Round 6 revisited: Again, the game showcased some incredible talent in Round 6. Manu and Ponga started it off during the Thursday night clash. Rooster Manu was everywhere while Ponga showed just how important he is to any Knights aspirations. When he was injured during the back half of the first half, they were a Seconds side. Kikau demonstrated he is back to his best and he will trouble every club’s right defence. The major beneficiary will be The Fox who is going to see some open space. Coates demonstrated that he doesn’t just leap with some great defence.
The Dolphins tried hard but were no match for the Broncos. Manly gifted the Warriors a draw whilst Cronulla defeated an improved Rabbitohs outfit. The Cowboys started strong against the Eels but seem to drift in and out of the game which was evident last Saturday. Even with the Eels’ high error rate, the Cowboys didn’t capitalise and, of course, any Titans 1-point loss seems like déjà vu! Read the odd fact for my view on the Tigers.
Round 7 looks very tough with the Roosters leading out again on Thursday night against the Storm. The ‘Manu leaving Bondi at the end of the season’ news is not good for the Chooks as he is one of their best with a lot of footy ahead of him. Melbourne, on the other hand, is scrappy but keep winning. Big Nelson is back and I’m sure he will have a point to prove. He also adds much needed starch to their pack. I am sticking with the Storm as they have a strong record against the Roosters and I am hoping that the Storm outside backs have had a session on communication this week. Last week, at times, it was like the Abbot and Costello ‘Who’s on First’ script.
The Warriors take on the Dragons at Wollongong and I think this is a tricky game. The Dragons have the two most error-riddled players in the comp at the moment in Lomax and Hunt (I feel for Hunt on this stat), but they are also two of their best players. Lomax, interestingly, is back in the centres for his 100th game. So, if they can get it right at home and minimise errors, then the way they play may trouble the Warriors.
The Eels will accommodate the Dolphins in Darwin where they have only lost 3 times in 10 trips.The Panthers should be comfortable winners although Galvin back for the Tigers is a definite plus. The Titans have to show something at home on Saturday. Sami is their 4th fullback from 5 games after Kini, Campbell and Brimson, and it is not a position he is known for. Brimson is at 5/8 which has to be a plus as he is their best attacking player and needs the ball in his hands. Foran has to stay on the field and the Boyd reign had to end. But whether they can trouble Manly is another story. They must start to show something – and soon!
The Broncos v Canberra is most probably the match of the round. Canberra is not flash but grind out their games well directed by Fogarty while the Broncos at home are getting back to the razzle dazzle of their past but without Reynolds. Oates is a plus with this forward pack as he will bend the line. The Broncos’ pack doesn’t possess the starch of the great Broncos teams of the glory days with only Carrigan in Friday night’s six pack capable of making any Broncos premiership pack of the past. With 3 wins on the board, this game is a must for Brisbane at this stage of the year and playing at Lang Park is, of course, a tremendous advantage.
The Bulldogs showed enough last week to prepare us for a win soon. For the last three weeks, Kikau has been a wrecking ball although Gagai won’t shirk having a crack at him. Elliot has been very good for the Knights as he competes and does the dirty work. But, again, if Ponga is on song for the 80 minutes Newcastle will win. The final match-up is tricky as well. The Sharks are strong at home and the Cowboys are weak away. That means it should be the Sharks but the Cowboys are a team that, on their day, are capable of beating anyone. I can’t see it this week though.
The Analyst messaged me to say he’s been busy and he wanted to dissect three issues – the importance of Walsh to the Broncos, a deep dive into the Titans’ performance, and the motivation of Hasler waiting outside Stuart’s dressing shed to ‘give him a heads up about his presser’. Analyst thought that was hilarious reporting. Next week, Analyst.
The Oracle sent me a short message on Golden Point. He said:
‘Surely the Prop in the Canefield can push for a change to Golden Point. It’s a joke and has led to boring and poorlyrefereed play and I’m sure your readers agree.”
Well, Oracle, given your name infers you can see into the future, I will pay due deference when it is removed, but I can’t see it anytime soon. Also, you clearly can’t see that my sphere of influence is quite limited. Australia is about 7.7 million square kilometres and about 3.5 thousand square kilometres are under sugar production (which is about 0.046%). Maybe the Rothfield model has some merit – 4 points for a win, 3 for a Golden Point win, 2 points for draw, 1 point for a Golden Point loss, and none for a loss. Definitely rewards a team that is unlucky compared to a team that meekly surrenders. Both get zero under the current system.
The Rabbits are so fortunate to have the bye this week. It hasn’t kept them out of the media as the journos circle to try and dictate the way forward. I thought former Queensland schoolboy Jai Gray played well and showed enough to erode the disappointment of not making an Australian Schoolboys side. He joins a few other blokes – Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer and Jonathon Thurston to name a few! Time will tell. The only good news for the coach is that there will be no bad news this weekend for the Bunnies as they should move into 16th.
So, my selections are Storm, Dragons, Eels, Panthers, Manly, Broncos, Knights and Cronulla. Souths have the stay of execution.
My season prediction positions after Round Four: Penrith 6th, Broncos 10th, Melbourne 2nd, Souths 17th, Roosters 9th, Cowboys 4th, Newcastle 14th and St George 13th.
Odd fact! West Tigers have a terrible record when they are favourites. They lived up to that record again against the Dragons when they started at $1.80. I was watching the game from the Public Bar of the East Balmain Hotel which was full of Tigers supporters, including kids on the Red Lemonade. I didn’t have the heart to alert them to this odd fact.
You gotta love footy!
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Thanks Matty – I think you’re on the money ?
I made the mistake last week of not reading ‘Prop in the Canefield’ until Friday and tipped the Knights to overcome the Chooks at Newcastle. Interesting how often when a game is called a ‘must win’ for a team losing touch with the comp leaders, they find that bit extra and get the result. Manu surely can’t deliver the same inpact this week from the centres so I’ll follow you onto the Storm tonight. Great insight also that Dane Gagai is the type to step up to the Kikau onslaught. Good read thanks.
Well some would say that if I’m on the money it is only fleeting- follow me at your peril gents! It is rumoured by some with less faith in my ability that the only result of following my tips is a future keeping yourself warm on a park bench with newspapers that are full of yesterdays results. I am looking forward to Gagai having a crack at Kikau tho!
another great read, Prop.
I am hoping Souths leak less than 30 points this weekend v the Bye.
8 out of 8 last week Mattress?
Thanks Russel and I do feel for Rabbits supporters- including my son Tom who dumped the Raiders in 95 as we were an ARL family and he supported the raiders. I said sorry son – you may only be 8 years old but in this house you have to support ARL -his wife and 2 kids are now rabid rabbits – fully kitted out supporters – I created a generational monster and the bye is the only good news in the next 3 weeks for the Myrtle green and cardinal red. And yes John – just tipping my best for the Almanac tru believers!
Yes John just doing my bit for Almanac tipsters and I feel for you Rabbit as the bye is the only good news I see in the next 3 weeks/ sadly my son Tom was a Raiders fan in 1995 and I had to tell him that we were an ARL house so he needed a new club . Tough on an 8 year old but that’s how we rolled – he begrudgingly accepted and chose the Rabbitohs. Now his wife and kids are full blown beenie, scarf and guernsey wearing Myrtle green and cardinal red supporters- so I do have a soft spot given the pressure I put on an 8 year old!