The NRL round five thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Round five, and the shocks continue, but the best teams are those with the iron-clad defence. The main difference between Super League and the NRL is that sides pride themselves on defence and in Round four there were signs that the best sides were beginning to work things out under the six-gain rules.

The delights of being able to use a spell check and not a mobile.

The Dolphins v Manly Sea Eagles (Thu)

Two teams that need a win. Fins unchanged from defeat at Suncorp. Keiran Foran also ticking with the Manly side that lost to the Rosters with the exception of Clayton Faulalo for the suspended Jason Saab

The Dolphins a pre-season top eight tip are 1 and 3 on the season. Manly 0-3 on the season all losses at home. Both sides have an exciting backline and can score but neither defends well. Will a change in coach change the Silvertails fortunes. One thing going against this is that this game is at KAYO stadium The Dolphins spiritual home at Redcliff. So the ground should be full, which is often not the case at Suncorp so home advantage should count

Tip – Dolphin

South Sydney v Canterbury Bulldiogs (Fri)

Souths have Campbell Graham back as Moala Graham-Taufa drops to the bench. Eyebrows raised by the absence of Brandon Smith.

The Dogs Have Sam Hughes and harry Hayes return with Josh Curran out

Surprised that up until recently Souths were not tipped to win at home, though I suspect in this game Dogs fans will be in the preponderance. Both sides are defensively sound if not high scorers. I was at this game two years agio and it was a narrow win for thew Bunnies and I expect the same.

Tip –Rabbit

Penrith Panthers vs Melboutrne4 Storm (Fri) - SKY

Penny Panthers include Freddy Lussick for the Suspended Mich Kenny

Melbourne Storm see Nick Meaney Return for the Injured Moses Leo

Is it the end of the Craig Bellamy era, certainly Melbourne have been most un Melbourne like in the last 12 months, losing games with a 10 point plus lead including the Grand Final and their last two and judging by the post-match press conference he has no answer for the second half fades.

While Bellamy may be regarded as the best coach of the modern era, he is likely to be overtaken in that pantheon by Ivan Cleary who’s sides regenerate each year and relationship with Son Nathan is almost Belichick and Brady like. Based on what I have seen it’s going to be on hell of a good side to beat the Penny Panthers at present.

Tip - Panther

St George -Ilawarra vs North Queensland Cowboys (sat)

For SGI, Lykhan King-Togia replaces the injured Kyle Flanagan. Moses Suli returns along with Toby Couchman. David Fale debuts on the wing instead of Tyrell Sloan.

For North Queensland, Tomas Chester returns from suspension dropping Zak Laybutt to the Bench

Coach Flanagan resists the temptation to blood young Josh Kerr I the absence of son Kyle, which may in the long-term work out for the Dragons. Moses Suli also makes a bit of an impact for the Dragons at Centre.

The Cowboys are a confidence side and two wins on the trot will have worked wonders for Tood Payten but they are at Kogarah and away from Townsville and although the Cows have won the last six encounters between the two sides. That snap could be broken of the Dragons are desperate enough. Apart from the last 20 minutes against the Storm at Wollongong. The Dragons have kept the game close and have not conceded too many points. They should be desperate and playing for their coach so I tip them in a tight one.

Tip – Dragon

Golod Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos (sat) - SKY

Titans unchanged from the side against SGI

Broncos bring back Payne Haas for Josiah Karapan and Gehemat Shibasaki keeps his place at the expense of Grant Anderson.

Fair play to the Titans, they beat SGI comfortably last week and they have broken their duck. They have pace and can score tries. And this derby fixture has not always gone the way of the Broncos.

That said, I did see the Bronx last week in their other Derby against the Dolphins and their defence impressed me more than their attack to be honest, The Bronx seem to have got it together after a slow start and when all is said and done they are the better of the two sides.

Tip – Bronco

Cronulla Sharks v New Zealand Warriors (Sat).

Sharks Unchanged

Mitch Barnett out for the Wahs

Sharks won at Canberra last week, a team they do seem to have the wood on and are at home against the Wahs who themselves come off a loss at home to West Tigers and with still some lingering doubts as to how the halves combination of Tanah Boyd and Luke Metcalf (playing at 6) works.

Home will be key here and I do not expect a reprise of the only time I saw the Sharkies loss against the Dolphins.

Tip – Shark

Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders (Sun)

Knights make one change with Trey Mooney back from suspension in for Pasami Saulo

Canberra bring back Josh Papali’I for the benched Morgan Smithies.

As I have posted, Justin Holbrook is a decent coach with a functioning Newcastle backline and 3 and 1 on the season.

Ricky’s Routed Raiders have the reverse record at 1 and 3 and suffer from switching off during matches which is costing them. The Raiders remain capable of scoring points through the backline the problem is they also concede points.

Tip – close game but tipping Knight

Paramatta Eels v West Tigers (mon) - SKY  

For Paramatta, Joash Papalii replaces the injured Isaiah Iongi at fullback

Wests Unchanged.

The traditional Easter Monday game at Comms Bank in which home advantage will be negated by the travelling Tigers fans. This is a very close game to call and although Benji’s boys won across the ditch at Mount Smart. The eels were well beaten by Penrith, I only saw the second half of that game but would make the point that Parra scored more points than anyone else against Penrith this season,

Benji’s boys surprised many, including myself, by winning across the ditch at the Warriors. Maybe this is the season in which the Tigers break through into the top 8.

You have to wonder how Parra will react to the loss in the battle of the West. So am tipping the Tigers ton be roared home in another tight one.

Tip – West Tigers

[Graham]

Still 0-0 but both teams making a lot of metres in their sets.

[Futtocks]

Fast and loose so far between the Dolphins and the Sea Eagles, but no score.

The Phins are looking very natty in their retro kit.

[Futtocks]

Manly get their third try, soon to be 0:16.

Comms: "The Dolphins' attack is like a teenage boy's bedroom - a mess!"

[Futtocks]

Garrick in behind the posts now.

The Dolphins really need to score next, but don't look like doing so any time soon.

[Futtocks]

Knowles is not having a good game, even compared to his team-mates.

[Futtocks]

DOL 0:28 MAN at HT

[Futtocks]

Manly have looked very good, but it's hard to gauge the absolute quality because the Dolphins have been a rabble (just 1 tackle in the opposition half and about half the running metres).

[Futtocks]

TTurbo off for HIA.

[Futtocks]

10 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

TTurbo off for HIA.

Passed.

Knowles gets a binning, so at least he won't give a penalty away for the next ten minutes.

[Futtocks]

DOL 0:40 MAN and it would be a genuine shock if they don't crack the half century before the hooter.

[Futtocks]

4 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

DOL 0:40 MAN and it would be a genuine shock if they don't crack the half century before the hooter.

That didn't take long. Still time for 60!

[Futtocks]

The Hammer dives in at the corner for the Dolphins to finally trouble the scoreboard operator.

Converted for 6:52

[Futtocks]

Hammer with a double.

[Futtocks]

Farnworth in now. Have Manly switched off or have the Phins woken up?

[Futtocks]

18:52 at FT

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Congratulations if you tipped the Silvertails. But the real story is that the pressure is now on Kristian Woolf as coach. This is a Dolphins side predicted to be top 8 pre-season  that is now 1-4 on the season and statistically, no side that has conceded 50 points in the regular season has gone on to win the premiership.

It will be a test of how much the Dolphins have embedded temselves into South East Queenslands sporting culture as to how much pressure The Courier Mail puts on Kristian Woolf starting tomorrow,.

[JohnM]

Just watched the highlights. If they were the Dolphins highlights, I'd hate to see their lowlights. 

[Futtocks]

29 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Just watched the highlights. If they were the Dolphins highlights, I'd hate to see their lowlights. 

Both sides started similarly, making plenty of metres but losing possession too often.

Then Manly clicked into gear and the Dolphins didn't, at least until the match was beyond rescue.

[JohnM]

From my intense focus on this game (well, 5 mins of it anyway ) if this had been a SuperLeague game, the Dolphins might have been accused by some of not trying for some conspiratorial reason. Ah well, onwards and upwards. ...I hope.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Right then, Penrith v Melbourne, game one of 4 live on Sky today! Mrs. Goose was not happy when I informed her it is almost solid RL for 12 hours today!

[Futtocks]

9 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

Right then, Penrith v Melbourne, game one of 4 live on Sky today! Mrs. Goose was not happy when I informed her it is almost solid RL for 12 hours today!

Pfft, she's had a two-hour break since the Bunnies/Bulldogs game already this morning!

Edited April 3 by Futtocks

[dkw]

Klein has decided to get the Storm back in the game then, some ridiculous penalties and 6 agains.

God only knows why he gave them a penalty at that kick.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

World class 3rd try for Penrith! Incredible footwork to make the break!

[dkw]

4 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

World class 3rd try for Penrith! Incredible footwork to make the break!

Brilliant stepping by the centre, tore them apart.