League has its fair share of idiots but let’s be thankful that Jason Akermanis bats for another code. The AFL can have the homophobic ignoramus. His column explaining why gay AFL players was just a sorry retread of the usual “some of my best friends are gay but…” arguments. My favourite is that AFL players would be afraid of showering together after the game or training if they knew one of their team mates was gay. Poor petals.
That is not to say that homophobia does not exist in the NRL. I’m sure it does. However, most players would not bat an eyelid if a team mate came out. All that counts is what you do on the field. If a player did have an issue with the sexual orientation of a team mate then that is that player’s issue. To hide because of ignorance and intolerance is a sad state of affairs. Hopefully some players will come forward as did Ian Roberts and, more recently, Gareth Thomas in rugby and break down unneeded, unwarranted lingering bigotry.
Now for this week’s lottery of tipping.
Newcastle v Wests, Friday 7:30pm, Energy Australia Stadium
FFS, this is beyond a joke. I hate the Knights and what they do to my tipping. They had had a pattern late of win-loss-win-loss etc and going by that, due for a loss. But the word is dissent in brewing within the Tigers. Then again Newy are at home. Then again Gids is on Origin duty. Then again the Tigers may overcome their inner turmoil and bounce back. Then again Peter Hoare may make another appearance and take out Benji. Sorry Mungo but I’m going to tip the Knights.
Parramatta v Cronulla, Saturday 7:30pm, Parramatta Stadium
The Sharks are a bit of a bogey team for the Eels. Which is not to say the Sharks are an unidentified radar contact or dried nasal mucus but a team that has mysterious powers to often thwart the Eels. But the pattern the past few seasons have been the Sharks winning at Parramatta and the Eels winning at Cronulla. With the Sharks having already beat the Eels at the home, the Eels may square it up. Hopefully Paul Gallen will be fired up after his Origin snub and give away his usual amount of penalties.
New Zealand v South Sydney, Sunday 2:00pm, Mt Smart Stadium
Two teams vexed by inconsistency. Yet Souths seemed to be starting to find a cure for this and start some consistent footy. Last weeks demolition job on the Tigers was a realisation of their potential. But they are missing Big Dave Taylor and Captain Asotasi. As for the Warriors who knows what they will do. I’m taking the Bun Buns.
St George Illawarra v Canberra
Just because St Benny now lives in NSW he has given up on his beloved Cane Toads. The evidence is that Jamie Soward is not playing Origin. It removes a potentially potent attacking weapon from the Blues and keeps Soward for the club rounds while Origin is on. A master stroke from the master coach. Being the last game at WIN Stadium before the reconstruction expect the Dragons to use the Raiders as a wrecking ball to get a head start on the demolition.
Penrith v Canterbury Bankstown
While it is debatable whether the loss of Kimmorely will actually harm the Bulldogs (if not actually be an improvement), Ennis not playing will impact heavily on the Bulldogs chances as will the loss of Idris. Penrith have lost Lewis, Waterhouse and Petero but the rest of the is usual squad is basically right for the night including the spine. The Dogs really do seem to lack any cohesion in attack so it will be interesting to see what Barba can do as starting half. I still reckon the home side can do.
The Sure Thing: I dare to say the Eels!
The Roughy: The Raiders
11 responses so far ↓
Mountain Boy // May 20, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Tigers
Parramatta
New Zealand
St George
Penrith
+ I hate to say it, QLD.
I’m glad for Penrith that the Street Machine will don the black Monday night, but I think the Blues backline could have made better use of his services, over the overrated and ‘takes himself-all-too-seriously’, Cooper.
I have no doubt the Maroons are happy about our selections too. Petero, for one, said as much.
In saying this, I do hope NSW win, as it means the Street Machine can burn rubber for the Mountain Men a bit more through Origin season. He was out for 10 games in the regular season last year due to an injury resulting from Origin I. I have no doubts this is what turned their year from promising to disappointing. No, they’re not a one man team, but M.J. has been a vital cog in their wheel. A bit Hayne-like in regard to his confident play spreading to the rest of the team. (and the opposite being the case, when not playing)
gilmae // May 21, 2010 at 10:45 am
I don’t really follow the gossip that much, so what are the rumours re: Tigers?
Bismark O'Measles // May 22, 2010 at 11:34 am
God Shaun, you’re having a horror couple of tipping weeks. Would you like some help? (he he….)
Great win by the Tigers – far less dropped ball than I would have expected on a night like that. I loved the Akuila Uate story! He obviously holds Lote in high regard and was stoked to be up against him – Gus said he thanked him every time he got tackled!
I think he’s a very promising winger.
My tips :
Tigers (derr….)
Eeeeeels
Souths
St George (I got a bad feeling about this one!)
Panthers
Gilmae : The Tiges are rattled by their performance recently and the much publicized apology ( http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-captain-robbie-farah-and-coach-tim-sheens-apologise-after-huge-loss-to-south-sydney/story-e6frexnr-1225867488044 ) and, as with the Eels a couple of years ago, fingers are being pointed. This naturally build discontent within a team and they have to get over it.
Mountain Boy // May 22, 2010 at 10:24 pm
In my tip comments I touched on the with or without Hayne factor – and I wondered how safe my Parra tip was this week, this considered. If I was a Parra fan, I would now be hoping Hayne has a shocker on Wednesday and gets dropped for games II and III.
Shaun // May 22, 2010 at 11:00 pm
What’s Hayne gonna do? Stand in the line and prevent the easy metres through the ruck which the Eels gave Cronulla all night?
No Hayne wasn’t the problem. The forwards were the main culprits.
Mountain Boy // May 22, 2010 at 11:17 pm
I was telling that Hayne, like Michael Jennings will inevitably do something in a match that will ignite the rest of the team – and that it can have the opposite effect when they are not there. No spark, no flame.
NSW selectors have done Penrith a big favour by leaving MJ out of SOO1
Bismark O'Measles // May 22, 2010 at 11:39 pm
The Sharks did it for me again – $50 if you please!
Lost the tip though……
Mountain Boy // May 23, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Please let it be Penrith again to break the curse Shaun ;p
Shaun // May 23, 2010 at 6:11 pm
I couldn’t tip a two horse race even if one horse had a dodgy leg, was out of condition and had Darryl Broham as the jockey. The bookies are laughing.
Back to last night, now that I’ve accepted the loss there were some positives. Mortimer looked liked he was getting back to his best. He also was important in cleaning up the loose ball. He was working hard. Justin Poore had his best match this season after a shaky start and really bent the line.
Also a reminder that a few players leaving the club won’t be missed given their contributions (or lack thereof) last night.
Interesting match next Friday night. This round’s biggest losers meet in the Friday game.
Bismark O'Measles // May 24, 2010 at 12:17 am
I went with your tips again this week Shaun and got stuffed!
Should have stuck with the winning formula of tipping precisely the opposite!
Let’s chastise ourselves by running around the Domain tomorrow lunchtime.
Ho hum……
Mountain Boy // May 24, 2010 at 11:27 pm
In years gone past, those strange calls that still seem to go the other team’s way would have undone the Panthers … but not this year. Luck still isn’t going their way, but they seem to take it in their stride, even use the bad calls to try harder. And don’t you love a team that isn’t coached to win penalties – as opposed to another team that comes to mind.
- Strange call examples: Goodwin takes a bomb in the field of play then ends up tackled in-goal (deemed fair catch in-goal??) / Elford makes it back into the field from his own in-goal – his waist the only part of his body touching the line (deemed tackled in-goal) .
The two disallowed tries to the Bulldogs were correct, unless Steve Clark had been in the box. Morris touching down inside the dead-ball but after coming from outside the field and not stepping back in first. The second no-try a clear dropped ball. Those close calls could have made all the difference so could have been quite a close game, for a scoreline that reads like a comfortable win.