Rooty Hill RSL NRL Blog

Who will you tip?

Well what a night this will be for Manly.. I'm prepared to say the most important game of the season and also prepared to say if they lose they will not make the 8.

 

See if they lose tonight, they wont beat Brisbane next week either which means they will be on 4 points after 9 rounds. Most experts say 28 points is needed to make the semis  which means The Eagles need to win 12 of their last 17 games to make it.. and if you have only won 2 of your first 9 that's not a good form line. I don't know what price they are but its worth a bet..

 

I think they might just get over the line tonight but I would not be surprised if Melbourne clicked and belted them..Brett Finch knows what's going on now, Slater Inglis and Smith have all been quiet and will want to stamp their names in the Australian selectors minds even though thy are all shoo ins to get picked..but just can see that happening

 

TIP Manly by 1-4

 

 

The other game sees a team in form against an out of form team…Rule #1 never tip out of form teams. Hence the tip…Cowboys by plenty.

 

Parra are a train wreck and even though the off field stuff has been done and dusted, they are still struggling..40 points in 4 games reads terribly and they wil score less than 10 tonight

 

TIP Cowboys by 13 plus

 

 

The Saturday games are all interesting with the match up at the Gold Coast providing me with the best value of the weekend...South’s are coming off the back of a friday night game when they scored a heap and let in a heap also. Gold Coast played Monday and have to back up Saturday arvo but they do get Rogers and Bailey back.

 

Souths were good last week even though defensively they let in some easy ones.. the Gold Coast haven't been attacking that much this year so I'm predicting a mini upset and backing the Rabbits, especially with the start. They average about 3 or 4 tries a game and the Gold Coast last month they average less than that so with the start Souths look morals on paper.

 

Tip Souths by 6

 

 

Cronulla v Roosters is a stinker of a game and if it wasn't for the Gus Ricky stoush we read about nobody would give a fats rats..but the one thing for certain is both teams care. The Roosters were ok in the first half last week but threw in the towel in the 2nd while Cronulla showed something for mine against Souths but the only thing were heard about post match was Ricky bleating. If David Simmons falls on that ball and scores they win..

So with that in mind..i'm tipping Cronulla but I will not, repeat will not be betting in this game.. both teams have been barred.

 

Tip Sharks by 2

 

 

The Newcastle players ears would still be ringing after the spray they got from their coach last week.. Brian Smith was livid and I don't reckon this week would've been an easy one for the Knights boys. They lose Mullen although some are saying he may lay, Naquaima and Cross and they might struggle against a red hot Broncos outfit who finally get to play on a different day than Friday night.Broncos will win this easily as they are too good and in form.. and no other team in the comp can say that.

 

Tip Brisbane 13 plus

 

 

My theory on Monday night football is that you never back a team that plays Monday and backs up Saturday. So far this year that theory is running nearly perfectly except for the Raiders beating Cronulla. Worse if they have to jump on a plane and travel but for some strange reason I like the Panthers. They were brilliant on Monday and the Raiders not so Sunday against the Dogs.. Penrith have in form players and the team isnt affected by injury so I'm changing my rules and tipping them.

 

The form line reads very well while the Raiders have won only 1 from their 3 at home so far this year

 

Tip Panthers to win by a few

 

 

Dragons and Warriors on Sunday is the danger game but I keep coming back to the fact that aside from that slip up of 15 minutes against Newcastle a few weeks back when they put 3 tries on them, the Dragons have average about 1.5 tries a week for the previous month scored against them.. those stats dont lie and when you thro up the Warriors ordinary form in converting opportunities and pushing passes, it means the Dragons are specials. At home they won more than they lose so if you are in front coming to Sunday..load up on this one

 

Tip Dragons specials

 

 

The final game of the weekend I want to watch..but I dont want to bet on it.. unless its for the highest score of the weekend. Both teams are scoring plenty, everyone is talking about Ennis and Farah and that means my little mate Benji will be smoking his pipe waiting to unleash..and so will my other mate Brett Kimmorley (who is at Rooty Hill on  May 11th)

Noddy v Benji, Farah v Ennis, but what about Keith Galloway pushing for rep spots, its all there..

 

tip 30 all with 3 minutes left... one team wins by field goal

 

 

GOOD THING OF THE WEEKEND.. COWBOYS all up BRONCOS all up DRAGONS..

the more you bet the more you win!!

Rep teams

Well no surprises about Queenslands origin squad..I could've picked that and won't they be hard to beat??

 

The NSW boys are having an induction camp today and for some it will be a chance to get a free t shirt because they won't be there in 3 weeks time.

 

Now the Aussie team gets picked this weekend and the name Trent Waterhouse should def be in it. The House has been on fire for the Panthers and after a few years in the wilderness he is playing career best football.

 

 

I still think the kiwis should be favourites even though I know they won't be.

 

Look at the form of their players.. Asotasi, Kidwell, Eastwood, Issac Luke Benji, are all in outstanding form but bookies will give up about 8 or 10 start which will be tempting.

 

 

The sides this week have been affected by injury and judiciary with Hindmarsh, Gallen and Ennis all out unless the latter 2 can get off tonight which I doubt.

 

 

And finally wasn't the Parramatta elections a whole lot of nothing..2000 turned up to vote out of 30000 or so members yet each day we had back page headlines about chinese giveaways and the like..only 5% cared enough to vote but the coverage it got rivalled the US presidential election!!!

 

Did anyone mention the word 'agenda'?

Monday Wrap

What another amazing weekend of football. and we still have 1 more game tonight

The Broncos are the best team in the comp for mine and they showed it on Friday. I know the Dragons have beaten Brisbane and they were sensational but Brisbane have travelled more than most in the first few weeks and come up trumps. They will get better as the season gets going even though Origin will hurt them.. and Daniel Anderson knew what he was talking about when he said he wished the media hadn't questioned the form of Darren Lockyer over  the past few weeks.

 

 

Locky was outstanding and had a hand in every try the Broncs scored..end of story 

South's made an easy win look tough but I did see some good things from the Sharks..not sure about the timing of Ricky's spat with the refs but I  do agree with some of his points about the experienced and in experienced refs in the same game. South's were also very good and the more ball they give Beau Champion the better they will be also.

 

 

And if Cronulla go thru with the reported threat of fining Paul Gallen then that will be the last straw.. Sure Gall's record isn't great but he is the heart of that club and while others around him have left or moved on, Gallen has stayed and he deserves a bit more loyalty from the club.

 

 

Saturdays Anzac Day game was a beauty with nearly 30 thousand watching live. Jamie Soward had it on a string and whilst everyone has their say about him the facts are he is very very good and is helping the Dragons to be very very good. The Roosters have now been barred by me...so far I have not got it right with them in any games at home this year.

 

 

The Storm and Warriors continued their tradition of great games with classic finishes by going to extra time and then still pushing out for a draw. I know the players hate draws but this time it was the best result. No one deserved to lose that one and the 1 point might be very handy come the pointy end of the season.

 

Manly cannot win without Brett Stewart, well the facts don't lie do they. 5 out of 5 and while we all know they will not lose their next 12 while he is out. They have to play Melbourne and Brisbane in the next 2 weeks!!

 

The Cowboys on the other hand have turned the corner. A strong win and the defence was terrific..Parramatta this week and then the Dragons at home so they are going along ok.

 

How good were the Bulldogs yesterday??? They are the real deal and have quietly got themselves in the top 4 without too much fuss. I think Michael Ennis is in a bit of strife after being put on report but he still should be the hooker for Origin. Canberra will win their fair share but they just don't have the killer blow.

 

The Monday night football curse got well and truly buried by the Tigers yesterday and wasn't it great…massive crowd Sunday arvo at Campbelltown and what a comeback from the Tigers. Brian Smith very peed off after the match and rightly so…they led 16/6..24/10 and that final pass wasn't forward so the Knights should have won...but they didn't. The bus trip up the F3 would not have been fun.

 

tonight's game should be a ripper. Look the Panthers have been terrific in their past 2 despite being beaten by the Broncos and the Storm but the Titans are on top of the ladder and I'm keen to back them again.

 

They are good across the board, defence is great, have the quality in attack and my man Scott Prince is flying…they should not be outsiders so lets jump on!!

 

Now just my 2 bobs worth on the 40 man Origin train on meet and greet squad or whatever they called it. WHY???

 

Why would you do it? No one cares about the 40, all it did was give the media a reason to pick on the ones who missed. How many stories did you read about Michael Jennings, Keith Galloway or others being touted as first time Origin players? None.

 

It was all about the guys who missed out which defeated the purpose of naming the 40. Dumb dumb dumb. Stick that idea somewhere where it will never be used again. The only time we want to name the origin players is the time that matters, and I only want to hear 17 players named not 40!

 

Round 6 Wrap

Well the season just got really rotten for the fans of the Eels and Sharks didnt it??

 

The losses on the weekend whilst predicted by some were pretty ordinary and both coaches said as much in the post game press conference.

 

Ricky probably has half an excuse with so many of their side injured but they are not getting $400, 000 worth out of Tupou and getting donuts out of Matua. Barrett is doing his best but he cant do it all and they wil need Gallen back asap.

 

The Eels on the other hand didnt have a go..plain and simple and any of the players who deny are telling porkies.

 

The Dogs are not that good.

 

Parramatta's long running battles on and off the field are starting to have an effect and when Brett Finch left the ole in ship was like the hole in the Titanic. Daniel Anderson is a good coach but even good coaches cant coach bad cattle and some of the Eels are no having a go.

Inu, Mateo, Hayne, are all superstars of the game but they have to give the labels back until they can earn it again.

 

The Tigers were terrific last night against Melbourne and I reckon a few who took the odds about Melbourne being minor premiers and premiers would be starting to worry a bit.

 

Beaten by the Gold Coast and Tigers and just getting past Penrith doesn't look good. 

 

The Broncos and Manly impressed me most.. I told you last week that Manly would give it to Souths and I still reckon they couldve put another 15-20 points on hem without too much trouble.. beware the Sea Eagles from here on in as I think its going to get really hard to beat them now they have a sniff....although losing Stewart today really really hurts them

 

The Broncos were awesome and they continue to thrive under coach Ivan Henjak.

We all know that try wasnt a try on friday but the Panthers still managed to make them look like superstars and helped them to a convincing win.. I still am tipping Brisbane to win the comp or make the grand final given they are under the spotlight every week with Friday night footy and big games..

This weeks game against Parra could yield 50....

 

Warriors got out of jail and the Roosters gave them the key which disappoints more than anything

The Cowboys did enough but only beat Cronulla, the Gold Coast were just and Newcastle were terrific in a very enjoyable game of footy.

 

I was surprised Brian Smith gave the hooker Isaac De Gois such a plug.. with Michael Ennis and Robbie Farah toted as the 2 NSW hookers I would've thought Brian would like his boy to himself during the tough Origin weeks..

 

Anyway another weekend goes by and it gets more interesting than ever..

This Rounds Best Bets

WELL DON'T WE HAVE AN INTERESTING ROUND THIS WEEKEND

 

I LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE GAME AND I CAN MAKE A CASE FOR BOTH SIDES WINNING..

 

lets start with the Panthers and Broncos.. I cant believe everybody jumped in and took the start Penrith but then again they nearly knocked off Melbourne last week and 2 weeks earlier beat Manly..so they are playing out of their skin and at home why not?

 

The Broncos were terrific last week until they clocked off and let the Roosters look good and the word from up north is that IVAN HENJAK HAS BEEN IVAN THE TERRIBLE AND FLOGGED THEM ON THE TRAINING TRACK.

 

Tip ...Broncos just

 

 

The Titans are probably the lock of the weekend because of their recent form and home record.. Scott Prince is locked in for another few years and will be 50 when he stops playing so good luck to him and the rest of the lads BUT The Raiders did the impossible and backed up after Monday night and on again last week. They are an outstanding football team and will cause plenty of headaches to anyone who takes them lightly..

 

Tip Titans just

 

Saturdays games I have no idea..

 

Dragons average the best defence in the game and Newcastle the entertainers will stretch any defence. The Knights are going superbly and Brian Smith has them clicking after a dusty start.

The Dragons at WIN OKI DOKI JUBILEE KOGARAH (gimme a break) are very good and the side would not want to slip up after doing so well this year..

 

Tip Dragons just

 

South's v Manly

 

A little stumble for the Rabbitohs last week in tough conditions they just didn't have the patience to beat the Bulldogs.. notice I said patience and not opportunities because they had a hundred chances. Manly said hello to the rest of the comp last weekend. their first win wasn't great but I suspect their 2nd win will be easier with South's and the Monday night hoodoo to suffer again

 

Tip Manly by a few

 

Warriors v Roosters

 

The Roosters would have been buoyed watching the Warriors recently..losing a few at home and 3 in a row would give the Chooks a sniff but then they get Manu the Beast and Steve Price back and they think..geeez..

 

The Roosters are thin on the ground in the backs.. Waqa, Aubusson both out .. Jones in to the centres just has me thinking they might struggle against a Warriors outfit desperate to win at home and get things back on track

 

In a high scorer, I'm tipping the Warriors but go the overs whatever they are

 

Sharks and Cowboys

 

Unfortunately the people of Adelaide ask for an NRL game and this is the one they get!!

Cowboys v Cronulla..wont that get them screaming thru the gates??

Cowboys couldn't beat time with a stick and neither could the Sharks but for some reason I'm tipping Cronulla despite no Gallen and 100 others...

 

My thought process is based around the fact that the Cowboys when they travel long distances don't like it.. Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, New Zealand.. so that's it

 

Tip Sharks by 2

 

Eels v Bulldogs

 

I don't know why but I am tipping the Eels in this one.. Bulldogs Monday night would still be hurting after defending their rings off last week against Souths..they got the cash but you don't know what it took out of them and I suspect Parra have now dealt with their stuff and are set to show something..

If they don't then the heads could really roll!!! 

 

tip Eels by 8

 

Tigers v Storm

 

Am I mad or have I just tipped Sharks, Eels and now Tigers??? that's treble would be 30 to 1..

But I am a loyal Tigers man and I also saw some good things against Manly last week that was spoilt by impatience and lack of finishing touches. The Storm lacked a lot more and fell over the line against

 

Penrith.

 

If the Tigers can score 4 tries I don't think the Storm can score 5 even though the Tigers defence is the worst.

 

Tip Tigers and take the start

 

so after all of that..here is the sportsguys advice......

 

take Brisbane, Titans, Dragons, Manly, Warriors, Sharks, Eels, Tigers.. the all up is paying $150

or do the complete opposite in case I get them all wrong

 

Penrith, Canberra, Newcastle, Souths, Roosters, Cowboys, Bullodgs, Storm..thats paying $480 for a $1 investment.

 

I'm confident one or the other will be 100% right.

 

I just don't know which one

Round 5

Brett Stewart scores a treble in his first game after all the dramas….. Who predicted that little bit of magic to occur?

 

He may have been a crowd favourite to score a try given he’s scored 50 at Brookvale but 3??

 

And well done to the Manly fans who turned out in their numbers to support their under sieged team… I’m not saying condoning anything that’s gone on but the courts will decide about Brett Stewart and I like Craig Bellamy have no problem with him playing Origin for NSW..

Speaking of which here are my early bolters for the NSW side..

 

Michael Wayman.. whatever Wayne Bennett has done with the pie eater has worked , and now NSW could do with him.

 

Michael Jennings.. just find a spot for him somewhere

 

Michael Ennis..the best hooker we have got and he will bug the crap out of his former Broncos team-mates

 

Trent Waterhouse…. Wouldn’t have bought him with counterfeit money last year but gimme him now for certain

Terry Campese..has to be the 5/8^th plain and simple. He makes average players look good at Canberra so imagine what he could do at Origin level.

Ok lets go to the rest of the weekend

 

Outstanding performance by the Dragons don’t you think.. I know the Eels couldn’t beat time with a stick right now but lets look at the facts. the Dragons have only let 53 points in after 5 games and if they average that for the rest of the year..they will win the comp!! I don’t know if they can but how impressive is Wayne Bennett.. we all knew he was a great coach but now he has taken the so called “soft” Dragons and turned them into the best defence in the league.

In fact after Friday night they had less points scored against them than any other team and they had played an extra game!!! Wayne Bennett is a genius and already the Dragons fans are daring themselves to dream about what might happen towards the latter part of the season..and so they should.

 

Meanwhile the Broncos coach may well have been unhappy with the 4 point win over the Roosters but I can assure you he is very happy about the way things are going.

They played about as bad as they could the Broncos and still won..they never looked like losing really. Sure the Roosters scored a couple late and got within 4 but did the Broncos take the foot off the gas?? You bet they did.. Ivan Henjak wasn’t happy about the And nor should he be but at the end of the day they still won pretty easily and other teams should be very worried when they met them in the next few weeks.

 

Poor old Ricky has got some problems and whiles the Sharks can play on heart..it wont win them too many games and next week the play the Cowboys who are just as desperate after another loss at home.

The Cows were beaten fair and square by the Titans whop continue to be over the odds and perform every week.. this year the Gold Coast are not going to fade away and I suggest you punters stick solid..

 

The Panthers were a bit stiff weren’t they..the final pass from Lewis to the winger was as flat as my wife’s sponge cake and deserved to be let go but the records will show, another honourable loss..

They are getting the sharp end of the stick this year no doubt about that.

 

Round 4 Wrap Up

Well this is getting ridiculous...

Let's review the weekend tips

 

Broncos...wrong

Eels ..wrong

Tigers..wrong

Storm..wrong

Warriors..wrong

Sharks..wrong

Newcastle..RIGHT. Yee har 1 out of 7

 

And even tipping canberra right on Monday couldn't help me

 

2 out of 8 but I did better than some..I notice Gus got zero.

 

This tipping is becoming horrendous! Unbelievable I mean how did the Titans win ?? How do the Tigers make Penrith look like world beaters and how are the premiers last ???

 

 

The salary cap is working whether fans like it or not.

 

Do me a favour and take a poll at your work or with your mates about who is going to be minor premiers or even the top 8.

 

The Dragons and Broncos are my tip to fight out the minor premiership but there's 4 others who could. Melbourne, Souths could, the Titans are winning and maybe even the Warriors . But I'm probably wrong with all of them.

 

Its a headache each week just to find a good one and for some flukey reason I found Newcastle but aside from that disastrous.

 

 

The Sharks can't take a trick and today they will lose another 3 players courtesy of the judiciary so they will do it tough against Canberra on Saturday night.

 

Manly get back Brett stewart but they may need a little more than that..I'm thinking divine help actually...they're lucky they are playing my mob.

 

Anyway we look forward to round 5 and let's see who actually plays for the Sharks before we right them off.

 

 

And thanks to everyone who turned up to the footy forum last night...nobody managed to win the big first prize of a 26 inch TV for picking the winning team and margin. So courtesy of Terry Campese's field goal we have 2 yes 2 TV's on offer next month when our special guest will be the Big Man Darryl Brohmann

 

Put May 11 in the calendar

 

Russ

Round 4 Preview

Well tipsters I said it last week and I will say it again... what chance another off field drama this week??

So far we have had the Dogs and Roosters put their hands up this week and the result could well be the same as the others.

 

Whenever a team has off field dramas they lose the following week..

Manly, Roosters, Sharks, and the Bulldogs all lost after having internals dramas so lets see what happens this week with the Dogs and Roosters... (i predict they will both lose)

 

And I also predict the Monday night football curse strikes again with Manly and Penrith both backing up...they will lose also.

 

Friday

Broncos v Dragons

7 times in a row the Dragons have beaten the Broncos which means that 7 times in a row Wayne Bennett has been on the losing side..this one will be 8. Ivan Henkaks boys are faster bigger and better than St George and with Hodges in and Cooper out.. get on Brisbane to remain unbeaten

 

Broncs by 8

 

Roosters v Eels.

How can you tip the Chooks minus Willie and Nate Myles?  You just can’t. They went well for 60 last week but got over ran while the Eels stormed home in the last 20. I’m a Roosters lead at the half followed by the Eels storming home again.  The get Hauraki back and the Roosters bench worries me.. too small and inexperienced with the 2 origin guns out.

 

Tip Eels by 12

 

Saturday

 

Just the 2 games today which is good because it means we can enjoy some Slipper day action and then back up with the footy.

 

My boys are off to the Mountain to take on Penrith who would have been very happy with themselves after Monday night but this Monday night backup is tough and no team has won yet after playing MNF. The Panthers back up within 5 days while the Tigers get 8 days off after their win over the Roosters.. doesn’t seem fair and neither does the minus 1.5 but hey who cares..charge into the Tigers because they are good for 30 points and I don’t think the Panthers can score 20

 

Tip Tigers to win

 

Melbourne v Gold Coast

 

Nice game this one but who dares to tip against the Storm at home.. they were great the past 2 weeks with a win and a narrow loss both away and now they can bury some Gold Coast tans in the Olympic Park mud..The Titans minus Scott Prince did well against the Dogs but the Dogs aint the Storm..nuff said.

Tip Storm to win easily and cover the start

 

Sunday

 

Warriors v Souths

 

This one might well be the sneaky game of the round.. Souths very good last week, Warriors very bad.. but lets just remember Souths in round 2. After winning well they were terrible the following week so logic says the Warriors will bounce back  but like I say you never know with Souths and I will enjoy watching this one

Tip Warriors in a close one

 

Bulldogs v Sharks.

How about this game. Sharks injuries up the you know what. Seymour comes back..they picked Barrett but my information is he certainly wont play (and nor should he). Bulldogs might have only had Idris involved in the stink between teammates but it does have an effect as we are seeing already. The Dogs might have a few sneaky kicking moves up their sleeve if what I saw at training is any guide so this will be close, but I’m leaning towards the Sharks

 

Sharks and as usual go the unders.

 

Newcastle v Manly

Hands up who is just waiting for Manly to unleash on someone??? Well I got news for you, today wont be the day. They were awful last Monday night and in the cold, wet , windy conditions they got bashed so they will probably still be sore. If its a hot day in Newcastle Manly might really really struggle. Newcastle have got 10 no names in their side but I don’t care, until a team wins after MNF I’m tipping against them and the start Newcastle is very juicy.

 

Tip Newcastle to win and keep Manly on the bottom.

 

Canberra v Cowboys

Make sure you join us at Rooty Hill RSL for Monday night footy this Monday night.. myself MG and the Fatty Vautin will be there having loads of fun and watching the game, talking about the issues and giving away plenty of prizes including the chance to win an 60 CM LCD TV ...just for picking the winning team and the margin!!!

 

Its a great idea by the club so come and have some fun with us between 6.30 and the end of the game.

One thing’s for sure and that’s there will be plenty of tries.. Canberra have been ok in 2 of the first 3 games while the Cowboys have been better than OK but only have  1 win to show for it.

They will bounce back I think

 

Tip Cowboys by 10

 

BEST BET OF THE WEEKEND... Call me Mad but More Joyous in the Slipper, all up Hawthorn to thrash the Swans and then Newcastle with the start against Manly.

 

See ya Monday at Rooty Hill RSL