It’s getting serios now, with the first two finalists sent packing for the year, (and it pains me as a Souths fan to say deservedly so for the Rabbitohs after their second half of the year) we have 6 teams left, four of them in action this weekend.
One will likely be dubbed a classic finals game, read: lots of smashing each other and tight score line. The other game is more of the lottery as it will depends on which Cowboys side turns up in which half. Sharks proved last weekend that they won’t wait for the opposition to sort that one out.
FRIDAY NIGHT
ROOSTERS v BULLDOGS
Many except the very shrewd tipsters saw a Roosters loss coming last weekend, but Melbourne was a tough test of the premiership aspirations, and the loss was a setback that leaves them in kockout football this week.
It won’t get easier either, with the monster sized Bulldogs looking for revenge from their last game. That game was a cracker with the Bulldogs almost pulling off a great come from behind win. It will also be remembered for the tackle that flared up the argument over shoulder charging when Kane Evans received no punishment for what looked a lot like a shoulder charge that was meant to be banned. It probably didn’t affect that result, but certainly did the NRL’s credibility of patrolling judicial issues. In their rose, cyan, and white cloured glasses. we’ll leave that conspiracy theory for another day.
The question is can the Bulldogs bully the Roosters enough to blunt their attack, which on paper looks far superior to the Bulldogs, The question asked on behalf of the Roosters is if they can contain all giant men. Mitchell Pearce not playing also raises a question, but given his lack of playing hasn’t hurt them until last weekend, and his performances for NSW in the big games it may well already be answered.
Both teams were a little under par last weekend, and more of the same will see of their 2015 campaign.
GURGLER MULTI TIP: BULLDOGS +4.5 start (choose your line)
SATURDAY NIGHT
COWBOYS v SHARKS
It is knockout finals time, and that will mean it’s controversial decision time to knock the Cowboys out of the finals again. Perhaps that is a little overexaggerated, but the NRL does have form with this team and this stage of the season. If it happens again, but in Townsville the referees may well need to be airlifted out of the ground.
The Sharks coincidentally were one of the teams that have been involved in a previous Cowboys theft with their seventh tackle try. Thankfully the referee from that game was rewarded with World Cup appointments instead of Kumon.
Cronulla were by far the most impressive team last weekend, and a repeat of that effort will give them a big chance against the North Queensland side, who have not had the best second half of the season, and who are yet to beat the Sharks in two home and away attempts.
The Sharks won’t get an opposition as lacklustre as last week though, and there’ll be plenty more to defend against with a spine of Coote, Morgan, Thurston and Granville. The Sharks have their secret weapon too in Ben Barba, and there could be plenty of entertainment late in the game.
Given the second half season form, and Cowboys terrible record for luck in the finals, we’re plumping for a Sharks upset at 1300 Smiles stadium, where the only 1300 smiles will be the travelling Sharks fans.
GURGLER MULTI TIP: SHARKS to win.
GURGLER MULTI: $1 for $7
