ROUND 18 NRL PREVIEW - 2011 SEASON
The best NRL Preview on the net is back online with all the info you need to make an 'informed decision' in your Fantasy and Tipping Competitions.Make sure you bookmark www.wdnicolson.com and compare your picks to the Podcast Panel's Tips every week. Download the Podcast and check back on Friday for the Latest Mail as it breaks.
NOT The Footy Show Episode 72- QLD 34 NSW 24 Review + Round 18 Preview July 07, 2011 -
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes.
GAME THREE VIDEO REVIEW
SPECIAL FRIED RICE - ROUND 18- Waz 8/17: Sea Eagles; Matt 13/17: Storm; Dave 12/17: Knights; Nic 13/17: Warriors -
Note: The order in which Special Fried Rice (the game we guarantee that team will win) is chosen rotates - this week Dave had 1st choice, Nic 2nd, Waz 3rd and Matt 4th. So it isn't as easy as it sounds to tip correctly each week.You can check out who the NOT The Footy Show Experts picked for the 2011 Premiership via this link.
NOT The Footy Show Podcast is available every Thursday - subscribe now on iTunes so you don't miss out.
ROUND 18 MATCHUPS
07/07 Odds are courtesy of Sportingbet Australia
$1.30 V $3.55 
Fri @ Mt Smart | LINE: GLD +9.5 GAME STATS
$2.02 V $1.80 
Fri @ Parramatta | LINE: PAR +1.5 GAME STATS
- ROUND 18 BYES -
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES
AFTER ROUND 17
THE NRL TWEET's ROUND 18 PREVIEW
Welcome to Season 2011... after an off-season that often feels longer (or shorter - depends if you like cricket or not) than it is - the footy is back. Here on www.wdnicolson.com we've got all the Tuesday Team News, Wednesday or Thursday Previews and Friday Late Mail (sourced from SMH and beyond) that will keep your Tipping and Fantasy habit well fed. This preview integrates our NRL Injured List - which if you haven't bookmarked by now - I suggest you do so.
FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Coming In...
9th WARRIORS TEAM RECORD 7-8 for 18 Points, -9.
16th TITANS TEAM RECORD 4-11 for 12 Points, -131.
Head to Head Last 10...
WARRIORS 3 TITANS 6 - The Warriors won their Round 9 clash 34-14 on the Gold Coast but the Titans had won 6 in a row before that.
Tuesday Team News...
WAR: Locke, Tupou, Brown, Berrigan, Vatuvei, Maloney, Johnson, Packer, Heremaia, Lillyman, Mateo, Mannering (c), Luck. Bench: Hohaia, Sam Rapira, Matulino, Taylor, Steve Rapira.[Team Changes - The Warriors lose Brett Seymour to a hand injury but get Micheal Luck and Sam Rapira back from injury. There is still no room for Krisnan Inu and Jeremy Latimore, Sione Lousi and Alehana Mara are sent to NSW Cup, while Kevin Locke is back at fullback. Shaun Johnson starts for Seymour while Elijah Taylor is forced onto the bench. ]
GLD: Zillman, Michaels, Toopi, Tomane, Mead, Campbell, Prince (c), Bailey, Srama, Laffranchi, Bird, Minichiello, Harrison. Bench: White, Henderson, Thompson, Ridge, Lawrence, O'Dwyer.
[Team Changes - The Titans hope to have Greg Bird and Ashley Harrison backing up from Origin 3. Jordan Rankin remains at fullback with no Preston Campbell and Luke Bailey returns from an ankle injury. Bodene Thompson is back in the side on the bench, while Esi Tonga holds his spot at centre. Despite emerging from a short retirement the Titans have not named Mat Rogers for this game... but he could still play. ]
Listen to the Podcast above for the reasons why the NOT The Footy Show Panel picked who they picked.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail...
SMH and Other Late Mail 8/07 - The Titans took Mat Rogers to Auckland and with Greg Bird out - he will play. Esi Tonga is also out with a groin injury and rookie centre Dom Peyroux is part of the squad. Ashley Harrison will backup from Origin. Warriors will have at least one Rapira brother playing.
The NRL Tweet's Tip...
WARRIORS To Win By 10 Points.FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
V
Coming In...
14th EELS TEAM RECORD 4-10-1 for 13 Points, -107.
7th TIGERS TEAM RECORD 7-8 for 18 Points, +4.
Head to Head Last 10...
EELS 7 TIGERS 3 - The Tigers have won 3 of the last 4 but the Eels had their number before 2009...
Tuesday Team News...
PAR: Hayne, Burt, Morgan, Smith, Atkins, McGuire, Robson, Mannah, Keating, MoiMoi, Hindmarsh (c), Lasalo, Horo. Bench: Shackleton, Allgood, Manuokafoa, Maitua.
[Team Changes - The Eels get Tim Mannah and Jarryd Hayne back from Origin 3 duty, while Ryan Morgan returns at centre for Chris Walker. Etu Uaisele and Carl Webb are out. Jeff Robson returns from a hammy injury after missing last week. ]
WTG: McKinnon, Ryan, Ayshford, Lawrence, Brown, Miller, Lui, Gibbs, Farah (c), Galloway, Murdoch-Masila, Ellis, Heighington. Bench: Moltzen, Payten, Woods, Fifita.[Team Changes - The Tigers have not named Benji Marshall to return from injury but he is considered a decent chance. Jacob Miller and Robert Lui are in the halves in the meantime. Chris Lawrence returns from injury for Tim Simona, while Simon Dwyer and Liam Fulton are out, replaced by Ben Murdoch-Masila and Todd Payten. ]
Listen to the Podcast above for the reasons why the NOT The Footy Show Panel picked who they picked.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail...
SMH and Other Late Mail 8/07 - The Eels will leave it til late to decide if Jeff Robson can play despite a hamstring injury. Daniel Mortimer might get another chance in the NRL as Robson is out. Benji Marshall looks almost certain to be a late starter for Jacob Miller.
The NRL Tweet's Tip...
TIGERS To Win By 7 Points.|-| |-| |-|
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
V
5:35pm (Local) 9 July @ Toyota Stadium, Cronulla.
Coming In...
11th SHARKS TEAM RECORD 6-9 for 16 Points, -27.
13th RAIDERS TEAM RECORD 5-10 for 14 Points, -62.
Head to Head Last 10...
SHARKS 6 RAIDERS 4 - Canberra won easily in Round 1 40-12 and have won 3 of the last 4 since 2009.
Tuesday Team News...
CRO: Gardner, M Wright, Pomeroy, Best, Stapleton, Graham, Townsend, Snowden, Morris, Douglas, Smith, Bukuya, Gallen (c). Bench: Tupou, Tagataese, Flanagan, Tautai, Mannah, Cordoba.
[Team Changes - The Sharks get Paul Gallen back from Origin 3 and regain Kade Snowden in the only changes to the team that beat the Bunnies. ]
CAN: Massey, Ferguson, Croker, Thompson, Robinson, McCrone, Williams, White, Tongue (c), Tilse, Picker, Papalii, Fensom. Bench: Buttriss, Harrison, Mataora, Thurling, Miller.
[Team Changes - Canberra have not named Josh Dugan again but he is considered a solid chance of playing the Sharks. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs tore his biceps and is done for the season so Dane Tilse starts and Josh Miller and Sam Mataora come onto the bench. Daniel Vidot is currently playing NSW Cup... ]
Listen to the Podcast above for the reasons why the NOT The Footy Show Panel picked who they picked.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail...
SMH and Other Late Mail 8/07 - The Sharks will have Paul Gallen backing up from Origin but Kade Snowden is no guarantee to play due to a back injury. The Raiders are likely to give Josh Dugan another week to recover from an ankle injury.
The NRL Tweet's Tip...
RAIDERS To Win By 4 Points.|-| |-| |-|
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Coming In...
10th BULLDOGS TEAM RECORD 7-8 for 18 Points, -31.
1st STORM TEAM RECORD 12-3 for 28 Points, +153.
Head to Head Last 10...
BULLDOGS 3 STORM 7 - Melbourne won 30-16 in Round 4 but the Dogs won the previous clash at Adelaide in 2010.
Tuesday Team News...
CBY: Barba, Turner, Idris, Morris, Wright, Keating, Hodkinson, Tolman, Halatau, Kasiano, Pritchard, Ryan (c), Stagg. Bench: Eastwood, Taupau, Payne, Halatau.
[Team Changes - The Bulldogs get Michael Ennis back from NSW Origin duty and relegate Michael Hodgson and Ben Roberts to NSW Cup. Martin Taupau makes his first appearance for the year, while Sam Kasiano starts. ]
MEL: Slater, Duffie, Nielsen, M Blair, Waqa, Widdop, Cronk, Bromwich, Smith (c), Norrie, A Blair, Proctor, Hinchcliffe. Bench: Kostjasyn, Manu, Woolnough, Lowe, Quinn, O'Neill, Champion.
[Team Changes - Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater will attempt to backup from Origin 3, while Dane Nielsen should play as he's not required by Queensland. Ryan Hinchcliffe starts for Todd Lowrie (Calf) and Sisa Waqa and Maurice Blair are keeping Beau Champion and Anthony Quinn on an extended bench. Justin O'Neill has also been added to the squad for Adelaide. ]
Listen to the Podcast above for the reasons why the NOT The Footy Show Panel picked who they picked.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail...
SMH and Other Late Mail 8/07 - The Bulldogs will not have Michael Ennis due to a lung injury in Origin and Ben Roberts has been added to the squad. Kris Keating could end up at hooker again to accommodate Roberts in the run on team. Melbourne announced that their Origin trio of Smith, Cronk and Slater will backup.
The NRL Tweet's Tip...
STORM To Win By 2 Points.|-| |-| |-|
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL
Coming In...
15th ROOSTERS TEAM RECORD 4-11 for 12 Points, -111.
8th PANTHERS TEAM RECORD 7-8 for 18 Points, +3.
Head to Head Last 10...
ROOSTERS 6 PANTHERS 4 - The Roosters won their semi final comprehensively 34-12 last year but Penrith won the previous two games before that.
Tuesday Team News...
SYD: Minichiello, Perrett, Linnett, Kenny-Dowall, Leilua, T Carney, Pearce, Ryles, Friend, Waerea-Hargreaves, Anasta (c), Nu'uausala, Myles. Bench: Mitchell, Masoe, Takairangi, Guerra, Symonds.
[Team Changes - The Roosters will get their Origin trio (Pearce, Minichiello and Myles) back and have also named Frank-Paul Nu'uausala to return from suspension. Arona and Khierallah have been dropped. ]
PEN: Coote, Simmons, Vaivai, Tighe, Purtell, Burns, Walsh, McKendry, Kingston, Grant, Waterhouse (c), Plum, Smith. Bench: Seluini, Weston, Bell, Fatiaki.
[Team Changes - The Panthers have Petero Civoniceva and Luke Lewis on Origin 3 duty and have not named them in the side to take on the Roosters on Sunday. But if they come through that game expect them to play. Michael Jennings may not play Origin 3 but he is a strong chance to play here. Junior Vaivai would make way for Jennings, while Dayne Weston and Sarafu Fatiaki move aside for Civoniceva and Lewis. ]
Listen to the Podcast above for the reasons why the NOT The Footy Show Panel picked who they picked.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail...
SMH and Other Late Mail 8/07 - The Panthers get Petero Civoniceva and Luke Lewis back from Origin and Michael Jennings could still be a chance as well. Nate Myles, Mitchell Pearce and fumble fingers Anthony Minichiello will play as well.
The NRL Tweet's Tip...
PANTHERS To Win By 10 Points.|-| |-| |-|
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL
Coming In...
2nd SEA EAGLES TEAM RECORD 11-4 for 26 Points, +119.
12th RABBITOHS TEAM RECORD 6-9 for 16 Points, -49.
Head to Head Last 10...
SEA EAGLES 6 RABBITOHS 4 - Souths just held on to win 32-30 in Round 4 and the last time these two played at Brookvale the Sea Eagles came from nowhere to win 26-25 in Round 15, 2010.
Tuesday Team News...
MAN: B Stewart, Robertson, Lyon (c), Oldfield, D Williams, K Foran, Cherry-Evans, King (c), Ballin, Kite, Watmough, Galuvao, G Stewart. Bench: Mauro, Buhrer, Rodney, Rose, Robinson, Lussick.[Team Changes - Brent Kite is back from a back injury and Shane Rodney returns from a long layoff as well. Michael Oldfield comes in for the suspended Steven Matai. While David Williams (Hammy) and Joe Galuvao (Hand) are named despite injuries suffered in Round 16. ]
SOU: Wesser, Merritt, Farrell, Inglis, McQueen, Sutton, Sandow, Ross, Luke, McPherson, Clark, Pettybourne, Crocker (c). Bench: L Burgess, Tyrrell, Lowe, Peats, Corrigan.
[Team Changes - The Bunnies hope to have Greg Inglis backing up from Origin and get a boost with Ben Lowe back in the squad. Shaun Corrigan and James Roberts make way. ]
Listen to the Podcast above for the reasons why the NOT The Footy Show Panel picked who they picked.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail...
SMH and Other Late Mail 8/07 - The Sea Eagles will monitor Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough over the weekend before making a final call on their fitness after Origin. The Bunnies expect Greg Inglis to backup.
The NRL Tweet's Tip...
SEA EAGLES To Win By 12 Points.|-| |-| |-|
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Coming In...
6th KNIGHTS TEAM RECORD 8-7 for 20 Points, +9.
4th COWBOYS TEAM RECORD 10-5 for 24 Points, +74.
Head to Head Last 10...
KNIGHTS 6 COWBOYS 4 - Newcastle went up to Townsville and smashed the Cowboys 34-22 in Round 2 and they've had the Cowboys number of late - winning 3 of the last 4.
Tuesday Team News...
NEW: W Naiqama (c), McManus, Sa'u, MacDougall, Uate, Gidley (c), Mullen, Fa'aoso, Hilder, Tuimavave, Houston, Edwards, Southern. Bench: Stig, Kaufusi, Ciraldo, Tolar, Taufua, Roberts.[Team Changes - The Knights will likely get Kurt Gidley and Akuila Uate back from Origin 3 duty but also have named Jarrod Mullen and Adam MacDougall to return from long layoffs. Ryan Stig and Tyrone Roberts are on standby for Gidley and Mullen on the bench. Isaac De Gois is out with a knee injury, Keith Lulia with concussion and Peter Mata'utia is left out. Evarn Tuimavave missed last weekend but is back at prop. ]
NQL: Bowen, Graham, Jones, Cooper, Fai-Fai Loa, Thompson, Thurston (c), Scott (c), Payne, Tamou, T Sims, Hall, Johnson. Bench: Segeyaro, Riethmuller, A Sims, L Ah Mau, .
[Team Changes - The Cowboys have Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott backing up - and they should play given their game is Monday. Scott Bolton still isn't right but Cory Paterson gets his first run for his new club and Brent Tate is an outside chance. Willie Tonga was named to play but hurt his biceps at training and is out again. Aaron Payne is 50/50 to play with a hand injury. Will Tupou gets a reprieve at centre while Ben Jones was named in QLD Cup. ]
Listen to the Podcast above for the reasons why the NOT The Footy Show Panel picked who they picked.
Tipping + Fantasy Late Mail...
SMH and Other Late Mail 8/07 - The Knights should have Akuila Uate and Kurt Gidley backing up given the game is Monday and Jarrod Mullen looks set for a comeback from a pectoral injury. Willie Tonga and Johnathan Thurston are out for the Cowboys, while Cory Paterson, Michael Morgan and Ben Jones are expected to play. Aaron Payne is not a certain starter with a hand injury.
The NRL Tweet's Tip...
KNIGHTS To Win By 8 Points.|-| |-| |-|
ROUND 18 BYES
FANTASY LEAGUE SCORE UPDATE
Phase Two of NOT The Footy Show's Fantasy League
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TIPPING TIPS:This year not only do you get The NRL Tweet's Tips each week but the whole NOT The Footy Show team will have their picks listed by Thursday so you can back a smoky or a favourite by seeing who we all picked (or didn't pick). Truthfully there is no perfect formula but here's a vital tip to help you cope with the copious amounts of NRL Tipping Comp's