Twas the round before Origin and all through the comp, refs were being isolated as swine flu they may have got. A wise precaution if you like and if you want to panic further the line starts over there. Though there are rumours that the NRL has drawn up contingency plans to postpone matches if the zombie apocalypse does happen. And if that happens, expect more biting charges for the judiciary.
Until then the footy goes on. An abbreviated round for Origin and an interesting time for tipping. For some sides, Origin tends to spell trouble as their depth is exposed and it can be a horror stretch. Tread warily tipsters.
St George Illawarra v Penrith, Friday 7:35pm, WIN Stadium
Does the loss of the Dragons font row plus Ben Creagh to Origin the downside of on field success? This game may tell us up the Dragon’s forward depth. But they are in the hands of St Benny a veteran of many seasons with a club depleted by Origin duty. He prepare them well. The Panthers also have three players out as well and it makes this an even contest. The Panthers are in this game and worth the flirt with a flutter. It is really hard to work out who will affected most by Origin but I’ll stay with the Dragons.
Parramatta v Cronulla, Saturday 7:35pm, Parramatta Stadium
If the Eels are going to do anything in this comp then they will need to continue Cronulla’s misery. This game does worry me but the Eels did play well against Souths and that form (even without Hayne) be enough to get them over the line.
New Zealand v Wests, Sunday 2:00pm, Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors have been very ordinary then again the Tigers haven’t been in sparkling form either. Both teams are missing key players. Price may be a prop but he is a vital player for the Warriors. The Tigers will miss Farah but Marshall is the key. I really don’t know as neither team has been inspiring recently. Just maybe the Warriors but wouldn’t be surprised if the Tigers get the points.
Newcastle v Canterbury-Bankstown, Sunday 3:00pm, Energy Australia Stadium
The Knights come off a thumping. Maybe it was the loss they had to have to refocus their season. But with Gidley out they face a tough task even at home to get over the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are playing with a lot of confidence. While Newy will want to make a statement that their team does not rely on one player, I’m not convinced by their convictions. The Bulldogs will continue their run.
South Sydney v Canberra,
I believe, somewhere in the Inner West, a certain common commenter still plagues his neighbourhood, wandering nightly, muttering darkly about the deficiencies of certain referees. Maybe the result of this game will ligthen his spirits. Canberra do drop down a notch without Campese and if Souths, with Sandow back, are serious about 2009 then they will win.
Easts, Gold Coast, Brisbane, North Queensland, Manly and Melbourne have the bye.
The Sure Thing: Tough round for this but what the hey, Souths.
The Roughy: Penrith.
15 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // May 29, 2009 at 8:09 am
… mutter mumble… etc.
You picked Souths as your sure thing again! Who would have thought it.
Still can’t understand why the onus is on the “team that wants to get on with it” to risk a penalty rather than the “team that wants to run the clock down”.
Bring on the Origin !!!!
Mountain Boy // May 29, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Penrith Panthers to Pounce. They overcame the Sure-N thing in week 10 with an average performance, then were uncharacteristically “up” for the game against the Roosters. (I wasn’t expecting them to be). No doubts they will be “up” for the game tonight.
Cronulla Sharks to show their Teeth.
Newcastle Knights to win the Joust.
New Zealand Warriors to ….. ?? !!…. Look Real Scary ?!
and Canberra Raiders to Seek and Destroy.
NSW Blues to cause a boilover in SOO#1 on Wednesday. Bustling tactics to shut down Lockyer and Thurston to work a treat, in particular aiming up on Thurston. Anticipating he will dummy and run, and so just tackling him anyway will be enough to mark his report card with the word “Quiet”. Being of the kind that like the football in their hands, NSW will know they have him beat if they keep defusing the dummy, or forcing him to pass the ball off to someone else.
Shaun // May 29, 2009 at 11:06 pm
The Panthers were in the game till about the 60 minute mark or so. In fact the second half for a while featured sweeping runs from one end of the field to the other. Quite exciting and entertaining.
Wendell’s second try broke the Panthers. And that was the difference. The Dragons took their chances near the Panther’s line while the Panthers tended to lack direction the closer they got to Dragon’s line.
Mountain Boy // May 30, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Didn’t see the game, so will check replay to see where we folded. Alas I was wrong, again. I should have factored in the Dragons turning up too.
I hear Sammut got a decent injury which I feel is not such a bad thing for Penrith. I think they are not as susceptible in defence when he is not there. A lot like when we had Preston in the team. We used to hide him on the wing when they had the ball. Not the greatest ploy against cross field kicks, I don’t think. Fullback is not the place to hide someone in defence either.
Shaun // May 30, 2009 at 11:45 pm
That was rather depressing really.
Mountain Boy // May 31, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I think the only answer for Parra is to buy up – and do it now. Look at players off-contract in 2010 and ones that could negotiate an early release. They have’t got enough talent to fill their 17 jerseys at the moment, let alone any depth to cover for inevitable injuries . If they wait til the off-season to buy, then ’09 is going to be a real long season. A good manager doesn’t waste time with staff who consistently do a bad job. They need to aquire a quality half, a 5/8, and if it were up to me, a new front row.
Penrith I feel are no longer in spoon calculations – their improvement this year a result of a good halves combination, at least one quality front rower, and the steady development of some local talent in the backline. Still work to do (obviously) – but they now have the foundations to go to the next level.
Mountain Boy // May 31, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Poor Bismark – Parra with 2 seconds left on the clock get to feed their scrum and make a last play. Time is not blown back on til both teams have packed and halfback with ball in hand.
Shaun // May 31, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Aah, but if you watch closely, not one of the Parra players lifted their head from the scrum.;-)
Shaun // May 31, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Heh, the Tigers had a scrum in the closing stages and kept their heads down to make sure the ref didn’t blow time on. Apart from one second rower who had a cheeky look missed by the ref.
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 1, 2009 at 12:42 am
Blinkin hell…. it’s like a game of ‘Spot-The-Prairie-Dog”.
C’mon you Bunnies!
BOM
Mountain Boy // Jun 1, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Is the lock allowed to lift his head if the second rower farts and ..you know.. it’s real bad ? If he then does that windscreen wiper gesture to the ref, maybe he would get a little understanding ?
Rule 48(G) should read : If the second-rower farts in the scrum, the lock can lift his head.
Shaun // Jun 1, 2009 at 10:32 pm
You know, Souths have developed a predictable pattern for the season. You think they are coming good and then they turn in an inept performance. Their forwards need to start turning up every week.
As for the Raiders, well done. A great effort with Learoyd-Lahrs leading the way. He had a monster of a game.
The Raiders are a bit like Souths however. They have the bye next week and likely will be woeful in round 14.
Bismark O'Measles // Jun 1, 2009 at 10:53 pm
I’m very depressed.
The drive shaft on my car went and I have to sped 6.5k getting it fixed.
BOM
Mountain Boy // Jun 2, 2009 at 12:01 pm
The drive shaft in the Rabbitohs is gone too. Will take more than 6.5k to fix that one though.
I’m 8 out of 9 for the two short rounds recently. Go Mountain Boy Go. Penrith the only blemish. Maybe there should be more short rounds! Sentiment got in the way, but that’s fine.
Mountain Boy // Jun 3, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I hear that because of unexpected car repairs, Bismark could not afford the ransom required to take the rabbits off Shaun’s Sure Thing. A double-edged sword if ever there was one.