NRL 2025, Round 3: Prop by the Sea – You gotta love footy!

 

Round 2

Broncos Need Beef! Following on from last Monday, the Courier Mail now say they need Beef! What about the poor Bookies’ million dollar pay out from last week! Fascinating stuff but more on the Broncos later.

Well, what a round it was for the tipsters! You would need to have been a genius to tip all 8 although ESPNFAN693836 did. I’m not sure how but that is some effort. The round started with a fairly solid win by the Newcastle Knights who got out to a lead of 20 to nil before halftime. You knew it would be a long way back for the Dolphins and I’m starting to think that it might be a long season for them. It really was a Ponga-a-thon for the Knights. Clearly, he is their highest paid player and if they’re about to pay 1.3 million for Brown it makes you wonder what Ponga is going to ask for. Interestingly, the Courier Mail doesn’t give much paper space to the Dolphins and maybe that was lucky after this performance.

Friday night had two games and both were boilovers. The Warriors completely reversed their form from Las Vegas against a Manly side that just didn’t look in the game, even with the rub of the green in my opinion, and still couldn’t take control. That was a big worry for Manly whilst, on the other hand, the Warriors played with commitment. At home they were a vastly different side.

I advised my mother not to tip against the Panthers in the second game on Friday night. I told her and my son and his family that if the Roosters won I’d run home nude! (See below for result.) It was one of the biggest boilovers since Polly left the kettle on and no-one could have predicted the manner in which the Roosters applied themselves after their very poor performance against the Broncos the previous week. The 38-32 scoreline flattered the Panthers but they didn’t give up. They played poorly but we’re still able to almost steal the game.

First up on Saturday the Dragons played the Rabbitohs and, once again, the Rabbits just hung in and hung in and won the game. The Dragons were very poor especially when the game should have been shored up by their experienced players. The Bennett model rabbit supplied a great deal of enthusiasm and they were deserved winners. The second game between the Cowboys and Sharks was another surprise in how poorly the Cowboys performed. The Sharks were way too good and had little trouble disposing of the Cowboys. The Cowboys defence leaked points again and the rumblings around the couch will be louder if they do not perform this week.

In the final game, the Broncos were beaten comprehensively by Canberra who showed much more enthusiasm and, realistically, were comfortable winners. The Broncos have gone from $1,000,000 Bookie breakers winning the competition in a canter to a side that may have some problems. Walsh was again disappointing and this must worry Madge. Of course, he is taking the blame but I’m not sure how he could be responsible for that performance. They are waiting for Staggs to come back into the three quarter line but, overall, the Broncos’ performance was not great and maybe Madge will be under the coaching microscope if he loses to the out of sorts gunslingers!

Finally, there were two games on Sunday to complete the round. What can you say about the Eels other than it will be a long season for them and their next win will be a boilover? Likewise, the Titans showed their usual mettle getting behind early, making a comeback, looking like they might be able to win, but not getting there, and that has to be the main concern for coach Hasler. Case in point were the two great tries scored by Kahn-Pereira followed by a terrible spilt bomb.

Round 3 starts start off on Thursday with a replay of last year’s grand final. This should be a highly entertaining game, and it was good to see that big Nelson didn’t get suspended in the Host Plus Cup last week and will take the field against the Panthers. I expect it to be a cracking game, and I think the Storm will be too strong.

That takes us to the first of the Friday night games where the Warriors are at home to the Roosters. Even though the Roosters were good last week and caused me to lose all of my clothing, I think the Warriors at home will be too strong. They certainly play better at home than they do away. The interesting match is the one that follows where the Broncos are up against the Cowboys. On form the Broncos should win but these two sides are used to having close contests and the Cowboys have to show something in this match. Their coach would know that he is under immense pressure if he doesn’t win, but likewise the Broncos and their faithful are unforgiving when their coach doesn’t get the job done. I think the Broncos will be too strong.

On Saturday we have the Sharks up against the Rabbits and I cannot see the Rabbitohs winning this game, even given the tenacious form they have shown. The Sharks will be too clinical, and they won’t allow the Bunnies off the hook as has happened in the last two matches. Likewise, the Dolphins are at home, but I think they’ll struggle to beat the West Tigers who got a little bit of a bump from their win last week. They clearly have plenty of attack so now it’s a matter of getting their defence sorted out and I think they will trouble the Dolphins. The final game on Saturday has the Titans at home against the Knights and again, based on last week’s performance, I can’t see how the Titans will be able to beat the Knights. They just make too many mistakes and of course their $1,000,000 man is playing limited minutes. Hasler has to find a winning recipe for the Gold Coast and Campbell-Gillard’s comments during the week didn’t add to much confidence.

Sunday has two matches, the first of which sees the Bulldogs up against the Eels and even though Burton and Kikau are out I can’t see how the Eels can possibly win. They have made a change to their halfback as Volkman has been dropped for Hawkins. The Bulldogs really would be expecting to win this game against their archrival. The final game has the Sea Eagles at home to the Raiders. The Raiders have been the form side of the competition so far, so I’ll be interested to see if they hold that form. Turbo and Cherry-Evans have both been named but the way they finished last week’s game there must be some question marks over them. Manly at their best would beat Canberra but this is a tough game to call.

Top Eight (in order)

1 Melbourne 5 Souths 6 Brisbane 8 Cronullaargh 9 Manly 10 Penrith 13 Roosters 16 Cowboys,

The Prospector was on the money last week. Metcalf, Townsend and Hynes were all much better and Volkman has been dropped and replaced by Dean Hawkins – the 2023 NSW Cup Player of the Year (when at Souths) who will need the ability to part the Red Sea if he is to turn the Eels’ fortunes around. Surely, he must be wishing Moses was back to do it for him. Duffy has also been dropped as well so Clifford must improve the Cows this week.DCE and Reynolds were both down a little last week and their sides were beaten as well so the half is always under pressure.

 

Fact Stat for the day

The Storm have an incredible record for making a Grand Final a year after losing one. They have lost GFs on 4 occasions – 2006, 2008, 2016, and 2018 and have bounced back and won in 2007, 2009, and 2017, and, whilst they missed out in 2019, they won in 2020! Another incredible Storm record. Since 1998 they have played in 11 GFs with 6 wins and 5 losses. Discounting 2024, after 4 GF losses they have won 3 immediately after.

 

Tipping Stats –  I am 2nd in the Almanac comp and moved up 30000 places last week to go into the top 16000. My 4 outed tipsters from last week still hold down 4 of the bottom 5 slots. You know who you are and I will keep an eye on your progress.

You gotta love footy!

And only make bets you can pay! See below:

 

 

Photo provided voluntarily by the author!

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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