Origin is over (though Gus is still wanting a fourth game) and the run the finals is officially on. 8 rounds to go and intrigue floats around both ends of the table. Seven teams are looking over the shoulders at the moment hoping that they won’t be the ones with the wooden spoon. Nine teams realistically have a chance for the finals with Penrith and Manly wanting to win as to grab eight spot outright. Everyone else are fighting for that important top four finish. The Dragons and the Knights have the bye this weekend and what a great time to get an easy two points.
I said I was excited last week. But I’m even more excited this week. And the excitement will just build and build. How will I be able to take it all? Can you take it? Can anyone take it? I don’t care just bring it on!
Brisbane v South Sydney, Fiday 6:40pm, Suncorp Stadium
So what do we make of the Bunnies last week? A false dawn before sinking back into the gloom or the start of an epic run home? This game will tell. Even after an Origin, the Broncos won’t be pushovers. But if the Bunnies can stay in the game, they may have the stronger legs in the finals stages and pull off an unlikley victory. And with Lockyer and Thaiday doubtful, I’m tipping the Bunnies.
Canterbury Bulldogs v Gold Coasts, Friday 8:30pm Suncorp Stadium
The oft and over used expression “flying under the radar” describes the Titans this year. They haven’t been spectacular and often won games with superior skill at the end just getting them home. By they are in third spot and show no signs of fading. The Bulldogs are a big test as they have seemed to be also able to pull games out of the fire when required. The winner of this game goes to outright second on the table. The Titans will push Canterbury but the Dogs are playing with a lot of confidence. Doggies to get home in a great game.
Penrith v Canberra, Saturday 5:30pm, CUA Stadium
A very tricky game. Penrith welcome Jennings back but have lost Waterhouse due to his Origin brain explosion. The Panthers’ inexperience cost them last week against the Bunnies. The Raiders’ forwards are more experienced and this has me leaning to the Green Machine. I won’t completely write Penrith off at home but it will be a tough battle for them. The Raiders aren’t playing that well either but reckon they’ll have just a little too much here.
Cronulla v Manly, Saturday 7:30pm, Toyota Park
If Penrith loses then Manly will go into this game with a great chance to get eighth spot on their own. And what better team to come up against that the hapless Sharks. Cronulla will fight hard but just don’t have the class around the park to match Manly. Sea Eagles for sure.
Easts v New Zealand, Sunday 2:00pm, Sydney Football Stadium
The only interest is if the Warriors can halt their end of season slide. A loss here sees them losing a lot of ground in the race to avoid the spoon. It is one of those 50/50 games as the Roosters don’t have much either. But I’m going to have a punt on the home team.
Wests v North Queensland, Sunday 3:00pm, Leichhardt Oval
The game of the round simply because Bismark and I shall be there. Nothing better than a Sunday arvo at the Leichhardt (including a few beers at UTS Rowers afterwards *hint*). It is indeed one of the great pleasures in life. Best taken only occasionally to savour the joys of footy as a traditional suburban ground. As for the game, the Tigers come into this with a win and then two points from the bye. A win could see them potentially a win outside the eight (if Penrith and Manly lose. It will be a tough game as Thurston will turn out for the Cowboys. But you know what, I’m gonna stick to the Tigers.
Parramatta v Melbourne Storm, Monday 7:00pm, Parramatta Stadium
A milestone Nathan Hindmarsh becomes the third Eels to play 250 games for the club. The Storm have Inglis and Smith in doubt. The Eels are very inconsistent and prone to stupid errors but the effort has been there the past month or so. I’m quite liking Anderson as a coach and I’ll reckon he’ll have the team ready to put in for Hindy. God know that he has carried the Eels for many a season. Time the team returned the favour.
The Sure Thing: Manly
The Roughy: The Bunnies.
13 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:19 pm
You’ve done it again Shaun! I’m sure there’s a rule somewhere that says you can’t tip a club and then put them up as the roughie……
Anyhow. I like the looks of your tips this week and will be copying them in the sure and certain knowledge that I’ll maintain my one point buffer in the BP2S tipping comp. I also tend to agree with them all with the possible exception of the Bunnies who still don’t get it.
I actually get a bit sad around this point in the year. I really look forward to Origin and the fact that it’s over signals the ‘home-straight’ of the season that I wish would last all year.
KO is at 3:00 on Sunday so see you any time after 1:00 at O’Measles Towers.
BOM
Shaun // Jul 16, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Look, Article 5 paragraph 2 sub section E footnote 11 of the Sidelined charter allows for tipping a club and having them as the roughy as the roughy is determined by the odds against them winning.
It is all very clear.
Mountain Boy // Jul 17, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I think Shaun wins another Tazo or two over this one. The Roughie, being the biggest chance of an upset from his weekly selections.
Mine:
Brisbane – Channel 9 are sunk if they drop out of the 8 now. They should get all the help they need.
Gold Coast – What a gift for the Bulldogs to offer to play in Brisbane (after a number of Bulldogs players having to travel Sydney to Brisbane twice within a few days)
Penrith – I draw on all my potions and spells for this one. After performing the “STUPEFY!” spell though – I feel somewhat .. none the wiser ??? I guess it worked!
I do note for the stat-minded that Penrith, although losing their last 4 from 6 – have won the last 5 games that Jennings has played. Last time I checked – he was still in!
Waterhouse also got off his ‘cradling an injured player’ charge and rightfully so. How Thurston got a grade 1 for that kick and gets off – I dont know? Poore also showed Poore-form for lifting Price while unconscious. That was the most dangerous thing that happened all night – and as a dragon he gets off. Even biting players is forgiven if it’s by one of the untouchables.
Anyway, where was I ?…. Ah yes …
Cronulla – A weeks rest and playing at home compared to Manly’s tough game against the Dragons. The Southern beaches against the Northern Beaches – Beaches of Origin stuff. BOO!! for short – how appropriate.
New Zealand – Overall stats reveal the Kiwis are terrible travellers, but a closer look tells that they do much better if it’s not a night game. Kiwis to shit this one in. Hopefully they find somewhere appropriate to do this.
Balmain Mapgies – The spirit of Laurie Nicholls to make a grand re-appearance at the hallowed turf near Mary Street in the form of a team that decides to play tough and aggressive for a change. A mexican wave of shadow-boxing uppercuts, straight rights, left hooks, the odd-duck and weave, and of course the gloves-in-the-air victory dance to be seen reverberating around the ground until nightfall.
Parramatta – Quite a few Storm will have had a heavy schedule travelling to Brisbane then Melbourne then Sydney. Never easy playing long distance, away on a Monday against any team. Once Parra realise they are in the game, the crowd wont let them back out of it.
Mountain Boy // Jul 17, 2009 at 12:27 pm
If you are dyslexic you may not have picked my error in the spelling of the famous Balmain Magpies.
Shaun // Jul 18, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I forgot to change my tip to the Bunnies in the tipping comp. They were impressive last night. Are they going to be the team that makes a late run into the finals? If Penrith and Manly lose tonight then the Bunnies are 1 point out of the eight.
And poor Tony De Las Heras. If it wasn’t enough that a Bunnies player pushed him over, copping Tonie Carroll’s knee.
The second person in 3 days to find themselves having a impromptu sleep on the Suncorp turf.
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 18, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I was convinced poor old T DlHaras had seen the last of his walking days after T Carolls contact…. VERY ugly.
Note to all ref’s knocked down in the field of play… Keep head well an truly tucked under until the forwards have run over you.
Apart from that.. what a game for the Bunnies. I’ve been a fan too long to say this is a different team and get my hopes up but, for once, they looked unflustered, professional and played as a unit – even Sandow calmed it down long enough to play a constructive role..
Any more of this and I can see them ending up 9th or something…..
Hairy Plopper was good this arvo – he gets to snog Ginny – Woo Hoo !
BOM
Bismark O'Measles // Jul 19, 2009 at 10:50 pm
And a fine afternoon at the magnificent Leichhardt Oval to seal the weekend for me.
The infamous Pixi Frou Frou made some classic comments which I’m sure Shaun will share with you.
The real winner on the day? Beer drinkers. it was cold (very) and didn’t run out at half time although we did have to switch to VB yellow for the final round of the day. Lucky UTS still had plenty in the pumps!
Thanks Shaun, Al, Pixi and Gnasher for a great afternoon.
BOM
Shaun // Jul 20, 2009 at 10:35 am
Ah yes. What a day. I love Leichhardt and while it is fashionable to bash Gus, his column today is great reading.
The best Pixi Frou Frou comment was in response to her dad, who called out to the cheerleaders “Hello girls. Can I have your phone numbers?” To which Pixie yelled out “Don’t listen to him. He’s married!”
There was much merriment in Bay 4 of the concourse after that.
Mountain Boy // Jul 20, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Yeah not a bad effort Gus, but you know where you got the spark for that one don’t you? Well done for tuning in.
Shaun // Jul 21, 2009 at 9:53 am
Gus once said it takes 18 months to build a culture at a club and 18 months to destroy one. Hagan did a good number in trashing Smith’s legacy for the Eels but after last night’s performance, Anderson is starting to turn things around.
That was one of the best defensive efforts by the Eels for a few seasons. Hindy was great up the middle and Hayne was outstanding. And Inu is starting to find his way again. His pass to Lowrie for the third try was brilliant. Even Robson, one of the more unfashionable halfbacks in the comp, is playing out of his skin.
The Eels have left their run a little too late for this season. And they have the Bulldogs next week which will be a tough game.
However, with Mateo and Keating back on deck and Poore and Shackleton to join next season, 2010 could bring happy times back to Parra.
Mountain Boy // Jul 21, 2009 at 11:24 am
Dont be too surprised when we see a few more “Parra too good for the Storm” type of results before the regular season is out.
It’s the time of year when players start getting nervous about their contracts. You will see under-achieving teams start to achieve. I think teams like Penrith, Parra, Tigers, and Souths already have that mind-set (a full two months out!), and so they all have a chance of making the 8. (Wouldn’t sidelined be popular if that happened)
I tip at least a couple of these teams to make it in, and a couple of the better teams currently higher up, to crumble.
Shaun // Jul 21, 2009 at 12:53 pm
MB, contract issues would only affect about 2-3 of the current Eels’ squad. And if the players are only worried about their contracts now then be off with them. It is a poor attitude.
And anyway, Lowrie and Robson will not play over a fit Mateo and Keating. Not sure about the other teams but Parra’s recent form is mainly result of DA tweaking offensive and defensive structures and getting few other things right that Hagan neglected.
Mountain Boy // Jul 21, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I don’t have the stats back from the Bureau yet, but I would guess there would be a significant percentage of players that leave for another team before their contract is up.
It’s about this time of year (post-June 30) that clubs check their sums on what they can spend for the next year and scouting season begins. Of course, scouting happens all year round – but only into the new financial year does a club normally get serious about opening purse-strings. Its not just scouting for players off-contract either.
Contracted players for 2010 can either invoke their ‘out-clause’ if they have one, or hope to negotiate an early release from their club, if they are happier with another offer.
I reckon the players undoubtly know that scouting season has begun.