By W D Nicolson
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In Round 2, the Dragons folded and the Dogs barked... in other less surprising news, the Eels and Titans are still ordinary. Welcome to 2012.
For more on Round 3, check out the Podcast and Preview below.
For game-specific Late Mail every week - check back on Friday (or if there's an earlier game, earlier) for all your tipping and fantasy game needs.
Latest Podcast 14/03/2012: Download as MP3
NOT The Footy Show Episode 95 - NRL Round 3 Preview
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If you play Fantasy League Games - Dream Team, Super Coach or Fantasy NRL - our comp information is below.
1st Prize: NRL Match Steeden Ball. 2nd to 5th: NTFS Club Mascot T-Shirts.
NRL PREVIEW ROUND 3 - 201214/03 Odds are courtesy of Sportingbet Australia
For some more insight into the markets check out NOT The Footy Show's new resident tipster's site GT Tips http://www.gttips.co.uk
All Kick-Offs are LOCAL time.
FRIDAY - MARCH 16
EVEN LINE | GAME STATS | @ WIN Jubilee, Kogarah. 7:45pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Justin Davies and Greg Delaney. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Justin Davies and Greg Delaney. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
St.George-Illawarra are 1-1 and in 13th, Wests Tigers are 1-1 and in 10th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
STI 5 WTG 5
The Tigers won 2 of 3 in 2011, including the semi final in week 1. The Dragons have won the past 3 games at WIN Jubilee.
The Tigers won 2 of 3 in 2011, including the semi final in week 1. The Dragons have won the past 3 games at WIN Jubilee.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
STI: K Stanley, B Morris, B Scott, M Cooper, J Nightingale, J Soward, B Hornby (c), J Latimore, M Rein, M Weyman, M Prior, B Creagh, D Young.
Bench: N Fien, L Ah Mau, T Merrin, J de Belin.
Bench: N Fien, L Ah Mau, T Merrin, J de Belin.
[Team Changes - Beau Scott is picked despite playing half a game against the Bulldogs, Matt Cooper will return from an ankle injury. Dean Young is named at lock but expect Jack De Belin to start again. Leeson Ah Mau took an early plea for a dangerous tackle charge and will play. Dan Hunt is close to returning but probably not this week. ]
WTG: T Humble, B Ryan, B Ayshford, C Lawrence, J Reddy, B Marshall, T Moltzen, A Woods, R Farah (c), M Groat, A Blair, G Ellis, C Heighington.
Bench: L Fulton, B Murdoch-Masila, M Bell, S Meaney, J Moors.
Bench: L Fulton, B Murdoch-Masila, M Bell, S Meaney, J Moors.
[Team Changes - Joel Reddy is the new winger for the injured Matt Utai, while Gareth Ellis is long odds to play due to a badly corked thigh. Ben Murdoch-Masila, Matthew Bell and Junior Moors could all play if Ellis cannot. Sean Meaney looks like the new utility back on the bench. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast. More written preview Friday morning.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Matt Cooper and Beau Scott remain in some doubt, Nathan Green will play if one of them is out. Gareth Ellis is unlikely to play due to a corked thigh.
NOT The Footy Show Episode 93 - NRL Round 3 Video Preview - Coming Thursday Night
FANTASY NRL CUP
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We have two comps running in Dream Team and Super Coach.
We have two comps running in Dream Team and Super Coach.
FRIDAY - MARCH 16
EVEN LINE | GAME STATS | @ Hunter Stadium, Newcastle. 8:30pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Warrick Nicolson and Michael McLucas. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Warrick Nicolson and Michael McLucas. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Newcastle are 1-1 and in 4th, Brisbane are 1-1 and in 6th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
NEW 3 BRI 7
The Broncos won both games in 2011, but the Knights won the three previous and 2 of the last 3 at Hunter Stadium.
The Broncos won both games in 2011, but the Knights won the three previous and 2 of the last 3 at Hunter Stadium.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
NEW: D Boyd, J McManus, T Tahu, W Naiqama, A Uate, R Stig, J Mullen, K Snowden, D Buderus (c), A Cuthbertson, C Houston, Z Taia, N Costigan.
Bench: M Hilder, R Fa'aoso, J Edwards, A McKinnon, E Tuimavave, M Filipo.
Bench: M Hilder, R Fa'aoso, J Edwards, A McKinnon, E Tuimavave, M Filipo.
[Team Changes - Timana Tahu comes back from suspension at the expense of Junior Sa'u who goes back to NSW Cup. Kurt Gidley is out for at least a few weeks, and Ryan Stig is named to return from a knee injury that kept him out of the pre-season. Zeb Taia is named to start, despite being ousted by Alex McKinnon last weekend. Evarn Tuimavave and Marvin Filipo are the extra men on the bench. ]
BRI: J Hoffman, G Beale, J Reed, J Hodges, J Yow Yeh, C Norman, P Wallace, B Hannant, A McCullough, P Civoniceva, A Glenn, S Thaiday (c), B Te'o.
Bench: B Hunt, J McGuire, M Gillett, S Anderson.
Bench: B Hunt, J McGuire, M Gillett, S Anderson.
[Team Changes - The Broncos lose Corey Parker for about a month with a thumb injury, so Sam Thaiday goes to the second row, Ben Te'o to lock and Petero Civoniceva starts at prop. Scott Anderson is the new face on the bench, after being a late withdrawal from the bench in Round 1. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast. More written preview Friday morning.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - The Knights have doubts over Ryan Stig and Neville Costigan, with Matt Hilder set to go to five-eighth and Evarn Tuimavave to get a run on the bench. The Broncos should be 1-17.
SATURDAY - MARCH 17
GLD +7.0 | GAME STATS | @ Skilled Park, Gold Coast. 4:30pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Greg Delaney and Michael McLucas. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Greg Delaney and Michael McLucas. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Gold Coast are 1-1 and in 9th, Melbourne are 2-0 and in 2nd.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
GLD 3 MEL 4
Melbourne won both games in 2011 comfortably, 40-16 in Round 23 and 40-12 in Round 2.
Melbourne won both games in 2011 comfortably, 40-16 in Round 23 and 40-12 in Round 2.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
GLD: W Zillman, S Michaels, J Idris, B Champion, D Peyroux, J Rankin, S Prince (c), L Bailey, K Lawton, N Myles, G Bird, M Minichiello, A Harrison.
Bench: L Douglas, M White, B Ridge, M Srama, B Lawrence, L O'Dwyer.
Bench: L Douglas, M White, B Ridge, M Srama, B Lawrence, L O'Dwyer.
[Team Changes - Beau Champion is back on deck, and he moves into the centres and Dominique Peyroux goes to the wing for the injured David Mead. Brenton Lawrence and Luke O'Dwyer are the extra players on the bench, with talk that Jamal Idris, Steve Michaels and Luke Douglas are in doubt with injury. ]
MEL: B Slater, M Duffie, D Nielsen, J O'Neill, A Quinn, G Widdop, C Cronk, J Bromwich, C Smith (c), B Norrie, S Manu, R Hoffman, T Lowrie.
Bench: R Hinchcliffe, K Proctor, S Vave, J Ryles, R Kostjasyn.
Bench: R Hinchcliffe, K Proctor, S Vave, J Ryles, R Kostjasyn.
[Team Changes - The Storm regained Jason Ryles for Round 2 and he is on the bench again this week. Rory Kostjasyn is added to a five man bench, but the starting team is unchanged. Billy Slater has a foot concern but should play. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast. More written preview Friday morning.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Billy Slater and Gareth Widdop have had light weeks but should play. Idris (now out and replaced by Bodene Thompson), Douglas and Michaels remain in doubt for the Titans. Dane Nielsen it out after a training mishap saw him loose some teeth, Maurice Blair will start.
SATURDAY - MARCH 17
PAR +8.5 | GAME STATS | @ Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville. 7:30pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Matthew Duncan and Ben Hoese. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Matthew Duncan and Ben Hoese. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
North Queensland are 1-1 and in 12th, Parramatta are 0-2 and in 16th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
NQL 4 PAR 6
They split their 2011 games, but Parramatta had won 5 straight before the Cowboys won in Round 10 last year.
They split their 2011 games, but Parramatta had won 5 straight before the Cowboys won in Round 10 last year.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
[Team Changes - Glenn Hall returns from a foot problem, so Cory Paterson goes back to the bench and Tyson Martin is a fresh face on the bench. Brent Tate got through Round 2 with bad ribs but should play. ]
PAR: L Burt, K Sio, R Morgan, W Tonga, C Blair, B Roberts, C Sandow, T Mannah, M Keating, M Allgood, N Hindmarsh (c), T Lasalo, R Maitua.
Bench: C McGuire, FF MoiMoi, J Poore, J Paulo.
Bench: C McGuire, FF MoiMoi, J Poore, J Paulo.
[Team Changes - Jarryd Hayne will miss a few weeks at least with a knee problem, while Esi Tonga is out with a hamstring injury. Nathan Hindmarsh comes back from the flu in the second row, while Junior Paulo goes back to the bench. Pat O'Hanlon goes back to NSW Cup, and Ryan Morgan and Luke Burt are back from Wentworthville. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast. More written preview Friday morning.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - The Cowboys still have some players to cut from their bench, while the Eels will get Nathan Hindmarsh back from the flu, while Pat O'Hanlon and Shane Shackleton are on standby for FuiFui MoiMoi.
SUNDAY - MARCH 18
CBY +5.5 | GAME STATS | @ Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland. 2:00pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Craig Buchanan and Ben Hoese. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTERS
Craig Buchanan and Ben Hoese. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Warriors are 1-1 and in 7th, Canterbury are 2-0 and in 1st.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
WAR 4 CBY 6
The Warriors have won the past 2 and 4 of the last 6 but the Dogs have a great recent record at Mt Smart - winning 4 of the last 6 at the ground since 2005.
The Warriors have won the past 2 and 4 of the last 6 but the Dogs have a great recent record at Mt Smart - winning 4 of the last 6 at the ground since 2005.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
[Team Changes - The Warriors are unchanged, with Krisnan Inu back at centre and Ben Henry on the bench. Glen Fisiiahi, Alehana Mara and Sebastine Ikahihifo are once again the extra players on the bench. Don't expect Micheal Luck or Jerome Ropati this week, but they might not be far away. ]
CBY: B Barba, S Turner, J Morris, J Wright, B Goodwin, J Reynolds, T Hodkinson, A Tolman, M Ennis (c), S Kasiano, F Pritchard, D Halatau, D Stagg.
Bench: J Graham, G Eastwood, C Payne, J Romelo, M Taupau.
Bench: J Graham, G Eastwood, C Payne, J Romelo, M Taupau.
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