Welcome to The Gurgler’s Kick to Come – our NRL Round 2 preview.
After a Round 1 that was good but not great, we’re looking forward to plenty more this weekend.
There was still the all new Fox League Channel to ensure that too much rugby league will never be enough in 2017, but we watched all the games on Fox Sports last year, and we really don’t need any more Ben Ikin or Paul Kent.
We’ve already supplied our thoughts on the season ahead, but now it’s time to concentrate on the first week.
Each week we ask questions on the round ahead and answer them ourselves, mainly because no one else will. We also provide our “best bets” on the weekend action and our tipping competition.
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE NRL ROUND 2 PREVIEW
Q1 – How long until the Roosters earn the tag “Real Deal”?
A – Not long if they keep going like they did in Round 1.
Q2 – Is Friday > Monday?
A – The verdict is out, but serving up Bulldogs v Storm was never going to be one to win over the sceptics. Although the punching might.
Q3 – Why do we call the Broncos v Cowboys match a local derby?
A – Newspaper of the Year.
Q4 – Can Newcastle win more games this year?
A – Surely after their fine Round 1 showing.
Q5 – Will Greg Inglis’ injury affect Souths season?
A – If you saw Souths play last year, when he only started playing well when Souths couldn’t make the finals, then No.
Q6 – Is the off field saga about Jarryd Hayne a way of ensuring we keep talking about Jarryd Hayne because he didn’t do much in Round 1.
A – Probably.
Q7 – Were Penrith the most hated team after Round 1?
A – Yeah. Pity the poor Penrith fan in the workplace who took all kinds of flak because of failed Office Tipping comp tips.
Q8 – Can the Dragons surprise us again?
A – How would we bloody know, so few would have picked that Round 1 result.
Will any of our questions be answered? Find out with our review at the end of the week. But probably not.
THE GURGLER’S NRL TIPPING COMPETITION
Each week we will supply our tips for the week ahead, plus take on some guest tipsters. They are likely to determined by a ridiculous method. Will arse beat class? Probably. Pity we’re neither.
We have done it for the EPL, but next to none reads it. So we hope to get at least half of those people for the NRL tipping.
It is like the BBC EPL Tips of Lawro vs Someone Else, but more ridiculous.
THE GURGLER’s NRL ROUND 2 PREVIEW TIPS
ROOSTERS
STORM
COWBOYS
NEWCASTLE
MANLY
CANBERRA
PENRITH
DRAGONS
NRL ROUND 2 PREVIEW – GUEST TIPSTER 1 – SCRABBLE
How about tipping games based on their Scrabble score? Why not. Scores in brackets based on nicknames.
BULLDOGS (12) to beat Roosters (8)
WARRIORS (11) to beat Storm (7)
COWBOYS (17) to beat Broncos (11)
KNIGHTS (15) to beat Titans (6)
RABBITOHS (16) to beat Sea Eagles (10)
SHARKS (13) to beat Raiders (8)
PANTHERS (13) to beat Tigers (7)
DRAGONS (9) to beat Eels (4)
NRL ROUND 2 PREVIEW – GUEST TIPSTER 2 – POSTCODE
Since we’re using letters to decide our tips, why not base tips on Alphabetical order.
BULLDOGS to beat Roosters
STORM to beat Warriors
BRONCOS to beat Cowboys
KNIGHTS to beat Titans
RABBITOHS to beat Sea Eagles
RAIDERS to beat Sharks
PANTHERS to beat Tigers
DRAGON to beat Eels
NRL ROUND 2 PREVIEW – GUEST TIPSTER – THE DOG
If we’re asking mascots, and postcodes, why not the dog.
ROOSTERS to beat Bulldogs
WARRIORS to beat Storm
COWBOYS to beat Broncos
KNIGHTS to beat Titans
RABBITOHS to beat Sea Eagles
RAIDERS to beat Sharks
TIGERS to beat Panthers
EELS to beat Dragons
RESULTS SO FAR
The Gurgler – 5/8
Selection by Mascot – 3/8
Selections by Postcode – 4/8
The Dog – 1/8
THE GURGLER’S NRL ROUND 2 PREVIEW SUPER MULTI
Want to win some cash? You may well need to avoid following our tips. Here for you street money consideration is our best bets conveniently packaged into a super multi.
ROOSTERS to beat Bulldogs
MELBOURNE to beat Warriors
WINNING MARGIN 6 points or less – Broncos v Cowboys
NEWCASTLE +4.5 v Titans
MANLY to beat Souths
CANBERRA to beat Sharks
PENRITH -3.5 start v Wests Tigers
DRAGONS +6.5 v Parramatta
$1 could win $97
