Round 3 Tips and Late Mail 2014 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - March 19, 2014
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|-| If you play any form of Fantasy Footy in 2014 - The Postman's Friday Trade Talk is compulsory reading.
Remember our Game Previews are now purely the essentials in 2014 - I'll try to write very little fluff and you'll simply (entertainingly) get my read on each game and insightful Late Mail.
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HEADS UP: We did our 150th NRL Podcast this week - check out Episode 150 of NOT The Footy Show
Round 2 Tipping didn't suck - 5/8 is more than acceptable, so let's see what we can do in Round 3... to the Tips!
All tips are subject to last minute changes, Game Odds/FootyTab are from Wednesday night and do not update thereafter. Times listed are stadium location LOCAL time.
Friday at ANZ 8:00pm
FOOTYTAB: WST +14.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Sure the Tigers put up 40pts last weekend and the Rabbitohs fired blanks against Manly... but this fixture has been the playground for Greg Inglis of late - so sticking with the Bunnies. Rabbitohs by 16 points.| N Wilbow @parramatters |
| W Nicolson @NRLTweet |
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WST - The Tigers should get Fulton back, with Paterson perhaps keeping his bench spot ahead of Seumanufagai or Sue.
SOU - Tom Burgess... back sooner than expected? Will have a better idea later this week and the status of McQueen's ankle as well... but otherwise Sutton to five-eighth if Walker can't go due to an ankle. Sounds like McQueen and Walker will miss, so Sutton to 6, Lowe to lock and Turner and maybe Nathaniel Neale onto the bench.
Friday at Suncorp 7:40pmBroncos $2.55 v $1.53 RoostersFOOTYTAB: BRI +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Brisbane has won both games on defence so far this year - but the Roosters have more natural points in them than the Bulldogs did and even given the magic of JT - the Cowboys as well. Brisbane's best hope is to bash the Chooks up front but I just don't see them breaking down Sydney's defence unless Barba wants the ball every time Brisbane have it. Roosters by 8 points.| D Chapman @Mr_DC11 |
| J Gemmell @godofcheeseau |
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BRI - Hannant has apparently done a hammy at training - so that's two props down for the Broncos with McGuire suspended for a week. At least this means Hala and Wallace might get some game time, and Kennedy would start. Sounds like Corey Oates will get the call on the bench as his replacement.
SYD - Hard to see them being anything but 1-17 based on last week.
Saturday at Penrith 4:30pmPanthers $1.58 v $2.42 BulldogsFOOTYTAB: CBY +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Home team... this game screams, home team. Yes Dogs won by plenty and the Panthers lost last week but - do yourself a favour, go home team. Panthers by 4 points.| T Schroder @troy_79 |
| M Duncan @MrPeninsula |
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PEN - Doubts remain on Soward and Wallace (John is on standby) and Grant (ribs). Kite is out with a calf injury apparently. Yeo could join the bench if Grant misses, while Simmons is a chance to come straight back in for Naiqama. With Josh Mansour evidently suffering from a hamstring strain - if Simmons comes in then Naiqama likely holds his spot or Yeo would come in and probably push Whare to the wing.
CBY - Lafai may come in for Brown (head) or Thompson (dropped).
Saturday at Cronulla 7:00pmSharks $2.35 v $1.61 DragonsFOOTYTAB: STI +2.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Surely I've got to pick Saints based on early season form but that would mean... well picking Saints. If Carney plays I stick with my Cronulla pick, he fails to play - then yes, I may actually pick the unbeaten Dragons here. Maybe. Sharks by 2 points.| M McLucas @Jebadude |
| J Davies @DragonPunk12 |
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CRO - Carney's fitness will make or break the Sharks this week... if he misses will Manumalealii get another run? Ryan or Grothe may also come into the backline as this team played Monday night so their team may well have been another Tuesday afterthought... Vave may not get his bench spot back from David Fifita as well.
STI - Witt is nearing a return but expect Williams to hold his spot this weekend but he may be one bad game from being replaced. de Belin if fit would come in for Harrison on the bench. Harrison and Stockwell will play NSW Cup - and Garvey has been reinstated as well - meaning Witt or de Belin will play the Sharks.
Saturday at Townsville 8:00pmCowboys $1.38 v $3.10 WarriorsFOOTYTAB: WAR +10.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:This is just the kind of game the Warriors will win in 2014... the one they are simply not supposed to. But you've gotta stick with the Cowboys, JT and that backrow that's finally in place... right? Cowboys by 10 points.| M Perry @Chandler_BANG |
| D McLucas @DMcLucas28 |
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NQL - Expect 1-17 with Riethmuller not named anywhere.... injured?
WAR - Does Elliott roll the Hurrell dice and leave Nielsen out?
Sunday at Brookvale 3:00pmSea Eagles $1.18 v $5.00 EelsFOOTYTAB: PAR +10.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Manly. You have no choice here. You must pick Manly. Sure Parra might put up a fight but last year at Brookie they sure didn't... Sea Eagles by 16 points.| W Nicolson @NRLTweet |
| M Vickers @MercurialMattyV |
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MAN - Taufua may have to wait another week with Blair holding his spot on the wing. Glenn Stewart is still touch and go with a groin injury...
PAR - Not convinced we don't see a few changes after last week's 'performance' but what Arthur does could be anything - angry coaches can make big changes.
Sunday at Canberra 6:30pmRaiders $1.53 v $2.50 TitansFOOTYTAB: GLD +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:No idea here... Canberra are without Fensom and Papalii and that is HUGE... but the Titans played awfully last Sunday and Sezer is in serious doubt with a quad strain... I actually think the Titans can win the battle up front but will not pick them on the road here. Raiders by 6 points.| V Parmar @vinnyparmar |
| B Hoese @GunnerMcDagget |
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CAN - Despite carving up NSW Cup again - Cornish won't make the squad. McIlwrick may lose his spot to a bigger body but Shillington should return on the bench.
GLD - Sezer is in serious doubt with a quad strain (NOW OUT), Harrison or Zillman would move to five-eighth and Mead to fullback with Fai-Fai Loa likely to come onto the wing fi Sezer is out. Minichiello should be fine to take his spot on the bench should Falloon drop out (Carter to hooker)... and James may be preferred to White.
Monday at AAMI 7:05pmStorm $1.28 v $3.75 KnightsFOOTYTAB: NEW +12.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List
@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Melbourne have played okay in the first two weeks and have two wins, Newcastle have played fairly poorly and have two losses... Don't get Gidley at #9 when he is clearly Newcastle's best option for the #1 - and the Storm look healthy by comparison. Home team. Storm by 7 points.| M Duncan @MrPeninsula |
| G Delaney @AussieGreg84 |
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MEL - The Storm could bring O'Neill back this week after he was named in NSW Cup and Tonumaipea would make way if they do.
NEW - If Boyd gets on the plane (unlikely) of course you'd expect him to play, hard to see Gidley at FB despite it making more sense than Minto. Clydsdale returned in NSW Cup last week so if Bennett wants him in the squad, then Gidley may go to FB after all.
ROUND 3 PICK SUMMARY
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| @NRLTweet |
Rabbitohs by 16, Roosters by 8, Panthers by 4, Sharks by 2, Cowboys by 10, Sea Eagles by 16, Raiders by 6, Storm by 7.
LW: 5/8 | SEASON: 7/16
FOOTYTAB:
SOU -14.5, SYD -4.5, CBY +4.5, STI +2.5, WAR +10.5, MAN -10.5, CAN -4.5, NEW +12.5.
LW: 5/8 | SEASON: 7/16
Special Fried Rice: Rabbitohs -14.5. | Season SFR: 1/2
NQL -10.5, SYD -14.5, SOU -14.5
TIPPING Record after 2 Rounds - 7/16 @ 43.8%
FOOTYTAB Record after 2 Rounds - 7/16 @ 43.8%
SPECIAL FRIED RICE after 2 Rounds - 1/2 @ 50.0%
| V Parmar @vinnyparmar |
| J Gemmell @godofcheeseau |
| T Schroder @troy_79 |
| J Davies @DragonPunk12 |
| M McLucas @Jebadude |
| D McLucas @DMcLucas28 |
| N Wilbow @parramatters |
| G Delaney @AussieGreg84 |
| B Hoese @GunnerMcDagget |
| M Vickers @MercurialMattyV |
| M Perry @Chandler_BANG |
| D Chapman @Mr_DC11 |
| M Duncan @MrPeninsula |
| W Nicolson @NRLTweet |
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