The NRL Round 4 Thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

There are two points I need to make.

Firstly, premierships are not won in March. If you recall last season, Canterbury and Canberra were tearing it up and the Penny Panthers could not buy a win. This year its the Panthers and the Wahs who are the early pacesetters. But its a long season with many twists and turns and injuries and loss of form will play a part. It's who catches fire in September / October that will be premiers.

Secondly, speeding up the game for entertainment purposes is causing many an injury and just this week Craig Bellamy said if this continues players careers would be shorter. Personally I define entertainment as seeing the best playing the best not sides hobbled by injuries.

Finally even Phil Gould is getting the tipping game wrong with the peoples  champion tipping a SGI win at Paramatta.

Manly Sea Eagles v Sydney Roosters

A clash of two sides and two coaches in need of a win the Manly side unchanged from their last defeat. The Roosters with Billy Smith back from an e-scootrr injury.

Turbo turmoil at Manly with Turbo (Tom》and Burbo (Ben) staning up for brother Jurbo (Jake] with the sydney journos , notably Brent Read, doubting his worth to the side.

Whilst speaking about retirement DCE droped a hint that this sea1son could ge a pne -off in that he will.not stand in rbe way of progress. Which is interesting as the papers have pocked up the point I was making last round thar the halves combination with Sam Walker just is not working.

The game itself tomorrow will be played in conditions akin to a biblical flood according to the local weather forecasts. This means a forward contest and the Roodters forward pack need to seriously aim up after last weeks towelling from the Panthers.

Tip - very close gane, I will go Rooster but without any confidence.

New Zealand Warriors v West Tigers

Across the ditch, the Wahs face the wounded Tigers without Jarome Luai who should have won last week at Gosford. Jock Madden in for Luai.

Luke Metcalf is back at 6 to partner Tanah Boyd who retains the numbrr 7 shirt during his purple patch returns also for Charnze Nicoll-Klockstadt and Adam Pompey.

Tip - Wahs

Brisbane Broncos v The Dolphins

The Bronx hace won all but one of their derby fixtures against the Dolphins.Yet this is not a foregone conclusion. I was imoressed by thr Dolphis Defence at Shark Park and they have the attacking toold in Izaako, thr Hammer and Herbie. to put points on the board.

More off field turmoil at Red Hill beibg covered on a separate thread on this forum.

No Payne Hass for the Bronx replaced by Xavier Willison Adam Reynolds returns pushing Ben Hunt back to the bench.

Thonss Flegler back for the Fins.

Tip - A closer gane than.people think but I wiil take the safe option and go Bronx.

Canterbury Bulldogs v Newcastke Knights

A very straightforward game to call with the Dogs defence likely to cancel out the Knights offence.

This means the limitations that the Dogs have on offence will not be a factor in this game.

Silill Tupouniua returns for the Dogs.

Tip - Bulldog

Penrith Panthers v Paramatta Eels.

Though nominally a Panthers home game. Panther support will be outnumbered by the Eels fans.

Although Paramatta are very unfancied in this match they do have a habit of overturning the Panthers in the battle of the West.

Jack Williams comes into the starting line up in place of J"maine Hopgood

Tip - Panther

North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm

Played in tropical Townsvilke which according to the press this week is Australia' s crime capital.

The Cows were unconvincing in defeating the hapless Titans. Playing a Storm side who faded in the second half at hone to the Bronx.

Concerns raised about the form of Caneron Munster and hus part in the Bronx defeat. Rumour had it last season that Munster was to go to Perth Bears as their marquee signing and Jonah Pezet was to take over Munsters role. Peset has gone and Munster remsins whther that will prove the right choice will be borne out either way this season.

Zak Laybutt back for the Cows with Trent Lolero back for the storm.

Tip Storm it would be a crime not to...

Canberra Raiders v Cronula Sharks

Two sides in need if a win. If there is a team that has the wood on Rickys Rattled Raiders, it is the Sharks in recent.years.

Bith sides coming off disappointing perfirnances at home againdt the Bulldogs and Dolphins respectively.

Morgan Smithies in for the suspended Josh Papalii for the Raiders. 

Tieg Wilton replaces Briton Nikora for the Sharks.

Tip -Very close game in prospect, Raider on the basis this is played in the capital.

Gold Coast Titans v St George-Ilawarra

Trial game optimism for the Titans has dissapated in a string of defeats to the extent that Josh Hannay had to read the riot act at half time against the Cows.

Big question marks being raised about Tino and the rest of the forwards.

They face an SGI side that enough chsnces to win against Paramatta and did not due to the play of the halfbacks.

What is strange is that in the reserve grade game against the Eels SGI absolutely smashed the Eels with the Kerr - King-Togia combination and Tyrell Sloan playing at full back.

If your getting territorial posession but not converting into points then you need to change the halves combination in game. Maybe this will be the game it happens in because another defeat and this will be forced on Shane Flanagan

Gold Coast unchanged.

SGI bring in Blake Lawrie for Toby Couchmzn and Hamish Stewart for the suspended Ryan Couchman.

Tip - SGI

[THE RED ROOSTER]

I was going to tjhis gamwe but gave it a swerve after seeing the weathrr forecast ans I was right as a thunderstorm and flash flood hit Sydney. The lights at Brookvale have been kocked out and will not be put back on until the thunderstorm is 10kms away.

An interesting backdrop to this game is the extension of Craig Fitzgibbon at Cronulla allegedly, according to Brent Read on NRL360, because of interest from the Roosters. It's fair to say if Fitz was to have gone to Bondi it woukd not have been as an Assistant Coach....

Braith Anasta, who should know, stated that the Roosters as a club aim to win the Premiership each season and have not done so for 7 years and that no one is safe in the NRL.

It's a fact that the Roosters used to be regarded as pne of the big three with Melbourne and Penrith. One win by the Roosters in 21 games against thse two clubs underscores the fact that the big 3 is now emphatically the big 2

The question is whether Uncle Nick's patience with the current coach is wearing thin.

Update from the ground is that the game will kick off on time on a rain sodden pitch.Manly confident on their 2 million dollar drainage working.

[Graham]

The players have warmed up on the pitch and are now returning to their dressing rooms. 8 minutes to kick off Sea Eagles v Roosters.

[Graham]

Incredible start 

Second tackle and Saab makes a big break and TTurbo scores. Amazing!

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Saab breaks free and Turbo scores within a minute 6-0 Silvertails.2 mins.

[Graham]

Woo, take a breath!!! Some of the crowd are still taking their places and it’s 6-0 Manly.

[Graham]

Butcher steamrollered over by Paseka.

HIA for him.

Terrible start for Roosters.

[Graham]

Raining again, more expected.

[Graham]

DCE getting booed

[Graham]

Manly defending desperately 

[Graham]

Roosters in at the corner.

Newaga…. Scored

[Graham]

Brooks caught him on the head.

No goal. 
6-4 Manly

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Finally after an extended period of posession Mark N crosses over in the corner 6-4 Walker misses a difficult convetsion.

Roosters forwsrds gaing yardage up the middle.

[Graham]

Butcher Cat 1 HIA, won’t be returning in this game.

[Graham]

Mark N does a sliding water dive to save a 40/20 kick… brilliant 

[Graham]

Roosters having more of the ball. Manly just holding on.

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Mark N going over in the corner again.Roosters having better exit sets than Manly.6-8.

[Graham]

Mark N gets his second try of the game after relentless pressure from Roosters.

Walker again misses the goal from the touchline.

8-6 Roosters

[Graham]

Roosters making more ground in possession.

Manly get 6 again.

[Graham]

Manly score again in a rare venture into the Roosters half.

It was Wakeham who crashed over.

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Against the run of play Brandon Wakeham seizes on a Teddy mistake -a,collectors item in Itself, but ruled out as Billy Smith pushed into Teddy

[Graham]

Try being checked by vid ref.

Interference in the build up.

No try.

Still 8-6 Roosters.

[Graham]

Roosters throwing the kitchen sink at Manly who just holdout.

[Graham]

Teddy having a good game.

Roosters looking like the better team.

[Graham]

Wow, a touch of magic from Koula.

Fantastic solo try.