NRL Tips & Previews Round 16 2009 - AFL Tips & Previews Round 13 2009 - Wallabies Test Schedule 2009
Origin was disgraceful but another Round of the NRL will hopefully produce at least six games that are of a better standard this weekend.
Round 13 of the AFL begins after the split round break and the big question is will St.Kilda or Geelong fall before their epic clash next week?
The Wallabies begin their winter Tests in earnest with the visiting French facing off at ANZ Stadium Saturday.
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 16 - 2009
Quick hit Previews today.
BULLDOGS over COWBOYS
> Thurston firing after a very quiet Origin II becomes the wild card with Ben Hannant injured - he's the leader of the Dogs pack. But I'm picking the Dogs at home.
DRAGONS over TIGERS
> Benji Marshall played perhaps the best 25 mins of a player this year but the Tigers still lost to the Storm. Dragons should win but Farah and Marshall may make it interesting.
TITANS over WARRIORS
> I give the Warriors every chance in this one but having been burnt far too many times by a road team in a similar matchup to this one - I'm taking the Titans even without Harrison and Bailey.
Update 2:31pm - Having tipped all the favourites I'm leaning heavily towards the Warriors right now.
SHARKS over ROOSTERS
> Braith Anasta out is the biggest omission in this one - not Barrett or probably Gallen. The Roosters have enough trouble scoring points as it is - and without their best playmaker and the Sharks winning 4 straight - it is Cronulla for mine.
STORM over RAIDERS
> This might be in Canberra but unless David Furner loosens the shackles for the entire 80 minutes - the Raiders won't feature in this contest. Even then the Storm will be too good.
BRONCOS over EELS
> Recent club form suggests the Eels at home isn't a bad bet here. But the Broncos will lift with their Origin stars back in action and Lockyer to have a stormer.
KNIGHTS over RABBITOHS
> South Sydney are always a chance with their forward pack but the Knights are coming off their first break of the season and the only Origin reps Kurt Gidley and Michael Crocker will have almost a normal break between games. Knights at home.
AFL ROUND 13 - 2009
The only thing people care about in Round 13 of the AFL is whether or not Geelong or St.Kilda will hold onto their unbeaten records for their Round 14 clash.
BLUES over BOMBERS
Bombers don't have McPhee and McVeigh, so I'm tipping the McBlues.
MAGPIES over WHARFIES
Freo will beat a few more teams before the season is out and even with this game in Melbourne they are a chance here... just not enough of a chance to waste a pick on.
SWANS over CROWS
Call me biased but something tells me Sydney have a good month of football in them over the remaining half of the season and I'm tipping this game to be the start of that month of victories.
LIONS over DEMONS
Demons have gone backwards (if that was possible) in the last couple of weeks and the Lions are at home - no brainer here.
HAWKS over EAGLES
Dean Cox is almost certainly out so the Hawks get instant big time favouritism - even though they aren't flying all that much higher than the Eagles.
CATS over POWER
You shouldn't expect Geelong or St.Kilda to get done this round so don't go tipping just because you think it's ridiculous that two teams are undefeated after 13 rounds.
BULLDOGS over KANGAROOS
Kangas are gornskies for 2009 and the Bulldogs will run rings around them in this one - even with Brent Harvey back for the Roos.
SAINTS over TIGERS
See the Geelong-Port preview - a loss this week shouldn't happen for the two premiership favourites... but the Tigers - maybe a monumental upset on the cards?
WALLABIES TEST SERIES WINTER 2009
France and Australia go at it in the first serious Test of the 2009 season at ANZ Stadium. I actually like the French in this one - because I'm not convinced Australia are actually that good despite Robbie Deans doing a great job restructuring the team - we're still totally reliant on Matt Giteau to worry the top sides in the world.
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
Won 34-12
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 16 - 2009
Quick hit Previews today.
BULLDOGS over COWBOYS
> Thurston firing after a very quiet Origin II becomes the wild card with Ben Hannant injured - he's the leader of the Dogs pack. But I'm picking the Dogs at home.
DRAGONS over TIGERS
> Benji Marshall played perhaps the best 25 mins of a player this year but the Tigers still lost to the Storm. Dragons should win but Farah and Marshall may make it interesting.
TITANS over WARRIORS
> I give the Warriors every chance in this one but having been burnt far too many times by a road team in a similar matchup to this one - I'm taking the Titans even without Harrison and Bailey.
Update 2:31pm - Having tipped all the favourites I'm leaning heavily towards the Warriors right now.
SHARKS over ROOSTERS
> Braith Anasta out is the biggest omission in this one - not Barrett or probably Gallen. The Roosters have enough trouble scoring points as it is - and without their best playmaker and the Sharks winning 4 straight - it is Cronulla for mine.
STORM over RAIDERS
> This might be in Canberra but unless David Furner loosens the shackles for the entire 80 minutes - the Raiders won't feature in this contest. Even then the Storm will be too good.
BRONCOS over EELS
> Recent club form suggests the Eels at home isn't a bad bet here. But the Broncos will lift with their Origin stars back in action and Lockyer to have a stormer.
KNIGHTS over RABBITOHS
> South Sydney are always a chance with their forward pack but the Knights are coming off their first break of the season and the only Origin reps Kurt Gidley and Michael Crocker will have almost a normal break between games. Knights at home.
AFL ROUND 13 - 2009
The only thing people care about in Round 13 of the AFL is whether or not Geelong or St.Kilda will hold onto their unbeaten records for their Round 14 clash.
BLUES over BOMBERS
Bombers don't have McPhee and McVeigh, so I'm tipping the McBlues.
MAGPIES over WHARFIES
Freo will beat a few more teams before the season is out and even with this game in Melbourne they are a chance here... just not enough of a chance to waste a pick on.
SWANS over CROWS
Call me biased but something tells me Sydney have a good month of football in them over the remaining half of the season and I'm tipping this game to be the start of that month of victories.
LIONS over DEMONS
Demons have gone backwards (if that was possible) in the last couple of weeks and the Lions are at home - no brainer here.
HAWKS over EAGLES
Dean Cox is almost certainly out so the Hawks get instant big time favouritism - even though they aren't flying all that much higher than the Eagles.
CATS over POWER
You shouldn't expect Geelong or St.Kilda to get done this round so don't go tipping just because you think it's ridiculous that two teams are undefeated after 13 rounds.
BULLDOGS over KANGAROOS
Kangas are gornskies for 2009 and the Bulldogs will run rings around them in this one - even with Brent Harvey back for the Roos.
SAINTS over TIGERS
See the Geelong-Port preview - a loss this week shouldn't happen for the two premiership favourites... but the Tigers - maybe a monumental upset on the cards?
WALLABIES TEST SERIES WINTER 2009
France and Australia go at it in the first serious Test of the 2009 season at ANZ Stadium. I actually like the French in this one - because I'm not convinced Australia are actually that good despite Robbie Deans doing a great job restructuring the team - we're still totally reliant on Matt Giteau to worry the top sides in the world.
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
Won 34-12
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! 
