Here is the Kick to Come – The Gurgler’s NRL Round 14 Preview for all the upcoming NRL action..
Hard to think that we’ve already gone past the halfway point of the season. Not hard to believe there’s a pile of teams you can rule out for finals let alone premierships. One of them is certainly South Sydney. There are a few others, and here is our quick thoughts on the first half of the season.
HALF SEASON THOUGHTS
MOST SURPRISING – St George and Manly
These two teams had Head coaches who were surely amongst the first sacked for the year, but they have turned their slightly unfashionable teams into strong finals contenders. Probably lack the quality to go all the way this year, but who would have picked both for Top 8. Liars.
MOST UNSURPRISING – New Zealand
Every year it seems lately it is New Zealand’s year as the dark horse, and every year they do what they have done this year. Unable to win away from New Zealand, better at home, but still plenty of room to be inconsistent and sometimes awful.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT – South Sydney
One of the most disappointing as a Souths fan is how far backwards they are going. And how dreadful they are to watch. And they have seemingly pissed off Cody Walker, one of their few bright lights of the past half season and 2016. It has got so bad we can’t be bothered going to Suncorp to watch their annual Broncos match up, and that’s not because they’ll likely lose, as we fronted up every year for almost three decades before a win was witnessed. It is the fact that they are awful to watch, so why pay $30 min for the privilege when that covers Fox Sports for the month.
BEST GAME – State of Origin 1 First Half
Fast, tough, unrelenting. Very few errors, minimal interference by referees. If only every game could be run the same way, Rugby League may just have a chance.
WORST GAME – Sunday 4pm on Channel Nein
We think anyway.
TEAM OF THE YEAR SO FAR – Melbourne
Keep doing what they do. Grinding out wins, getting the best out of players who don’t make it at others clubs.
Close second Gold Coast, for continuing to turn up in most games win or lose and with an injury list that would cripple two clubs.
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR – Fox League
All League all the time. Only downside is Ben Ikin more than once a week, and the Queenslander show isn’t great.
WORST IDEA OF THE YEAR – Marvel Heroes Round
Let’s have a round that is purely to sell jerseys and sell movies, but only for teams that ISC supply, and spread it over two weeks. We say it is the worst round ever.
TOP FIVE PLAYERS
Paul Gallen
Matt Gillett
Tom Trbojevic
Cameron Smith
and
Willie Minoga (PNG Hunters)
With our half season thoughts over it is onto the usual NRL preview stuff, and we have a full round of fixtures with no Origin withdrawals. Good times ahead.
THE NRL ROUND 14 PREVIEW MATCH BY MATCH IN 20 WORDS OR LESS OR SO
THURSDAY – SHARKS (2nd) v STORM (1st)
1st v 2nd. Two sides who don’t like each other much. Grand Final replay. What else do you need. Mmmmm.
FRIDAY – SEA EAGLES (6th) v KNIGHTS (16th)
Manly continue to surprise with a field goal needed last week to annoy Ricky Stuart. Newcastle not looking much better than last season despite the effort.
FRIDAY – BRONCOS (5th) v SOUTHS (13th)
These teams won just three games between them during Origin period last year. One of them was Souths v Broncos.
SATURDAY – TITANS (11th) v WARRIORS (12th)
Should be plenty entertaining if nothing else. The GC a home away from home for the Warriors which should help with their away form.
SATURDAY – PANTHERS (10th) v RAIDERS (9th)
Penrith decide that Penrith is not cold enough by moving game to Canberra. Panthers finally looking like the premiership contenders the bookmakers though they were at the start of the season.
SATURDAY – EELS (8th) v COWBOYS (7th)
Thurston (if he plays) v April 2017 Jerk of the Month Mitchell Moses. If JT plays Cowboys win.
SUNDAY – TIGERS (15th) v ROOSTERS (4th)
Tigers on the improve but Roosters destined for greater things. Qualified for Sunday 4pm game.
SUNDAY – BULLDOGS (14th) v DRAGONS (3rd)
Bulldogs were flogged in the game between the two hardest sides to tip last week. Dragons can add to the misery.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE NRL ROUND 14 PREVIEW
Q. With John Grant quitting as the Chairman of Rugby League who could take over as big boss?
A. Not Todd Greenberg. Nor Benny Elias. Perhaps Gus Gould.
Or what about someone like Don Argus.
NRL ROUND 14 PREVIEW – POINTLESS POINT – WHICH TEAMS’ PREMIERSHIP ODDS HAVE CHANGED THE MOST?
The start of the season holds so much promise, the bookmakers are still kind, and fans haven’t given up yet. By this point some fans are already packing up for the season while others are rubbing their hands at the great odds they got at the start of the year for their club.
But since we’re reviewing the halfway point of the year, why not check the pre season odds to the current odds to see the progress of each club.
| Team | Starting Odds | Current Odds | Change |
| Dragons | $ 67.00 | $ 15.00 | -$ 52.00 |
| Roosters | $ 13.00 | $ 7.50 | -$ 5.50 |
| Storm | $ 8.00 | $ 3.60 | -$ 4.40 |
| Sharks | $ 10.00 | $ 7.50 | -$ 2.50 |
| Broncos | $ 7.50 | $ 7.50 | $ – |
| Sea Eagles | $ 17.00 | $ 17.00 | $ – |
| Raiders | $ 9.00 | $ 10.00 | $ 1.00 |
| Eels | $ 17.00 | $ 21.00 | $ 4.00 |
| Panthers | $ 8.00 | $ 15.00 | $ 7.00 |
| Cowboys | $ 8.00 | $ 17.00 | $ 9.00 |
| Titans | $ 15.00 | $ 51.00 | $ 36.00 |
| Warriors | $ 11.00 | $ 51.00 | $ 40.00 |
| Bulldogs | $ 19.00 | $ 67.00 | $ 48.00 |
| Rabbitohs | $ 15.00 | $ 101.00 | $ 86.00 |
| Tigers | $ 26.00 | $ 201.00 | $ 175.00 |
| Knights | $ 151.00 | $ 1,001.00 | $ 850.00 |
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 14 PREVIEW TIPS
STORM to beat Sharks
MANLY to beat Knights
BRONCOS to beat Souths
WARRIORS to beat Titans
PANTHERS to beat Raiders
COWBOYS to beat Eels
ROOSTERS to beat Tigers
DRAGONS to beat Bulldogs
NRL ROUND 14 PREVIEW – GUEST TIPSTER 1 – HIGHEST VALUE OF MAIN JERSEY SPONSOR
As above, we are tipping based on which teams has made the best movement of odds from the start of the year. Best means price coming in or lesser amount of blowing out.
Change in odds in Brackets.
STORM (-$4.40) to beat Sharks (-$2.50)
SEA EAGLES ($0) to beat Knights (+$850.00)
BRONCOS ($0) to beat Rabbitohs (+$86.00)
TITANS (+$36.00) to beat Warriors (+$40.00)
RAIDERS (+$1.00) to beat Panthers (+$7.00)
EELS (+$4.00) to beat Cowboys (+$9.00)
ROOSTERS (-$5.50) to beat Tigers (+175.00)
DRAGONS (-$52.00) to beat Bulldogs (+$48.00)
NRL ROUND 14 PREVIEW – REGULAR GUEST TIPSTER – THE DOG
SHARKS to beat Storm
KNIGHTS to beat Manly
SOUTHS to beat Broncos
WARRIORS to beat Titans
RAIDERS to beat Panthers
COWBOYS to beat Eels
ROOSTERS to beat Tigers
BULLDOGS to beat Dragons
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% – 56 / 99
Jersey Sponsor’s Annual Turnover – 4/7 – 57%
Selections by Postcode – 55% – 22/40
The Dog – 53% – 52 / 99
Errors – 50% – 4/8
Selection by Mascot – 38% – 3/8
Most Interesting Fan – 38% – 3/8
Pack of Cards – 25% – 2/8
Origin Players from last 3 Years – 0% – 0/4
GURGLER NRL ROUND 14 SUPER MULTI
EITHER SIDE WINS by 7 or less – Sharks v Melb
MANLY to win
BRONCOS -13.5 start v Souths
WARRIORS to win
PANTHERS To win
COWBOYS to win
ROOSTERS to win
BULLDOGS +12.5 start
$1 wins $53
