THE RED ROOSTER

Sorry chap,s I thought I had logged onto a Rugby League website where people posted about ..Rugby League...Obviously not.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-lewis-dodd-wests-tigers-do-not-sign-english-halfback-st-helens-where-will-he-play-what-year-phil-rothfield-mike-rush-nathan-cleary/news-story/9c9bae3a7579a2c0a9def31d7a59297c

Ricky's average Raiders win at home gainst a Dragons side in turmoil

Not trying to be contraversial, but I am not sold on the Broncos as being premiership contenders. If I had to sum up the Broncos attack in three words itr would be - Lumbering, Ponderous and Clunky (sorry ). They leave a lot of points out there and were given at least three "gifts" from the Gold Coast a Team that puts the "O" in Ordinary. Granted you cannot play at full pelt each week, but I just do get that premiership vibe from the Men from Milton.

What a stoush, Awesome defence by Knights and the Penny Panthers were truly rattled but in the end the Knights were "close but no cigar" as they say

I have tipped Warrington to win the League this season, I see no reason to change my view for ther following reasons: The winning streak was always going to snap at some point Warrington have already got as many wins this year as in the whole of last year Wigan are currently white-hot but have they peaked to soon? Because no-one wins the Grand Final in April From a neutral perspective two (and possibnly three) absolutely diabolical decisions by the bideo referee that went against Warrington. Whoever is in charge of refreeeing should be looking at the tape of this game. That is all.

Sharkies v Roosters not such an upset but Manly v Storm the current wowzer moment from this round. It's a cliche but this really is a week by week league

I know I have entereed Dante's circle of hell when I am barracking for the Wabbits at the LU live updates just to boost my position in the tipping contest.... Seriously it is Week 7 and by now the NRL is beginning to divide into contenders and pretenders and like it or not the Wabbits are a definate contender.

Winners - South Sydney, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors, Penrith Panthers, Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders and Paramatta Eels Points - 364 Home Wins - 3 Biggest points - Newcastle Knights v Penrith Panthers

The ideal for every sporting league is to have a scenario where anyone can beat a more heavily tipped opponent on any give date The NRL season has this weith sides playing great one week and ###### the next I have posted this season has thrown up a wowzer moment each round and round six surpassed that : First you had the Dolphns with a big injury list, incluiding the starting halves, going into tropical Townsville and sending the Cows back home. Despite their own injury list North Queensland have an advantage playing at home and on the face of it should have won. Then you get the Broncos, now watching them during their unbeaten run I thougt they were leaving a lot of points oh the field that would come back to haunt them, but losing to Ricky's Ordinary Raiders, without their talisman Jack Wighton. . Since I have been bagging Ricky for some time on thjs board, I might be heading for the kind of slap he gave Michael Ennis... I have mentioned Jack Wighton already, but their are some talismanic players who are the literal difference makers for their clubs, chief among which is Cameron Munster for whatever they are playing him it's not enough because Melbourne are a different side with him than without him. Conversely the Storms opponents lacked their own talisman in James Tedesco who is the fulcrum around which the Roosters operate. Ben Hunt desertves a mention in despatches for his performances for St George-Illawarra who, despite what some of their fans believe, are a better side than people think. Nicho Hynes, I am not sure you can say that the Sharkies playmaker is in this category yet. and of course, I should mention Nathan Cleary who does indeed have ice in his veins leading the Penny Panthers round the park. I should just comment on two things about the Roosters. Firstly, as the media have pointed out Victor "The Inflictor" Radley is playing as if it was 1973 not 2023 and the Roosters cannot win with him and JWH being penalty machines and bench warmning for 10 mins on a regular basis. The other point is, yes indeed, it rains in Australia heavily and often and really you cannot have a situation where your are treating the ball like a bar of soap in the rain. Both of these issues is on the Coaching. Are the two smokies from last season in dropping back into the pack, In the case of The Cows yes, In the case of the Sharkies the jury is out. Though who would have thought Cronulla would be behind St George-Illawarra at this point in the season. Surprise of the season - The Dolphins, before a ball was kicked I was one of those ready to tip the opposition. Once they got a start then I though a couple of losses and the depth of their squad would tell against them so it has not proved to be making their games dificult to call. Disappointment of the season - Canterbury Bulldogs, I expected more from the doggies give the side they have and, despite injuries, the dogs still lack bite. As for West Tigers, the agony continues, Having seen their first game live, I genuinely thought things would have clicked by now. it has got worse but hope springs eternal and there were signs of life against Parramatta. Their next few games will determine if they can avoid the spoon or not as it may be. It's difficult to tip this year. What will the wowzer moment from round 7 ?

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/the-mole-news-2023-scoops-wests-tigers-fan-plan-protest-at-easter-monday-eels-game/68629e87-decf-4bb4-8e45-3c38122c767f FAKE NEWS WARNING - Not that I distrust Moley but I jhave not been able to track down the Facebook page written about

Winning Teams - Sydney Roosters, South Sydney, North Queensland Cowboys, Penrith Panthers, Brisbane Broncos, St George-Illawarra, New Zealand Warriors and Paramatta Eels Points - 318 Away Wins - 2 Poll - Broncos v Raiders

Say G'Day to ARC Sports Management (Australia) https://arcsportsmanagement.com.au/

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/jury-finds-jarryd-hayne-guilty-of-sexual-assault-on-night-of-2018-nrl-grand-final/news-story/3bab0dd84738963b74e771d45f15e280

That's the thing about the NRL this season every round prodiuces a Wowzer result and the Warriors winning down at Sharkies is this round's Wowzer moment. Nirvana for any sporting league is when you have the situation that anybody can beat anyone else and the NRL is getting close - Now if only they can fix West Tigers....

London 66 - Doncaster 16 (half time 16-16) At a bitterly cold and dilapidated Rossyn Park RFC, London sped into a 12-0 lead before an Alex Walker fumble gave field position to Donny who were good enough to take advantage. Then Following a period of possession near the Doncaster line. Donny scored a length of the field interception Try 12-10. London scored again before another London turnover giving Doncaster field position which they capitalised on for a 16-16 halftime score. The second half saw the game basically done and dusted in the first 15 minutes when IIRC London scored on about 3 back to back posessions. There were a lot of line breaks, and this Broncos side has pace aplenty notably Illness Macani and Oli Leyland. a 50 - 0 second half scoreline underlining London's dominance after the interval. Doncaster frustration boiled over in a scuffle just before the final hooter sounded on the original game of two halves. I noted London had an official photographer present if your not producing a programme or updating the website - Why ? The crowd, I would estimate around 550 It would not be a London post without gripes so Why anounce thev Warrrington score when some in attendance like myself had taped the game for later viewing No Team Sheets at all at the game Plain Bugher with no onions SIX QUID !!!. This is Rugby League the Peoples Game not the Rich man's game...

Good game coming up, South Sydney who I would have to grudgingly concede are a chance for the Grand Final and a Melboune Storm side that looks a bit fin de siècle towards the back end of last year and the beginnibg of this, and are IMO a little too reliant on Cameron Munster these days. Certainly without him against the Bulldogs, Melbourne failed to compete and given that Bellamy sides have in the past always turned uip regardless of whose was on the field.It's most Un-Melbourne like Facing them a South Sydney side that have a decent spine in Damien Cook, Campbell Graham the emerging Lachlan Ilias and the man-child that is Latrell Mitchell who has been at it again who when asked about recruiting Jack Wighton states http://I would love Jack outside me. It would be another element. But we don’t have a sombrero Now who could he be referring to....

I feel like Phil Gould after the World Club Challenge, I honestly thought having seen both of these teams two opening games live, that Parra wewr in with a chance with Joseph Manu out and James Tedesco gone 30 mins into the game. But that was the most compete Rooster performance this season. Parra never played with the same intensity as they did against the Penny Panters, but the Roosters never let them play at that intensity. Some heroic defence and some garbage time tries gave Paramatta respectability but in truth thewy were well beaten, Onwards and upwards tipping wise...

The SFS blockbuster has not yet started and FOX have lost the plot already with the EEes multitasking.... https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-sydney-roosters-vs-parramatta-eels-live-stream-live-blog-supercoach-scores-videos-james-tedesco-mitchell-moses/news-story/af7cecffd0dbaf61b31713a206abb5ac

Winners - Paramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers, South Sydney, Manly Sea Eagles, St George-Illawarra, Brisbane Broncos, Cronulla Sharks and Canterbury Bulldogs Points - 316 Home wins - 6 Closest Game - Sydney Roosters v Paramatta Eels

Regardless of your politics you have to admire the sangfroid of the restaurant staff and customers

Back in the UK after a disasterous tipping round last time out. Still the NRL never fails to entertain and shock and boy have I been shocked.. Poll ; 1 or 2 Winners : Penrith Panthers, Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, South Sydney, New Zealand Warriors, Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks Points - 342 Away Wins - 4

Thought I would do this one for Graham. One thing about early season tipping, its based largely on last year's form not this years. And it does not take into sccount: Injuries of which Storm and Roosters are suffering from The time it takes for a side to gel. I mean West Tigers will eventually learn to hold the ball. If you looked at the stats from the first two games they should have won both comfortably. They will eventually get it together but not this week. Finally, the ratings and crowds are based on the draw serving up a succession of blockbuster matches earlier than used to be the case when these were played later in the season. The problem this will cause is that some clubs after the first six weeks will already be looking towards 2024 -Notably Paramatta whose premiership odds have collapsed and the warriors. Good luck with your tips.

Poll - 3 to 4 teams Winners - Manly Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights, South Sydney, Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys, Brisbane Broncos, Canterbury Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks Points - 295 Home Wins - 5

At last someone on this thread picks up on the real problems that any NRL expansion will cause northern hemisphere rugby league