Comments on: NRL 2010 Round 2 Preview and tips

By: Mountain Boy

Mountain Boy — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:37:52 +0000

If I was a referee these days, I would think it easy enough to put a few lazy bradmans on the half-time / full-time double betting option in the game I am ref-ing. One team to lead at half time – the other to win the match. Also take the reverse option, then as long as its not a draw at half-time all is still good. In the second half provide ball to the losing team through penalty after penalty. Threaten the team in front with the sin-bin if its not going to plan. At some stage you should come out a winner. You may hear fans go on about the poor decisions, teams dropping their bundle, or teams coming from the clouds, but who cares, noone will suspect a betting scandal. Highly cynical theory I know, but think of how often this happens, think of what prices these half time reversals do pay ($5 or $6 a pop) – so with the knowledge that if it doesn’t come off every time – no big deal.

I remember years ago, a ten or twelve point lead at half time would have you feeling pretty good about yourself. Notice how you feel these days when leading at half-time? And how confident you also feel if your team is down at the break.

I am yet to work out the half-time reversals. I haven’t discounted teams betting against themselves.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:41:57 +0000

Lockyer was just asked about the comebacks in the post match presser. He reckons most teams are not properly match fit. Once this happens, there will be less comebacks as the season rolls on.

By: Bismark O'Measles

Bismark O'Measles — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:02:32 +0000

he he … not necessarily.

By: gilmae

gilmae — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:36:18 +0000

Wests put on two tries in the first quarter and then got really dozey from the heat and let through about a billion points. They tried to catch up in the final quarter, but they’d let through too many.
I am finding I can’t allow myself to watch Titans’ games, I spend the whole damn thing hoping someone gouges Greg Bird. That’s bad, right?

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 09:35:45 +0000

The refs have done a shocking job this round. Yeah, Parra’s third try was off a blatant forward pass but being against Manly, an ethical justification is easily made. There are suggestions that the pass to Grothe for the final try was forward as well but seeing the reply again, it was flat at the worst.

If you were following my tweets you know what I though of the game at half time. Full time was of course a different story. I’ve seen the Tahu try a few times since the game and still get excited watching it. That was one of the best and Hayne’s run to set it up was as good as any from last season.

I have no idea what happened with the Roosters v Tigers apart from the score. I only say about 10 minutes of the game. I’m wondering how much did the heat affect both Sunday games.

From last night, the Storm v Knights was a good one (Mungo of course may disagree on that). I even had a lazy $5 on the Knights and they almost pulled it off.

I didn’t see the Cowboys v Panthers. From the result it is difficult to make anything from either side. Relying on Thurston to pull them from the brink isn’t going to work all season.

Of course the Panthers are still having issues with staying awake during the second half.

As for the Warriors v Sharks game, when Warriors knocked on from the kick off and the Sharks then knocked on from the scrum you knew it was not going to be a high class game. But it was interesting for a scrappy game. The Warriors weren’t great but Sharks have seemingly no penetration in attack. Both teams seem to heading for a long season.

By: senexx

senexx — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:49:13 +0000

So far I do have 5/5 Bismark but that may change today.

By: Bismark O'Measles

Bismark O'Measles — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:50:50 +0000

Bum.

But for the sake of dubious refereeing, I’d have 5 from 5 this week.

By: senexx

senexx — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:29:05 +0000

Thanks for freeing it.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:14:40 +0000

Apologies senexx. Your comment got caught in the spam filter.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:10:25 +0000

Yes, the refereeing in the South/Titans games was like watching rugby union. Some of the penalties were nit picking the rules to the extreme.

But South’s attack still look flat. Sutton did some good things but Sandow is an issue. He really needs to pick up his game.

Not that the Titans were any better. They have their own problems. The season will be like the last year where they win games by a few points and get trampled if they make the finals.

The Bulldogs were one-dimensional without Ennis. It was so obvious that Kimmorely was the focus of the attack. And for his troubles he got smashed as the Dragons played to the obvious. Roberts did nothing. The Dogs really need to find something or they will have a tough season.

And the Dragons showed that they can score points. They will be premiership favourites now but it is a marathon and not a sprint (as they learned last year). One worry is that they seem to sit on their lead and rely on their defence to get them home. That will do for know but as the season moves on, it could cost them a few games.