Welcome to The Gurgler’s Kick to Come – our NRL Round 11 preview.
Each week we ask the big question in rugby league and answer them ourselves, mainly because no one else will. We attempt to preview each game in less than 20 words. We also provide our “best bets” on the weekend action and our tipping competition. And we indulge ourselves with something stupid, obscure or slightly time wasting, the backbone of this website.
THE NRL ROUND 11 PREVIEW MATCH BY MATCH IN 20 WORDS OR LESS OR SO
SHARKS 2nd v COWBOYS 6th
All about Thurston. Despite being retired from the Blues, Gallen can do the Blues a solid in this match. Sharks going swimmingly though.
WARRIORS 12th v DRAGONS 5th
This game is in Waikato, whether that makes any difference. Last year was the first time the Warriors had beaten the Dragons since 2007.
BRONCOS 4th v TIGERS 15th
The Moses saga is over now, and time for the rest to get on the bus. The previous bus-less Tigers beat the Broncos in Brisbane last season.
TITANS 11th v SEA EAGLES 7th
No Tom for Manly, plenty of Hayne for all. See if Manly can handle high level injuries as good as the Titans.
EELS 9th v RAIDERS 10th
Mitchell Moses finally makes his Eels debut. Let’s hope it goes better than their last star signing for the halves.
KNIGHTS 16th v PANTHERS 14th
Can the Knights make it two in a row, why not. All depends on which Penrith shows up for which half.
BULLDOGS 8th v ROOSTERS 3rd
Bulldogs couldn’t beat a previously busted arse Cowboys, what chance against the flying chooks.
RABBITOHS 13th v STORM 1st
Some Rabbitohs fans complain about going to Olympic Stadium to watch their team, how about Perth? And playing a side they have beaten just once in 10 years.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE NRL ROUND 10 PREVIEW
Q. With Mitchell Moses (aka Gurgler Jerk of the Month winner for April 2017) leaving for the Eels, is the NRL Player Market a Joke?
A. Of course it is, and happily the only answer that seems to come from the NRL pundits is that it is too hard to fix. Great, so we’ll keep the shit current system that pisses off the fans because no one can be arsed. Sounds so NRL.
We’ve already had our say in a piece published on Fox Sports – The Current NRL Player Market Stinks – and whilst it may not be THE answer, it is at least an attempt at one.
A mid season transfer window would work, as long as that was the only time you could sign players during the season. If the clubs abide and behave.
And if the clubs are the problem for tapping up players for the next season before the current one has started, and that it is perceived that the clubs will find underhanded ways of getting around signing players, then the NRL needs to grow a pair and start fining them or docking competition points for breaches.
Better still, reducing their salary cap for each offence. Now you’re talking. Hit them exactly where it hurts as it gives them less buying power for doing the wrong thing, all wrapped with a little LMB ribbon.
NRL EXTRA BIT
WHICH TEAMS HAVE MADE THE MOST ERRORS IN 2017 SO FAR?
Holding onto the football is a fundamental skill in rugby league, but in the heat of battle it can go astray from time to time, ask a Burgess brother. So we wondered how Souths can drop the ball so many times and still win a game. is the error the be all and end all stat leading to victory?
Well, below we have the errors made for the season so far with accompanying ladder position, and the result we think could be classified as mildly interesting. For instance the two competition front runners are 7th (Storm) and 16th (Sharks) for errors. Last placed Newcastle are fifth best for errors. Maybe they get less ball, maybe they aren’t adventurous enough with the ball.
A slightly more interesting point is that 5 of the bottom 8 are Sydney based teams, and Canberra and since they are the only teams that get any Sunday Afternoon Football (and nice drier conditions) you would think they could hold onto the ball better. Nocturnal club Broncos are the best, either meaning they have the superior skills under master coach Wayne Bennett or they have become so used to night football after a decade long diet of Friday / Thursday night football they have simply evolved.
Here are the results anyway.
RESULTS
Stat Rank | Club | Errors | Ladder | Difference |
1 | Broncos | 92 | 4 | 3 |
2 | Sea Eagles | 92 | 7 | 5 |
3 | Dragons | 97 | 5 | 2 |
4 | Titans | 98 | 11 | 7 |
5 | Knights | 103 | 16 | 11 |
6 | Rabbitohs | 105 | 13 | 7 |
7 | Storm | 106 | 1 | -6 |
8 | Bulldogs | 107 | 8 | 0 |
9 | Raiders | 109 | 10 | 1 |
10 | Warriors | 109 | 12 | 2 |
11 | Eels | 110 | 9 | -2 |
12 | Roosters | 111 | 3 | -9 |
13 | Wests Tigers | 113 | 15 | 2 |
14 | Cowboys | 117 | 6 | -8 |
15 | Panthers | 120 | 14 | -1 |
16 | Sharks | 122 | 2 | -14 |
Stats from nrl.com
THE GURGLER’S NRL TIPPING COMPETITION
Each week we will supply our tips for the week ahead, plus take on some guest tipsters. They are likely to determined by a ridiculous method. Will arse beat class? Probably. Pity we’re neither.
We have done it for the EPL, but next to none reads it. So we hope to get at least half of those people for the NRL tipping.
THE GURGLER’s NRL ROUND 11 PREVIEW TIPS
COWBOYS to beat Sharks
DRAGONS to beat Warriors
BRONCOS to beat Tigers
TITANS to beat Sea Eagles
EELS to beat Raiders
PANTHERS to beat Knights
ROOSTERS to beat Bulldogs
SOUTHS to beat Storm
NRL ROUND 11 PREVIEW – GUEST TIPSTER 1 – WHICH TEAM HAS MADE THE FEWEST ERRORS
Total errors and overall rank in brackets.
COWBOYS (117 – 14th) to beat Sharks (122 – 16th)
DRAGONS (109 – 10th) to beat Warriors (97 – 3rd)
BRONCOS (92 – 1st) to beat Tigers (113 – 13th)
SEA EAGLES (92 – 2nd) to beat Titans (98 – 4th)
RAIDERS (109 – 9th) to beat Eels (110 – 11th)
KNIGHTS (103 – 5th) to beat Panthers (120 – 15th)
BULLDOGS (107 – 8th) to beat Roosters (111 – 12th)
RABBITOHS (105 – 6th) to beat Storm (106 – 7th)
NRL ROUND 11 PREVIEW – REGULAR GUEST TIPSTER – THE DOG
SHARKS to beat Cowboys
DRAGONS to beat Warriors
BRONCOS to beat Tigers
TITANS to beat Sea Eagles
EELS to beat Raiders
PANTHERS to beat Knights
BULLDOGS to beat Roosters
RABBITOHS to beat Storm
RESULTS SO FAR
Got beaten by the dog and number of jerseys. At least we’re ahead of a pack of cards.
Best Worst Coaches – 88% – 7/8
R3 Ladder Improvement from 2016 – 75% – 6/8
Deadliest Mascot – 75% – 6/8
Scrabble – 63% – 5/8
Penalties Conceded 63% – 5/8
Twitter – 63% – 5/8
Number of Jerseys – 63% – 5/8
The Gurgler – 57% – 45 / 80
The Dog – 57% – 45 / 80
Selections by Postcode – 55% – 22/40
Selection by Mascot – 38% – 3/8
Most Interesting Fan – 38% – 3/8
Pack of Cards – 25% – 2/8
THE GURGLER’S NRL ROUND 11 PREVIEW SUPER MULTI
COWBOYS +6.5 start v Sharks
DRAGONS +4.5 start v Warriors
BRONCOS to beat Tigers
TITANS to beat Sea Eagles
EELS to beat Raiders
KNIGHTS +12.5 start v Penrith
ROOSTERS to beat Bulldogs
SOUTHS to beat Storm
$1 for $127