Welcome to the Kick to Come – our alternative NRL Round 1 Preview of all the big Rugby League ahead this weekend.
We supply the shortest possible match by match preview, pick a few things were are excited about, and why we are reaching for the pillow, there’s the NRL’s most pointless tipping competition, and a Wrasse sized bit about NRL odds/betting, a dabble into Supercoach and we have the low down on the Rugby League on TV to let you do your best sloth-work.
Doing many things, with not a lot of quality, just the way we like it.
Want to read more? Of course you do. The Gold and/or Platinum that is our NRL Round 1 Preview awaits.
NRL ROUND 1 PREVIEW – MATCH BY MATCH IN 25 WORDS OR SO
THU 7:05pm – DRAGONS v BRONCOS
A quick turnaround for Ben Hunt as he faces the Broncos in his new Dragons colours. His halves partnership with Gareth Widdop has the potential to be the best in the comp. Broncos halves could be more hit and miss. James Graham and Matt Lodge will be some unfamiliar sights for both sets of fans. Slightly underwhelming match to kick off season, but you do get used the Broncos on a Thursday.
FRI 5:00pm – KNIGHTS v SEA EAGLES
A lot of justified hype for the Knights after some eye catching recruiting – most notably Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga. Whether it is enough over a season or even against Manly with their forward pack is the question for us. But let’s hope they can start the 2018 with a victory for the good people of Newcastle, whose loyalty in the recent low seasons deserves a first up win. They did rate very high in our best Supported NRL Sides for 2017 analysis.
FRI 7:05pm – COWBOYS v SHARKS
The Sharks got the Cowboys twice last season in the Home and Away fixtures, but the Cowboys got the ultimate revenge in their march to last season’s Grand Final. Sharks have new recruit Matt Moylan in action, but the Cowboys have even bigger names returning in Matt Scott and Johnathan Thurston who missed most of last season through injury. Looks an excellent Round 1 match up.
SAT 3:30pm – TIGERS v ROOSTERS
James Tedesco is another big name off season recruit to play their previous team in Round 1. Part of a solid recruitment drive from the Roosters which somehow saw them land Cooper Cronk. These teams are at opposite ends of the Premiership market, and this weekend’s game looks like it will follow the season market.
SAT 6pm – RABBITOHS v WARRIORS
Not a bad first up gig for the Rabbitohs, playing the Warriors on the road anywhere in the first half of the season usually means victory, even more so in Perth where the NZ side’s record is woeful. Tough gig for the Warriors, doubling their flight time to play in WA. It is the first game of a welcome double header, and sees a potentially great centre pairing of Dane Gagai and Greg Inglis. Origin quality perhaps.
SAT 8pm – BULLDOGS v STORM
A new era on and off the field for the Bulldogs, and given how things ended up in 2017, it could be argued that both were required. For all that positive change it is still a tough task playing Melbourne first up. Even without the injured Billy Slater, and the loss of the Sydney bound Cooper Cronk. They are replaced this weekend with Cameron Munster at the back and Brodie Croft at halfback. Not much lost at all really.
SUN 3:10pm – PANTHERS v EELS
Two Sydney teams playing each other? Must be the Channel Nein Sunday afternoon game. At least this looks a great clash between two Western Sydney sides. The two squads are going in different directions, Penrith seems to be falling apart with players jumping ship, Eels have brought in Jarryd Hayne no less. Seems a matter of time before Griffin is moved on, a first up loss won’t help the mood. Parra looks great value for this one. Keep an eye on Viliame Kikau.
SUN 5:30pm – TITANS v RAIDERS
Two of the more forgotten teams meet in the second most forgotten time slots of the NRL weekly roster. Titans have a new coach, Garth Brennan who impressed with the Penrith ISP team, and he’s brought a few good men with him to the Gold Coast. Canberra fans will be hoping the Raiders go back to their 2016 vintage, as do the casual rugby league fan.
NRL ROUND 1 PREVIEW – THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO
1 – Rugby League is back. As hard as the English Football League, and the many European Football Leagues have tried, it isn’t the same as having rugby league back on the weekend.
2 – Much has been said of Matt Lodge and the for and against his return for the Broncos in 2018, without commenting on that, we are very interested to see how he goes on the field.
3 – New combinations, new players. And the use of the term “Boom” assigned to any up and coming player in the next weeks.
4 – Hopefully Newcastle getting off the mark in Round 1.
5 – Double header in Perth
NRL ROUND 1 PREVIEW – THINGS TO AVOID THIS WEEKEND
Channel Nein. As always.
Too much Jarryd Hayne hype. Parramatta have a very decent side without him, so here’s hoping it’s not all about the Hayne Plane.
Missing the Supercoach cut off for unlimited transfers.
NRL ROUND 1 PREVIEW – TIPPING COMPETITION
Time to see how well we can tip. And what kind of ridiculous things we can use for a tipping compeditor. As ever the dog is back as our resident Paul the World Cup Tipping Octopus. Who will triumph in Rugby League’s most pointless tipping competition? Find our below.
THE GURGLER’S NRL ROUND 1 TIPS
BRONCOS to beat Dragons
KNIGHTS to beat Sea Eagles
COWBOYS to beat Sharks
ROOSTERS to beat Tigers
RABBITOHS to beat Warriors
STORM to beat Bulldogs
EELS to beat Penrith
RAIDERS to beat Titans
THE DOG’S aka MUTTSTRADAMUS NRL ROUND 1 TIPS
Like the infamous octopus at the 2010 Football World Cup, we have our own animal – Muttstradamus – to provide tips every week.
BRONCOS to beat Dragons
KNIGHTS to beat Sea Eagles
SHARKS to beat Cowboys
ROOSTERS to beat Tigers
RABBITOHS to beat Warriors
STORM to beat Bulldogs
EELS to beat Penrith
TITANS to beat Raiders
GUEST TIPSTER ROUND 1 TIPS – BASED ON OUR 2018 PREDICTED FINISHING POSITIONS
BRONCOS to beat Dragons
SEA EAGLES to beat Knights
COWBOYS to beat the Sharks
ROOSTERS to beat Tigers
RABBITOHS to beat Warriors
STORM to beat Bulldogs
EELS to beat Panthers
RAIDERS to beat Titans
Background:
We unveiled our 2018 NRL Season preview recently, so what better way to use that work to determine this week’s Round 1 Tips. The higher up the ladder the team is, that team gets the tip. Simples.
NRL ROUND 1 PREVIEW – ODDS AND SODS
HEAD TO HEAD ODDS
DRAGONS $1.85 BRONCOS $1.95 (Broncos +1.5 start)
KNIGHTS $1.90 SEA EAGLES $1.90 – (Knights +0.5 start)
COWBOYS $1.53 SHARKS $2.50 – (Sharks +5.5 start)
TIGERS $3.50 ROOSTERS $1.30 – (Tigers +10.5 start)
RABBITOHS $1.45 WARRIORS $2.75 – (Warriors +6.5 start)
BULLDOGS $3.00 STORM $1.39 – (Bulldogs +7.5 start)
PANTHERS $1.90 EELS $1.90 – (Panthers +0.5 start)
TITANS $2.25 RAIDERS $1.65 – (Titans +2.5 start)
Odds from Neds Bet – correct at time
MULTI MADNESS
Here’s our Mega Multi Madness for NRL Round 1
BRONCOS to win
KNIGHTS to win
COWBOYS to win
ROOSTERS -10.5 start
RABBITOHS -6.5 start
STORM to win
EELS to win
RAIDERS to win
$1 pays $100
TICKET TO RIDE
Here’s where we lay down our best bet of the weekend and attempt to roll it over each week into a 25 Round Cash Cow. A year long moving All Up. Doubtful, but stay with us throughout 2018 in our attempt.
THIS WEEK’S BEST BET
SOUTHS to WIN @ $1.45
RUGBY LEAGUE TV VIEWING THIS WEEKEND
Hard week at work? Need some sweet, sweet Andy Capp lounge time? Here are all the fixtures we could find for your great day/night in.
| Date | Comp | Home | Away | TV | Time |
| Thu. Mar 8 | NRL | Dragons | Broncos | Nine, Fox | 7:50pm |
| Fri. Mar 9 | NRL | Knights | Sea Eagles | Fox | 6:00pm |
| Fri. Mar 9 | NRL | Cowboys | Sharks | Nine, Fox | 7:50pm |
| Sat. Mar 10 | ISP | Wests | Canterbury | Fox | 1:10pm |
| Sat. Mar 10 | ISC | Sunshine Coast | Burleigh | Nine QLD | 1:10pm |
| Sat. Mar 10 | NRL | Tigers | Roosters | Fox | 4:30pm |
| Sat. Mar 10 | NRL | Rabbitohs | Warriors | Fox | 7:00pm |
| Sat. Mar 10 | NRL | Bulldogs | Storm | Fox | 9:00pm |
| Sun. Mar 11 | NRL | Panthers | Eels | Nine, Fox | 4:10pm |
| Sun. Mar 11 | NRL | Titans | Raiders | Fox | 6:30pm |
The Intrust Super Cup kicks off this weekend as well.
We have a Round 1 preview of the Intrust Super Cup this weekend.
And a 2018 Intrust Super Cup preview too.
NRL ROUND 1 PREVIEW SUPERCOACH THOUGHTS
Time to talk a little Supercoach, and here’s our thoughts on the week ahead. And later we have the must-have, maybe, and prefer not of the NRL Round 1 ahead.
With not a great deal amount of cheapies available from round 1, a good hunch on an improver is key. Especially someone good in 2016 but was less effective in 2017.
TOP 3 THOUGHTS
MUST INCLUDE – James Tedesco
WORTH A PUNT – Viliame Kikau
PREFER OTHERS – Anthony Milford
STRIP FITTER – Coming soon
OUR TEAM FOR NRL ROUND 1
