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This is an archived story - so check the main page - www.wdnicolson.blogspot.com for the current round of tipping for NRL, AFL and Super 14. The site is also regularly updated with opinion, news and features on sport, entertainment and life.
NRL Tips & Previews Round 15 2009 - AFL Tips & Previews Round 12 2009 - Wallabies Test Schedule 2009
Swine Flu is taking over!
Well that's far from the truth but considering what we were being told this time last week - isn't it amazing to observe how wrong the mainstream media got it?
Young Ben Hannant here still looks just the same as he did last week - no enlarged nostrils or wiggly tail on this Bulldogs prop.
Anyhoo - lame satire aside - on to the footy!
As is kicking a goal from the sideline just 1.5 metres from the tryline - interested in giving it a go? Go to http://wdnicolson.blogspot.com/2009/05/kick-off-2009-are-you-up-to-challenge.html for more information on Kick-Off 2009!
NRL & AFL Match Previews below.
NRL ROUND 15 - 2009
Previews below and with just five games on the sched it should be (yet again) - another perfect opportunity to get that perfect round.
Sadly we all know the odds of that happening are as good as Brett Lee ever becoming the number one bowler in the world again but be that as it may - here's a crack for Round 15.
BULLDOGS over PANTHERS
> With only Ben Hannant out of their full strength team how can you pick anyone but the Bulldogs this weekend? Especially when you look at the omissions for the Panthers - Lewis, Jennings, Civoniceva & Coote. What this game should highlight is how improved the Dogs are in 2009 and how truly ordinary the Panthers supporting cast is without their top players. Only chance Penrith have is if Trent Waterhouse and Frank Pritchard have 25 runs each, 2 tries each and make 60 tackles each... even then the Dogs probably win 30-28.
ROOSTERS over COWBOYS
> May change this pack later today but something tells me that the Cowboys without Thurston, Bowen and O'Donnell are coming back to reality quick smart... The fortunate thing for North Queensland is they are playing the Roosters and at least can replace Thurston with a halfback with considerable NRL experience in Grant Rovelli. The key to this game is up front as the Cowboys will have their wrecking balls available (bar O'Donnell) and Aaron Payne to run them around the park. If the Roosters can match the Cowboys in the middle of the field then this is the week their halves Anasta and Pearce wake up and win the game for the Roosters
.
RAIDERS over SEA EAGLES
> Canberra's season officially died last Sunday when they blew a 20-10 lead with 20 to go over the Sharks in Canberra but Origin selections have been kind to them and they are a big chance to topple Manly at Brookvale. Note this does not mean I think they are still alive and kicking for a Finals birth - they're gone - but this is a winnable game with only Matt Orford, Josh Perry and Jason King standing between the Raiders and 2 points here. If Perry and King can get the Sea Eagles going forward into the large Raiders pack - then Orford and his recent run of great form come into play. If they fail and the Raiders forwards get on top then I think the Raiders are special fried rice in this one
.
STORM over TIGERS
> Cooper Cronk, Brett Finch and Ryan Hoffman beat Benji Marshall, Chris Heighington and John Morris in the matchup of what star power is in this contest. Then the reserves for Melbourne and the current first grade squad fillers of the Tigers cancel each other out. That leads me to a selection of Melbourne (although they are way too short betting wise) at home to beat Benji and his own bunch of reserve graders
.
SHARKS over BRONCOS
> This game will either be incredibly boring or only entertaining because we get a good look at the Next Generation of Brisbane Broncos. Although Trent Barrett and Paul Gallen are out for the Sharks they still have Scott Porter who has been nothing short of excellent for Cronulla since being called up from park football and they should have enough confidence in their skills to overcome a Broncos side devoid of their top 6 attacking weapons (Lockyer, Hodges, Hunt, Folau, Thaiday and Wallace). Would like to tip the Baby Broncos but scoring points at NRL level is so much tougher than in the Toyota Cup touch footy comp
.
AFL ROUND 12 - 2009
I re-iterate my comment from last week:
Split Round time - and a smarter idea there could not be in the middle of a gruelling 22 game schedule. The AFL make time for a bye when it counts - mid-season but the NRL hides behind the rep game schedule as a reason they can't take weeks off...
Eight of the teams played last week and will have this weekend off to rest their bumps and bruises - or in Dean Laidley's case cash his payout cheque - while the Swans, Demons, Cats, Magpies, Dockers and Bombers play on two weeks break.
It just makes so much sense and the fantatical AFL fan still gets to watch at least 3 games each weekend of the split round - now that's enough footy for any appetite let alone as a by-product of the Split Round.
BOMBERS over DEMONS
Is this the week the Demons break through? Well it wasn't a few weeks back when I tipped them to beat yet another superior side... don't remind me which as I think they've won like 4 straight over that period. The Bombers play attacking footy which may give the Demons a reason to like their chances on the counter-attack but it is hard to pick Melbourne at the best of times, so Essendon here.
SWANS over MAGPIES
I'm sure I didn't hear Eddie McGuire say the other day this was the biggest game in Collingwood history... so because I didn't I'll pick the Swans at home. If this was in fact the biggest game in Collingwood history we'd be in a Grand Final and even then I'd pick against Collingwood. So really how can I take anyone but the Swans here? Eddie?
CATS over WHARFIES
With basically two weeks to rest up the Cats will be Catastic once again and pile on the pain for the Wharfies - who might be competitive early but I can't see them getting within 8 goals of the Cats. Odds on Gary Ablett Jr cracking 50 disposals?
WALLABIES TEST SERIES WINTER 2009
Australia kept Italy at bay in the First Test in Canberra and to be honest I saw about 90 seconds total of the performance. It looked cold and uninteresting - and the latter wasn't due to the game actually being in Canberra.
The Second Test is this Saturday Night in Melbourne.
Here is the Test Schedule for Winter 2009:
June 6 Sydney 7:30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Barbarians
Won 55-7
June 13 Canberra 7.30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Italy
Won 31-8
June 20 Melbourne 8.00pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Italy
June 27 Sydney 8.00pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v France
July 18 Auckland 5.35pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
August 8 Cape Town 11.00pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
August 22 Sydney 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
August 29 Perth 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
September 5 Brisbane 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
September 19 Wellington 5.35pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
Good luck with your tips this weekend!
NRL ROUND 15 - 2009
Previews below and with just five games on the sched it should be (yet again) - another perfect opportunity to get that perfect round.
Sadly we all know the odds of that happening are as good as Brett Lee ever becoming the number one bowler in the world again but be that as it may - here's a crack for Round 15.
BULLDOGS over PANTHERS
> With only Ben Hannant out of their full strength team how can you pick anyone but the Bulldogs this weekend? Especially when you look at the omissions for the Panthers - Lewis, Jennings, Civoniceva & Coote. What this game should highlight is how improved the Dogs are in 2009 and how truly ordinary the Panthers supporting cast is without their top players. Only chance Penrith have is if Trent Waterhouse and Frank Pritchard have 25 runs each, 2 tries each and make 60 tackles each... even then the Dogs probably win 30-28.
ROOSTERS over COWBOYS
> May change this pack later today but something tells me that the Cowboys without Thurston, Bowen and O'Donnell are coming back to reality quick smart... The fortunate thing for North Queensland is they are playing the Roosters and at least can replace Thurston with a halfback with considerable NRL experience in Grant Rovelli. The key to this game is up front as the Cowboys will have their wrecking balls available (bar O'Donnell) and Aaron Payne to run them around the park. If the Roosters can match the Cowboys in the middle of the field then this is the week their halves Anasta and Pearce wake up and win the game for the Roosters.
RAIDERS over SEA EAGLES
> Canberra's season officially died last Sunday when they blew a 20-10 lead with 20 to go over the Sharks in Canberra but Origin selections have been kind to them and they are a big chance to topple Manly at Brookvale. Note this does not mean I think they are still alive and kicking for a Finals birth - they're gone - but this is a winnable game with only Matt Orford, Josh Perry and Jason King standing between the Raiders and 2 points here. If Perry and King can get the Sea Eagles going forward into the large Raiders pack - then Orford and his recent run of great form come into play. If they fail and the Raiders forwards get on top then I think the Raiders are special fried rice in this one.
STORM over TIGERS
> Cooper Cronk, Brett Finch and Ryan Hoffman beat Benji Marshall, Chris Heighington and John Morris in the matchup of what star power is in this contest. Then the reserves for Melbourne and the current first grade squad fillers of the Tigers cancel each other out. That leads me to a selection of Melbourne (although they are way too short betting wise) at home to beat Benji and his own bunch of reserve graders.
SHARKS over BRONCOS
> This game will either be incredibly boring or only entertaining because we get a good look at the Next Generation of Brisbane Broncos. Although Trent Barrett and Paul Gallen are out for the Sharks they still have Scott Porter who has been nothing short of excellent for Cronulla since being called up from park football and they should have enough confidence in their skills to overcome a Broncos side devoid of their top 6 attacking weapons (Lockyer, Hodges, Hunt, Folau, Thaiday and Wallace). Would like to tip the Baby Broncos but scoring points at NRL level is so much tougher than in the Toyota Cup touch footy comp.
AFL ROUND 12 - 2009
I re-iterate my comment from last week:
Split Round time - and a smarter idea there could not be in the middle of a gruelling 22 game schedule. The AFL make time for a bye when it counts - mid-season but the NRL hides behind the rep game schedule as a reason they can't take weeks off...
Eight of the teams played last week and will have this weekend off to rest their bumps and bruises - or in Dean Laidley's case cash his payout cheque - while the Swans, Demons, Cats, Magpies, Dockers and Bombers play on two weeks break.
It just makes so much sense and the fantatical AFL fan still gets to watch at least 3 games each weekend of the split round - now that's enough footy for any appetite let alone as a by-product of the Split Round.
BOMBERS over DEMONS
Is this the week the Demons break through? Well it wasn't a few weeks back when I tipped them to beat yet another superior side... don't remind me which as I think they've won like 4 straight over that period. The Bombers play attacking footy which may give the Demons a reason to like their chances on the counter-attack but it is hard to pick Melbourne at the best of times, so Essendon here.
SWANS over MAGPIES
I'm sure I didn't hear Eddie McGuire say the other day this was the biggest game in Collingwood history... so because I didn't I'll pick the Swans at home. If this was in fact the biggest game in Collingwood history we'd be in a Grand Final and even then I'd pick against Collingwood. So really how can I take anyone but the Swans here? Eddie?
CATS over WHARFIES
With basically two weeks to rest up the Cats will be Catastic once again and pile on the pain for the Wharfies - who might be competitive early but I can't see them getting within 8 goals of the Cats. Odds on Gary Ablett Jr cracking 50 disposals?
WALLABIES TEST SERIES WINTER 2009
Australia kept Italy at bay in the First Test in Canberra and to be honest I saw about 90 seconds total of the performance. It looked cold and uninteresting - and the latter wasn't due to the game actually being in Canberra.
The Second Test is this Saturday Night in Melbourne.
Here is the Test Schedule for Winter 2009:
June 6 Sydney 7:30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Barbarians
Won 55-7
June 13 Canberra 7.30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Italy
Won 31-8
June 20 Melbourne 8.00pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v France
July 18 Auckland 5.35pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
August 8 Cape Town 11.00pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
August 22 Sydney 8.05pm (EST)
