Kick to Come – The Gurgler’s NRL Round 19 Preview

Finally the State of Origin series is over, and with our NRL Round 19 preview we have a run down on the last week of rubbish NRL before the competition goes back to normal. Not before time, with just six rounds of the season to go.

But the affect of Origin is not over yet, with Round 19 likely to see late withdrawals, just the 6 games, and the witch hunt of Mitchell Pearce continuing. Speaking of which, why not read our NSW fan’s verdict of Origin 3. Or our general Origin Wash Up. 

So here is our preview of the NRL Round 19 action, with the shortest possible match by match rundown, with some pointless facts and an even more pointless tipping comp against a dog and something else.

THE NRL ROUND 19 PREVIEW MATCH BY MATCH IN 20 WORDS OR LESS OR SO

FRIDAY 6pm – WARRIORS v PANTHERS

Two of 2017’s great enigmas head to head in New Zealand. Penrith are impossible to tip this year, Warriors are impossible to tip anytime. Get a coin, flip it, and throw it in the street, and guess to who wins. Should be plenty entertaining though. No time like the present for Nathan Cleary to start his Origin selection campaign.

FRIDAY 7:50pm ish – RAIDERS v DRAGONS

You know it is Origin time when Canberra get a FTA game. Getting to last chance saloon for Canberra too, and that will make Ricky happy. The Dragons have only beaten the last and second last teams in the last few months. Being beaten 14-2 by the Bulldogs not long ago does not signal form.

SATURDAY 5:30pm – KNIGHTS v BRONCOS

Despite all their effort, Newcastle just don’t know how to win a game. They meet Broncos in as good a time as any – post Origin win high. Keep an eye on Jamayne Isaako who has been very good for Souths Logan, the production line for the Broncos. Also keep an eye on who will actually play for Brisbane. Althoiugh hard to see tough men like Gillett and Maguire saying no.

SATURDAY 7:30pm – TITANS v SHARKS

Loads of Origin players could back up, most of them Blues with a point to prove, after a good bunch of them have been accused of being the Blues worst in Origin 3. Two sides that play in Blue. Flip a coin.

SUNDAY 2pm – SEA EAGLES v TIGERS

Two Sydney teams, Sunday afternoon, smells like Channel Nein. But no. Hopefully less whining about referees from Manly this week, although since it is Manly who cares. 

SUNDAY 4pm – RABBITOHS v COWBOYS

Sunday afternoon in Cairns? Has the winter cold got to the brains of Channel Nein. The annual trip north to Barlow Park could put a final nail in Souths finals coffin. Judging on their 2017 so far (except Penrith game) they deserve nothing less than an early exit. This game is a chance to prove us wrong.

THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE NRL ROUND 19 PREVIEW

Q. Was the Channel Nein Origin coverage as bad as we feared?

A. Yes. It started with Rabs needing to point out that Chambers was born in the NT, then Gus bleeting the unfairness of blockers (a crime that happens around 5-10 times per NRL match), and then came the ads.

And more ads.

It finished with a sulking Andrew Johns and Gus, but who could blame them. Or us for buggering off until Grand Final day.

NRL ROUND 19 PREVIEW “FUN” FACTS

Which Club has the famous fan with the best Album/Singles Sales?

NRL Clubs have famous fans, some of them even provided music for the NRL to use for marketing purposes. So to answer the question that no one asked, we find out which club has the famous fan with the most Album sales in Australia. In the event of a tie, we then look at the highest selling singles.

Whilst care was taken assembling this list, we blame Wikipedia and Google if any of the below is wrong.

Note:

• Knights > Broncos on the count back of Silverchair’s 3 x Number 1 Singles to Powderfinger’s best of 3.
• Laziness meant we presumed Dave Dobbyn and his Herbs love Rugby League and the Warriors
• We can’t see Bernard Tomic being bothered supporting the Titans, and as such any team associated with him are disqualified from calculations.

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, and no one reads it. So we hope to get at least half of those people for the NRL tipping.

THE GURGLER’s NRL ROUND 19 PREVIEW TIPS

PENRITH to beat Warriors
CANBERRA to beat Dragons
BRONCOS to beat Knights
SHARKS to beat Titans
SEA EAGLES to beat Tigers
COWBOYS to beat Rabbitohs

NRL ROUND 19 PREVIEW – GUEST TIPSTER – BEST CHART POSITION OF FAMOUS FAN

Best Chart position of the famous club fan’s group wins. Artist/Album High Position in brackets.

WARRIORS (Dave Dobbyn / 1) to beat PANTHERS (Mick Fanning / N/A)
DRAGONS (Screaming Jets / 2) to beat RAIDERS (Jumpin’ Jai Taurima / Silver)
KNIGHTS (Silverchair / 1 x 5) to beat BRONCOS (Powderfinger / 1 x 5)
Knights win on count back of No 1 Singles
SHARKS (Hoodoo Gurus / 3) to beat TITANS (Bernard Tomic / Boooooooo)
TIGERS (Jimmy Barnes / 1 x 9) to beat SEA EAGLES (12th Man / 1 x 7)
COWBOYS (Jessica Mauboy / 3) to beat RABBITOHS (Russell Crowe + TOFOG / 72)

NRL ROUND 19 PREVIEW – REGULAR GUEST TIPSTER – THE DOG

WARRIORS to beat Panthers
DRAGONS to beat Raiders in Golden Point
BRONCOS to beat Knights
TITANS to beat Sharks
TIGERS to beat Sea Eagles
COWBOYS to beat Rabbitohs

RESULTS SO FAR

Here’s a list of our results and the ridiculous things we’ve put our tips up against this year so far.

Best Worst Coaches – 88% – 7/8
R3 Ladder Improvement from 2016 – 75% – 6/8
Deadliest Mascot – 75% – 6/8
Scrabble – 63% – 5/8
Penalties Conceded 63% – 5/8
Twitter – 63% – 5/8
Number of Jerseys – 63% – 5/8
<strong>The Gurgler – 58% – 75 / 130</strong>
Jersey Sponsor’s Annual Turnover – 4/7 – 57%
Selections by Postcode – 55% – 22/40
<strong>The Dog – 55% – 71 / 130</strong>
4 Rounds Form – 50% – 4/8
Errors – 50% – 4/8
Odds Change from Start of Season – 50% – 4/8
Leagues Club Turnover – 38% – 3/8
Selection by Mascot – 38% – 3/8
Most Interesting Fan – 38% – 3/8
Pack of Cards – 25% – 2/8
Origin Players from last 3 Years – 0% – 0/4

GURGLER NRL ROUND 19 SUPER MULTI