Origin is done and dusted for 2008. As the sound of gloating washes south from the border and over the Tweed, the rest of us can get on with the serious business of the run to the finals. Just 10 rounds to go now and only 6 points between 1 and 8. Manly, The Roosters and the Sharks share the lead on 24 pts. The Storm just below in 22 pts. But these teams are not safe. A dip in form could see them slide down the ladder rather quickly. At the other end, the Warriors, the Rabbitohs, the Bulldogs and the Cowboys are desperate to avoid the wooden spoon. Pride makes games for those teams just as important as those still in the hunt for the eight. There is a lot of great footy to come.
The tea leaves have been consulted and all is revealed over the fold.
Gold Coast Titans v Manly Sea Eagles, Friday 7:45pm Skilled Park
The seemingly impenetrable fortress of Skilled Park has lost its aura. With the injury to Luke Bailey and then Scott Prince in Origin last night, the Titans are going to struggle. Which is a shame because at full strength, they would have made the eight. Now they are quite vulnerable to the teams just below them overtaking them on the ladder. The Sea Eagles seemed to have developed vampiristic tendencies in the climb to the top of the ladder. Calf’s Blood Bin 326 from 2008 seems to have a bouquet favoured by those on the north shore. Fruity but dry. Watch them unsheathe the fangs and suck the top eight hopes out of the Titans.
Newcastle Knights v St George/Illawarra Dragons, Saturday 7:30pm Energy Australia Stadium
Big Dell is Back! Again! Hopefully Wendell Sailor will last the whole game this time and get into the NRL groove. But the Knights will be wanting to make his return bittersweet. They have a mission to get into the eight. The Dragons have strung together 6 wins on the trot without every looking completely in control. Their luck is due to run out some time. Tipping Newcastle tends to bite me on the bum but that hoodoo must end as well. And this will the the game that the Knights reward me.
Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders, Sunday 2:00pm Olympic Park
You just get the impression that now Origin is over, the Storm are going to wake up and really start to flex their premiership muscles. Canberra are a good chance being the first victim. The Raiders have been bright at times this season but their shine if starting to fade. Injuries haven’t helped but I don’t see the Raiders making the eight. They’ll be good for the odd upset but that is about it. But no upset in Melbourne. They’ll be lucky to not be blown away by half time.
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers, Sunday 3:00pm Parramatta Stadium
A gold ol’ fashioned local derby. Games between the two clubs always have a little feeling and this will be no difference. Especially with a spot in the eight available. Penrith had a good middle period but have fallen by the way the past few weeks. The Eels have been running round with their usual inconsistency. They were flat against a weakened Storm but will bounce back here and push themselves up the ladder. Go my Blue and Gold beauties.
Canterbury Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs, Monday 7:00pm ANZ Stadium
As Souths rise the Bulldogs are sliding. The Dogs should have put away a weakened Roosters but the loss shows how much bark they have lost. On the other hand, the Rabbitohs pulled themselves out of the hat to conjure a win against the Cowboys. How long can this love affair with the Bunnies continue? I’m sending some more tipping love their way. There is spirit back in the club. Something the Dogs are very much missing.
Shaun’s Sure Thing: The Storm. Again.
Shaun’s Roughy: Hard to say. Try the Bulldogs.
Note to Bismarck Ofmeasles: I hereby state that all the above tips have also been carefully and truthfully entered as my tips in all tipping competitions.
32 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 4, 2008 at 7:04 pm
We’ll see.
I’m with you on all of these once again Shaun and admit to being undecided on the Kniggts game as well but have tipped them.
All the best folks!!
BOM
Mungo Amanda // Jul 5, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Go Knights!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqeSrkq4ohY&sdig=1
Yes, I subscribe to the Knights news service on Youtube. So what?
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 5, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Gulp……. what’s happening to the Kerniggets??
Half time now… left yer’ game Newcastle!
Shaun // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Kerniggets fans could feel a little aggrieved. The Knights try that was denied due to a forward pass was a poor decision as was the try awarded to the Dragons via benefit of the doubt.
The trouble was that Newy had bugger all ball in the first half. They did well just to be 8 points down at half time.
But even with the dodgy decisions, the difference was the Saints took their chances.
And to see Big Dell in full flight running down the field was a wonderful thing. As was the cover tackle that bundled him into touch just short of the try line.
Shaun // Jul 6, 2008 at 12:24 am
Sorry, Knights 14 points down which wasn’t a true reflection of the first half.
Shaun // Jul 6, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Oh Eels. Why do you keep doing this to me?
Imagine if the Eels had played the entire 80 minutes as the did in the last 5 minutes.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 6, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Oh dear. It makes me ashamed to don the blue and gold… so I won’t.
I have to say though, that young groundman chappie Coote looks quite tasty + the Pritchard/Petro tag team caused far too much damage.
Luke Lewis is going to look good in the Cardinal & Mertyl next year!!
Let’s hope the weekend gets better from here on in.
BOM
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 6, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Good use of the term “..blown away” though Shaun. Check out the SMH : “http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchreport/storm-blow-away-raiders/2008/07/06/1215282637108.html”
Shaun // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:02 am
Stupid Eels fans. Apparently a bunch racially abused Petero during yesterday’s game.
Hope they are found and banned from the stadium.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:38 am
… I call Benny Ikin a ‘Queenslander’ all the time. .. I’ve never been banned.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Bunnies not looking good at half time.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:18 pm
… hang on… two tries in 3 minutes!
GO BUNNIES!!!!!!!
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Another one!
24/24 and some spark in their game while the pups have given up…….
Sandow / Wing are doing it for me.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Rabbits in front – 19 to go.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:42 pm
OMG 30/30 kick to come – 7 minutes left – pouring rain
THIS is footie!!!
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Simpson chucked it fwd after the hooter….. holy crackers all me’nails have gorne!
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:52 pm
G.P. Here we go.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I can’t stand it – second half of GP just about to start……
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Rabbit Win !!! Thank you footy gods.
Shaun // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Bloody hell. What a game. Can’t believe the Bunnies pulled off the big comeback second week in a row.
The play the Eels next week. If the Blue and Gold fail to turn up again then I fear that they will get done.
Shaun // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Btw, I hear the footy gods like offerings of beer, especially with your mates on Friday night, like the one coming up.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I think I soiled myself……
Shaun // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Lucky I got my Eels jumper back off you
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 7, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I did it in that too … but that was deliberate.
Shaun // Jul 7, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Yes, HAZMAT had to close down our street.
Stephen Hill // Jul 7, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I’d issue a jihad on Ben Roberts if I could be bothered, what the hell was he thinking when he grubber kicked when it was 30-30 and we had five tackles thirty minutes from the Bunnies line. We should have worked for the field goal, and I won’t mention the two missed tackles on Craig Wing.
Looking good for the wooden-spoon.
Stephen Hill // Jul 7, 2008 at 11:20 pm
OOPS
that should be thirty metres from the Bunnies line on the 79th minutes.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 8, 2008 at 12:09 am
Brain-Snap Stephen, I can’t think of another word for it.
Not sure it’s too much to Crowe about though, the dawgs are 11 regular 1st graders out….. late drenching didn’t help
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 8, 2008 at 12:12 am
Oh Shaun… BTW, Zvetlana O’Measles (tipping alias “Bunnygirl”) scored 5/5 with a 2 point margin on the Buns this week…..
That’ll take some beating!
Mungo Amanda // Jul 8, 2008 at 5:57 am
It is sobering to think the Knights are now just 2 pts above the Bunnies! *sniff*
Shaun // Jul 8, 2008 at 9:02 am
Yep, Ben Roberts has won the bone headed play of the year award. As soon as he did that I thought “The Bunnies will win this.”
Good work by Zvetlana. However I’ve moved into fifth spot and eyeing off first. The tipping is now serious and the head shall rule the heart from here in.
Stephen Hill // Jul 8, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Sounds like those clowns at the Parra game have been identified.
(Link to Foxsports news-item removed, as it was perceived as spam)
I was only joking about Roberts (I notice he’s been dropped to the bench for the next match with Holdsworth returning.) But considering how understrength we are, we really can’t afford show-boating players doing the “Scotty Mahon I’m a Hero Kicking on the First-Tackle Routine”.
I actually didn’t think the Dogs played that badly, although they made too many mistakes at the end, which was what let the Bunnies back in the game.