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.

Monday 6 July 2015

NOT The Footy Show Episode 153: #Origin 3 Picks and #NRL Team Evaluations Special! #NTFS

FRESH DRIBBLE... 

Join DC and Waz for a 2015 NOT The Footy Show Special!

26 minutes or so of old fashioned #NTFS waffle with us trying to pick the Origin 3 winner, evaluating your NRL team entering the run into September and we reveal our new sponsor* - nrlshop.com - doesn't even know they are getting a free plug!

*Sponsorship tbc...

Stream the Podcast below:

Subscribe to the show on iTunes 
Download the mp3 version 


LIKE the show on Facebook or 
Catch up with us on Twitter: @NRLTweet

Thursday 2 July 2015

#NRL Round 17 Tips | Back baby #NRLPanthersSouths #NRLDragonsCowboys #NRLTigersEels

Round 17... Check your tips!

2015 National Rugby League Premiership
By W D Nicolson - July 2, 2015

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

Hands up if you only got Parramatta wrong last weekend?

Now hands up if on one of the two sites you log your tips in you inexplicably had Canberra down as your pick instead of the Warriors - despite declaring the Warriors from Wednesday on...

This guy.

Sigh... it was bad enough changing from Parra to Saints (for the first time this year!!!) but to drop a tip in the work comp because of pure stupidity is amazingly frustrating.

Game of Round 17 is Sunday Arvo at Brookie - Manly v Cronulla.

Manly have their backline fit (bar Lyon - who might be a late addition) and Cronulla just beat the Cowboys in Nth Qld without Paul Gallen. They don't have Gallen or Ennis but their forward pack is going great right now... this should be handy contest.

ROUND 17 TIPS
Penrith over Souths - I was a believer in the Panthers at Leichhardt... but that was against the Tigers... I'm not sold on Penrith at all in this but Joel Reddy is lining up for Souths - so Penrith it is.
Dragons over Cowboys - Give me Widdop and Marshall over Lui and Thompson any day of every week... and I don't like Saints at all but no faith in Cowboys sans their stars.
Manly over Sharks - This could change 85 times before Friday's cut-off... I liked Cronulla all week but Manly with Foran and DCE and a moderately okay pack... I guess I have to back them now Ennis is out despite Cronulla's pack going really good of late. But backline wise Manly are much stronger.
Eels over Tigers - Tigers probably wake up... Eels probably go back to sleep... but how you tip either of these team with any serious conviction is beyond me.

As for #Origin 3... heck, Farah plays I think NSW can do it... Ennis plays and say hello QLD!

Last week 7/8: Only missed on Dragons... I now loathe the Dragons!

2015 SEASON TIPS: 66/118 at 55.9%
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

Agree with my Round 17 Tips?
Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or replying on Twitter.