
2014 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - April 16, 2014
Follow @NRLTweet
As a result - gradually - we are getting closer to being .500 on the season and it is about time!

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 of course the Late Mail.
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Click here for the Leaders after Round 5 |
The 'Special Fried Rice' picks have returned but given it is me v me, every week - I'll just be listing my 'SFR' of the week with the FootyTab Starts as the variation aspect to keep things interesting vs just saying 'this team will win this week - guaranteed'. Though at 2 from 6... the other me is kicking my butt.
HEADS UP: We will have a new episode of NOT The Footy Show - sometime in the next fortnight. So keep an eye on your iTunes Podcast folders for Episode 151 in the near future.
Round 6 Tipping was the first sign we are getting back to respectability at 4/8 (started 1 from 5!) and if we back it up this weekend - this tipping ship is back baby! Let's get 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.

Rabbitohs $1.83 v $2.00 Bulldogs
FOOTYTAB: CBY +3.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLSouCby:
| W Nicolson @NRLTweet |
| J Gemmell @godofcheeseau |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| J Gemmell @godofcheeseau |
HOME - The Bunnies may not have Auva'a due to a leg injury suffered late against the Panthers so Reddy, Johnston or Champion would replace him if he misses.
AWAY - The Dogs may bring Sam Kasiano into the squad ahead of O'Hanlon despite the bigger unit not being named.

Sea Eagles $1.36 v $3.25 Cowboys
FOOTYTAB: NQL +7.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLManNql:
| N Wilbow @parramatters |
| M Perry @Chandler_BANG |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| M Perry @Chandler_BANG |
HOME - King probably comes back in for Manly with Sene-Lefao or Hasson missing out. Matai should play after a head knock last week. Like I alluded to on Tuesday night - DCE has some sort of leg injury and it sounds like that if he's not right - he won't play. Adjust your lineups accordingly... though I'll still take Manly with my tip if he doesn't play. Cheyse Blair or David Williams would join the squad if DCE misses.
AWAY - Rona has now jumped past Feldt (as Wright did) for the Cowboys - while Cooper could miss with a knee injury and Hall would play. Linnett has a back concern but at this stage is still playing, with Feldt travelling to Sydney as cover.

Knights $1.75 v $2.10 Broncos
FOOTYTAB: BRI +2.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLNewBri:
| T Schroder @troy_79 |
| M Duncan @MrPeninsula |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| M Duncan @MrPeninsula |
HOME - Given the Knights won Bennett will stick with his winning combo (though it is still surprising to see Cuthbertson and Fa'alogo in NSW Cup) with Mantellato getting first crack at replacing the injured Uate... HOLD THE PHONE! Solid source from Newcastle announced on Twitter that Jake Mamo was 'congratulated by players' at training today... so maybe he, not Mantellato is getting the vacant wing spot. Or another outside back is in doubt... Sounds like Mamo is in for Mantellato - with Snowden out with a head knock and Cuthbertson coming back in.
AWAY - Don't see any changes for Brisbane with Oates or Wallace getting the last bench spot. Though Granville will probably travel as Thaiday is apparently struggling with a leg injury.

Dragons $1.62 v $2.35 Warriors
FOOTYTAB: WAR +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLSgiWar:
| D Chapman @Mr_DC11 |
| B Hoese @GunnerMcDagget |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| B Hoese @GunnerMcDagget |
HOME - The Dragons have lost Farrell (pectoral) so either Green, Mata'utia, Stanley or Runciman will come in... given we're dealing with Coach Price - it literally could be any of those four or Joel Thompson. de Belin will also return from suspension - likely on the bench.
AWAY - McFadden seems to have shown his hand in the Warriors' Tuesday lineup so I think we need to take it as the team that'll play Saturday.

Sharks $3.00 v $1.40 Roosters
FOOTYTAB: CRO +8.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLCroSyd:
| D McLucas @DMcLucas28 |
| M McLucas @Jebadude |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| M McLucas @Jebadude |
HOME - Gallen may actually be back Cronulla... while Tupou might be a chance as well with Ryan some hope of replacing Wright on the wing. De Gois was forced off against Manly with a knee injury so Lichaa may get a reprieve.
AWAY - Expect Napa to come back in for Evans, while Mortimer may force his way in ahead of both of them.

Raiders $2.25 v $1.66 Storm
FOOTYTAB: CAN +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLCanMel:
| G Delaney @AussieGreg84 |
| W Nicolson @NRLTweet |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| W Nicolson @NRLTweet |
HOME - Canberra are due changes but bar Edwards coming back - Stuart hasn't shown his hand... just have a feeling some outside backs might be replaced but it's only a feeling kids.
AWAY - Chambers will miss two weeks for the Storm (suspension) so it'll either be Fonua straight in or Kennar coming in on the wing and Waqa going to the centres.

Eels $1.45 v $2.80 Tigers
FOOTYTAB: WST +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLParWst:
| J Davies @DragonPunk12 |
| M Vickers @MercurialMattyV |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| M Vickers @MercurialMattyV |
HOME - Ben Smith back for Parra? He's up for media on Thursday so he has to be a chance... Pauli or Gower likely making way.
AWAY - Austin or Akauola for that final Tigers bench spot, while Rowe probably plays despite a hip knock.

Panthers $1.66 v $2.25 Titans
FOOTYTAB: GLD +2.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List


@NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Voters for #NRLPenGld:
| V Parmar @vinnyparmar |
| B Hoese @GunnerMcDagget |
Track live round votes via #NRLTweetPOTY| B Hoese @GunnerMcDagget |
HOME - Penrith probably don't have any changes, with Simmons and Plum likely back next week.
AWAY - Zillman gets an extra few days to be right for the Titans... so you imagine if he travels he plays. Don likely to miss out.
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@NRLTweet |
Bulldogs by 4, Sea Eagles by 10, Knights by 4, Dragons by 4, Roosters by 12, Storm by 10, Eels by 7, Panthers by 6.
LW: 4/8 | SEASON: 21/48
FOOTYTAB:
CBY +3.5, NQL +7.5, BRI +2.5, WAR +4.5, SYD -8.5, MEL -4.5, PAR -4.5, GLD +2.5.
LW: 3/8 | SEASON: 21/48
Special Fried Rice: CBY +3.5. | Season SFR: 2/6
NQL -10.5, SYD -14.5, SOU -14.5, SOU -8.5, MEL -12.5, MAN -6.5, CBY +3.5
TIPPING Record after 6 Rounds - 21/48 @ 43.8%
FOOTYTAB Record after 6 Rounds - 21/48 @ 43.8%
SPECIAL FRIED RICE after 6 Rounds - 2/6 @ 20.0%
| 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 |
Subscribe to the NOT The Footy Show Podcast on iTunes here and although we're not sure how often we'll record this year - it's worth being prepared right?