Magic Round started with a very entertaining women’s second State of Origin match. I attended the game and unfortunately Queensland just could not get the win. Queensland’s ball control let them down again, but I look forward to Qld winning game 3.
On Friday night, the first of the Magic Round games was quite tragic for the many Bulldogs fans that turned up for the match. They were particularly disappointing and Cronulla were way too good, winning 38 points to 16. Nobody really knows what is wrong with Canterbury, but they are certainly not playing well enough to trouble anybody and have now slipped to 14th place on the ladder. Last Seasons decision to offload their half and hooker still seems to be haunting them. The second game had Redcliffe up against Souths Sydney. Redcliffe were very impressive again, putting The Stake in the ground and having Souths in their grasp for the entirety of the match. Their back five are especially good and their forwards really stood up against the South pack. I thought Souths may have had an advantage in the pack, but that was not to be.
There were three games on the Saturday and Manly once again looked like a team that is headed to the top four. They certainly played extremely well to Take the Money and Run the West Tigers out of the game completely. Manly have speed to burn (Koula took off like a Jet Airliner) and their big forward Olakau’atu is extremely dangerous on the edge. The second game saw a much better Cowboys side running out winners over the Roosters, 18 points to 12. The Cowboys, without Dearden, and given their mediocre performance last week, were in Swingtown against the Roosters and played well, showing a new spirit that has been previously lacking. The Cowboys led at halftime and were able to hold on to that lead. The final game saw the Storm run out expected winners over the Eels in what was a comfortable 34-8 win. The Storm are looking better, and their big young forward Cooper Clark scored a good try, and he certainly looks like a prospect going forward.
The first Sunday game had the Titans up against the Knights, who ran out way too strong in this match, although the Titans did have their chances. Especially when Marzhew collected an intercept in the 45th minute when the Titans were going to score and were leading. The Titans did not really recover from here and the Knights took full advantage. Newcastle really asserted their domination and went on to score another 4 tries. The Titans look better but they cannot compete with the top sides just yet. The second game on Sunday saw the Warriors running out comprehensive winners over the Broncos. They were just too good all over the park and the Broncos have a bit of work to do, however they do have two byes in the next 5 weeks, when they play the Titans and St. George, games they should win, especially with Walsh back in the side. The Dark Hour from last week may not last. The final game of Magic Round saw the Panthers running out comprehensive windows over the Dragons. The good news for Dragon fans is at least they played a bit better with a bit more spirit this week.
Round 12 only has 5 games due to Origin. The first game has Canberra at home to the Dolphins. The Dolphins have five players out for the State of Origin, whereas Canberra only have two. I think the Dolphins will struggle and their depth may not be deep enough to win this game. It is a critical game for both sides to stay near/in the top 8.
The second game of the round is on Friday night and the Bulldogs are at home to the Storm. The Bulldogs need to stop their slide, and the Storm seem to be on the improve. Obviously, the Storm will be without Grant and Munster, who are big outs, along with Loiero, but they have enough other players that they should be able to cover those losses. The Bulldogs have Crichton out and Kikau is still injured. The Storm for me.
On Saturday there are two games. The first has the Dragons at home to the Warriors and barring the loss of front row forward Barnett, the Warriors are at full strength. It has been a season of Winter Time for the Dragons and I cannot see the Dragons troubling the Warriors. The game is at Kogarah and that could make a difference. In the final Saturday night game, the Sea Eagles are at home to the Titans, and you have to think they will continue to Fly Like an Eagle and be too strong in this one.
Finally, on Sunday, the Cowboys are at home to the Rabbitohs. The Rabbitohs have players out but given how well the Cowboys played last week without Dearden, and considering they are only missing Cotter this weekend and Taumalolo is back, I think the Cowboys will be too strong. Souths were poor last week and will be without Mitchell and Graham through injury, and Murray to Origin, so it is the Cowboys for me.
Last week’s embedded music clue was from the Steve Miller Band, with my comment on the Latrell Abracadabra (not the Lady Gaga disco techno pop song). It was the first single of the Steve Miller Band’s 1982 album of the same name and was their greatest hit. Miller’s expert guitar wizardry is evident in this song. Miller, of course, learned guitar from Les Paul as a youngster. His most famous guitar was a Gibson Les Paul TV Special, painted with psychedelic art which you can see at the Metropolitan Museum of Art next time you are in New York. Miller is 83 years old and is not touring currently, but has not retired yet. See if you can find this week’s clue.
The Magic Moments 13
Magic Moments are the theme this week given last week was Magic Round!
1 Reece Walsh (Magic run up to 26 Premiership) 2 Jarred Hayne (Magic run for Parra in 2009) 3 Greg Inglis (Magic Try against the Broncos 2014 – Yes I know he was Fullback) 4 Steve Renouf (Magic 95m GF try for Broncos 1992) 5 Pat Richards (Magic 2005 GF try off Benji for the Tigers in their win over the Cowboys) 6 Darren Lockyer (Magic Maroon Try 2006 Game 3) 7 Jonathon Thurston (Magic FG to win 2015 GF for Cowboys over Brisbane) 8 Andrew Fifita (Magic Cronulla GF Try 2015 in first GF win over Melbourne) 9 Cameron Smith (Magic 400 games defeating Cronulla Rd 17 2019) 10 Steve Jackson (Magic GF try for Canberra against Balmain 1989) 11 Steve Menzies ( Magic 180th and last try in 2008 GF win for Manly over Melbourne) 12 Alex Twal (Magic try in his record 115 game try scoring drought in the Tigers loss to the Storm Rd 16 2023) 13 Scott Sattler (Magic GF Tackle 2003 Penrith GF win over Easts)
Round 11 Tips
Raiders Storm Warriors Sea Eagles Cowboys
I beat the Prop Tipping Comp Leaderboard
1 Banksy (58) 2 Timmoie, Mattresscide, RITV (56) Gladstone (The Ox) The Uncle, Flying Mattress (55).
The top ESPN score at the end of Rd 10 is 66 which 1 tipster has.
My Pre Season Top Eight
1 Penrith 3 Roosters 5 Rabbitohs 7 Cowboys 9 Cronulla 11 Brisbane 13 Storm 14 Bulldogs
Odd Fact
Queensland won the 1926 state series over NSW highlighted by a 38-0 win in Game 3 of a 5-game series. Results were Game 1- NSW 30 Qld 17; Game 2- NSW 5 Qld 3; Game 3 Qld 26- NSW 11; Game 4 Qld 38- NSW 0; Game 5 Qld 37- NSW 19. Stars foe Queensland included Tom Gorman, Jim Bennett, Herb Steinhort, Vic Armbruster and Captain Norm Potter to name a few. 2026 was the end of a 5 series winning streak for Qld, the longest until Mal Meninga’s team won 7
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