A training ovals around the city this week, you could hear NRL players learning the words to The Internationale as murmurs about a strike took hold. The cry was heard from the players as they demand fair pay for a fair day’s play plus agent commission. Eric Grothe Jr took to the streets to sing protest songs. His guitar painted with the slogan “This machine kills wabbits” (Jarrod Sammut did the painting), Grothe sang how “This land is your land, this land is my land, from Dairy Farmers Stadium to AAMI park, from Parramatta Stadium to SFS, this land was made for you and me.” Stirring stuff. And if the players did strike it would back fire on them. There is sympathy for the players in their quest to earn what they can from the game but any public sympathy would be quickly eroded.
Onto this week’s attempt to find a winner (sorely needed after last week’s debacle).
Brisbane v Gold Coast, Friday 7:35pm, Suncorp Stadium
Big brother v little brother (North Queensland are the county cousins) in what is usually a good game. Brisbane have been pretty ordinary apart from last week. Wallace returns to the side and may give Lockyer a rest from having to make every decision for the team from whose turn is it to supply the oranges to who takes the jumpers home to wash. And the on field tasks of course. Meanwhile the Gold Coast keep doing enough to win and it serves them well as they climb the comp. But I still say that this lack to put sides away will hurt them again if they reach the finals. Little brother to have bragging rights after this game.
Canterbury v St George Illawarra, Friday 7:35pm, ANZ Stadium
We know what to expect from the Dragons but what game are the Bulldogs going to bring on Friday? The worry is Kimmorely having another seniors’ moment like game. It probably won’t hurt his Origin chances as there is no-one else but it will strike a distinct lack of fear into the hearts of Queenslanders. But I have a feeling (I hear the wails of worry) that the Dogs will be up for this game. Josh Morris is back and Idris will be wanting to make another statement that he is ready to play Origin. The Dragons are going to to preoccupied with working out the financial contortions need to fit Money Bags Gaz back under the cap.
New Zealand v North Queensland, Saturday 5:30pm, Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors would love it if their new signings, Matoe and Inu, could turn out for them this weekend. Alas they can’t and given the insipid style New Zealand have adopted this season, it is not going to be good. There is talk that JT may return from injury. And with the good news that he will stay in league he’d be wanting to celebrate with a win.
Canberra v Melbourne, Saturday 7:30pm, Canberra Stadium
“We come from the land of ice and snow, where Duggan flies high and Campese runs the show. Aaaaah, Ahhhhh.” And while the Raiders don’t live up to their name away from home, once brass monkeys are rendered incomplete and polar bears roams the frozen ideological wastes of Parliament House Canberra come into their own. The Storm seem to have already hit the mental wall as they comprehend the exquisite cruelty of the penalty for breaching the cap. Expect them to be frozen out by the Green Machine.
Easts v Knights, Saturday 7:30pm, Bluetongue Stadium
As this game is just down the road, it may be a chance to road test the fleecy new hoody work gave everyone. Nice and comfy with no-one to be in doubt which company gave out the jumpers. Looking forward to a few beers and just chilling out (in both sense of the words) watching the footy. If my tipping follows my usual pattern the Knights will win because I’ve tipped Easts.
Wests v Souths, Sunday 2:00pm, SCG
After a great start the Tigers seem to be playing more like your normal house cat while the Bunnies are just bunnies no where near being like the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog who fluffiness belied a murderous intent. A crunch game for both teams as win will help get their stalled seasons going again. The Tigers welcome Lui back while the Bunnies gladly accept Asotasi back to the team. The Tigers just have the stronger and more consistent halves pairing and that sways me for the tip.
Cronulla v Penrith, Sunday 3:00pm, Toyota Park
Mountain Boy believes that there is curse implying that the Panthers could lose this week. Cronulla’s two wins this year have been at home but the Panthers are simply the better football side. It will be the usual case of Cronulla trying hard but falling short. Matt Elliott would be a little concerned about the Panthers’ defensive issues but Cronulla don’t have the attack to take advantage of any such frailties.
Manly v Parramatta, Monday 7:00pm, Brookvale Stadium
The Sure Thing: The Cowboys.
The Roughy: The Bun Buns
16 responses so far ↓
Bismark O'Measles // May 13, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Brisbane
St George
Warriors
Storm
Easts
Souths
Penrith (although I might have a lazy tenner on the Sharkies)
Bismark O'Measles // May 13, 2010 at 11:26 pm
oh…. and Manly
Mountain Boy // May 14, 2010 at 9:41 am
Gold Coast. Not really a team that you would think of as winning high scoring affairs, but they have done just that against point scorers such as Manly, Newcastle, and Penrith. Strange but true.
Canterbury. 2nd Pay back game for the Dragons in 2 weeks. Anyone remember the Bulldogs losing the minor premiership and a big step closer to a Grand Final because of a refereeing blunder? Of course, you can’t blame the players for what happened, but I would say the feeling is still high about the records being righted. The firey Ennis to give the dogs some mongrel tonight. (Also the pattern says they need to win as they are playing Penrith next week!!)
New Zealand – Cowboys can fool you just like Souths. Being up for a Sydney Monday game is one thing. Being up for a game across the Tasman with a short preparation the next week, will be harder.
Canberra – Canberra can win this, but their focus needs to be good. Their usual error count needs to halve itself. Otherwise, things will fall into place. People harp on about the weather factor, but don’t realise how parochial the Raider fans are at home. They will be on the ref’s back all night.
Easts. Oh No. Same tip as Shaun in the Newcastle game. No matter. Hoodoos are there to be broken. Or maybe not. The Knights seem to have their own hoodoo playing in Gosford. Shaun may know better, but does the Central Coast crowd take a set against Newcastle and support whoever they are playing??
Wests. Who knows? A coin toss for me. Heads.
Cronulla. ;( ;( ;( The pattern says its the Sharks. Can the Panthers break this hoodoo. Hope so but the pattern has been strong.
Parramatta. Another one to the pattern. A strange game the footy god is playing with this one. I’m sure he’s having fun with it – and getting the odd game up in the tipping comp he is in charge of.
Norths Tiger // May 14, 2010 at 10:48 am
Penrith stat of the week: it’s been 54 away games since Penrith last won away from home as a favourite with the bookies (August 2005 v the Bulldogs).
Granted, they’ve only been favourites in away games four times since then (R4 2006 @ Canberra, R6 2006 v Melbourne @ Adelaide (not strictly an away game I know), R22 2006 @ Souths and R13 2007 @ Souths again) but I guess this stat illustrates the mindset Penrith has had in away games for several years now.
Being expected to win at Cronulla on Sunday could play on their minds a bit.
Mountain Boy // May 14, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Not a bad stat Norths Tiger. Although I think the stat is more to do with the bookies habit of putting up the Panthers as the outsider week in week out. Also not denying Penrith’s poor form for several years. I don’t think its fair to take from the stat that the Panthers dont win away, its moreso that the bookies have had their fair share of getting it wrong with the odds (and so the away wins were not as favourite). Its a bit like saying we had 54 days of sun. Does that favour rain for day 55 or more sun ?(the answer of course, a pineapple)
Shaun // May 14, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Seriously, if Kimmorely is the best NSW have for Origin half back then we are screwed.
But Canterbury did open the Dragons up quite a bit in the second half with some second phase play. Other sides will take note of that. The Dogs trouble was finishing the moves and poor fifth tackle options.
Manly showed last week that a physical game will subdue the Dragons. The Dogs showed that second phase play can break up the Dragons’ structured defence. The trouble is can one team out it all together?
Mountain Boy // May 15, 2010 at 12:30 am
Ouch! Panthers to face their third straight loss next week against the Bulldogs. This is turning into a pattern-demic !!
Mountain Boy // May 15, 2010 at 10:45 pm
o for 10 – your last ten NRL tips Shaun. Can I ask you keep the trend up for just one more day ?
Mountain Boy // May 15, 2010 at 10:47 pm
retract retract. It was me who picked Sharks. I mean Go Shaun, Go.
Shaun // May 15, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Bloody hell. I’m up to 11 games since I’ve a winner. I am pathetic.
Shaun // May 15, 2010 at 11:12 pm
MB, if I tip no-one tomorrow (Sunday) an Eels win on Monday would still make it all worthwhile.
Bismark O'Measles // May 16, 2010 at 12:11 am
I got four so far…. mainly by ignoring Shauns tips!
Mountain Boy // May 16, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Ahh a special team it must take to beat the pattern. Not to mention North Tiger’s stat relating to 4 years of bookies odds – obviously a lot of sifting there for, alas, nothing.
Bismark O'Measles // May 16, 2010 at 10:46 pm
I must have been listening to Shaun for far too long – 6 from 7 now!
What about the Bunnies. OK, the Tigers didn’t look too flash today but the Buns looked like a TEAM at last & Dave Taylor is beginning to fire up.
I love heritage round
Mountain Boy // May 17, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Parra wins. The pattern has shown itself correct once again. The only team to win against the pattern all season, Penrith. now that’s a stat. They get a second and final bite at the pattern-cherry next week at home, hosting the Bulldogs.
Shaun // May 17, 2010 at 11:02 pm
What a good win by the Eels. They have toughened up as a side and absorbed a lot of heavy Manly defence to win that game.
Well done to the boys. That win will give them plenty of confidence.
And it was my second correct tip of the weekend.