The Gurgler has our weekly preview of NRL Round 22 – the Kick to Come – which has our thoughts about rugby league this weekend in the NRL.
For instance, we could write our preview like most other places – e.g. Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne. Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne, Hayne.
Hopefully all this Hayne-work doesn’t overshadow what should be a good weekend of football. Although the Dragons v Broncos game on Thursday night doesn’t enthuse a great deal, so maybe the Hayne saga is a welcome distraction after all.
One more thing on Jarryd Hayne to the Gold Coast before we look at the NRL Round 22. The Gold Coast Titans were in some financial difficulty and were bailed out by the NRL in 2015. One wonders if Hayne on the Gold Coast is their last attempt to get arses on seats. To boost the profile of the Gold Coast club. It could work beautifully if Hayne stays and plays well. It could well be the last straw for the club If he doesn’t like it after half a season and changes his mind again.
Onto the five things we’re looking out for this weekend.
IF THE BRONCOS CAN’T BEAT THE DRAGONS – CAN THEY EVEN MAKE THE EIGHT
For a side who were premiership favourites, and deservingly so earlier in the season, it is hard to believe how bad it has got. The Broncos have won just twice since mid May, and whilst teams can be unlucky, the dive in performance of the Brisbane side is hard to believe. They have looked recently no better than the six feeder clubs they have l in the Queensland Cup competition. Whilst some may point out that some of the underperformers are from that comp, players like Milford and Ben Hunt have been especially disappointing.
With so many of the sides in the bottom half of the eight and in the fringes playing much better than Brisbane, they can’t afford to lose any games at all. The magic number of wins they need is very achievable, but on recent form is not guaranteed.
HOW MANY CAN MELBOURNE BEAT SOUTHS BY
One of those two Broncos wins was against South Sydney, the only side going worse than Brisbane right now. One wonders if Souths have reached the lowest point or there’s worse to come. After a 50 point thrashing by Canberra last weekend, you certainly hope not. The return of Greg Inglis may look a bonus on paper, but he has been one of the worst to underperform the most this season. The general basic skills are ordinary, and if nothing changes going into 2017, they will find themselves at the bottom of the ladder with no friends.
Given how Melbourne look to be building towards the finals, this could get ugly for Souths.
GAME OF THE ROUND ON FOX SPORTS, AS PER USUAL
The dreadful Commercial Tv allocation of games (which we’ve already bitched about here) continues in NRL Round 22, with one of the games of the round relegated to the Saturday evening. The game is Sharks v Canberra is only 1st v 3rd.
These two sides suffered worse with the TV allocation, that is, they are one of three teams to get zero TV Games on Channel 9. But should you be surprised? In the case of Sharks yes, and Canberra no. The Raiders usually get the condescending Origin period clashes on TV, but with their current form and ladder position, they deserve better. The Sharks lack of Rabs action puts some merit behind the claim that the draw for the last 5 rounds was done last year and only announced later in 2016. How else could you explain a Sydney team, leading the comp, and looking good for Grand Final not being selected.
One for the Fox Sports snobs.
NZ AT THEIR SECOND HOME
NZ Warriors meet the Hayne Titans this weekend, in what should normally be an entertaining clash. Both sides are 7th and 8th and could leapfrog the Broncos with a win.
Both of these would be a welcome addition to the final 8, and both can still make it. The Warriors will be hoping to avoid another Golden Point, same for the Gold Coast who both played in games longer than 80 minutes last week. NZ should get a decent crowd supporting them too, whether they will outnumber the Titans fans will depends on Jarryd Hayne.
FIFTH AND LAST – WILL THURSTON PLAY?
Come Sunday, it will hopefully be about the football once the novelty of the Gold Coast’s new signing wears off.
Cowboys need Thurston too, as they are good without him, but not great. It would make the Sunday afternoon game watchable for a change.
MULTI
$1 for $251
DRAGONS +12 start v Brisbane
PARRAMATTA +7.5 start v Manly
BULLDOGS Win 13+ v Newcastle
OVER 42.5 points – Sharks v Canberra
MELBOURNE -29.5 v Souths
NZ to beat Gold Coast
NORTH QLD to beat Tigers
PENRITH to beat Roosters
