No one likes a four game round, with all the Origin players out. Yet the NRL persist despite being crap and unpopular. And so we will persist with our NRL Round 18 preview despite being similarly crap and unpopular.
Hopefully one day this pathetic excuse for a “Round” will be eliminated with stand alone Origin. They may as well as the NRL doesn’t seem to actually matter during Origin.
The only silver lining is that it gives the lesser players trying their hearts out in the Intrust Super competitions a chance to shine. Which they almost always do. Then get sent back to the second tier. If it proves another of our points, it proves there’s enough talent for at least 2 more sides.
Enough of that, there’s now this, our NRL Round 18 Preview.
THE NRL ROUND 18 PREVIEW MATCH BY MATCH IN 20 WORDS OR LESS OR SO
FRIDAY 7:50pm ish – ROOSTERS (4th) v RABBITOHS (12th)
South Sydney produced a performance from nowhere, one that hasn’t been seen in years against the Panthers. You’d think the Roosters would be badly affected by Origin omissions and then you see their strong line up. Why on Earth a big rivalry like this is played during Origin boggles the mind. What seems to be the NRL’s boggle.
SATURDAY 5:30pm- PANTHERS (9th) v SEA EAGLES (3rd)
Pre Season fancies Panthers were belted badly by a previously busted arse Souths. Something stinks out Penrith way and it’s costing them a premiership this season. Manly have quietly achieved third place, and have Daly Cherry-Evans one of the form halfbacks in the comp. Another maroon side doesn’t want him.
SATURDAY 7:30pm – STORM (1st) v EELS (8th)
Storm did very well against the Cowboys in a previous Origin affected clash this season, and are fielding an almost exclusive Queensland Cup backline. They’ll be up for it, and previous hero Brodie Croft returns, and Jahrome Hughes at the back is one to watch. But the Eels can take advantage with no Origin reps at all. Next year may be different.
SUNDAY 4pm – BULLDOGS (13th) v KNIGHTS (16th)
Newcastle are destined for last and probably deserve it. Bulldogs did OK against the Eels in the second half, but really shouldn’t finish to far ahead of Newcastle at the end of the season. Quality 13th v 16th clash where the best are out of the 13th placed team. Well done NRL.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE NRL ROUND 18 PREVIEW
Q. Ben Hunt v DCE for Origin Three?
A. Neither.
Why on earth do Queensland need a halfback. Look to their two weakest from Origin 2 – Tim Glasby and Jarrod Wallace – there’s not a great deal of impact there, and so Queensland waste one vital bench spot on a halfback.
What was needed was a player like Felise Kafusi, Korbin Sims or even a Chris Macqueen. Something on the impact front.
Look at the Blues bench and you’ll see the reason if Queensland lose next Wednesday.
NRL ROUND 18 PREVIEW “FUN” FACTS
WHICH TEAM IS THE BEST OF THE 4 GAME ROUNDS
We whine and moan about the tediousness of the 4 game rounds of the NRL during Origin, much like Bernard Tomic does about earning millions playing tennis. What a Jerk. Don’t worry, a nomination for Jerk of the Month for July is coming.
But maybe some clubs are better at the Origin affected rounds than others.
So we have compiled all the results from each 4 game rounds for the last 10 years, including this one, and seen who is the 4 game round Kings. Note that some years didn’t have four game rounds, and some only had 1 round. We have only included 4 game rounds.
Team PTS PER GAME PTS GAMES H WIN H GAME A WINS A GAMES
Sea Eagles 1.67 10 6 3 3 2 3
Sharks 1.60 8 5 2 2 2 3
Warriors 1.60 8 5 2 3 2 2
Eels 1.40 14 10 2 4 5 6
Panthers 1.33 4 3 1 2 1 1
Titans 1.25 10 8 4 5 1 3
Bulldogs 1.00 8 8 3 4 1 4
Rabbitohs 1.00 8 8 3 5 1 3
Raiders 1.00 6 6 3 4 0 2
Tigers 0.86 6 7 2 4 1 3
Cowboys 0.80 8 10 1 2 3 8
Storm 0.75 6 8 1 3 2 5
Dragons 0.75 6 8 3 4 0 4
Roosters 0.57 4 7 0 2 2 5
Broncos 0.50 4 8 0 5 2 3
Knights 0.40 2 5 1 4 0 1
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, and no one reads it. So we hope to get at least half of those people for the NRL tipping.
THE GURGLER’s NRL ROUND 18 PREVIEW TIPS
RABBITOHS to beat Roosters
PENRITH to beat Sea Eagles
STORM to beat Eels
BULLDOGS to beat Knights
NRL ROUND 18 PREVIEW – GUEST TIPSTER – BEST 4 GAME ROUND PERFORMER
Highest points per game from the 4 game rounds wins. Points in brackets.
RABBITOHS (1.00) to beat Roosters (0.57)
SEA EAGLES (1.67) to beat Panthers (1.33)
EELS (1.40) to beat Storm (0.75)
BULLDOGS (1.00) to beat Knights (0.40)
NRL ROUND 18 PREVIEW – REGULAR GUEST TIPSTER – THE DOG
ROOSTERS to beat Rabbitohs
SEA EAGLES to beat Panthers
EELS to beat Storm
KNIGHTS to beat Bulldogs
RESULTS SO FAR
We are starting to pull away from the Dog, take that muttley. As the results prove, the best worst coaches is best.
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 – 58% – 73 / 126
Jersey Sponsor’s Annual Turnover – 4/7 – 57%
Selections by Postcode – 55% – 22/40
The Dog – 55% – 69 / 126
Errors – 50% – 4/8
Odds Change from Start of Season – 50% – 4/8
Leagues Club Turnover – 38% – 3/8
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 18 SUPER MULTI
Time to win big. Just 4 games should be easy, except if you’re trying to make a three figure payday from four legs.
RABBITOHS to win 13+
PENRITH to win 13+
STORM to win 1 – 12
BULLDOGS to win 1 – 12
$1 for $167
