NRL ROUND 13 TIPPING PREVIEWBy W D Nicolson
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But I'll soldier on and deliver some Late Mail and insight that you probably are better served listening to for a while on our newest Podcast - just 53 minutes long with extra GT tips - and thanking me later.
Some very tough games on the picking schedule this week... good luck to us all.
For more on how we see the Weekend unfolding, 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.
Round 13 NRL Preview - Released Wednesday May 30, 2012
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes for the MP3 File.NOT The Footy Show will release another Podcast next Wednesday night - June 6 with our State of Origin Game 2 and Round 14 Preview Show.
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NRL ROUND 13 PREVIEW - 201231/05 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.
SEA EAGLES $1.48 v $2.72 DRAGONS 
STI +6.0 | GAME STATS | @ Brookvale Oval, Brookvale. 7:35pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
M Spillane and W Nicolson. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Sea Eagles are 7-5 and 7th, Dragons are 6-6 and 10th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
Sea Eagles 3 Dragons 7
The Dragons have won 4 straight dating back to late 2010.
Sea Eagles 3 Dragons 7
The Dragons have won 4 straight dating back to late 2010.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
MAN: B Stewart, M Oldfield, J Lyon (c), D Whare, J Taufua, K Foran, D Cherry-Evans, J King (c), M Ballin, B Kite, A Watmough, D Harrison, G Stewart.
Bench: J Buhrer, J Galuvao, D Lussick, G Rose, V Mauro.
Bench: J Buhrer, J Galuvao, D Lussick, G Rose, V Mauro.
[Team Changes - Steve Matai spends two weeks on the sidelines for a regulation Matai tackle, so Dean Whare moves to left centre and Michael Oldfield comes back onto the right wing. Jason King is named to return at prop, while Anthony Watmough must be in some doubt after not being able to run the ball when he returned to the field against Penrith. Manly have named a 5 man bench. ]
STI: B Morris, D Vidot, K Stanley, M Cooper, J Nightingale, J Soward, B Hornby (c), D Hunt, M Rein, T Merrin, B Scott, B Creagh, D Young.
Bench: N Fien, J Latimore, L Ah Mau, J Marketo, J de Belin, C Stanley.
Bench: N Fien, J Latimore, L Ah Mau, J Marketo, J de Belin, C Stanley.
[Team Changes - Nathan Fien returns from injury on the bench for Cameron King, while Trent Merrin starts at prop for Jeremy Latimore who goes to the bench. Otherwise there are only two new faces to the bench with Chase Stanley and Leeson Ah Mau added. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast for a full preview, but we like the Sea Eagles. Look Manly might've been dusted by the Panthers last week but the Dragons had all sorts of trouble beating the Eels, take Manly at home..
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Kieran Foran should play but Jason King remains in doubt. George Rose could start, while Vic Mauro would come into the 17. Anthony Watmough is expected to play despite a neck injury. The Dragons will choose their bench before kickoff... while Jack de Belin could start for Dean Young.
NOT The Footy Show Video is taking a short hiatus - we will be back just not every week.
In the Podcast: Biggest impact prop in the NRL? NOT The Footy Show reveals which big bopper tops the class in 2012.
Get NOT The Footy Show Episode 109 and prepare for moderate entertainment as Warrick Nicolson, DC Chapman and George Taylor take you through the issues of the week and preview Round 13 in full.
We talk Matai's slightly flawed defensive 'technique', Are the Broncos in trouble? Can anyone catch Melbourne for the Minor Premiership and Where in the world is Nic McInerney?
Also in Episode 109 we delve back into the Feedback Files - so if you want to give us some feedback on Twitter, Facebook or iTunes - feel free to tell us why exactly you listen to NOT The Footy Show?
NOT The Footy Show is what the cool kids call... 'gravy' and just 53 minutes long this week.
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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 - JUNE 1
TITANS $2.25 v $1.67 COWBOYS 
GLD +3.5 | GAME STATS | @ Skilled Park, Gold Coast. 7:35pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
B Hoese and M Spillane. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
THE NRL TWEET'S PICK
Cowboys by 6.
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SATURDAY - JUNE 2
TITANS $2.25 v $1.67 COWBOYS GLD +3.5 | GAME STATS | @ Skilled Park, Gold Coast. 7:35pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
B Hoese and M Spillane. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Titans are 4-7 and 12th, Cowboys are 7-5 and 6th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
Titans 5 Cowboys 5
The Titans won the season opener, while the Cowboys have won 4 of the last 6.
Titans 5 Cowboys 5
The Titans won the season opener, while the Cowboys have won 4 of the last 6.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
GLD: W Zillman, K Gordon, J Idris, B Champion, D Mead, A Sezer, J Rankin, L Bailey (c), M Srama, N Myles, G Bird, M Minichiello, A Harrison.
Bench: L Douglas, M White, B Ridge, L O'Dwyer, B Lawrence.
Bench: L Douglas, M White, B Ridge, L O'Dwyer, B Lawrence.
[Team Changes - No changes for the Titans, with Brenton Lawrence added to a 5 man bench. ]
NQL: M Bowen, A Graham, B Tate, K Linnett, A Winterstein, J Thurston (c), R Thompson, M Scott (c), A Payne, J Tamou, G Cooper, G Hall, D Johnson.
Bench: J Segeyaro, R Thorby, S Bolton, J Taumalolo, C Paterson.
Bench: J Segeyaro, R Thorby, S Bolton, J Taumalolo, C Paterson.
[Team Changes - The big four of Thurston, Scott, Tamou and Tate have been named to backup from Origin 1. That means Antonio Winterstein moves to the wing and displaces Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa, while Glenn Hall goes to the second row after the ankle injury to Tariq Sims that will rule the young second rower out for the season. Fai-Fai Loa, Scott Bolton and Cory Paterson will be the travelling cover for the Origin quartet, while Michael Morgan may also travel as cover for Thurston. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast for a full preview, but we like the Cowboys. The Titans have played ok lately and are nearly full strength but the Cowboys are capable of blowing them away by 20 here.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - The Cowboys should be 1-17 unless Cory Paterson is a late inclusion on the bench for Ricky Thorby or Jason Taumalolo, while the Titans are also looking relatively healthy. Little Late Mail to report.
THE NRL TWEET'S PICKCowboys by 6.
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CAN +5.5 | GAME STATS | @ Canberra Stadium, Canberra. 5:30pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
G Delaney and W Nicolson. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
THE NRL TWEET'S PICK
Tigers by 12.
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NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
G Delaney and W Nicolson. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Raiders are 4-7 and 13th, Tigers are 6-5 and 8th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
Raiders 2 Tigers 8
Canberra's win in Round 5 was their first in 8 games against the Tigers.
Raiders 2 Tigers 8
Canberra's win in Round 5 was their first in 8 games against the Tigers.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
CAN: R Robinson, D Pelo, J Croker, B Ferguson, E Lee, J Dugan, J McCrone, D Shillington (c), T Waddell, T Learoyd-Lahrs, J Papalii, J Thompson, S Fensom.
Bench: S Berrigan, J Picker, B Harrison, D Tilse, S Mataora.
Bench: S Berrigan, J Picker, B Harrison, D Tilse, S Mataora.
[Team Changes - Big changes for Canberra with Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson reinstated from alcohol related incidents. Dugan moves to five-eighth and Reece Robinson stays at fullback, while Ferguson is picked in the centres but may swap with Edrick Lee come gameday. Josh McCrone is now at halfback, with Sam Williams the fall-guy for Jarrod Croker's inability to defend. Joel Thompson starts in the second row and Bronson Harrison goes to the bench. Sam Mataora is 18th man. ]
WTG: T Moltzen, M Utai, B Ryan, C Lawrence, L Tuqiri, B Ayshford, B Marshall, A Woods, R Farah (c), K Galloway, A Blair, L Fulton, C Heighington.
Bench: C Sironen, B Murdoch-Masila, M Bell, T Humble.
Bench: C Sironen, B Murdoch-Masila, M Bell, T Humble.
[Team Changes - The return of Liam Fulton from a shoulder injury sees him start in the backrow and Junior Moors makes way after filling in last weekend. Blake Ayshford has a wrist injury picked up late in the game against the Cowboys, with Joel Reddy poised to join the team if Ayshford can't play. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast for a full preview, but we like the Tigers... simply put we can't pick the Raiders til David Furner makes a big change to the way Canberra play, right now 'getting fundamentals right' is not going to cut it... what a cop out. Stick with Benji and Robbie Farah - if the latter is concious for the majority of the game.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Canberra should be 1-17, while the Tigers will lose Blake Ayshford to a wrist injury with either Chris Lawrence going to five-eighth or Curtis Sironen getting a start. There might also be a Gareth Ellis in the near future... but maybe not this week. Liam Fulton should play.
THE NRL TWEET'S PICKTigers by 12.
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SATURDAY - JUNE 2
CBY +1.5 | GAME STATS | @ ANZ Stadium, Homebush. 7:30pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
M Tsialis and M Vickers. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
THE NRL TWEET'S PICK
Rabbitohs by 4.
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NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
M Tsialis and M Vickers. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Bulldogs are 7-5 and 5th, Rabbitohs are 7-4 and 4th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
Bulldogs 7 Rabbitohs 3
Souths won in Round 6, but Dogs won 3 straight before that.
Bulldogs 7 Rabbitohs 3
Souths won in Round 6, but Dogs won 3 straight before that.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
CBY: B Barba, K Inu, J Morris, T Lafai, J Wright, J Reynolds, K Keating, A Tolman, M Ennis (c), S Kasiano, F Pritchard, D Halatau, G Eastwood.
Bench: J Graham, D Stagg, C Payne, T Hodkinson, J Romelo, M Taupau, D Finucane.
Bench: J Graham, D Stagg, C Payne, T Hodkinson, J Romelo, M Taupau, D Finucane.
[Team Changes - Krisnan Inu picked up a slight shoulder injury late in his Canterbury debut but is named to play. Greg Eastwood looked like he picked up a hamstring strain and could be in doubt, with Dale Finucane, Joel Romelo and Martin Taupau named on the bench as cover. ]
SOU: G Inglis, N Merritt, M King, D Farrell, A Everingham, J Sutton, A Reynolds, L Burgess, I Luke, D Tyrrell, S Burgess, D Taylor, M Crocker.
Bench: J Clark, B Lowe, E Pettybourne, S Geddes, C McQueen, J Hunt.
Bench: J Clark, B Lowe, E Pettybourne, S Geddes, C McQueen, J Hunt.
[Team Changes - Matt King returns after being a late withdrawal last weekend, with Andrew Everingham moving to the wing and Justin Hunt to the bench. Scott Geddes moves to the bench with Luke Burgess starting and Eddy Pettybourne is joined by Chris McQueen on an extended bench for Souths. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast for a full preview, but we like the Rabbitohs. Look Greg Eastwood is a vital cog in that Dogs pack, and losing him tips the scales to Souths - although this should be a nice open game of footy to watch..
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Eastwood misses and Stagg will start, while Hodkinson could start for Reynolds (or play NSW Cup) and Dale Finucane could force his way onto the bench for his first grade debut. Sam Kasiano's back isn't 100% but he should play. The Bunnies look fit, with only Matt King in any doubt after missing last weekend with a groin strain.
THE NRL TWEET'S PICKRabbitohs by 4.
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SUNDAY - JUNE 3
WAR +4.0 | GAME STATS | @ Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland. 2:00pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
J Davies and B Hoese. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
THE NRL TWEET'S PICK
Storm by 4.
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NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
J Davies and B Hoese. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Warriors are 5-6 and 9th, Storm are 10-1 and 1st.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
Warriors 5 Storm 4 Draw 1
Melbourne won in Round 8 but Warriors have won 3 of last 5.
Warriors 5 Storm 4 Draw 1
Melbourne won in Round 8 but Warriors have won 3 of last 5.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
WAR: G Fisiiahi, B Tupou, B Henry, K Hurrell, M Vatuvei, J Maloney, S Johnson, R Packer, A Mara, B Matulino, E Taylor, S Mannering (c), F Mateo.
Bench: L Brown, Sam Rapira, Sione Lousi, J Lillyman.
Bench: L Brown, Sam Rapira, Sione Lousi, J Lillyman.
[Team Changes - No Kevin Locke on the team-sheet but don't be surprised if he plays, for the time being Glen Fisiiahi is named in the number one jersey. But the rest of the team is the same as the one that was beaten by the Tigers in Round 11. ]
MEL: B Slater, M Duffie, D Nielsen, W Chambers, J O'Neill, G Widdop, C Cronk, J Bromwich, C Smith (c), J Ryles, R Hinchcliffe, R Hoffman, T Lowrie.
Bench: A Quinn, R Kostjasyn, M Greenfield, J Lowe.
Bench: A Quinn, R Kostjasyn, M Greenfield, J Lowe.
[Team Changes - No Bryan Norrie still, but Ryan Hoffman made a quick recovery from a calf injury and played last week. The bench reads as Anthony Quinn, Rory Kostjasyn, Michael Greenfield and Jaiman Lowe - but Sika Manu is poised to return soon from an ankle injury. Beware however with the travel to Auckland on the cards - one or more of Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater (our tip) could be rested. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast for a full preview, but we like the Storm in a very very tight one. If Slater misses (the Storm say he will play) then go the Warriors but the premiership front runners are hard to tip against, esp with the Warriors in only solid not impressive form.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Kevin Locke might play, and he'd replace Glen Fisiiahi. Michael Greenfield misses with a head knock and Sika Manu or Bryan Norrie could travel to NZ as replacements.
THE NRL TWEET'S PICKStorm by 4.
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SUNDAY - JUNE 3
NEW +13.5 | GAME STATS | @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. 3:00pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
M McLucas and M Duncan. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
THE NRL TWEET'S PICK
Broncos by 20.
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NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
M McLucas and M Duncan. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Broncos are 7-4 and 2nd, Knights are 4-7 and 11th.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
Broncos 7 Knights 3
Brisbane are winners of 3 straight.
Broncos 7 Knights 3
Brisbane are winners of 3 straight.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
BRI: J Hoffman, G Beale, J Reed, J Hodges, D Copley, C Norman, P Wallace, B Hannant, A McCullough, P Civoniceva, A Glenn, S Thaiday (c), C Parker.
Bench: B Hunt, J McGuire, M Gillett, D Lui.
Bench: B Hunt, J McGuire, M Gillett, D Lui.
[Team Changes - Justin Hodges, Petero Civoniceva and Sam Thaiday return, while David Hala dislocated a knee and is out long term. Ben Te'o is out with a head knock, while Scott Anderson is omitted. ]
NEW: D Boyd, J McManus, J Sa'u, T Tahu, A Uate, J Mullen, T Roberts, K Snowden, D Buderus (c), W Mason, C Houston, J Edwards, N Costigan.
Bench: C Adams, R Fa'aoso, A Cuthbertson, A McKinnon.
Bench: C Adams, R Fa'aoso, A Cuthbertson, A McKinnon.
[Team Changes - Two changes for the Knights - Zeb Taia and Matt Hilder have been dropped, with Chris Adams and Richard Fa'aoso promoted into the 17. Jarrod Mullen's eye socket is a concern but he is expected to play. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast for a full preview, but we like the Broncos by plenty if they turn up at the right ground. Newcastle might stick with them early but look pointless at the moment, Broncos should turn around their recent losing streak.
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Broncos should be 1-17, although Ben Te'o could come in late, while the Knights have a doubt over Jarrod Mullen, they could take Matt Hilder to Brisbane as cover.
THE NRL TWEET'S PICKBroncos by 20.
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MONDAY - JUNE 4
PAR +5.5 | GAME STATS | @ Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta. 7:00pm Kick-Off.
NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
N Wilbow and W Nicolson. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
THE NRL TWEET'S PICK
Sharks by 7.
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NRL TWEET PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTERS
N Wilbow and W Nicolson. Follow #NRLTweetPOTY for every Vote in 2012.
COMING IN
Eels are 1-10 and 16th, Sharks are 7-4 and 3rd.
HEAD TO HEAD LAST 10
Eels 4 Sharks 6
Sharks have won 6 of the last 8 and won in Round 7 this year.
Eels 4 Sharks 6
Sharks have won 6 of the last 8 and won in Round 7 this year.
TUESDAY TEAM NEWS
PAR: J Hayne, L Burt, R Morgan, C Blair, K Sio, B Roberts, C Sandow, T Mannah, M Keating, J Poore, N Hindmarsh (c), M Ryan, J Paulo.
Bench: R Maitua, FF MoiMoi, M Allgood, T Tautai.
Bench: R Maitua, FF MoiMoi, M Allgood, T Tautai.
[Team Changes - Reni Maitua and Ben Roberts come into the team for the injured Casey McGuire (pectoral - season) and the omitted Justin Horo. That impotent three quarter line remains. ]
CRO: M Wright, I Gordon, B Pomeroy, C Best, N Stapleton, T Carney, J Robson, B Gibbs, I De Gois, B Ross, J Smith, J Bukuya, P Gallen (c).
Bench: A Fifita, W Graham, J Morris, M Taufua, S Tagataese.
Bench: A Fifita, W Graham, J Morris, M Taufua, S Tagataese.
[Team Changes - Nathan Stapleton has been recalled at the expense of John Williams who goes back to the NSW Cup, while State of Origin representatives Paul Gallen and Todd Carney will lineup after a week's rest. Sam Tagataese is 18th man, with Tyson Frizell back in the NSW Cup. ]
THURSDAY GAME PREVIEW
Listen to the Podcast for a full preview, but we like the Sharks. You just can't tip the Eels at 1-10, yet...
TIPPING AND FANTASY LATE MAIL
SMH and Other Late Mail - Matt Ryan gets a whole week to rest his sternum, while Reni Maitua comes back at lock. The Sharks will decide between Taufua and Tagataese and you could see Gordon or Stapleton at fullback with Wright or Stewart Mills on the wing instead.
THE NRL TWEET'S PICKSharks by 7.
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BYES - Panthers and Roosters.
