Plus The Postman's NRL Dream Team/NRL Super Coach Picks
2013 NRL Premiership
By W D Nicolson - March 28, 2013
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LATEST OF LATE MAIL ADDED THURSDAY - ON HOLIDAYS SO NO UPDATES OVER ROUND
ALL EXPERT PICKS AND SPECIAL FRIED RICE NOW ADDED
The Easter Long Weekend started a day or two early here on www.wdnicolson.com with a trip up the coast Wednesday night considered a smarter option than trying it 24 hours later with 3/4 of the Sydney population. Thus the Round 4 Tipping Preview is a rushed affair at lunchtime on Thursday - but losers can't be choosers right?
To the Tips and HAPPY EASTER!
For our analysis of Tuesday team selections for Round 4 - click here.Continue reading below for the Round 4 Tipping Preview.
@NRLTweet Player of the Year - Round 3 Results hereVoting Allocation for Round 4 of the NRL is below.
As far as Late Mail goes the rolling lockout for all you NRL Dream Team and NRL Super Coach nerds should have allowed you to make any last minute changes quite easily, but once again our Latest of Late Mail should help in any selections you make before the round begins.
Below you'll find the Round 4 Tipping Preview with our heavily researched Latest of Late Mail going up from Thursday morning onwards. Keep track of game-day Late Mail via #NRLLateMail.
ROUND 4 2013
Wednesday Odds Courtesy of Sportingbet | NRL LADDER
Thursday 8:10pm at Bluetongue StadiumFOOTYTAB: WTG +6.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Warrick Nicolson @NRLTweet Ben Hoese @gunnermcdagget |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Manly played like a team half asleep against the Titans and only lost because David Williams couldn't catch a thing, while the Tigers ran rings around the hapless Eels. Both teams get a decent break so fatigue shouldn't be an issue... look if Manly's staff sent each player home with an alarm clock during the week and the players actually set them for kick-off tonight - Manly win by 10.
Manly could still spring Jason King on the Tigers at Jesse Sene-Lefao's expense...
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Matt Utai has reportedly failed his fitness test, so hello first grade for the 2nd time to James Tedesco... we think.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Friday 4:00pm at ANZ StadiumFOOTYTAB: CBY +2.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Matt Trodden @trods2906 Matt Spillane @devonhead |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:The Bunnies can score at will right now... but their defence the past two weeks hasn't looked as dominant as it did in Round 1 v the Roosters. The Dogs on the other hand have had a go under-strength and get a kid called Ben Barba back which is handy... still I lean towards the 3-0 team who can improve their defence over a 1-2 team that hasn't looked particularly great on both sides of the ball in 2013. Barba makes any team better but the Rabbitohs are a huge price here considering the starts by both sides - Rabbitohs by 8.
Ben Barba will play and Frank Pritchard is likely... so Drury Low and Tim Browne miss out.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Roy Asotasi will come back into the squad probably at Dave Tyrrell's expense. There could be a shuffle in the backrow come kick-off.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Friday 7:45pm at Suncorp Stadium (QLD Time)FOOTYTAB: BRI +6.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Matthew Duncan @mrpeninsula Nigel Wilbow @parramatters |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Just enjoy watching the Storm play fully fit people... unless you are the opposition of course, in which case you are praying that the rep season gets here and gets here fast. I expect a few minor changes for Melbourne but Brisbane aren't a genuine threat in 2013 based on what we've seen from them so far. Storm by 14.
Justin Hodges should be play providing he gets through the warmup without aggravating his hamstring. Otherwise the Broncos look set to continue with the Prince/Wallace experiment in trying to win with a distinct lack of ballplaying options...
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Wouldn't be stunned to see a player or two rested this weekend after a huge opening 3 weeks for the Storm. Kevin Proctor and Brett Finch are the two I'd be watching out for on a flight to Brisbane...
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Saturday 7:35pm at Sharks StadiumFOOTYTAB: STI +8.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Matt Vickers @mercurialmattyv Ben Jones @benwah87 |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Last year I tipped the Dragons because I wasn't sure how much better the Sharks really were... fast forward a year and it looks like we know how much worse the Dragons are. So pick the Sharks and move onto the next game. Sharks by 12.
Ben Pomeroy should make his first start of the year but Isaac De Gois is no certainty. Sam Tagataese is on standby for De Gois, while Jayson Bukuya could shift to the centres should Pomeroy give his groin another week off.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Well you can pretty much guarantee Michael Weyman and Trent Merrin start on the bench, with Bronson Harrison and either Leeson Ah Mau or Matt Prior in the run-on team. Chase Stanley or Daniel Vidot... not exactly a ground breaking decision for Steve Price to make in the three-quarter line...
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Sunday 3:00pm at Centrebet StadiumFOOTYTAB: PEN +2.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Justin Davies @dragonpunk12 Adrian McMurray @adrmcm |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Well here we are 3 rounds in... and both the Panthers and Titans are showing something more than they did in 2012... but how much more? Well the Titans just beat Manly, and the Panthers have dropped two straight to the Tigers and Rabbitohs... but I like the home ground in this one. If you're ever going to let home ground advantage come into play then this is it. The Gold Coast are better but they aren't by any means a force yet - so I'll take the Penny Panthers by 4.
Cameron Ciraldo is welcomed back, with Nathan Smith or Adam Docker set to miss out on a bench spot.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Ashley Harrison quite rightly will miss this weekend, so look for Dave Taylor to start in the second row and Greg Bird play lock. Luke O'Dwyer would come onto the bench and Brad Takairangi is 50/50 with a hamstring strain and Steve Michaels would replace him. Mark Minichiello is believed to be the new 18th man.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Sunday 6:30pm at Hunter StadiumFOOTYTAB: CAN +6.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Greg Delaney @gregdelaney84 Matt Spillane @devonhead |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:What a difference a week makes... 7 days ago no one would tip the Knights against almost anyone after watching Manly destroy them and then they go out and run up a score against North Queensland (minus Kurt Gidley) and everyone has declared them Top 4 material... you as confused as I am? Canberra weren't fantastic against the Dragons but there are powers at work there that meant they'd win anyway, and assuming they do more with the ball inside the attacking 20m zone than kick on the last in the first half - I actually like their chances in this one. Their performance in Newcastle last year still haunts me (after tipping Newcastle), so let's go Canberra by 4 points.
Kurt Gidley and Willie Mason have calf strains... but the long gap between Round 3 and 4 makes them both possibilities. Korbin Sims would be the first to make way, while Timana Tahu is no certainty to play.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Joel Thompson will make a late bid to play and would take Joe Pickers spot on the bench. Otherwise the Raiders are fine.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Monday 4:00pm at Mt Smart Stadium (NZ time)FOOTYTAB: WAR +8.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Matt Trodden @trods2906 Ben Hoese @gunnermcdagget |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:I've gone 0-3 when it comes to tipping games involving the Cowboys this season and even though the Warriors have been terrible this year, the Cowboys really haven't been much better. There is some doubt over North Queensland's international props but assuming they play and Matt Bowen awakens from his slumber then the Cowboys should win. But what about the Warriors you ask? Well wait til they win this one before you start entertaining the thought of tipping them again in 2013 - because they are the Warriors after all. Cowboys by 10.
Nathan Friend is a real show given the game is on Monday, he'd start and Elijah Taylor would go either into the second row or back to the bench. Manu Vatuvei might also be a late starter...
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
James Tamou and Matt Scott have sore necks but the week gap between games should be enough time for them to recover. If there are any other changes here you'll know when they fly to Auckland a day or two before the game.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Monday 7:00pm at Allianz StadiumFOOTYTAB: PAR +8.5
Tuesday Teams Analysed on NRL Injured List
| Warrick Nicolson @nrltweet Maria Tsialis @mtsialis |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:The Roosters should win this and win it well if their pack is greeted with the same softness that Parra afforded the Tigers last Friday. Sonny Bill Williams and James Maloney are a fantastic combination and could terrorise Chris Sandow again this week... Parra aren't a good team and the Roosters could be a very good one, so I know who I'm tipping on Monday with enough confidence to suggest 13+ punters should have a good look at the option. Roosters by 12.
We know Luke O'Donnell won't play but the biggest question is will Aidan Guerra return from an ankle sprain or will rookie prop Kane Evans get his NRL debut?
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
Luke Kelly is the only real doubt with a hamstring, with walkabout Matt Ryan possibly coming back on the bench and either Joseph Paulo or Ben Roberts starting in the #6. Vai Toutai is expected to hold his spot.
LATE UPDATE?
The Postman's DT/SC TIP: No specific tips this week - The Postman gave you enough gold last weekend to sink a ship - if you have a question grab me on Twitter @NRLTweet and I'll answer there.
What are your tips for Round 4? Think you'll take any advice from our Awesome Foursome panel this year?
Let us know by commenting below or replying on Twitter.
Matt Duncan, 101.5 FM's Sports Fever
@NRLTWEET's 2013 TIPPING RECORD
TIPPING TOTAL AFTER 3 ROUNDS - 16/24 @ 66.7%
FOOTYTAB TOTAL AFTER 3 ROUNDS - 14/24 @ 58.3%
SPECIAL FRIED RICE involves each tipster taking a 'certainty' in a set order, with the tipster with the highest score at the end of the year literally winning a mountain of Special Fried Rice. The SFR Order rotates every week.
ROUND 3 SELECTIONS | The Awesome Foursome
TIPPING:
Sea Eagles Storm Sharks Panthers Raiders Cowboys Roosters
LW: 6/8 | SEASON: 16/24
FOOTYTAB:
MAN -6.5 SOU -2.5 MEL -6.5 CRO -8.5
PEN +2.5 CAN +6.5 NQL -8.5 SYD -8.5
LW: 5/8 | SEASON: 14/24
Special Fried Rice: STORM over Broncos (Has 1st Pick)
Season SFR: 2/3
CAN4 CBY3 SOU2 MEL1
Sea Eagles Storm Sharks Panthers Raiders Cowboys Roosters
LW: 6/8 | SEASON: 16/24
FOOTYTAB:
MAN -6.5 SOU -2.5 MEL -6.5 CRO -8.5
PEN +2.5 CAN +6.5 NQL -8.5 SYD -8.5
LW: 5/8 | SEASON: 14/24
Special Fried Rice: STORM over Broncos (Has 1st Pick)
Season SFR: 2/3
CAN4 CBY3 SOU2 MEL1
 |
| @mrpeninsula |
TIPPING:
Sea Eagles Rabbitohs Broncos Sharks Panthers Knights Warriors Eels
LW: 5/8 | SEASON: 14/24
FOOTYTAB:
MAN -6.5 SOU -2.5 BRI +6.5 STI +8.5
PEN +2.5 NEW -6.5 WAR +8.5 PAR +8.5
LW: 2/8 | SEASON: 10/24
Special Fried Rice: EELS over Roosters (Has 3rd Pick)
Season SFR: 2/3
SOU2 SOU1 MAN4 PAR3
Matt Says: To make up for my failed 'Bet of the Year' last week with Manly, the Eels with the start are MORALS!
Sea Eagles Rabbitohs Broncos Sharks Panthers Knights Warriors Eels
LW: 5/8 | SEASON: 14/24
FOOTYTAB:
MAN -6.5 SOU -2.5 BRI +6.5 STI +8.5
PEN +2.5 NEW -6.5 WAR +8.5 PAR +8.5
LW: 2/8 | SEASON: 10/24
Special Fried Rice: EELS over Roosters (Has 3rd Pick)
Season SFR: 2/3
SOU2 SOU1 MAN4 PAR3
Matt Says: To make up for my failed 'Bet of the Year' last week with Manly, the Eels with the start are MORALS!
TIPPING:
Sea Eagles Rabbitohs Storm Sharks Titans Knights Cowboys Roosters
LW: 6/8 | SEASON: 18/24
FOOTYTAB:
MAN -6.5 SOU -2.5 MEL -6.5 CRO -8.5
GLD -2.5 CAN +6.5 NQL -8.5 PAR +8.5
LW: 6/8 | SEASON: 16/24
Special Fried Rice: SHARKS over Dragons (Has 2nd Pick)
Season SFR: 3/3
MEL1 BRI4 MEL3 CRO2
Sea Eagles Rabbitohs Storm Sharks Titans Knights Cowboys Roosters
LW: 6/8 | SEASON: 18/24
FOOTYTAB:
MAN -6.5 SOU -2.5 MEL -6.5 CRO -8.5
GLD -2.5 CAN +6.5 NQL -8.5 PAR +8.5
LW: 6/8 | SEASON: 16/24
Special Fried Rice: SHARKS over Dragons (Has 2nd Pick)
Season SFR: 3/3
MEL1 BRI4 MEL3 CRO2
Remember if you want game-specific Late Mail every week, then check out our Round Previews Every Wednesday and they are updated with all the very latest Late Mail on Friday.
If we are missing any players on this list - please comment below, reply on Twitter or email this address.
The Prestigious Award returns for a 4th season in 2013.
@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters:
Warrick Nicolson @NRLTweet | Nigel Wilbow @parramatters
Justin Davies @dragonpunk12 | Greg Delaney @gregdelaney84
Matt Spillane @devonhead | Matt Trodden @trods2906
Matt Vickers @mercurialmattyv | Ben Hoese @gunnermcdagget
Adrian McMurray @adrmcm | Matthew Duncan @mrpeninsula
Maria Tsialis @mtsialis | Ben Jones @benwah87
Review all of the voting results from 2012 right here
Remember you can track all the votes each week after each match in 2013 via the Twitter hashtag #nrltweetpoty
