Wednesday 23 December 2015

All your #NRL Team wants for Christmas... 2015 Edition

Dear Santa...

National Rugby League Premiership

By W D Nicolson - December 23, 2015



The longest off-season in recent memory is about to hit Christmas - but it's not like nothing has happened... so The NRL Tweet takes a quick look at what your NRL team wants from Santa heading into 2016. 

The Brisbane Broncos want... a strike centre to replace Justin Hodges. And yep - Santa paid Red Hill a visit a little early with Master Roberts.

The Canberra Raiders want... Ricky Stuart's hand-picked roster to stay healthy. Stuart will be there for a long time but a playoff spot would win over any Canberra fans who still have doubts. 

The Canterbury Bulldogs want... Moses Mbye to be the answer at #7... and/or - Josh Reynolds to be the old Josh Reynolds in the #6.

The Cronulla Sharks want... James Maloney and Chad Townsend to transform a gritty grinding team into one who can create points regularly... and for Ben Barba to thrive as a result. 

The Gold Coast Titans want... James Roberts back. And maybe a time machine so that the optimism that surrounded the club after 'signing' DCE is still permeating around the Gold Coast. 

The Manly Sea Eagles want... their bevy of quality new signings (Dylan Walker, Martin Taupau and Nate Myles) to help the fans forget that they couldn't keep the Foran-DCE partnership together.

The Melbourne Storm want... to be in a position come September to have at least one more crack at a premiership with Smith, Cronk and Slater together and healthy. Oh and Craig Bellamy to stick around as well. 

The Newcastle Knights want... to just get off the bottom of the table and for Nathan Brown to realise he's inheriting a roster nowhere near as 'premiership ready' as when he took over the Dragons.

The North Queensland Cowboys want... to have 2015 happen all over again. 

The Parramatta Eels want... Jarryd Hayne to come home... and want to play for them. 

The Penrith Panthers want... Matt Moylan to be able to be Matt Moylan pre-leg injury again.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs want... Sam Burgess to be worth jettisoning so much established talent to fit him under the cap. (He will be.)

The St George Illawarra Dragons want... their forward pack to stand up like it did in 2015. And for their fans to follow them to all 4 home grounds...

The Sydney Roosters want... RTS and Maloney back. They'll be missed big time but even still, the Chooks won't fall off the playoff map without them. 

The Warriors want... the team they now have on paper to be as good in reality. RTS and Issac Luke are stupendous pickups by Jim Doyle... now let's see if Andrew McFadden can hold on to his gig if they start slow.

The Wests Tigers want... the last 4 months or so back like it never happened. The good news is it kind of didn't... because Robbie's still there.

And finally... what does The NRL Tweet want?

For Thursday Night Football to be a hit and the fans embrace it all 18 times it happens in 2016... because it isn't going away like Monday Night Football is. So make the best of it footy fans and you might just like going to the footy at the end of the week... 


Merry Christmas everyone.


What do you want for your club?
Let us know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 17 December 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review with Spoilers - so don't click if you haven't seen it...

STAR WARS EPISODE 7 REVIEW
By Warrick Nicolson, Thursday 17 December 2015

Please do not keep reading if you haven't seen Star Wars Episode 7 - The Force Awakens... do keep reading if you have.

I can't be any clearer than that.

So here we go... fresh from the midnight session at the Hayden Orpheum in Cremorne Sydney and it's 3:28am by the time I finished this.


J.J. Abrams... take a bow.

Star Wars Episode 7 - The Force Awakens is a great night at the movies and to the whole crew involved - you take us back to what we wanted to see... almost literally :)

I've just got home from the first session with a bunch of other Star Wars devotees and yep... we were all talking about one thing exiting the movie but I think the fact it is something Harrison Ford wanted since they started filming The Empire Strikes Back means the real Star Wars lovers out there should not have been surprised.

Yep - Han Solo so-longs the galaxy. 

I won't go into the story with this review beyond my notes about the movie - they aren't necessarily linear but hopefully they make enough sense and are modestly entertaining views on what is clearly - already - the 4th Best Star Wars movie yet.

So Han Solo dies... you get that yet?

In a nutshell - his good kid turned bad kid Ben (Kylo Ren) does the deed in a pretty clearly sign-posted fashion: 'help me break free dad... oh to do that I had to kill you dad, so sorry... did I not mention that?'

His sister... or not - well Rey (the sand planet scavenger if by some reason you don't know who I am talking about) is angled as his sister and if she isn't - she is his cousin - Luke's daughter but given the hug Leia gives her (when she hasn't met her before??? or did I miss that scene in the Australian cut?) after Han dies - me thinks Leia knows more than she told Han old dead buddy.

Both are key elements of the movie - I give Rey points for the more bankable story of coming to her powers (yes she's the one that 'awakens'... and comes from a far off planet with a lot of sand... hence why the Luke daughter thing is 'somewhat' plausible alternative to the obvious one driven) - and Ren (or Ben as Han calls him before he gets gutted) is the one born into power... and turns.

Because of a pretty lame villain called 'Snoke'... okay the name is worse than Maul, Grievous and Dooku... in fact it's awful and a poor attempt given Vader doesn't mean anything but simply works - and so - wait for it - does Palpatine!!!

Is this a Palpatine clone... well we don't really get a clue and he's in the film but without much impact really - but I will say one thing he did better than Max von Sydow - who must have been paid by the millisecond he was in the film because his Episode 7 appearance wasn't worth him being on the cast list for.

Back on Snoke - he just doesn't give you a reason to think he turned Ben/Ren logically... not that Palpatine eventually did that with prequel Anakin but you kind of give Return of the Jedi Palpy the benefit of the doubt given how he controls him... until the end anyway.

Snoke will get fleshed out obviously but as of right now - I kind of nothing him.

But back to Han... that's Harrison Ford's Han Solo at his best for basically the whole movie and then Leia goes telling him that he's the only one who can save Ben and whammo... gets him killed for listening to her. Good one Leia.

Kudos Mr Ford - you gave us more of Han (what we wanted) and though it sucks to see you go... that was a great movie performance to go out in.

Chewie is good but I still can't work out why he didn't hug Leia first off the ship... they both had the strongest relationship with Han of anyone... anyhoo.

I haven't touched on 'Finn' (Mr Stormtrooper) yet and that's because while he is a good enough character - and kind of entertaining - he's not really that plot important - he's there - a lot - but he's not can't miss in the story... but he does enough along the way to make you like him and he's there to kind of fill the gaping hole Han will leave in the next two films and I think his importance will grow in terms of how much you care about him... because let's be honest - he gets cut down by Ren and you kind of don't really care... you just want to see Rey pick up the lightsaber and show us miraculously that she's a gun from swing one yeah?

Anyhoo - more quick points:

Death Star Story 3.0... pass. I know they needed a good device to make the final act sing and it did deliver but it's just a little 'been there, done that' for my liking. I think if it'd just been a base of operations blowing it up would've worked the same way as a blow against the First Order...

Speaking of the First Order... I'll allow it. The Empire had to rise again but their generals/officers are so so - esp Rhys Darby's younger and clearly unfunny brother's General gig... you ain't Grand Moff Tarkin buddy so why they asked him to try and be a younger version of him I do not understand. Standing up to Ren like he was his superior = NO. It doesn't make Ren fearsome... yes I get that evidently that's what they want it to be - ie. wants to be like Darth Vader in every way... but is failing at that (hence his weakness) but still...

Who/Where is this Republic we read about in the opening credits? Nowhere to be seen kids... a pity.

The humour across the film is a winner... even if it seems to be very Abrams' Star Trek Volume 2-ish... but it works.

Poe Dameron is out of the film too long given they give him value early then try to make you think he's bought it... still room to grow here and that's a tick from me.

Love the fighter scenes - they got that RIGHT.

Does the First Order have like only one Death Star 3.0 and one overstacked Star Destroyer in their whole fleet or what? SHOW ME A FLEET!

Lots of X-Wings for the win.

Back on Ren - why make him so powerful only to have Finn then Rey basically match him second and first chance they get with a lightsaber? Mmmmmmm didn't like that.

Look for Ren to be Darth Ren by Episode 8's opening scene... he got cut to bits.

Han and Chewie lost the Falcon? Sorry, no. Not buying it.

However - yes I was buying Han running away when Ben became Ren... that fit nicely character wise. Just a shame Leia seemed to just accept it per the story...

The female stormtrooper commander is wasted without a face reveal - we have no reason to care if she shows up next time and I think if you make it appear she's going to kick butt (but doesn't) you waste the intro in this movie...

Who died in Finn's arms in the opening scene - I sense a flashback is on the way!

And finally...

No R2D2 and no Luke for like the whoooooole movie.... Ouch.

Luke needed to be in there somewhere... heck Ren even tried to make us think Vader is in it... but Luke had to be in there... vision/flashback... something - anything.

That end scene could be the most disappointing - we had to see Luke in the film but who stands up there just 'waiting' for someone... how does he eat or get fresh water up there? Just put him in a cave like the strange old hermit Obi-wan was and at least that makes the exact same robe get-up work for him. But even in exile you can't just stand there... for ever.

So there it is... I've left out things but overall that's a great night at the movies.

8.5 out of 10 and once I see it again it could go to a 9.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did if you are still reading this far dow... and so long Mr Solo.

You will be missed.

PS. So who is Snoke people? Luke's dark side manifestation or the Emperor's clone... or Darth Vader's spirit?

PPS. I can't wait 2 full years to find that out... and yet I somehow stayed spoiler free since the July trailer!!!

Night.

Thursday 3 September 2015

#NRL Round 26 Tips | Finally... it's over. #NRLBroncosStorm #NRLRoostersSouths

Round 26 - Well I tried...

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - September 3, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

Well I can still reach the 60% tipping mark in 2015... if I go perfect in Round 26.

I'm not going to feature in the top tipsters in the Postie comp I'm masquerading in after a pretty poor effort in 2 of the last 4 weeks - so let's aim to get 5 or 6 right this week so at least we can look semi-respectable.

My flatmate is still a chance in that comp... he picked 7/8 last week and got the Titans over Saints... but the genius picked Manly over the Roosters... I mean so did I but I'm not about to be a hope of winning that comp now am I?

This year has been another tough one to get excited about the footy from a tipping point of view but isn't that what everyone says when you start out tipping okay and then end up with a 58.7% success rate?

So my apologies if you didn't feature in your tipping comp in 2015 by relying on my tips this year - I've done what I could but it just wasn't a year that was kind... plus I didn't pick Saints for 4 months (ie when they were actually good) so that hasn't helped anyone.

Good luck if your team can still make the Finals and enjoy September - it truly is the best time of the year.

Game of NRL Round 26 is Thursday night at Suncorp - Broncos v Storm. No Ben Hunt takes some gloss off... and opens the door big time to Melbourne. 

ROUND 26 TIPS
Storm over Broncos
Roosters over Souths
Panthers over Knights
Dragons over Tigers
Cowboys over Titans
Raiders over Eels
Sharks over Manly
Bulldogs over Warriors

Last week 5/8: No dice on Manly, Warriors or Dragons.

2015 SEASON TIPS: 108/184 at 58.7%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6 | 7/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 2/8 | 6/8 | 3/8 | 5/8

Agree with my Round 26 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 27 August 2015

#NRL Round 25 Tips | No late run this year... #NRLSouthsBroncos #NRLManlyRoosters

Round 25... Dud year coming to an end.

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - August 27, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

So back to pathetic tipping sorry kids... 3/8 and it was only Super Saturday that was of any help.

Good luck with your tips though!


Game of NRL Round 25 is Friday night at Brookie - Manly v Roosters.

ROUND 25 TIPS
Broncos over Souths
Manly over Roosters
Sharks over Eels
Bulldogs over Knights
Storm over Cowboys
Warriors over Tigers
Dragons over Titans
Raiders over Panthers

Like I said... good luck!

Last week 3/8: Yuck... 

2015 SEASON TIPS: 103/176 at 58.5%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6 | 7/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 2/8 | 6/8 | 3/8

Agree with my Round 25 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 20 August 2015

#NRL Round 24 Tips | This is the week... #NRLDragonsPanthers #NRLSouthsBulldogs

Round 24... Perfect Round Time!

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - August 20, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

So 6/8 last week... in a double up round... that's acceptable troops... but if The Postman wants to win the Tipping Comp full of actual postmen - Round 24 has to be a perfect round.

With one or two upsets.

So good luck if you follow my tips on Thursday and Friday night this week people - I'm going with the underdog... just not the actual Dogs.

Game of NRL Round 24 is Saturday night in Sydney - Roosters v Broncos.

Can the SFS draw a crowd above 25k? No reason it shouldn't - and hey, can we wish for 30+k? Should be a cracker.

ROUND 24 TIPS
Panthers over Dragons - No Thompson for Saints has me tipping the Penny Panthers as I really like Peachey in the #6.
Souths over Bulldogs - Don't know what Dogs team turns up and if Stewart or Sutton plays at #6 I don't think the Bunnies suffer too badly without Keary... but no Luke is a concern. But so are the Dogs turning up to play... and they don't have a hooker at all.
Sharks over Tigers - Tigers good enough on their day and the Sharks are bad enough on their day as well... over to you Cronulla - bounce back from a really poor performance v Melbourne please.
Cowboys over Warriors - The Warriors can't beat the Cowboys right? Well don't rule it out... I'm still not convinced the Cows are that good. They should win this by 20+ really... right?
Roosters over Broncos - Bring it on! I think the Chooks are a better team but if the Broncos starting pack can hold their own and thus don't let their much poorer bench get exposed - they are in this up to their eyeballs.
Raiders over Titans - Season is over for both teams but I expect the Raiders to play like a team free of pressure and win by a quite a few on Sunday.
Manly over Eels - Manly should win this by 30 if they genuinely want to play in the Finals.
Storm over Knights - Cannot see Melbourne dropping this one after such an emphatic win at Cronulla last Monday. That said the Knights are a danger team when they just play footy and not worry about anything else.

Last week 6/8: Souths and the Knights burned me... but hey we raised the bat!

2015 SEASON TIPS: 100/168 at 59.5%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6 | 7/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 2/8 | 6/8

Agree with my Round 24 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 13 August 2015

#NRL Round 23 Tips | Last chance to double up... #NRLCowboysSouths #NRLBroncosDragons

Round 23... Hail Mary time!

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - August 13, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

The tipping comp I'm in allows 2 Double Up rounds in a season.. and after looking at Round 24-26 - Round 23 is our second dip at the double.

Doesn't mean we are happy with our picks - but the time is now to strike if I want to be any kind of title winning hope...

So Mr Tipping Comp - double up The Postman's tips this week... so like 3/8 x 2... gulp.

Game of NRL Round 23 is Thursday night in Townsville - Cowboys v Souths.

Are the Cows a real trendsetter in this comp or are the Bunnies not dead yet? Find out tonight.

ROUND 23 TIPS
Cowboys over Souths
Broncos over Dragons
Tigers over Knights
Panthers over Warriors
Roosters over Eels
Manly over Canberra
Bulldogs over Titans
Storm over Sharks

Last week 2/8: Missed well... everyone bar Storm and Chooks. OUCH.

2015 SEASON TIPS: 94/160 at 58.8%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6 | 7/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 2/8

Agree with my Round 23 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 6 August 2015

#NRL Round 22 Tips | Stay on target... #NRLBroncosBulldogs #NRLManlySouths

Round 22... Stay on target.

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - August 6, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

The run of good tipping continued - 6/8 in what seemed like a tougher week than Round 20 (when we doubled-up and got 5/8) - and we finally get back past the 60% success mark.

So with 5 rounds left - we want to finish with a run of better than average tipping - so let's see what we can do.


Game of NRL Round 22 is Saturday night at The Tip - Sharks v Cowboys.

Are the Cowboys really the best team in the comp right now? The Broncos showed themselves as a good side who got pumped by Manly last weekend... but the Cowboys came back from 18-0 down at home and took the Raiders apart in the 2nd Half. Cows win at Cronulla and they join the Chooks as my clear premiership favourites.

ROUND 22 TIPS
Broncos over Bulldogs - Over to you Broncos - show me (and people that actually matter) that last week's impression of a speed bump v Manly wasn't the real Broncos... I think Brisbane are a good side but they aren't a great one. Lucky for them I'm not even sure the Dogs are a good side as it is.
Souths over Manly - Look I want Manly in 7th or 8th spot but can't pick their pack v South Sydney's pack. So Bunnies 18-16 here.
Warriors over Dragons - Winner looks a lot better placed for a Top 8 spot - but these 2 points are just delaying the inevitable of missing the Finals. Dragons fired kind of last weekend while the Warriors should have done better against the Sharks... good to see a game in Wellington if you are looking for a positive element to this game.
Cowboys over Sharks - Bring this game on... if Fifita was around I'd seriously lean Sharks... but it's Robson v JT kids... go JT.
Panthers over Eels - Parra get Norman back which really really improves their attack but Penrith have the edge up front for mine and I just don't want to be that guy who picks Parra and then watch them get pumped... actual Parra fans no doubt know what I'm talking about - and no, I don't support Parra.
Storm over Titans - Storm by 20 and it could be double that if Melbourne start fast.
Roosters over Knights - Chook try-fest on the way Newcastle.
Raiders over Tigers - Actually like the Tigers in this contest but have to stop short of tipping them because if the Raiders want anyone to take their 2015 season as a genuine rebuilding year for the future - they need to win this and stay in the Top 8 race.

Last week 6/8: Missed Tigers and Manly.

2015 SEASON TIPS: 92/152 at 60.5%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6 | 7/8 | 5/8 | 6/8

Agree with my Round 22 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 30 July 2015

#NRL Round 21 Tips | Still chasing... #NRLRoostersBulldogs #NRLCowboysRaiders #NRLSouthsPanthers

Round 21... Underwhelming returns.

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - July 30, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

It wasn't the double-up-palooza I was hoping for in Round 20 but to get away with 5/8 isn't all bad...

Still... if you get double your tips in one round a year you do want a minimum of 6 tips but in the comp I can play the double-up I do get a second crack - but anything less than 6 next time puts me out of the running.

Then again, I could've tipped 2 or 3...

Game of NRL Round 21 is Saturday night and it is two games - Cowboys v Raiders and Manly v Broncos.

I think the first game will be 28-24 or something and the other one closer to a 6-16 result... but both should be fairly entertaining in their own way.

ROUND 21 TIPS
Roosters over Bulldogs - Dogs capable, Chooks my pick.
Storm over Tigers - Farah likely back but the Storm need the win more than the Tigers.
Sharks over Warriors - Lolohea could turn this if he believes he can... otherwise even minus Fifita and Lewis - the Sharks look like they believe in themselves far more than the rest of the Warriors.
Cowboys over Raiders - Canberra could spring an upset... but don't think JT lets it happen easy so stick with the Cows.
Broncos over Manly - Up front is where the Broncos should have Manly's measure... but I'm still not 100% sold that Brisbane are a great side but they should win this.
Dragons over Knights - Nothing Saints have done for two months suggest they deserve to be favourites here... but the Knights did get dusted by 50 last week... have to go with the home ground advantage here but Saints do nothing for me and Newcastle might have a real dig for Buderus. Not sold this is my final pick yet but Saints for the time being.
Souths over Panthers - You can expect Souths to win here but Penrith weren't terrible last week and could very well have beaten the Raiders late.
Titans over Eels - Who knows... home team.

Last week 5/8: Missed Warriors, Panthers and Bulldogs.

2015 SEASON TIPS: 86/144 at 59.7%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6 | 7/8 | 5/8

Agree with my Round 21 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 23 July 2015

#NRL Round 20 Tips | Double Up Time #NRLBroncosTitans #NRLWarriorsManly #NRLBulldogsSharks

Round 20... Time to step it up

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - July 23, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

It's time to play a double points cards if they exist in your tipping comp people.

I'll be playing mine - ironically enough - in the comp I'm in against a bunch of actual postmen, and this comp actually allows you to play two in a season... so after missing only the Raiders last week - I'm angry at myself for not doing the double up in consecutive weeks. Especially given I deliberately waited til late in the season to play them.

Game of NRL Round 20 is Sunday afternoon at Belmore - Bulldogs v Sharks.

Just expect the Sharks to give a real good account of themselves, even if I think the Dogs win at Belmore. Will be worth watching... that said I'll be taking half the family out to Penrith for Sunday afternoon footy in the actual sun.

ROUND 20 TIPS
Broncos over Titans - Lock it in Eddie, Broncos might get pushed but surely they don't drop this as they aim to hold on to their Minor Premiership lead.
Roosters over Tigers - No Farah = no way I'm picking the Tigers... in any game, let alone against arguably the most potent footy team in the comp in Easts.
Warriors over Manly - Want to pick Manly because I think them making a run at the Finals is a half decent storyline... but if the Warriors want to consolidate their own place in September footy - they need to win this. Manly's campaign will be officially over if they do lose.
Storm over Dragons - Melbourne play anything remotely like they did against Penrith and they win and win well. Saints are not tracking well at all... and I expect it to be 7 losses in a row on Saturday in Napier, NZ.
Souths over Knights - Souths turn up at the wrong ground and Newcastle are a chance.
Panthers over Raiders - Pains me to do it as Canberra have to win a game like this to remain any kind of Top 8 hope but Josh McCrone in the #7 just doesn't cut it Ricky Stuart. Penrith thanks.
Bulldogs over Sharks - Doggies at home... as indicated above.
Cowboys over Eels - it'll be 48-0 if JT continues his magic show on Monday Night.

Last week 7/8: Only missed on Canberra... gee not picking an actual halfback didn't hurt did it?

2015 SEASON TIPS: 81/136 at 59.6%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6 | 7/8

Agree with my Round 20 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 16 July 2015

#NRL Round 19 Tips | Johnny's on fire! #NRLEelsBulldogs #NRLStormPanthers #NRLBroncosTigers

Round 19... Stick with us.

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - July 16, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

Is this actual tipping form I'm in of late?

You better believe it! 


Had I not given Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk the benefit of the doubt that the Warriors were pretty ordinary (which I think they kind of are... but in this comp - you can be ordinary and still be in 4th spot after 18 Rounds - go figure) - I'd have dropped just 3 tips in the past 3 Rounds.

So good signs!

Game of NRL Heritage Round 19 is Sunday afternoon at the SFS - Roosters v Warriors.

The Chooks are real good and if the Warriors want us to think they are real good - they'd want to show up on Sunday.

ROUND 19 TIPS
Bulldogs over Eels - Forget Parra's 4 game winning streak, Dogs should win this if they want to be playing in September.
Storm over Panthers - Cam Smith's 300th is enough reason for me.
Raiders over Sharks - Handy match up - expect this to be a pretty entertaining game of footy and I'm not at all convinced Canberra win.
Knights over Titans - Season is over for Knights if they lose, and even though the Titans sit 2 points ahead of them on the ladder - it might already be over for them. Go home team.
Souths over Dragons - Some big ins for the Dragons but don't you dare pick against the Bunnies with GI and Reynolds back together.
Roosters over Warriors - Do not trust the Warriors but picking the Chooks at home during the day is just the smart option regardless.
Broncos over Tigers - The Brisbane we've seen in 2015 simply don't drop this game... the Broncos of the couple of seasons before this one were more than capable of doing so.
Cowboys over Manly - I like Manly's mojo right now but the Cowboys are 2nd on the ladder kids and JT/Scott/Morgan have had a good long break since Origin - go the Cows.

Last week 5/6: Only missed on Melbourne... and didn't go near the Dragons.

2015 SEASON TIPS: 74/128 at 57.8%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4 | 5/6

Agree with my Round 19 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.

Thursday 9 July 2015

#NRL Round 18 Tips | QLD are Great... duh. #NRLRaidersKnights #NRLWarriorsStorm #NRLSharksDragons

Round 18... 9 from 10.

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - July 9, 2015

We love this... so it's staying as our tipping mascot for the rest of 2015

Fair dinkum Queensland... did you have to be so good at Rugby League?

NSW got chewed up and spat out of Suncorp Stadium... and hey, we had the last 12 months to smile right?

Well done QLD - you were superb.

Oh and hey... we did a new NOT The Footy Show Podcast on Sunday - yes, pre-Origin but still not unentertaining.
Hey look... its Episode 153!

Game of Round 18 is Saturday night at ANZ - Bulldogs v Broncos.

I actually like the look - entertainment wise - of nearly every game this weekend (6 games only as the byes finally finish for 2015) so it's not the worst weekend to be stuck at home in front of the box. But I want to see Brisbane flex their premiership muscle this Saturday and if they rest a few players - it'll be certainly tested by a pretty handy Dogs side of late.

ROUND 18 TIPS
Raiders over Knights - EXACTLY the kind of game Canberra has lost the past half dozen or so years... need to win it to stay firmly in the Top 8 mix and get to play a team below them on the ladder... you'd think I'd take heed of history and pick Newcastle based on the above but I can't do that given what the 2 points mean to the Raiders... especially at home where they only have a single win this year. They HAVE to win this or they could fold in the 2nd Half of the season. This game is huge.
Roosters over Penrith - I should be giving Penrith more respect after two good wins and the Chooks not really showing me they are 'on' at the moment... but their team is pretty healthy if Pearce, Cordner and Guerra backup as expected - they are a better team than the Panthers, so I'm picking them.
Broncos over Bulldogs - Want to see who backs up for Brisbane before I confirm my tip - but gotta back the Broncos and their current defensive wall right now... that said, Dogs are going okay of late and don't suck at home. Leaning Broncos based on ladder position atm.
Storm over Warriors - Hurrell and probably Hoffman are big outs and the Storm have a game that I reckon suits the slippery twilight/evening conditions of Mt Smart - this game might be a 4pm start but that's practically mid-night like conditions in NZ. If Cronk and Smith play I like Melbourne in a low scorer.
Sharks over Dragons - Not getting burnt 3 weeks in a row Dragons... and even if you win I'll still feel better about myself than after picking you for the past fortnight.
Manly over Titans - If Manly lose this their ordinary season is officially woeful. Surely they don't let this one slip - even in DCE's 'return' to the Gold Coast.

As for my #Origin 3 tip... I repeat from last week: "Farah plays I think NSW can do it... Ennis plays and say hello QLD!"

Last week 3/4: Only missed on Dragons... I now loathe the Dragons! (I copy/pasted this from last week... seriously Saints!!!)

2015 SEASON TIPS: 69/122 at 56.6%
Round by Round: 5/8 | 5/8 | 6/8 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 3/8 | 1/8 | 4/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 2/4 | 3/7 | 5/8 | 1/4 | 4/7 | 7/8 | 3/4

Agree with my Round 18 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.