Thursday 29 August 2013

#NRL 2013: Top 8 'Predications' Podcast - NOT The Footy Show Episode 131 | 29/08/2013

Predications Special!

The NTFS Crew is back in business - in-studio hosts Nic McInerney, DC Chapman and Warrick Nicolson are joined by Maria Tsialis and Matthew Duncan to run the rule over the Top 8 contenders last two games.

Everyone gives their Final Ladders plus we have Quick Hands segments on Ben Barba to the Broncos, Twitter rage and Fergo being Fergo... Plus with DC and Nic in the studio... plenty of footy dribble ensues at the end of the show.

This is a longer Podcast than we'll be producing for the month of September but only because the nature of having to look at the draws of all 16 teams meant it cracked 80 minutes. However we'll be back with 10-15 minute 'Mini-Pods' regularly from this weekend on.

We hope you like the new approach and please give us some feedback or maybe even a plug if we earn it.

LIKE the show on Facebook to discuss the upcoming month of NOT The Footy Show or catch us on Twitter: @NRLTweet or our individual accounts @wdnicolson @Mr_DC11 @mtsialis @mrpeninsula and hopefully very soon Nic McInerney's Twitter handle will be available to follow.

Good to have us back? Please let us know if it is by sending us a Tweet or posting on the Facebook page.

NOT The Footy Show Episode 131
'Top 8 Predications Podcast' - Released Thursday August 29, 2013
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes for the MP3 File

Shane Warne Variation Master Class - His 18 wickets vs South Africa in 1993/94

Just watch and enjoy... Warnie's flipper is particularly deadly this series.

Wednesday 28 August 2013

#NRL 2013: Round 25 Tips Late Mail Predictions Preview #NRLDT #Supercoach #NRLLateMail

ROUND 25 TIPS and LATE MAIL
Plus The Postman's NRL Dream Team/NRL Super Coach Picks

2013 NRL Premiership

By W D Nicolson - August 28, 2013


EXTRA LATEST OF LATE MAIL ADDED THROUGHOUT ROUND
ALL EXPERT PICKS AND SPECIAL FRIED RICE ADDED AS RECEIVED
View 2013 @NRLTweet PLAYER OF THE YEAR Final Public LEADERBOARD

Who wants to play in a Final... anybody?
NRL LADDER |

Not many teams want to extend their stay in September evidently - as we wrote last week how 7 teams still could fit into 2 open playoff spots... and a week later - those same 7 teams can still fit into 2 open playoff spots.

Not because every one of those 7 teams played like their playoff lives depended on it in Round 24 - but because by and large - they all stink.

The Knights, Titans, Raiders and Broncos all lost after entering Round 24 in 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th spot... meaning they win and they move themselves further away from the teams in 11th, 12th and 13th.

Those teams were the Cowboys, Panthers and Warriors... who all won.

That means that entering Round 25 the ladder reads:
7th - Knights
8th - Cowboys
9th - Titans
10th - Panthers
11th - Warriors
12th - Raiders
13th - Broncos

Grab the latest Podcast of NOT The Footy Show - our Top 8 'Predications' Special

Yet if the 13th placed Broncos beat the 7th placed Knights on Friday - it is possible that the Knights could still be in no worse than 8th spot and the Broncos will be no better than 9th.

The Cowboys, Titans and Panthers could all lose, leaving the Raiders-Warriors game effectively a playoff for a current spot in the Top 8 - regardless of who wins the Broncos-Knights clash.

Yet if the Cowboys, Panthers and Titans win... well you get the idea - the whole Top 8 makeup is all over the place.

Not because teams are playing particularly well (Cowboys aside - who are riding Johnathan Thurston as far as he can carry them) but because most of them can't string a few wins together than would secure them a playoff spot.

That all being said however - with the Sharks beating the Roosters to go into 5th - no team from 6th to 13th will trouble any of the Top 4 teams in September... but it'd be nice to at least get to play another game right?

Prove that to your fans this weekend teams 7 through 12...

Anyhoo - #NRLTweetPOTY Award voting allocation is below as is the rest of what you need for your weekend of footy.

Latest of Late Mail and Round 25 Tips below!

Sunday 25 August 2013

#NRL 2013: 'SCG Podcast' NOT The Footy Show Episode 130 | 25/08/2013

SCG Podcast Special - We're back for a limited time!

Warrick Nicolson and DC Chapman return for a shorter, snappier Podcast 'live recorded' from the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Dragons-Tigers clash.

We've got a few of the younger brigade with us taking in the SCG for the first time and this is just our way of introducing a slightly different format to the show - hopefully more natural footy chat instead of being chained to the same format every week.

 We hope you like the new approach and please give us some feedback or maybe even a plug if we earn it.

Subscribe to the Podcast here
LIKE the show on Facebook to discuss the upcoming month of NOT The Footy Show or catch us on Twitter @NRLTweet @Mr_DC11 and we'll see if we can get Nic McInerney on Twitter by Thursday.

 We'll release our Top 8 'Predications Special' on Thursday night August 29 with the whole crew either live in studio or via the phone (that's DC, Nic, Waz, Maria, Matt and Jake!) Good to have us back? Please let us know if it is by sending us a Tweet or posting on the Facebook page.
NOT The Footy Show Episode 130
'SCG Podcast' - Released Sunday August 25, 2013
Right Click Save Target As This Link if you don't have iTunes for the MP3 File

More Rugby League at www.wdnicolson.com

Waz, DC and Nic... together again next Thursday!

Thursday 22 August 2013

#NRL 2013: 10 Things I Think... September's on my mind

10 Things I Think... entering September

2013 NRL Premiership

By W D Nicolson - August 22, 2013



SEPTEMBER'S ON MY MIND...

 ONE 
Friday Night Footy needs to be one game... 
Especially at the end of the season when we get the following 'flex schedule' from Channel 9:
Round 22 - Storm/Rabbitohs and Eels/Tigers
Round 23 - Rabbitohs/Sea Eagles and Broncos/Eels
Round 24 - Rabbitohs/Bulldogs and Panthers/Broncos
Round 25 - Broncos/Knights and Tigers/Rabbitohs (initially Bulldogs/Panthers)
Round 26 - Thursday: Broncos/Bulldogs. Friday: Rabbitohs/Roosters.
Round 22, 23 and 25 have a dud as their second game and even Round 24's Penrith/Brisbane game isn't that appealing... but more than anything it screams - why have Channel 9 stuck with the Friday Night doubleheader when playing that other game on Thursday would be a far bigger ratings winner as a stand-alone match?
Round 26 goes back to the Thu/Fri split and it helps that both games should have Top 8/Minor Premiership implications but the split just makes the 'lesser' game that much more palatable.
A few years ago when the ski-double-up Friday night schedule was adopted it felt like footy could handle (if not screamed out for) the double-header... but has felt very very played out for most of the last two seasons and the introduction of Thursday night football at the start of the year was a big winner. There's no doubt it isn't 100% ideal to attract crowds on a Thursday but that's not the biggest obstacle to regular Thursday night footy - it's not getting teams play on the night but choosing which teams play on the night instead of Friday... after all you can't play Brisbane exclusively on every Friday night can you?

 TWO 
The McIntyre System is not missed...
All you've heard for the last ten weeks is how there are only 'four teams who can win the comp'... and let's be honest - that's pretty much spot on. Easts, Souths, Melbourne and Manly will fill out positions 1-4 and will get two bites at the cherry in the semis... do you think any of the teams who can finish 5-8 are that disappointed about missing a week one matchup with any of those four? Course not, they'll back themselves to play some quality footy in their elimination semi and take that into the second week - against a Top 4 team that just suffered a loss. How anyone thought that McIntyre was a fairer system is beyond me... if you have a good enough season to finish Top 4 - you deserve to be rewarded!

 THREE 
Canberra did the right thing going in a new direction...
But why wait til 3 rounds to go to punt David Furner?
Furner's best chance at winning a comp at the helm of the Raiders ended when Terry Campese wrecked his knee in the semi final loss to the Tigers in 2010 but his preferred game plan had never utilised Canberra's assets after taking over in 2009 from Neil Henry.
For whatever reason Furner wanted his teams to grind away at their opponents by 'building pressure' when they were inside the attacking 20m zone - rather than actually attacking while inside the 20m zone... yet his teams never had the defensive gumption to resist that same pressure at the other end of the field. There's about 5,000 or so more words that can be written on this game plan and how it never suited the Raiders but the real proof of whether or not rest of the staff were in love with that theory will be seen in how new interim coach Andrew Dunemann approaches his 3 match game plan starting on Sunday against Manly...
But back to the initial question - how could the Canberra board have ever been sure Furner was their guy before the start of the season if they were willing to punt him with his team still in playoff contention? ... the answer appears to be no.
 FOUR 
Sydney is about to be Semi Final Heaven again...
Some of us remember the glorious spring days of yesteryear... heading down to the SFS to watch a game of semi final football with a 3pm kick-off and the promise of two great teams going at it.
And the most beautiful part of the mix was - your team didn't have to be playing for it to be worth every cent of the admission price.
Sydney will get a blast from the past this September with the Roosters and Souths set to finish in the Top 2 and Canterbury and Cronulla likely to finish in 5th/6th. That will mean the SFS and Homebush will host all four games in the 1st Week of the Finals - with only Melbourne shaping up as a non-Sydney destination throughout the three week playoff series leading into the Grand Final which is set in stone at Homebush.
So do yourself a favour - get over the fact your team may not be playing in the semis this year and go and enjoy Semi Final Footy at the best time of year... who knows - you might just remember why you love Rugby League?

 FIVE 
Channel Nine would be smart to have a week-nightly NRL show throughout the Finals...
Put it on GEM and make it short but to the point, don't get too clever and overcomplicate it - make it simply about what's happened/happening/about to happen in footy... and with respect, do not get Tim Gilbert to host it if you want it to rate (ie have people watch it).

 SIX 
'Building for next year'...
Saw this headline on a club website summing up the approach to his team's football by a winger from a Sydney club for the next few weeks and I'm not sure what to make of it... yeah, your team might not be set for a September extension of your 2013 season but what about just enjoying your footy for the final three weeks instead of thinking too far ahead?
Especially when the roster that plays Round 1 next year will be rather different to the team that will play the final few weeks of this season...
So why not just play with some enjoyment, have a crack and see what you can take forward with you for next season? It might be more beneficial than putting the weight of next season over the next 3 relatively meaningfulness games....

 SEVEN 
Is it worth trialling the 'time off' concept when the ball is dead in a NRL game before the end of the year?
If it works for a club circumventing the Salary Cap... but being serious for a second - is it worth getting say the Parra-Saints game in Round 25 to 'save time' when the ball is dead or at least 'out of play'?
Or failing that - the same approach in perhaps even one half of an NYC game where neither team can feature in the semi finals?

 EIGHT 
Andrew Voss has been a welcome re-addition to the Commentary ranks this year...
He's done the Warriors home games and has been sensational... he's not everyone's cup of tea (and no commentator - not even Rabs is) but he's a great operator behind a play by play microphone and Fox Sports would be smart to get him on their books next season... because it doesn't appear Channel 9 are going to. Nice to have you back Vossy.

 NINE 
The Rookie of the Year qualification confusion claims another scalp...
Poor Daniel Tupou... the kid has been a real weapon for the Sydney Roosters in 2013 and deserves serious consideration as one of the best rookies of this year... but you and it appears everyone else didn't know he was still eligible.
The official Big League/Dally M criteria is 'no more than 3 games in the previous season' for a player to be eligible... so when you do the math and see that Tupou played 3 games in 2012... that means he's eligible.
Yet he didn't make the lists... and yes, we had him in the Top 5 contenders in our April Feature.
George Burgess will - quite rightly - win the Rookie of the Year gong, but hopefully Tupou's eligibility isn't forgotten.

 TEN 
Finally... there's a great number of players who can lay claim to being 'Player of the Year'.
And this is a fantastic thing to face as we play out the last 3 games of the season. In the 2013 @NRLTweet Player of the Year Awards - there are so many players still in contention for the top honour and that hasn't always been the case in recent years. Now will the Dally M follow suit with a crowded leaderboard?
Let's hope so... the better news is www.wdnicolson.com and... NOT The Footy Show will announce the winner before the Semi Finals begin - a full 3 weeks before the Dally M announcement likely copies us.

BACK FOR MORE PUNISHMENT!
PS. Yes, it looks like NOT The Footy Show is BACK for a Top 8 Special on August 29 and regularly in a different format during September - spread the word please if you are even mildly excited by that!

You can join our Facebook Page for more updates from this weekend as we unveil what we're going to be doing for your listening pleasure at this glorious time of year.

Excited?

What do you think about any of these thoughts?
Comment below or catch me via Twitter @NRLTweet

Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY

Wednesday 21 August 2013

#NRL 2013: Round 24 Tips Late Mail Predictions Preview #nrlsoucby #NRLLateMail #NRLDT #Supercoach

ROUND 24 TIPS and LATE MAIL
Plus The Postman's NRL Dream Team/NRL Super Coach Picks

2013 NRL Premiership

By W D Nicolson - August 21, 2013


EXTRA LATEST OF LATE MAIL ADDED THROUGHOUT ROUND
ALL EXPERT PICKS AND SPECIAL FRIED RICE ADDED AS RECEIVED
View 2013 @NRLTweet PLAYER OF THE YEAR Final Public LEADERBOARD

Top 8 Scenarios - 3 Rounds to Go
Crunch time... how will you pick from here on out?
NRL LADDER |

If you are entering the final 3 weeks of your Tipping Season and have a sniff at the title... here's the rub:

1. If you lead... PICK FAVOURITES.

2. If you are behind by 1 or 2 tips... PICK FAVOURITES and think about only one point of difference each week.

3. If you are 3 or more back... BACK THE SEMI-UNDERDOG as much as possible, because those above you are going to be taking the favourites.

That being said - stick with the Roosters and Storm the rest of the way, but the Rabbitohs or Manly are back againstable... as are the rest of the current Top 8.

And the final bit of advice - don't pick Parramatta.

There you go... victory is at hand!

Anyhoo - #NRLTweetPOTY Award voting allocation is below as is the rest of what you need for your weekend of footy.

Latest of Late Mail and Round 24 Tips below!

Tuesday 20 August 2013

#NRL 2013: 7 teams can't fit into 2 playoff spots - Team by Team Run Home

YOUR TEAM'S TOP 8 EQUATION

2013 NRL Premiership

By W D Nicolson - August 20, 2013


Here's a quick run-down of the final 3 rounds for the teams still in contention for the Finals.

The Roosters, Rabbitohs and Storm are definite Top 4 finishers, Manly need to win only one of their last 3 games to get the final spot, while Canterbury and Cronulla sit on 28 points - needing themselves just one more win to secure a Top 8 berth.

That leaves the two remaining playoff spots open... and there are up to seven teams who can still mathematically extend their season beyond Round 26.

Who gets in?

Well some teams have only themselves to beat... others need more than a few favours - and that's even if they win out!

7 TEAMS INTO 2 PLAYOFF SPOTS - The Equation:

7th - Newcastle Knights
10-10-1 for 25pts | +70
Rd24 @ Cowboys
Rd25 @ Broncos
Rd26 v Eels
Top 8 Scenario: May only need to beat the Broncos in Round 25 to ensure they get in due to a superior differential than Brisbane given both are on odd competition points. Win twice and they probably finish 7th.

8th - Gold Coast Titans
10-11 for 24pts | -23
Rd24 v Warriors
Rd25 @ Roosters
Rd26 @ Storm
Top 8 Scenario: Despite being in 8th right now - they lose to the Warriors and this looks all over. Hardest final two games in the comp - both away to the likely Minor Premiers and then the defending premiers. 26 points won't be enough so they simply have to cause a huge upset in the other games to make it.

9th - Canberra Raiders
10-11 for 24pts | -122
Rd24 v Sea Eagles
Rd25 @ Warriors
Rd26 v Sharks
Top 8 Scenario: With an awful differential they must win 2 of 3 games but can book their spot if they win all 3. One win won't cut it so the Warriors game is a must-win and they must find a way to knock off at least one of the other two higher ranked teams. New coach and probable attacking style (that is they'll have one) helps...

10th - Brisbane Broncos
9-11-1 for 23pts | -24
Rd24 @ Panthers
Rd25 v Knights
Rd26 v Bulldogs
Top 8 Scenario: Can make things interesting if they first beat Penrith then Newcastle in back to back weeks - that may even put them into the driving seat for a Top 8 spot before the Bulldogs game. Win all 3 and they make it.

11th - North Queensland Cowboys
9-12 for 22pts | +15
Rd24 v Knights
Rd25 @ Sharks
Rd26 v Tigers
Top 8 Scenario: Need to win all three games and rely on other results but by knocking off the Knights they would open their playoff door just a little wider.

12th - Penrith Panthers
9-12 for 22pts | -45
Rd24 v Broncos
Rd25 @ Bulldogs
Rd26 @ Sea Eagles
Top 8 Scenario: Must win all three, rely on results and can forget about the Finals if they lose to the Broncos on Friday.

13th - Warriors
9-12 for 22pts | -86
Rd24 @ Titans
Rd25 v Raiders
Rd26 @ Dragons
Top 8 Scenario: Need to reach 28 points due to their poor differential - so must win all 3 games but face two opponents who are ahead of them competing for a Top 8 spot. Game v Raiders the biggest of all 3 since Canberra is the only other team on even points (in contention) that they have a better differential than.

Traditionally a 12-12 record - or 28 points - has been the cut-off mark for the Top 8... and let's see what the survey says...

Possible Top 8 - using NRL.com's Ladder Predictor

Want to discuss your team's chances at making the Top 8?
Comment below or catch me via Twitter @NRLTweet

Friday 16 August 2013

#NRL 2013: Round 23 Tips Late Mail Predictions Preview #NRLLateMail #NRLDT #Supercoach

ROUND 23 TIPS and LATE MAIL
Plus The Postman's NRL Dream Team/NRL Super Coach Picks

2013 NRL Premiership

By W D Nicolson - August 16, 2013


EXTRA LATEST OF LATE MAIL ADDED THROUGHOUT ROUND
ALL EXPERT PICKS AND SPECIAL FRIED RICE ADDED AS RECEIVED
View 2013 @NRLTweet PLAYER OF THE YEAR Final Public LEADERBOARD

How did you survive?
NRL LADDER |

For the first time this year www.wdnicolson.com was not the first place you could find the coming weekend's late mail on a Wednesday evening and judging by our research - you had to wait til Friday morning for anything resembling Late Mail.... note how it is usually Thursday?

I've done a trip to Dubbo and back for work and barely made it home last night before the flu (I acquired from my lovely nephews and nieces a few days ago) kicked in... so you are really lucky you are getting anything today (Friday) as I've got the shaky shakes deluxe.

Anyhoo - #NRLTweetPOTY Award voting allocation is below as is the rest of what you need for your weekend of footy.

It is a different 'quick hit' format below due to being pressed for time but normal service will resume for Round 24.

Latest of Late Mail and Round 23 Tips below!

Tuesday 13 August 2013

#NRL 2013: Update on absence of regular NRL Features this week

UPDATE ON ROUND 23 FEATURES

2013 NRL Premiership

By W D Nicolson - August 13, 2013


Just a courtesy post to let you know that the full NRL Injured List and Round 23 Tipping Preview and Late Mail features will not be updated until the following times due to a business trip that leaves me unable to allocate appropriate hours to the regular items that go up on Tuesday/Wednesday.
  • NRL Injured List - Round 23 squads are incomplete - they will be updated for Round 24.
  • Round 23 Tips, Late Mail and Fantasy Advice HERE
Apologies for any inconvenience but there has been and will simply be no time to cover these features properly until later in the week.

Either way - for the DT/SC tragics - you're probably already stuffed due to injuries and you've heard about most of them by now!

Good luck with your tips and fielding full strength Fantasy Squads - will have the content you know and love up on www.wdnicolson.com later in the week.

If you are desperate for injury information or Fantasy advice - catch me via Twitter @NRLTweet