enjoy the Sunday arvo sunshine, and the usual parade of night time home games are due soon will leave players in the cold in the coming months.
The Tigers did OK against NZ last weekend, but were caught up in a Vatuvei appreciation storm. There’ll be less trouble from Canberra this weekend.
Final note is the return to Leichardt. Perfect ground and size for rugby league, they should at least admit to themselves they are not ever going to be AFL, and keep all the these Sydney games to smaller, packed venues with character.
PREDICTION – CANBERRA +10.5 start
SUNDAY
NEWCASTLE v PARRAMATTA
Another good one saved for Channel 9, a bit o a theme this week and every week. This would be the perfect 2nd game on a Friday night, check the score collect the bets/tipping points, go to bed.
Who to predict? Both sides are on the slide over the last two weeks, and one of them will turn it around this weekend.
PREDICTION – PARRAMATTA +10.5 start
MONDAY
CRONULLA v SOUTHS
Souths haven’t played that well over the past few weeks – were just better than Tigers, somehow won the Good Friday game despite being outplayed for most of the game, and that form and key injuries caught up with them last Monday night when they were well beaten in the second half against the Cowboys.
Naming Glen Stewart at five eighth is a sign of how far reaching the injury list is. Not that they don’t have enough quality and firepower, it is a case of piutting a good game together.
Cronulla meanwhile are going nicely with two straight wins after four losses in a row. It is primed for an upset and that’s just the way we’ll go.
PREDICTION – CRONULLA +6.5 start.
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