The NRL Round 24 Thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

A day earlier than usual as I have Metro Bank Cup fever and will be at the Cricket till late tomorrow. We are very much at the Business End of the season.

Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm - SKY

Game of the season, and likely to pivot on the performance of Penrith's Pack against a Melbourne side whose weakness is being forward lite or as Cameroin Munster put itr against SGI at the half "they have got some big boys out there". Melbourne do of course have Nelson Asofa-Solomona but can also be a liabiity as much as an asset. Penrith though have shown signs that the departure of talent and pending departures are having an impact and much like the odds are against me winning the tiipiong comp four years running so the same odds are against the Penny Panthers getting a fourth premiership. A lot hangs on Craig Bellamy's game plan to negate the Penrith pack and provide a platform for Muster, Hughes and Grant. This could be golden point - Tip -Panthers just..

Manly Sea Eagles v New Zealand Warriors

If you believe the bookies the silvertails are big favourites, but the Warriors are a dangerouas side to play when the pressure is off them and they have close to their regular starting XIII. so potentially an upset here if Manly are off their game. You would expect the Silvertails to keep up the pressure on the sides above them. Seaeagles swoop to victory

Sydney Roosters v Paramatta Eels

Although the Roosters are coming off a bye, It is the same scenario as the game at 4 Pines Park, with Paramatta perfectly capable of playing the spolier here. As with their performancxe in the Battle of the West which could have gone to extra time had Clint Gutherson converted a penalty. It's a bit of a sliding doors moment for Gutho for how different could the Eels season have been had he made a similar kick against West Tigers. Roosters at near full strength sans suspensions, The Chooks should prevail but if they do not more questions around the Coaching... Sydney home to Roost 

Canterbury Bulldogs v The Dolphins

Played in Bunderberg, a town famous for Rum and that Bundy Polar Bear advert. Staying on the Bulldogs bandwagaon here although a near full strength  Dolphins side that needs to win will be a test for the doggies up in Bundy. As with last year, the fins are fading at the business end though they remain the most most maddening, unpredictable and entertaining side in the comp. - Dogs win a tight one.

North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders

Bitterly dissappointing result aginsty the Bronx last week demonstrating the Cows lack of a killer instinct which has been on show all season. Todd Payten has made changes dropping Chad Townsend who had a mare last week. Ricky's Ravaged Raiders head into tropical townsville having taken up a bar stool at the last chance saloon and without Jordan Rapana, and that is huge for the Capital Club. Questions being asked by both fan bases about coaching post season methinks. - Tip a win for North Queensland as the Raiders top eight hopes go south.

West Tigers v South Sydney

Upset alert, If there is a game in which Wests could pull off another win this is it at Campbelltown, for since the game at the Raiders only Jye Grey and Thomas Burgess have turned up for the Wabbits. If you watched the game at Newcastle you would have noted that the Tigers still have sharpened claws in attack if not defence and Souths are troubled again by off-field issues and a dissappointing season with a churn of an aging side due once Benny takes over. - Tip - Too close to call

St George-Illawarras Dragonds v Gold Coast Titans

This is at Woolongong, so I have no qualms in tipping SGI even without Flanagan Jnr, Sele, Murdoch-Masila and Suli. Gold Coast in many ways have summed up the entire NRL 2024 season  one week  a second half slaughter of a Bronx team that needed the wi,n followed up by a 0-44 loss to a weakened Sharks outfit, a sort of 360 degree turnaround. Gold Coast basically out of the running and Dragons needing the points - Dragons return fire

Cronulla Sharks v Newcastle Knights

Sharkies surprised me last week and I have to back them at Shark Park to further damage the Knights top eight chances. The sharks may have a few coming back named on the extended bench but the most significant Shark bite of the last few weeks has been the return of the ironclad defence which is handy for a side that can sometimes struggle to put points on the board against the better sides in the comp. Newcastle's fall from grace this year will frustrate their fanbase notably home fom where the Novocastrians have in the past reigned supreme regadless of away form. Another side with some soul searching to do post season. - Up Up Cronulla

As always good luck with your tips

 

 

 

 

[Graham]

Thursday’s top of the table game teams finalised:

[Farmduck]

On 14/08/2024 at 03:47, THE RED ROOSTER said:

 

St George-Illawarras Dragonds v Gold Coast Titans

This is at Woolongong, so I have no qualms in tipping SGI even without Flanagan Jnr, Sele, Murdoch-Masila and Suli. Gold Coast in many ways have summed up the entire NRL 2024 season  one week  a second half slaughter of a Bronx team that needed the wi,n followed up by a 0-44 loss to a weakened Sharks outfit, a sort of 360 degree turnaround. Gold Coast basically out of the running and Dragons needing the points - Dragons return fire

 

Wouldn't that be a 180 degree turnaround?

[Farmduck]

Cleary hits the post trying to convert the Lindsay Smith try. No Goal

Panthers 4 - 10

[Farmduck]

Then 2 minutes later, Tago try + Cleary goal

 10 - 10

[Farmduck]

37min: Katoa gets his second

Meaney goal

Storm 16 - 10

[Farmduck]

Interesting finish to the half with a long kick for 20m restart, a challenge, bunker finds Storm player offside at restart and Panthers penalty. Cleary goal

 

HT:  Storm  16  Panthers  12

[Farmduck]

47: Edwards try + Cleary goal

Panthers 18 - 16

[Farmduck]

NAS gets the bin for a high tackle on Munster?

[Futtocks]

Asofa-Solomona has been binned for accidentally smashing Cameron Munster's face open. Not sure whether I've seen a player penalised for hitting a team-mate before.

Edited August 15 by Futtocks

[Farmduck]

Munster off HIA looks like broken nose. Nelson got Dane Laurie on the back of the head on his way to smashing Munster in the face with a forearm

[Farmduck]

Casey McLean try off the penalty set.

Cleary missed the goal

Panthers 22 - 16

[Farmduck]

61min: tyran Wishart goes under the posts

Meaney goal

22 - 22

[Farmduck]

Cleary off with a shoulder injury

[Farmduck]

73min: soft penalty to Storm right in front.

Storm 24 - 22

[Farmduck]

FT:  Storm 24  Panthers  22

[JohnM]

Enjoyed that. Good game...good game....

[Graham]

There’s some bright folk on here. Can you help me understand why Hughes is only 8 SC points better than Cleary? Is it errors he’s made or what?

Edited August 15 by Graham

[Graham]

Storm keep on keeping on.

[DavidM]

I’m gonna go out and a limb here and say watching both these teams this year I think both are vulnerable to someone else at the pointy end of the year . Dont know , i just feel neither have been in their really top form consistently and could be done on the day . 

[Graham]

2 minutes ago, DavidM said:

I’m gonna go out and a limb here and say watching both these teams this year I think both are vulnerable to someone else at the pointy end of the year . Dont know , i just feel neither have been in their really top form consistently and could be done on the day . 

At their best either could be Premiers, but I agree, both look like they could be beaten.

[Graham]

Drama from earlier today;

 

[Farmduck]

14 hours ago, Graham said:

There’s some bright folk on here. Can you help me understand why Hughes is only 8 SC points better than Cleary? Is it errors he’s made or what?

Those are probably not the only categories used in the calculation. Cleary kicked goals too.

[Farmduck]

FRIDAY

Manly Sea Eagles vs. New Zealand Warriors, 6pm AEST at 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Tolutau Koula 19. Toafofoa Sipley 20. Corey Waddell 21. Jamie Humphreys 22. Clayton Faulalo

Players cut: 12. Karl Lawton

Late Mail: Anthony Seibold has confirmed Tolu Koula will make his return from his ACL injury, but will take a spot up on the bench. That is according to 9News’ Zac Bailey, who is reporting Koula will provde bench cover for Manly’s backline. Karl Lawton has been omitted at the 24-hour update with Ben Trbojevic coming into the starting side.

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 21. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 14. Freddy Lussick 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Demitric Sifakula 18. Leka Halasima 20. Taine Tuaupiki

Players cut: 9. Wayde Egan 22. Edward Kosi 23. Bunty Afoa

Late Mail: Luke Metcalf has been parachuted into the starting side having recovered from a leg injury. He’ll start alongside the returning Shaun Johnson which means the Warriors will have a new halves pairing from last week. Metcalf hasn’t played at NRL level since Round 4. Chanel Harris-Tavita drops to the bench. Wayde Egan is out with a elbow injury, so Freddy Lussick will start at hooker.

[Anita Bath]

manly by lots