Another week, another modest tipping result – 4 out of 8 this time. Up a bit on last week but my ranking in the competitions continues to go down. O me miserum, as we used to say in Latin class. Perhaps I should have just stayed in my senior school Latin class – I came first in it! *
You could argue that there were at least four upsets/unexpected results in Round 6. Penrith, Brisbane, Souths and the Knights were all favourites but fell short. (They also happen to be the four I missed.) But the stories of the round were scattered throughout the games. What is up with Penrith? They’ve cost me 5 tipping points already; surely they have to start winning soon! The Roosters – how do you turn around a 36-point drubbing in just 6 weeks? The Titans need to be swabbed, or at least carry a huge recharging battery with them when they’re on the road! Have you ever seen a worse game than Newcastle v Wests Tigers? The winners were underwhelming but the Knights were parkland standard – a rubbish game if ever I saw one. How much do the Storm rely on Hughes? Or were they just ‘saving’ themselves in the second half? The Eels reverted to type after last week’s surprise win, and Manly really do look like they’re in strife. Come back, Turbo, ASAP! Is Reece Walsh overrated? Is Spencer Leniu the new villain of the NRL (a post vacated by former teammate JWH)? Does Lachlan Galvin need a new manager? Und so weiter, und so weiter (to continue the foreign language theme. Yes, I did senior German too.)
Round 7 shapes up as another tipsters’ killer with at least three ‘toss of a coin’ match-ups. It starts tonight with the Sea Eagles at home to the Dragons. Manly have been badly out of sorts lately but have the benefit of playing at Brookie this week. If Turbo is back it will be a double boost. The Dragons looked pretty good at times last week and may well fancy their chances of continuing their run. It’s marvellous what a bit of success can do to self-belief. Nevertheless, I’ll stick with the Sea Eagles at home.
Tomorrow’s twilight game has the undefeated and rested-from-the-bye Bulldogs up against the Rabbitohs who may be a couple players short this week due to suspensions. (A pity for Sean Keppie who has been in great form.) Where will Mitchell play this week? I expect the enthusiasm (snarl factor?) and form of the Doggies will be too much as the Rabbitohs go through a bad patch. (They face the Storm next round!) In the late game, the (Redcliffe) Dolphins take on the rampant Storm. Is it even conceivable to tip against Melbourne given their recent form? It has to be Melbourne – if I get this one wrong I’ll have to seriously consider packing it in.
The Warriors are back home to greet the Broncos late on Saturday afternoon, AEST. This is my next ‘toss of the coin’ game. The Wahs are a far better team at home; the Broncos have given up way to0 many easy points of late, belying their =3rd spot on the ladder. They’d better fix their defensive line fast or they’ll fall away very quickly – they face the Bulldogs next week! I’ll go with the Warriors. Let’s toss again on the evening game, the Roosters v the Panthers. Would you believe that this is 15th v 16th? Crazy! How do you even begin to analyse this game given the past and present stories of both sides? I won’t bother to try. I’ll just say Penrith and hope they don’t cost me another point.
Come Sunday and the Titans are on home turf to Ricky’s rollicking Raiders. Haven’t they put on some entertaining footy lately? Not quite the Green Machine of the 80s and 90s but worth keeping an eye on anyway. To be a Titans fans must be a load to carry when they play such Jekyll and Hyde footy. On paper they have talent to burn but can’t find that magical ingredient, consistency. You simply have to go with Canberra in this one. The later game has Newcastle still at home, this time to the Sharks. Only poor goal-kicking kept Cronulla from a strong win over Manly who were flattered by the final scoreline. But did you think the Sharkies were impressive? No, neither did I. But the Knights were abominable on Sunday – and that’s being polite! How can you back them after a showing like that? I’ll stick with the Sharks.
The Easter Monday game to complete the round will have you digging into your pocket to find that coin again. The Wests Tigers v the Eels. The Eels are currently in 17th position on the ladder; the Tigers are, to put the best construction on everything, =7th; they’re also =13th if you take away points differential. Using ‘form’ as a guideline for this game is to insult the term itself. Neither side really has any. Will the Galvin saga undermine the Tigers? Can Jason Ryles, the coach most to be pitied in the NRL, spring another surprise or should he start preparing his speaking notes for the Wooden Spoon award if they lose again? Purely on the basis of which side has won more games so far this season, I’ll tip the Wests Tigers.
The Cowboys have the bye.
Bon chance, mon amis!
* I came first because I was the only student in the class!
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About Ian Hauser
A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.
a tipping challenge indeed, IJH!
Keppie contested that charge (bold, I doubt he was ever top of Latin class …) ‘won’ and will play –
I am with you – Souiths have the task in front of them – the Dogs will be difficult to contain – I still am concerned for Souths’ defence – something that still needs much work – NQ ran through the middle of Souths often in Perth – Toumalolo had a field day …
& the Storm in Melbourne … will Souths actually win a game there in my life time ?!
The Redeemer Lutheran School, Nuriootpa’s 2025 theme – HOPE
Appreciate your Latin and German lessons and congratulations on the Latin prize. From my Central Qld language class I would say stone the flamin’ crows we’re up a dry gully without a paddle trying’ to sort these gits out! I’ve been off the bit and am about to pull the Rosary beads out!
Not a good start Ian with a close but deserved Dragons win. I am sure the rest of the round will throw up a few more surprises.
What chance the Dolphins???
Karl, I can’t take a trick with Thursday night games – or a lot of others, for that matter! The whole weekend becomes a case of catch-up once you’ve missed that first tip.
I thought the Sea Eagles were home after they got back to 14-14. But an errant follow through on a kick cost them dearly on the scoreboard and in momentum. But credit to the Dragons for showing such grit at Brookie. They look like a jigsaw puzzle of misfits from everywhere but they gutsed it out under the leadership of old heads like Gutho, Cook and, to some extent, Klemmer to suffocate the game at the end.
I thought DCE did everything he could to try to pull it off and just may have if Turbo had been there for that little bit of extra finishing power.