THE RED ROOSTER

Winners - Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors, Paramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, Manly Sea Eagles, Brisbane Broncos, Canterbury Bulldogs and Cronulla Sharks. Points - 342 Home Wins - 5 Poll - Gold Coast Titans v Manly Sea Eagles

Another round in which tipsters are confounded by teams blowing hot and cold from week to week and the Bunker intervening to alter the momentum in games. Almost every contest in this round could be called either way. Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm Big time match up between two sides almost at full strength. Another contenders or prtetenders game for both clubs Golden point anyone? St George-Illawarra v New Zealand Warriors Normally I would be loathe to go against the Dragons at the 'gong but for the Warriors the journey there is less fraught than it would be for an Australian side in that all games in Australia involve crossing "the ditch". If the Warriors get on a roll they are hard to stop. Kiws win at WIN? Paramatta Eels v Dolphins If you take out the Canberra game then Paramatta have been resilient if not inspiring winning games that by statistics they should have lost. They are up against the Dolphins who even in defeat last week demonstrated that they can point on points quickly. Fins make a spash ? Penrith Panthers v West Tigers Not the forgone conclusion you might think. Wests have Lachlan Galvin and John Bateman back and last season when the game was also up country. Wests won in rainy conditions. This West Tigers team is an improvement on last season. - Panthers chances go West ? Gold Coast Titans v Manly Sea Eagles Sorry Titans fans but this game to me is about which Manly side turns up, with the Sea Eagles being a side that plays hot and cold week to week. - Sea Eagles win in "Des Haesler Bowl" ? Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders The Bronx at home is a difficult prospect for Ricky's Raiders who struggled to put away the Gold Coast. Of course the way this season has gone you would think a Raiders win nailed on but I am not of that view - Bronx repel Raiders Canterbury Bulldogs v Newcastle Knights The Dogs are one of the most improved sides this season narrowly losing out to the Storm in Melbourne wheras the Knights lost narrowly too but to a depleted Roosters side at Home. If the focus was not on the Souffs saga perhaps some might be questioning if the Knights now have buyers regret over extending Adam O'Brien's contract ? - Dogs bite Back ? Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys Another contenders or pretenders game at Shark Park between two sides that IMO lack Killer instinct and have both stood still over the off season. The swing factor here is the Cows away from home at Woolooware which should make the difference - Sharkanado ?

More proof this round that it is indeed sporting nirvana down under with the NRL truly a week to week League. Who could have predicted the Injury hit Roosters and Eels coming back to win against the Knights and Cows or that the Storm and Raiders would have been taken the full 80 minutes by the Bulldogs and Gold Coast. What will next week have in store?

This thread is for tourists rather than locals. Using a debit card would depend on two things: 1. The Exchange rate which can fluctuate even during a short stay. 2. If your debit card provider charges a foreign tranasaction fee. Mine does not (HSBC) but many other bank and credit cards do charge up to 3% per transaction which if your using your card a lot mounts up over time.

The NRL remains the league of the unpredictable. Whatever way you cut it that' s a poor outcome for the Knights and gives Trent Robinson a bit of relief from his critics..for this week....

Winners - Newcastle Knights, Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, NZ Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, Cronulla Sharks, St George-Illawarra Dragons, Canberra Raiders. Points - 348 Away Wins - 3 Poll -Melbourne Storm v Canterbury Bulldogs

I would certainly hope not Paul As your in the know, will they be playing Sunday 14th July Looking forward to returning to The Stoop as at least there will be one decent rugby league team playing there .....

Sussex have a new Rugby League style shirt for the Vitality Blast and Royal London one-day Cup https://sussexclubshop.co.uk/collections/replica-shirts Loving the use of the Kookaburra ball in the championship, since sides can no longer rely on trendy medium paced trundlers to bowl sides out they are having to use their spinners more. i saw Matt Parkinson bowl 31 Overs for Kent on Sunday the day before, it was Kasey aldridge who was the only Somerset bowler with any additional zip that ruffled Kent's batting. This is what English Cricket need,s either Bowlers with express pace or the ability to master reverse swing and spinners who can give it a rip. That's the way to win home and abroad.

Newcastle Knights v Sydney Roosters For the sake of their own credibility, the Knights have to win this one at home against a depleted Roosters side who are staring at a 2-4 start to the season. Is Uncle Nick watching ? - Roosters put to the Sword? Melbourne Storm v Canterbury Bulldogs I have been a Dogs booster on what I have seen thus far this season, but after last weeks unseen and unforseen second half collapse against a 12 then 11 man Roosters you fear for them going into Melbourne against the Storm who are running back into form - Dogs Kennelled ? Brisbane Broncos v Dolphins No Adma Reynolds but Reece Walsh back for a Broncos side that has depth against a Dolphins side tha,t much as I like thir style, are picking up injuries. The point of interest for me is with both teams playing out of Suncorp and reports that the Fins had tapped into a non-Broncos League audience in Brisbane. Who will the crowd be barracking for ? Fins - Flipped? New Zealand Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles Coin-flip game between the Wahs and the silvertails, The Wahs are at home and at near full strength. The silvertails minus Reuben Garrick whos accuracy with the boot may be the swing factor if Manly who have been hot and cold this year turn up at Mount Smart. Wahs winners ? Paramatta Eels v North Queensland Cowboys Round 6 and this is a crucial game for both sides, Parramatta have to prove they are still contenders without Mitch Moses after two losses on the bounce and the Cows need to show they can win away from tropical Townsville. No Maika Sivo, who was surprisingly unpopular amongst the Eels fans where I was sitting last Monday, as Brad Arthur shuffles the pack. Eels slip out of Cowboys Lasso? South Sydney v Cronulla Sharks Demoralisted and depleted the Wabbits stagger out orf the Burrow, with another head-scratching coaching decision to omit Damien Cook made by Jason Demitriou. Last week I think Craig Fitzgibbon acknowledged in last weks press conference that the Sharks got out of jail against the Raiders but Briton Nikora is back this week and possibly one other, and being forward lite is not that big an issue against the Bunnies these days. Fear not Wabbit fans, Mal Meninga will be coaching the Bunnies before your ears twitch https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/rabbitohs/mal-meninga-set-to-be-appointed-south-sydney-intermin-coach-to-replace-jason-demetriou/news-story/43f9f4eef73edae59e11b25d999c6dd0 Sharkies to administer the Coup de Grace ? West Tigers v St George Illawarra Cellar dwellars for the last few seasons, how will West Tigers cope with being the bookies favourite without John Bateman and Lachlan Galvin . Will the Dragons respond to Shane Flanagan putting the team on notice. Certainly the Dragons are a better side than they are given credit for and since Zac Lomax was released from the final two years oif his contract some must be pondering that the Dragons and their own estimation of their contractural worth is not shared around the league. Potential upset here. Dragons slay Tigers? Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans I would love to be at the press conference if Ricky's Rebounding Raiders manage to choke and lose to this Titans mob for whom Des Haesler is the latest wearer of the Gold Coast Crown of Thorns. Gold Coast now the favouties to be "Woodies" residence one he moves out of Concord at the seasons end. Broadbeach is nice in the summer... Rampant Raiders?

Trent Robinson offers the Rooster mea culpa https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-sydney-roosters-coach-trent-robinson-speaks-on-michael-jennings-court-case-exwife-300-games/news-story/588a4d97a54633f2345b6212c2d1f130

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/go-put-a-shirt-on-awkward-onair-moment-as-nrlw-gun-snubs-knights-star-live/news-story/b2fe3a18db792f7468bb6ef92f731010?recommendedCount=0

Do not get my hopes up please...

Intersting article, since the league refuses to acknowledge his 300th game it smacks a bit of the NRL and Roosters being a bit two-faced here as this issue will reoccur during the Women in League round. https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/04/08/whether-nrl-celebrates-jennings-milestone-or-not-is-irrelevant-the-real-issue-is-should-he-have-been-allowed-back/

KR scoring off repeat sets almost at will The only question here is what is the record Super League score for KR ? 40 points in 38 mins for KR embarrassingly bad from the Broncos.

Story of the London season, 14 players out. Get an unexpected lead. Oli Leyland then misses the conversion from bang in front. KR kick off to Oli who then makes a hash of the kick off and then from his resulting short kick off KR score. Shades of the Wigan game where early in the second half, London draw to within 8 . Wigan kick off and Meadows promptly knocks on Wigan then score and end up clobbering the Broncos..

Poll - Canberra Raiders v Paramatta Eels Winners - Melbourne Storm, Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights, NZ Warriors, Penrith Panthers, Dolphins, North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders Points - 340 Home wins - 5

No sooner did I think that my latest trip down under had gone smoothly travel wise, including the bus Journey to and from Sutherland to Woolongong, then I get a 2.5 Hour delay in my QANTAS flight to the UK leaving Sydney Anyway - Round 5 Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos Game of the round. If Cameron Munster gets through the captains run that and home advantage favours the Storm. though Adma Reynolds and the baby Broncos proved last week they are no pushover. -Munster Mash ? Canterbury Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters By no means a forgone conclusion between a Bulldogs side that was very unlucky nopt to get anything against Souths against a Roosters side that seems to be one game on and one game off. - Return of the plucky bantam ? Newcastle Knights v St George-Illawarra The Knights either win by a small margin or lose by a small margin and are favourites not to make the 8 this year, against an SGI side that's got it's wins against Gold Coast and an awful Manly side having been clobbered by the Dolphins and the Cows. - Knight slays Dragon? South Sydney v New Zealand Warriors Souths, just, of the mark last week against a Wahs side that appears to be returning to form. Fopr both sides, if you want to be top 8 this is a game you win. I expect huge support from expat Kiwis at Accor Stadium. Wahs to win? Manly Sea Eagles v Penrith Panthers Manly cannot play that badly again two weeks in a row can they, But they are up against the form team in the NRL in the Penny Panthers although four-peat is not a given as they are beatable in a one-off game (just ask Melbourne, Wigan and St Helens) but week in week out set the standard regardless of personnel. - Panther power at 4 pines? Dolphins v West Tigers The "Entertainers" of the NRL the Dolphins at "home" in Suncorp against a West Tigers team that was the only 100% winning side I saw. The key to this game might be the suspension to young Lachlan Galvin who is more key to the success of this Tigers side than peop[le currently realise - Phintastic? North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Cost Titans A get right game for the Cows in Townsville, their penchant for slow starts finally catching uip with them against the Bronx last week, against a Titans side where Des Haesler has thrown the entire squad under the bus having changed the way they play That never goes down well. Stampede at the Country Bank? Canberra Raidersw v Paramatta Eels Another coin flip game between two sides both of whom should have won last week and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. It should also focus on two coaches wiyh a long tenure who appear to be living off a losing Grand Final appearance. - Ricky's Rebounding Raiders? Good luck with your tips, this season continues to maze and entertain with sides brilliant one week and c""p the next. Don't despair as in one of the tipping charts before I left a certain Andrew Johns was bottom of the tipsters so there is hope for us all...

Thst eas the original idea when Barry Maranta and the Brisbane Broncos were involved prior to Branson. It' s probably the best chance of a way forward with a cashed up NRL club buying the London club. But this would mot be altruistic, there would be a two way flow hre of promiding Aussie youngsters getting experience of playing in the UK league hopefully at Super League level which would be better than the KOE or Queensland Cup. But equally it would see promising juniors going to Australia because an expanded NRL will need quality players from areas mot currently plundered by the existing clubs. And of course the reaction on the M63 would be the same as from 1996- 1998 liking the idea of a London club but disliking the idea of an "aussie" club challenging the divine right of certain clubs to dominate Super League ad infinitum.

Another turn up for the books West Tigers took the lead through Juston Olam and then withstood substantial Paramatta pressure throughout the half. The Count of Commbank, Maika Sivo pulled o e back for Paramatta before a penalty by the shaven Clint Guthrrson on tbe half time hooter levelled the scores. The second half started out as an arm wrestle until fi ally there was clean break and Gutherson , the beating heart of Paramatta nipped under the posts to put Parra in front. There then followed some sustained Paramatta pressure before what turned out to be the turning point in the game with Lachlan Galvin sent to the sin bin. Now with Gutherson kicking the 2 points at 14-6 and Wests down to 20 men.Game over surely. Not a bit of it John Bateman and Api Korosau rallied the Tigers and led by example,as West held out during Galvin,s absence. Once back on you could see why Benji has faith in young Galvin as first Bula scored to narrow the gap then Galvin made a second try for Olam. At that point the stadium rocked to the chant of Tigers, Tigers. Paramatta knew they had to get back In the game and with an infraction near the sticks Gutherson opted fir the two points to square the vores with about 3-4 mins left.Thus brought things down to drop goal territory After a Sezer effort from distance that ended well wide but still gave good field position Wests were able to work to give Sezer a second chance trough Batemen and Korosau and he slotted a wobbly kick just over. With about 46 seconds left Parras only chance was an onside kick launched on to the left flank and a penalty ensued and you would have put your house on Gutherson converting but this went well wide. Now most people would not have had Wests repeating but it can be argued that Wests are as far forward as the Bulldogs in their rebuild For Paramatta, this is a game they should have won if they want to be taken seriously as challengrts. This is the last of my ramblings on games I have been at in Australia as I return to the UK tomorrow

You have to view all of this is he context of Australia's unrecipical love affair with the USA You do not have to be the average Kiwi or Holly Vallance to work out that Australia sees itself as a mini-USA. The orientation of the Murdoch and Packer media empires is pro-USA and Australian TV is filed with cheap US TV imports. Indeed only last week The Sydney Morning Herald described Australia as the most trusted ally of the USA.... So buddies, if you view Vegas in this context of the little brother constantly trying to gain the respect of the elder more successful brother. It makes sense. Not in the respect of how the game is viewed in the USA but how it was viewed in Australia where even noted league haters such as Peter Fitzsimons concede that the domestic game has been turbo boosted by this event. Vegas branded merchandise flew off the shelves, attendances are at record levels. Australian corporate executives including those high up in Channel nine let it be known in the media that the financing is in place for a NRL USA league. The penny has yet to drop though about the implications for the game in both hemispheres if this ever got off the ground. With Steve Mascords references to they working classes, if that' s still relevant in the 21st Century, I will point out that you have to be relatively well heeled to afford the Vegas jaunt. Steve. A lota of us including myself are of of working class origin including many club chairmen, or powerbrokers as they say here. But cannot be considered to be working class now by any yardstick.We live in an aspirational society ( or at least should) so why cannot league be an aspirational sport. To be better than it is with wider appeal. Let's just celebrate this for what it is an Australian event that has cranked up the passion for league in this country. Got people out of their sofas and on to the game, got record merchandise sales and TV viewing figures and long may that continue.

A remarkable game that hinged on two moments. Canberra cruised into a 18 point lead with their forwards making big yards. Then there was apparent a fumbke by the Sharkies on poor field position. This was overturned by a bunker review. Cronulla went down the field and scored, then Corey Horsburgh kocked on in the table, Sharks in again. Then the Raiders made a complete hash of a kick into the corner and Sharkies had three tries in under 10 minutes and almost a fourth before the break with another Raider knock on. The second half started out an arm wrestle and following a William Kennedy fumble had repeat sets before Horsburgh again knocked on. Sharks went down the field and scored and then repeated a 30 point swing since the bunker decision with Nicholas Hynes being a dead eyed dick from the sidelines. Canberra pulled one back 7 mins from the end but could my concert with Sharkies adminstering the coup de grace just before the final hooter. All this despite being forward lite. Ricky's press conference may be interesting.... Attendance 12615 iirc

The knockonathon at the 'Gong or proof that when two teams play clunky football the team that is the least clunky wins. Manly scored first and at that point you exorcted the match to play out as anticipated but Manly were Absolute Pants while they gained a lot of yardage the end product was a collection of knock ons, firing the ball into touch or simply dropping the ball once getting a repeat set. Not that SGI were any better attacking wise but they at least had the nous to convert some of that pressure into points. The turning point in the game came early in the second half when Manly 14-6 behind at the break got about four repeat sets in the SGI 20 metre line and failed to come away with any points. Flanno can cone away with some satisfaction over the defensive shift but I will reserve judgement until they play better opposition. As for Manly up next at 4 pines is the Penny Panthers..... Attendance 16215 and the hill was rammed with the PA calling for standing room only.

Not so much a game of two halves as two halves in one half with Souths taking an early lead through Tom Burges followed up by a first try for Jack Wighton in myrtle and green. Then things swung after Canterbury failed to capitalise on series of sets first Kikau combined with the Fox to set up Matt Burton under the posts before a Burton 40-20 saw Connor Tracey give the Dogs a 10-12 lead at the half. The second half saw Jack Wighton on the left edge put Souths back in front during a nervy second half thst saw a Kikau try chalked off for obstruction and Wighton bomb another opportunity on the left edge. Souths withstood a lot of prssure from the Dogs but were prone to switch off at times. For example no longer has Latrell Mitchell apparently iced the game with a penalty under 2 minutes left to majenit 20-12 than Souths switch off and Connor Tracey again nips in to narrow the score although Burton misses the convesaion the game is nit done until Latrell defuses a bomb in the last seconds. Souths remain a good team badly coached and the Bulldogs remain next years team as things are coming together at Canterbury. Attendance 35,325 iirc largely Bulldogs fans whichvus what happens when you share a home venue.

Graham you might want to make this a sticky given that England will be touring next year and in 2026 when the next world cup will be held. Others especially all those that live down there feel free to add to the thread. Opal cards (NSW) v Translink Cards (Queensland) An Opal card once registered will allow you to retain your balance for your next trip so say you left Sydney with a balance of 34 Aud in 2025 on arrival at Sydney in 2026 this would still be on your card. The card in Queensland by contrast marks itself as defunct after 12 months non use. But there is a catch if you present your old card at the airport on arrival then it will be loaded onto and it will work, on the first day. The second day it will not. Now you can get a refund but that is only to an Australian Bank account in Australian Dollars So the moral is get a new card each time you visit Queensland. Getting away from Townsville Withiut being too disrespectful, theres not a lot to do in Townsville, so if your up for the rugby then you would probably stay the two days. The problem is leaving and Taxi services even pre-booked at a flate rate of 26 aud are notoriously unreliable as I cam attest from a previous visit on 2004 when my cab failed to turn up and I made my flight by the skin of my teeth. There is a more reliable Airport Shuttle run by a South African Couple for only 10 and one way which is not only cheap but also reliable. Ticketek These days you have to book your tickets in advance for some of the more "boutique" Australian grouns but when it comes to downloading to your Goohle Wallet your ticket.may have the right details but it will not scan. One example, being Canterbury Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans where my ticket details were correct but the date given was 31st December 2024. I ligned up at tre back of the queue and duly prsented my ticket for scanning to the woman at the entrance. It did not scan So I was despatched to the ticket office presented my mobile. They saw it was a legitimate purchase, photographed the ticket on my mobile and issued me a new ticket. So I went back to the entrance with my new paper ticket and it did not scan, so zi had four of them round me the chief saying "it's already scanned" I explained to them what had happened without descending into Latrell post match interview mode, and they eventually relented and let me in. Going to West Tigrrs later, I made a beeline for the ticket office and had a stress free entry to leichardt oval. The advice here is go to the ticket office FIRST on the day. Unlike the old days there are no ticketek offices in town you cannot sort this pre game day. Specialist Shops selling Rugby League items The best of these is still Peter Wynn's score situated over by Landmark Corner on Paramatta having moved from Church Street. Though it would appear that this shop is to move judging by the sign outside. Then you have Mick Simmonds Sports which is located opposite the Queen Victoria Building (QVB). This is a general sports store which has a lot of NRL items such as the histotical Club badges sets. You also have What's Your Team on the redcliffe peninsular boulevard not fir from the Bee Gees monument which id an NRL only store. Post pandemic none of these stores,. and there used to be more, are what they were due to a combination of online ordering and larger retail chains such as rebel sport.

Actually it was an Interview with the kid himself and the point being made was if you have a choice, the existence of a credible profile international programme is an incentive for any player.