Wondering what’s been happening in the Queensland Cup aka Intrust Super Cup. Well why not catch up right now with our friends at Nothing But League and their review of Round 8 of Queensland Rugby League’s finest.
p.s. Go PNG Hunters.
As the fallout out from the Champions League and Europa League continues, as does the local leagues of all the big footballing nations.
EUROTIPS – Gurgler Multi Specials
SPAIN
DRAW – Real Sociedad v Villareal
BARCELONA to beat Espanyol
ATLETICO MADRID to beat Elche
SEVILLA to beat Rayo Vallecano
REAL MADRID to beat Celta Vigo
Mutli pays $11.
ITALY
NAPOLI to beat Sampdoria
LAZIO to beat Chievo
FIORENITNA to beat Cagliari
DRAW – Inter v Roma
Multi pays $9
GERMANY
BAYERN to score the second goal v Hertha Berlin
BAYER LEVERKUSEN to beat Koln
BORUSSIA M/GLADBACH to beat Wolfsburg
DORTMUND to beat
Multi pays $7
FRANCE
MONACO to win v Lens
PSG/Draw to win v Bayer Leverkusen
BORDEAUX to win v Metz
ST ETIENNE to beat Montpeillier
EVIAN to beat Bastia
Multi pays $10
HAVE SOME FIXTURES….
[soccer-info id=’1′ type=’fixtures’ style=’red_light’ title=’La Liga Fixtures’ limit=’10’ /]
[soccer-info id=’5′ type=’fixtures’ style=’green_light’ title=’Serie A Fixtures’ limit=’10’ /]
[soccer-info id=’6′ type=’fixtures’ style=’blue_light’ title=’Ligue 1 Fixtures’ limit=’10’ /]
The Own Goal – The Gurgler’s UK Football Weekly
Just two rounds of fixtures to go in the three bottom tiers of English Football remain, and just a handful of ups and downs have been decided currently, with plenty more to be decided over this weekend and next.
The big boys of the Premier League get a couple more week’s breathing space, but the top of that table can be all but decided this weekend when Chelsea take on Arsenal. The relegation is another matter with 6 teams still a chance to join their earlier finishing brothers next year.
In the second tier the two groups of four remain, with two automatic spots up for grabs in the top group, and 5th to 8th fighting over the last two play off spots. As an Ipswich Town fan it is nice to be involved up this high at this time of the year. Usually they’re fluffing their mid table mediocrity pillows ready for the off season hibernation.
Down the bottom both Wigan and Millwall could go down this weekend, but they could have last week and didn’t.
Bristol City of League One are already promoted as Champions, the position of second and Championship running buddy is still up for grabs between Preston and Milton Keynes. The top 6 is also just about decided. Further down is less certain with any team from 16th to 23rd in line to drop down.
Not to be forgotten, League Two has all the positions available – Champions, Promotion, Relegation, so the next two rounds will provide endless early morning excitement. For football nerds/tragics.
HAVE SOME BEST BETS
The Gurgler believes that late is better than never, and the many fan lucky enough to read this and follow the tips will have profited from 3 correct multis in the last three tipping sessions. 2 in the Championship and 1 in League Two.
EPL MULTI $1 for 28
QPR to beat West Ham
SWANSEA to beat Newcastle
CRYSTAL PALACE to beat Hull
DRAW – Arsenal v Chelsea
STOKE to beat Sunderland
CHAMPIONSHIP $1 for $11
IPSWICH to beat Nottingham Forest
WATFORD to beat Reading
NORWICH to beat Rotherham
SHEFFIELD WEDNEDAY/DRAW (v Leeds)
BIRMINGHAM to beat Chalrton.
LEAGUE ONE $1 for $45
SHEFFIELD UTD to win v Leyton Orient
DRAW – Walsall v Chesterfield
DRAW – Scunthorpe/Gillingham
PETERBOROUGH to beat Crawley.
HAVE SOME UPCOMING FIXTURES
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[soccer-info id=’20’ type=’fixtures’ title=’CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES’ limit=’24’ /]
[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’fixtures’ title=’L1 GAMES’ limit=’24’ /]
[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’fixtures’ title=’L2 GAMES’ limit=’24’ /]
Nothing But League’s Queensland Cup Preview Round 8
The Gurgler loves the Queensland Cup aka Intrust Super Cup. Grassroots rugby league at grounds that feel like home and a standard of play not far from the big boys on the big bucks.
We’d love to go through the games with you, but our friends at Nothing But League have already done the hard work with a big preview for this and every week.
So check out their Queensland Cup Round 8 Preview and check out the rest of their rugby league news and views.
The ladder is below and tune into Channel 9 at 1:40pm every week for the TV match of the round.
Kick to Come – The Gurgler on League – Round 8 preview
Round 8 looms as something to be enjoyed this week, not only is there 5 good games on Saturday in a row, but it is the round before the International break, and not far away to the inconvenience of the bye rounds where 4, 5, and 6 games a week will become the norm for an annoying 10 or so weeks.
If you’re up for it, why not try our famous NRL Drinking Game for the big day on Saturday, after respectfully marking the Anzac Day activities of course.
We attempt to go through the games for this week with our selections for an NRL Super Multi for you to follow/ignore. Unlike an NRL contract we are unable to reverse our bets halfway through the weekend if they’re losing. More on that another time.
FRIDAY 7:45pm – BULLDOGS v WESTS TIGERS
The Tigers will be wondering where that 22-0 lead went last weekend against Canberra at one of their spiritual home grounds of Leichardt Oval, luckily they play away at one of their other home grounds at the Olympic Stadium against the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs had a good win against Manly despite still having players out, and a few more return this weekend to make them even stronger. They should have too much for the young Tigers. This time,
TIP – WEST TIGERS +8.5 start
SATURDAY 11:45am – NZ v GOLD COAST
Two of the most unpredictable teams kick off the Anzac Day 5 game slothfest. Gold Coast turned around a 40-0 loss to Penrith from their first meeting of the season to run out 32-6 winners. NZ ran the Cowboys close on the back of a good win previously against the Tigers. That game saw tries to Manu Vatuvei on his 200th start, and fans of the big man, and who isn’t, will be hoping there’s plenty more coming.
TIP – NEW ZEALAND to win.
SATURDAY 2:00pm – NEWCASTLE v NORTH QLD
This game will be all about the supposed payback of the Cowboys for Beau Scott in the news after he was allowed to “put plenty of pressure” on Johnathan Thurston in the earlier clash of the season. It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys hand back some of the punishment they promised.
Away from the potential rough housing the form is interesting reading. The Cowboys looked set for another disappointed season of underachieving and the Knights surprised with four straight wins. Since Round 4 the Cowboys have won all their games and the Knights none. Everything points towards a Cowboys win, but with the Cowboys you can never be sure, and the Knights may have some inspiration playing for the weather affected fans.
TIP – COWBOYS +2.5 start.
SATURDAY 4:00pm – ROOSTERS v DRAGONS
The “traditional” Anzac Day game kicks off at 4pm between two of Sydney’s best. There’ll be plenty of pomp and ceremony in an attempt to emulate the AFL game.
The game will be the usual tough affair, and with Dragons outstanding defence and the Roosters hot and cold attack it should be a reasonably close game. Given their off field dramas and shortish odds for wooden spoon at the beginning of the year, you sit back and wait for the Dragons winning streak to end, but somehow they keep on winning as the opponents get tougher. The Roosters will provide another big step up this weekend.
TIP – UNDER 39.5 points total score
SATURDAY 6:00pm – MELBOURNE v MANLY
The clash of Brookvale in which these two sides were the biggest deal in rugby league must seem a long time ago, especially for the Sea Eagles who are the only side in the comp not to have won three games or more. In fact it is only one win thus far, and they can blame the off field issues with transfers, but that still won’t win anymore games. Non Manly fans (most of the fans of the other 15 teams) will be enjoying their ride at the bottom.
Melbourne on the other hand are doing their usual for the last decade (well, salary cap creativity aside) in leading the competition with a few of their big name stars surrounded by no names, up and comers and discards. No one does more with less than the Storm.
We get the feeling though that if Manly can’t get up for a game against one of the biggest rivals for the last few years, they’ll had one hand on that wooden spoon.
TIP – MANLY +10.5 start.
SATURDAY 8:00pm – BRISBANE v PARRAMATTA
The Broncos and Brisbane fans alike will be wondering what to do on Friday night, as they take to Suncorp Stadium on the unfamiliar surroundings of Saturday night. The game is the last of the 5 planned for Anzac Day, and the rear end could be sore by the end of this game.
Brisbane were unable to beat Parramatta in Sydney last year, and their last up loss to the Dragons could have gone either way without the costly errors. Parramatta surprised the Knights in Newcastle, but away in Brisbane looks a different prospect and Parramatta are due another poor performance after a good one last week.
TIP – BRISBANE -13.5 start
SUNDAY 2:00pm – PENRITH v CRONULLA
Another two teams that surprised last week. Penrith surprised after being blown away in the second half by a side they beat 40-0 earlier in the season. Cronulla surprised on two fronts: 1- that any fans actually showed up to that game given the weather 2 – they resolutely held out the Premiers South Sydney in the wind and rain on Monday night.
Penrith should turn it around this weekend, but with the Sharks in such good form, especially some of their young’uns it is hard to pick. But we will.
TIP – CRONULLA +6.5 start
SUNDAY 4:00pm – SOUTH SYDNEY v CANBERRA
This bad run for the premiers has been coming, and the loss against the Sharks was the third loss away for the Rabbitohs against that opposition. They were lucky to beat the Wests Tigers and the infamous Bulldogs game. And so it proved when they were tortured by Thurston two weeks ago, and loss to the Sharks.
Canberra got a much needed win on the weekend, and most people selections as wooden spooner are starting to look unlike a team that will finish ladt. But Ricky Stuart is in charge, so probably not long before the rot sets in.
Souths should win, but they have a patchy record against Canberra.
TIP – CANBERRA +12.5 start
SUPER MULTI with all the above selections – $51
The Gurgler’s NRL Forgotten Player Smackdown – Fullbacks
Welcome to the first of what will no doubt be at least one of our new Rugby League bit – The NRL Forgotten Player Smackdown.
As our mantra of The Gurgler in general is celebrating the forgotten, what better way to relive some of our old Rugby League memories with a weekly or more likely occasional head to head battle of two of the past’s finest.
For our number 1 Smackdown, where else could you start than the number 1 position on the field – The Fullback.
We have selected two players from this position who have some things in common, but are both very different.
One was very tall, the other no so tall. One had a very brief career that ascended to great heights and disappeared as quickly, the other was a long, flatter curve. Both were quality fullbacks on their days, and both born in 1970.
Our poll is open to vote for the best forgotten fullback now.
1 – PAUL HAUFF
Standing at 197cm, he came from the local beat as a policeman to the Brisbane Broncos in 1990. His meteoric rise began not long after with a hat trick on debut. That form continued as he won the rookie of the year with Willie Carne.
This quality form continued into 1991, where in the one year he represented Queensland and Australia as the number 1 number 1. But a dreaded game against New Zealand exposed his version of kryptonite – the grubber kick. From that game onwards the word was out, and that word was low kicks.
He quickly lost his Australian spot, then Queensland, and injuries in the following plagued the rest of his Brisbane Broncos playing days. He did the Neighbours moving to Qld equivalent in 1996 by joining the London Broncos, and although he scored 13 tries, his career ended in 1996 having played less games in 5 seasons than his breakthrough first two.
1 – ROD MAYBON
Unlike Hauff the Rob Maybon project lasted 156 games from 1988 to 1999 across 12 seasons, and across 5 different teams – South Sydney, St George, Parramatta, Adelaide and Canberra.
Another difference is that Rod Maybon only played 2 games in his first two seasons for Souths. By which time Hauff had started fro Brisbane and represented Queensland and Australia and back.
Maybon could be described a journey man as he took his considerable skill under the high ball across the 5 clubs in the NRL. His stint at the Adelaide Rams is a wonderful double up of obscure rugby league.
He ended up with 33 career tries, and a lifetime of rugby league memories.
WHO IS THE BETTER FORGOTTEN FULLBACK. VOTE NOW!
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The Gurgler’s Crapothetical – Third Party Endorsements Missed by Rugby League
With Rugby League’s salary cap getting harder to stretch to keep all the big players in the competition, we provide a lesson for third party agreements and endorsement they missed in the past to get today’s players thinking creatively about what kind of products they could be the name and face of.
Enjoy our list of Rugby League Sells – the golden era.
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The Gurgler’s European Football Weekly + Tips
Another quick dump and burn of Football Tips – this time from 3 of the 4 big leagues outside of the UK.
SPAIN MULTI
$1 pays $10
REAL MADRID to beat Malaga
VILLAREAL to beat Cordoba
GRANDA or DRAW v Sevilla
DRAW – Deportivo v Atletico Madrid
ITALIAN MULTI
$1 pays $35
AC MILAN v INTER MILAN – Under 2.5 goals
LAZIO to beat Juventus
ROMA to beat Atalanta
PALERMO to beat Genoa
SAMPDORIA to beat Cesena
GERMAN MULTI
$1 pays $25
HOFFENHEIM to beat Bayern Munich
BORUSSIA DORTMUND to beat Paderborn
BAYER LEVERKUSED to beat Hannover
FREIBURG to beat Mainz
The Own Goal – Gurgler’s UK Football Weekly + Tips
Big weekend of Football coming up – the usual four divisions of fun, plus a bonus FA Cup weekend.
The FA Cup has been setup nicely to give Steven Gerrard the chance to win an FA Cup on his birthday on his last game in the UK. His team play Aston Villa, a result which would have been a mere formality a month ago, but given Liverpool’s troubles getting past Blackburn in the quarter final round which required a replay and that Aston Villa have beaten Liverpool this year it may not be so easy.
Arsenal meanwhile play Championship side Reading who, although safe in the second tier, are much closer to relegation than promotion. Arsenal’s 8 wins in a row also point to a result that look inevitable. But it is the FA Cup and Chelsea were knocked out by a third division team after leading 2-0, but Championship Reading look less likely.
Talking of the Championship, it is interesting to see the usual array of mainstream football sites increasing the prominence of Championship news and results. It seems that just because three of these teams will join the big boys in the EPL next year that people are interested. Or because it is close it is interesting.
The Gurgler takes an interest in the second division, and the third and fourth all year, and can vouch from years of following a team that looks chained to the second tier that the Championship is close and unpredictable every year. Take 2013-14 for instance – third favourite for the drop Burnley defied the odds and finished 2nd, and have been compeditive in the EPL this season.
This year’s edition is full of Championship regulars, EPL yo-yo teams and surprising additions, and the top 8 all of which can still qualify for at least the top 6 show. There’s still two groups of four – the first covered by two points is for the top 2 places and automatic promotion, the second is for two of the remaining playoffs places 4 points apart. The gap between 4th and 5th is 7 points and probably too far away to make the top 2.
Middlesborough and Norwich palyed this morning, and Boro’s win gives them the lead until tonight’s games. Playoffs aspirants Ipswich and Wolves play each other in the big match up early this evening, with the Tractors Boys of Ipswich able to see off one of their competitors for the final spots.
At the other end Wigan look set to be the second team in five years to win the FA Cup and be relegated twice in three seasons. They’ll do well to not slide as far as the previous team to do it Portsmouth who are stuck in the fourth division these days and won’t be leaving this year either.
The fourth division is the only other of the top 4 tiers that the winner is likely to come down to the last day with just two points between Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank’s Burton Albion who are looking for their first trip to League One and Shrewsbury – a perennial yo yo team between the bottom two league.
At the bottom of this division the consequences are more severe, a trip out of the top 4 leagues, and a very tough division to get out of. Some never return. It is down to three teams – Hartlepool, Carlisle, and Tranmere.
Upstairs in League One Bristol City have confirmed their promotion to the Championship, and are set to take the League One title up with their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. The battle for second depends on Milton Keynes game in hand in their battle to take that place off Preston. Games in hand tend to be more of a burden than a bonus at this stage of the year, and the previously longest serving team in the second tier Preston looks the most likely.
At the bottom Yeovil are gone and Colchester almost the same, so that leaves two spots to go down. Currently four points separates 16th to 22nd, and some have games in hand. It looks as the most likely place for a minutes by minute relegation see saw on the final day. just the way we like it. Unless our teams is in it.
That is all we have for now. See you at midnight.
BEST BETS THIS WEEKEND
EPL MULTI
$1 grabs $26
MANCHESTER CITY to beat West Ham
DRAW – Everton v Burnley
MANCHESTER UNITED or DRAW v Chelsea
STOKE to beat Southampton
CHAMPIONSHIP MULTI
$1 grabs $32
WATFORD to beat Birmingham
MILLWALL to beat Cardiff
BOURNEMOUTH to beat Sheffield Wednesday
BLACKPOOL to beat Fulham
LEAGUE ONE MULTI
$1 grabs $24
SHEFFIELD UTD to beat Bradford City
BRISTOL CITY to beat Coventry
CREWE or DRAW v Walsall
CHESTERFIELD to beat Oldham
BARNSLEY to beat Peterborough
LEAGUE TWO MULTI
$1 grabs $24
SHREWSBURY to beat York
BURTON to beat Morecambe
BURY to beat Portsmouth
DRAW – Accrington v Stevenage
THE REMAINING GAMES
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[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’fixtures’ title=’L1 GAMES’ limit=’36’ /]
[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’fixtures’ title=’L2 GAMES’ limit=’36’ /]
Kick to Come – The Gurgler Previews NRL Round 7
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.
TAKE ALL THE ABOVE TIPS IN A MULTI FOR A $33 COLLECT.
WANT TO FOLLOW THE QUEENSLAND CUP – CHECK OUT OUR FRIENDS AT NOTHING BUT LEAGUE FOR THEIR ROUND 7 PREVIEW.
http://www.nothingbutleague.com/category/nrl-2015/qld-cup/