Easter weekend provided some cracking (poor pun intended) rugby league, and the occasional stinker. Thankfully there’s another 8 games to go through this week, and enjoy them while you can, as the State of Origin launch this week forewarns league fans of the rubbish truncated, star-less NRL dross that lies ahead.
Here’s our rundown of our thoughts with our tips for a great paying multi. As in, great if it pays.
THURSDAY – MANLY v SOUTHS
Some people offer up a simple formula for Souths – No Sam Burgess = No Wins. That theory might explain how Souths’ season died in the arse in 2015. Hard to argue against for this year too given Souths’ awful performance last weekend, and Sam’s absence against Dragons which saw zero points in the second half. Might have been 1 point if Inglis’ field goal went over. Some would also say that Manly were lucky to win last weekend, and whilst that may be true it is still hard to believe they have just one win so far.
Sam Burgess should be back for Souths this weekend, so hopefully for Souths fans he can turn around last week’s effort. Will he be enough?
GURGLER TIPS – BRETT STEWART To score a try at Anytime.
FRIDAY – GOLD COAST v BRONCOS
Interesting read by Scott Sattler about the possible Gold Coast Titans rebranding from our friends at Nothing But League and who knows what the future holds for the Gold Coast, but the present looks a lot better than the wooden spoon naysayers said at the start of the year. The 3/4 record will be difficult to better this weekend as the Broncos arrive to pinch two points from their neighbours. For the record we say rename the Gold Coast to the South Coast Dolphins and play games at Robina and the new Dolphin Oval at Redcliffe, if it ever gets built.
GURGLER TIPS – GOLD COAST +12.5 start
SATURDAY – MELBOURNE v NEWCASTLE
Hard to get too excited about the clinical Storm side up against the valiant but inexperienced Knights. Melbourne are one of the five teams on 6 points whereas Newcastle don’t look likely to get too many of those this year. One wonders with such a youthful side and essentially a blank canvas why Newcastle didn’t go outside the square and hire the Walker Brothers from Ipswich. They had nothing to lose then, and still do now as they remain winless.
GURGLER TIP – MELBOURNE to win
SATURDAY – WESTS TIGERS v SHARKS
With such a dynamic backline surely the Tigers can’t go another 80 minutes without a point this weekend. Hopefully not as the Tigers-Eels game was as underwhelming as 80 minutes of league could get. The Sharks did well themselves inflicting Melbourne’s first loss of the season. Interesting to see which teams will blame the 5 day turnaround. The Sharks have the most to whine about as their turnaround is a few hours less.
GURGLER TIPS – WESTS TIGERS to win
SATURDAY – COWBOYS v DRAGONS
Cowboys will be licking their wounds after the golden point defeat to the Broncos on Friday night, and one wonders if that will take something out of the North Queensland side up against a Dragons side who give very little away. Point of interest is the first change in the line up since before the Grand Final, and we’re glad it is from the Intrust super Cup – Javid Bowen – relation to Matt Bowen. We’re now hoping that ISC selection policy continues into the origin period and a certain W.Minoga is required from the Townsville Blackhawks later in the season.
GURGLER TIPS – COWBOYS -9.5 start
SUNDAY – ROOSTERS v NZ
So, the Warriors finally won a game, and the Roosters still haven’t. Hard to imagine these sides would have just one win between them. It will likely be one a piece after Sunday as the golden rule of not picking NZ in NSW away games in the first half of the season is usually worth following.
GURGLER TIPS – ROOSTERS to win
SUNDAY – PARRAMATTA v PENRITH
Sunday afternoon? The game’s in Sydney right? Of course it is. What else is baffling is that Parramatta still haven’t worked out the simple formula – Semi Radradra + Ball = Tries. Although they are winning it is a shame to see Semi going to the other side of the field just to get the ball. For us anyway, as we love Semi in full flight. Penrith aren’t too far away but seem to lack the last bit to get over the line. So we’ll take our standard bet of Penrith +8.5 start.
GURGLER TIPS – PENRITH +8.5 start
MONDAY – BULLDGOS v CANBERRA
The Bulldogs first 40 minutes on Good Friday was the best rugby league so far this season, and if that continues they will be a top 4 certainty. Certainly a long way from being one of the sides who would struggle under new interchange laws. Canberra have maybe peaked, and can’t seem to close out the games at the moment. A few more losses will drag Ricky Stuart back into the first coach sacked race.
GURGLER TIPS – BULLDOGS to win
GURGLER’S SUPER MULTI
$1 for $73
BRETT STEWART To score a try at Anytime.
GOLD COAST +12.5 start
MELBOURNE to win
WESTS TIGERS to win
COWBOYS -9.5 start
ROOSTERS to win
PENRITH +8.5 start
BULLDOGS to win
