Round 6 is the Heritage Round in which all the clubs celebrate their origins. And they do so by playing in their original (or close to it) strip. So don’t get worried if your teams seems to be wearing slightly different colours.
Round 6 also marks my first proper NRL outing of the year. I’ll be heading down to Bluetongue Stadium to check out the Roosters and the Knights. A few beers and footy on a Sundee arvo is a wonderful thing.
Onto the tips.
Parramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles, Friday 7:30pm Parramatta Stadium
Both teams entered the competition in 1947 and have had one of the great rivalries. Both teams aren’t travelling that well this season both 2 from 5. The Eels have had a tough week with the loss of Tim Smith. Hopefully that will act as a catalyst for the Eels to shake what has been ailing the team. There is no way for me to be objective about the game. Go the Eels!
Gold Coast Titans v Brisbane Broncos, Friday 7:30pm Skilled Stadium
Another great match up. The Broncos are doing very well early in the season. The loss of Lockyer hasn’t slowed them down which bodes well for the future. The Titans are no slouches either this year. They won away last week which will give them a great boost in confidence. Skilled Park is going to be a tough round for away teams. Prince is in great form as well and those two factors are enough for me. The Titans in a great game.
Canterbury Bulldogs v St George Illawarra Dragons, Saturday 5:30pm ANZ Stadium
A tough one. Both teams are having a rough time at the moment and look set for a long season of little joy. The Bulldogs are the bookies favourites even though they got touched up last week by the Warriors. But the Dragons have lost Gasnier which is a huge loss. The Dogs will use their forwards to get over in this one.
North Queensland Cowboys v New Zealand Warriors, Saturday 7:30pm Dairy Farmers Stadium
Lets see. The Warriors won last week at home so being on the road this week they should lose. And they won’t like the warmer climes of Northern Queensland. The Cowboys have seemed to overcome their early season wobbles and settled into their tasks. The Warriors are capable but can’t go past the home team.
Cronulla Sharks v Penrith Panthers, Saturday 7:30pm Toyota Park
So which Panthers side will turn up? They have strung a few good wins but their inconsistency is well known. The Sharks were lucky last week as the Bunnies inability to score tries saved their bacon. If the Panthers can harness their attack then they will give the Sharks a fright. But with Lance Thompson playing his last game, expect the Sharks to life and give him a fitting farewell.
Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights, Sunday 2:00pm Bluetongue Stadium
I’ll be an objective but interested observer from Bay 28 this Sunday. The Knights have not been playing bad footy and this will be like a home game for them. But the Roosters are in rare form and have good support on the Coast. This will be an entertaining match with the Roosters the victors.
West Tigers v South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sunday 3:00pm SCG
Alas, league games at the fabled SCG are rare these days. There is a great sense of history at the venue and the Tigers and Bunnies are fitting teams to honour that history. The Tigers have are suffering through injuries at the moment and would have been devastated with their loss to Canberra. The Bunnies however have made losing a habit and need to find some way to win. They tend to lift against the Tigers. You know what, I’m going out on a limb and the Bunnies to get off the mark in 2008.
Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm, Monday 7:00pm Canberra Stadium
Generally, I like Canberra at home but not this Monday. Canberra have had their moments this season but the Storm have their season back on track. No agonising over this tip for the Storm.
Shaun’s Sure Thing: I’ll take the Storm
The Roughy: I’m gonna take the Bunnies this round.
27 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Apr 18, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Alack and Alas - Mrs.O’Measles tells me she (rather stupidly) spent the family fortune on dentists bills for the O’Measles heirs…. thus no annual sojurn to the family grudge match is forthcoming.
I will now proceed, head bowed, to select my round 6 disasters and revert with the losing tips soon.
Bismark O'Measles // Apr 18, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Broncs
Manly
Dogs
Cows
Sharks
Knights
Bunnies
Storm
Good luck all.
Shaun // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Sigh. My problem is that I love the Eels a lot but they just ain’t loving me back.
Grothe needs some time back in reserve grade and learn some positional play. A kick to his wing is a try guaranteed.
Mungo Amanda // Apr 19, 2008 at 7:03 am
I tipped Manly. Didn’t want to but desperate footy tipping times call for unsavoury measures.
2/2 from last night.
Bismark O'Measles // Apr 19, 2008 at 9:42 am
1/2. I figured the derby would be close so I tipped the Broncs by 1… bum
Bismark O'Measles // Apr 19, 2008 at 10:07 pm
3/5 - could be worse!
Looks like I tipped the Panthers a week early but good to see another team can snatch defeat from the snapping jaws of vicory - Bunnies-stylie.
Good on yer Sharks.
Mungo Amanda // Apr 19, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I can’t remember all my tips — I prob picked the Sharks? But let’s not pretend I really give a shit except for the Knights.
GO KNIGHTS!!!!!
Shaun // Apr 19, 2008 at 11:38 pm
The Sharks had a chance about 10 minutes from time for a field goal and they blew it. The Sharkies always play it close and it seems this will hurt them again this seasons.
I’ll be heading to Bluetongue tomorrow to see the Kaniggets and Roosters. Had plenty of heavy showers tonight and the forecast for tomorrow is the same. As long as I have me poncho to keep the rain of the beer I don’t mind watching footy in the wet.
Mungo Amanda // Apr 20, 2008 at 3:35 pm
keystone knights.
sigh.
Mungo Amanda // Apr 20, 2008 at 3:43 pm
The Roosters got swapped with the Terrigal under 12s or sumtin’ at half time. Some kind of weird reverse Fine Cotton thing.
GO KNIGHTS!
7 minutes to go, don’t frack it up you bastards.
Shaun // Apr 20, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Tell you that the the newy fans are happy at the moment here at gosford. All I can hear is newcastle newcsatle
Mungo Amanda // Apr 20, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Wait? aren’t you there?
$30 on at $3 = very nice.
2 pt = priceless.
Mungo Amanda // Apr 20, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Danny Wicks you clown. I love you.
Bismark O'Measles // Apr 20, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I hate the Bunnies. Who’re flogging them next week… oh, the Broncos.
Well done the Knights D Wicks kicks butt.
I’m not enjoying this season as much as I would have hoped
Shaun // Apr 20, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I was at the game Amanda. Just some live commenting via the Blackberry.
I was tempted by the Knights but burnt the last time I put money on them.
About 15 minutes before fulltime, I said to the Dad in Law, “One of these teams is trying very hard to lose but I can’t work out which one.” Then the Roosters put their hands up and let Newy get the points.
Shaun // Apr 20, 2008 at 9:14 pm
The Bunnies are cruel buggers. Fancy giving their supporters hope by leading at half time.The bastards.
Mungo Amanda // Apr 21, 2008 at 5:59 am
Surprisingly I see I picked the Panthers. If/when Der Sturm get up I will have a perfect round.
Shaun // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:27 am
Also like to point out that beer is now $5.50 at Bluetongue. Even given that the beer is Bluetongue and far superior to the generic swill at other venures, it still is a bit steep.
Word to the girl on the cash register who charged me only $9 instead of $11 for the first round of beers.
Bismark O'Measles // Apr 21, 2008 at 3:57 pm
You could do what we did at Leichhardt once Shaun… stuff yer big winter coat full of a slab of beer ($1.25 each at Woolies) … get your brother-in-law to carry the fridge bag full of sarnies as a decoy … throw out the sarnies and put the $1.25 beers in the fridge bag.
Drink away!
Alternatively get yourself so hammered in the Central Coast Leagues before the match that you don’t have to bother buying them in the stadium - kind of ruins the game though.
Shaun // Apr 21, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Ah but the weather isn’t quite that cold. Turning up at Bluetongue in a big coat just begs someone to take you aside and check the pockets.
I remember that day. Was that in response to the massive beer shortage of the year before? The sight of grown men on that day having so slake their thirst with cups of cheap plonk still send shivers down me spine.
Oh yes. The Leagues club is for getting hammered after the game not before.
Mungo Amanda // Apr 21, 2008 at 10:36 pm
You can buy beer at Woolies?
Shaun // Apr 22, 2008 at 9:49 am
BOM maybe referring to a Woolies with a bottlo attach. Or he is just fantasizing.
Bismark O'Measles // Apr 22, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Correct. I think it’s called First Choice & there’s 2 of them (for gods sake) in Leichhardt Market Town.
Pretty much killed off all the independant bottlo’s in my area - is that a good thing ….?
Shaun // Apr 22, 2008 at 4:51 pm
First Choice have a good range of plonk but indeed, they push out the independent retailer. Which is a shame as the funky knowledgeable independent bottlo is a place of enchantment and enticing tipples.
Bismark O'Stupid // Apr 24, 2008 at 6:35 am
Amen brother.
How do you see r7 Shaun?
Shaun // Apr 24, 2008 at 8:41 am
All will be revealed this evening. And I’ll have a look at the comment spam issue as well.
Club Troppo » Missing Link Daily // Jul 22, 2008 at 4:18 am
[...] Shaun Cronin previews the weekend’s NRL round. [...]
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