Alternative NRL Round 6 Predictions and Preview – Gurgler v Full Moons

Welcome to our alternative preview of the rugby league weekend ahead plus NRL Round 6 predictions.

Interested in NRL Round 6 Predictions based on a barely interesting stat or something completely unrelated to rugby league. Like this week’s based on club’s performances when there’s a full moon? Of course you do, and our Alternative preview and NRL Round 6 Predictions has just about everything.

There’s a bit of betting talk, TV times for the ultimate sloth, and more. Like the much-loved C & C Music Factory, we’ll hopefully give you a few things that make you go hmmmm.

Want to read more? Of course you do. Our Alternative NRL Round 6 Predictions and Preview awaits.

There’s also our NRL Team of the Week for Week 5 Plus some Game of Thrones related NRL gear.

 

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NRL ROUND 6 PREDICTIONS – GURGLER PREDICTIONS

SHARKS to beat Panthers
RABBITOHS to beat Bulldogs
STORM to beat Roosters
WARRIORS to beat Cowboys
DRAGONS to beat Sea Eagles
TITANS to beat Knights
RAIDERS to beat Broncos
TIGERS to beat Eels

TIPPING PROGRESS – 24/40 
— Last Week 5/8

BEST BET PROGRESS – 17/40
$1 Season Earnings $38.95 (from $1 bet on all tips)
— Last Week 2/8 — $3,46

 

NRL ROUND 6 PREDICTIONS – OPPONENT PREDICTIONS – v FULL MOON FORM

SHARKS (62%) to beat Panthers (54%)
RABBITOHS (64%) to beat Bulldogs (47%)
ROOSTERS (55%) to beat Storm (50%)
COWBOYS (70%) to beat Warriors (45%)
DRAW – Dragons (50%) v Sea Eagles (50%)
TITANS (54%) to beat Knights (36%)
RAIDERS (33%) to beat Broncos (30%)
TIGERS (67%) to beat Eels (33%)

Team’s Full Moon Win % in brackets

BACKGROUND FOR TIPS – Since the full moon is due this Friday, what better excuse than to use it for the basis of NRL Tips.

We have found the full moon dates for the past 5 years, included a day either side of it, and taken the record for each side on those days.

In the past 5 years the Cowboys are the best full moon side, their fellow Queenslanders Broncos are the worst.

For this week’s tips, whichever side is better on a full moon day gets the tip, as they are more likely to win.

Perhaps later in the year we will do tips based on Waxing Gibbous.

 

OPPOSITION TIPPING PROGRESS – 20/40

Week 1 – First Round Form – 5/8
Week 2 – Best Supported Club in 2018 – 5/8
Week 3 – Club Memberships – 3/8
Week 4 – April Fool’s Day – 3/8
Week 5 – NFL Teams – 4/8

 

NRL ROUND 6 PREVIEW – MATCH BY MATCH PREVIEW

Here is our short game by game preview for the big weekend ahead. It used to feature poetry of some sort, usually a haiku, but couldn’t be bothered this week and know it won’t be missed.

THU 7:50pm – CRONULLA SHARKS v PENRITH PANTHERS

Head to Head since 1998 –  Sharks 21 Panthers 14
Last Season: Penrith 12  Sharks 24 — Sharks 26  Penrith 22 — Sharks 21  Penrith 20 (Finals)

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Penrith have won just one of the past ten clashes with Cronulla. They won all three clashes last season.

SUMMARY

Both sides just outside the top eight and neither playing particularly well. Both clubs with their off field issues.

Still Cronulla and Penrith are 2-3, and that’s not a terrible place to be in at this stage. 

SIDE INTERESTS

Paul Gallen returns.

Andrew Fifita’s haircut.

Viliame Kikau’s triumphant return to form from injury.

The continued work of the modern day Anthony Xuereb – Bronson Xerri.

James Maloney against his old club and Shaun Johnson.

BEST BET

Cronulla to win @ $1.67

 

FRI 4:10pm – CANTERBURY BULLDOGS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Head to Head since 1998 –  Bulldogs 21 Rabbitohs 15
Last Season: Bulldogs 6  South Sydney 24 — South Sydney 20  Bulldogs 16

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

The Good Friday record between these two is 4-3 Souths. Souths have won 5 of the last 6 of clashes between the two sides at ANZ Stadium where Souths are the away team.

SUMMARY

The now traditional Good Friday clash is usually a tight affair with four of the seven games being decided by five points or less. 

Souths come into the game on a high after stealing a win off the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast last weekend. The Bulldogs were thrashed and were the worst side in the competition last weekend. It is top four v dead last.

SIDE INTERESTS

Can Cody Walker and Damien Cook carve up again?

How will Souths play after the big Inglis announcement. A cynic would say certain positions would want to play well if the Rabbitohs intend to spend the Inglis saving on the squad immediately.

Every week and every hit up, it is always a nervous feeling when a Burgess brother takes a hit up.

Surely the Dogs can’t be as bad as they were the last weekend.

BEST BET

Cody Walker to score anytime @ $3.50

 

FRI 7:50pm – MELBOURNE STORM v SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Head to Head since 1998 –  Storm 20 Roosters 16
Last Season: Roosters 8  Melbourne 9 — Roosters 8  Melbourne 9

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Melbourne have a record of 5-2 at AAMI Park against the Roosters. Melbourne have also only lost one game of the 11 matches between these two sides that kick off at 5:30pm or later.

SUMMARY

It has taken six weeks for the Grand Final replay, and unfortunately for Melbourne they get the Roosters side that has well and truly warmed up now.

1st v 2nd, and as good as it gets for a Good Friday. Melbourne will be out for revenge after their poor Grand Final showing. These two do look a cut above right now.

SIDE INTERESTS

Cameron Munster is always good fun to watch, but the side interest is to see if he has a better game than that Grand Final.

Latrell Mitchell v Will Chambers.

Brodie Croft has been quiet-ish this season so far, so what about a big performance against the former Storm master halfback.

The battle of the hyphenated’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona v Prop for Roosters is number 8Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (if he plays)

Would love to see big Albert Vete sneak into the 17.

BEST BET

Melbourne Storm to win @ $1.90

 

SAT 5:30pm – NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v NORTH QLD COWBOYS

Head to Head since 1998 –  Cowboys 18 Warriors 17
Last Season: North Queensland 16  Warriors 23 — Warriors 22  North Queensland 12

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Cowboys have one just one game on the road in the last seven. The Warriors have lost just one game at home to the Cowboys on a Saturday.

SUMMARY

Warriors threw away a win against Souths on the Sunshine Coast last weekend, dropped ball in the final 20 minutes let the Rabbitohs back into the game. 

They are hot and cold though and 10th is a decent assessment of their season.

The Cowboys are just plain cold, a third prong in a dismal start to the season for Queensland clubs. Each of whom have just one win.

SIDE INTERESTS

RTS is a pleasure to watch, get more appreciation after watching in person last weekend.

The two Warriors wingers are units. Having watched the game straight after the ISC curtain raiser, you soon realise the size of NRL players. The Warriors wingers are bigger than most ISC forwards.

Michael Morgan is trying hard, and one of their best, but can’t do it all himself.

Scott Bolton returns from suspension.

Kurt Bapiste to prove his worth and pressure long-term hooker Granville.

BEST BET

Ken Maumalo to sore more tries than Ben Hampton @ $2.70

 

SAT 7:30pm – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v MANLY SEA EAGLES

Head to Head since 1998 –  Dragons 18 Sea Eagles 9
Last Season: St George Illawarra 32  Manly Warringah 8

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Manly have won only once in Wollongong in eight attempts back to 2003.

SUMMARY

The Dragons halves were majestic last weekend, coincidence it was the weekend before Game of Thrones latest episode was released that Dragons played up a storm.

Manly got a win too, in slightly less spectacular style over the Knights in Newcastle, proving the win without Tom Turbo the round before was no fluke. They are 3-2 and sit sixth. One place above the Dragons who have conceded ten points more and scored one point less for their 3-2 record.

SIDE INTERESTS

Ben Hunt may be forcing himself into the Origin side, and although he may not depose DCE, he may be Queensland’s best choice of hooker.

Talking of Origin, Manly’s DCE is shaping up as the next Origin captain. He has come some way from the players that failed to win over supporters in his first stint in Maroon.

Have we said this year already that we love Martin Taupau’s work? 

After the Widdop at one experiment was conveniently ended by his injury, the Dragons spine is looking top class.

BEST BET

 

SUN 2:00pm –

GOLD COAST TITANS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Head to Head since 1998 –  Knights 12 Titans 9
Last Season: Gold Coast 33  Newcastle 26 — Newcastle 30  Gold Coast 24

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Titans have won the last three matches at home to the Knights. Newcastle have won just two of their last 15 games on a Sunday going back to 2015.

SUMMARY

Gold Coast got their first win last weekend, and whilst their results haven’t been great, they played too badly either.

Despite all the hype, the Knights have the same amount of wins, and too many more losses from hee will see another finals-less season.

SIDE INTERESTS

Kalyn Ponga is still a great side interest, especially now he’s back at fullback.

Sunday afternoon football returns to Queensland, the Gold Coast being the best place to watch NRL in the sun in Queensland. There’s four games there with daytime kicks off in 2019.

Like a “quiet night out”, we are hoping that this is a sleeper game that will entertain more than it looks on current form.

BEST BET

Will one team win both halves – Yes @ $2.10

 

SUN 4:05pm –

CANBERRA RAIDERS  v BRISBANE BRONCOS

Head to Head since 1998 –  Broncos 21 Raiders 12
Last Season: Brisbane 26  Canberra 22

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Broncos have won their last six games v Canberra. However, they have lost their past three games v Canberra played during the day.

SUMMARY

There haven’t been too many seasons where the Broncos have only won once in the first five and the blame has been shifting around the club from many sources including high profile former players.

Canberra are building nicely each week, up to third and are conceding less than 10 points a game. 

SIDE INTERESTS

Who’s fault will it be this week if the Broncos fail.

Viking clap to start the game may be oldish now, but it is still better than running onto the field like everyone else.

In a weekend where Origin stars stood up for NSW Josh Papalii did the job for the Raiders and potentially Queensland last weekend.

James Roberts is on the verge of returning, which will be welcome news for Broncos and a test of the meanest defence.

Will Jack Bird bomb a try for a thrid consecutive week.

BEST BET

Canberra to win the race to 10 points @ $1.76

 

MON 4:00pm – PARRAMATTA EELS v WESTS TIGERS

Head to Head since 1998 –  Parramatta 22 Tigers 15
Last Season: Parramatta 24  Wests Tigers 22 — Wests Tigers 30  Parramatta 20

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Wests Tigers have scored either 21, 22 or 23 points in their last six away games to Parramatta.

SUMMARY

Hopefully for the sake of the grand opening of their new stadium, Parramatta have got the zero points in attack out of their system after last weekend’s shutout in Canberra. 

After Canberra, the Tigers have the best defence in the league at under two converted tries. So more pain for the Eels may be coming.

Both sides have a 3-2 record and sit in the top 8. The Tigers better stats has them fifth against eighth for the Eels.

SIDE INTERESTS

The opening of the new Western Sydney Stadium. Should be worth the wait, and a blueprint for further stadium development for the NRL if they intend to retain as many Sydney clubs as they do.

Will Blake Ferguson play this week? No game is complete without him for entertainment.

Given the way Mith Moses left for Parramatta, and that Luke Brooks stayed, it is an interesting battle for the side interest.

BEST BET

Wests Tigers to score over 19.5 Points @ $2.10

 

 

RUGBY LEAGUE TV TIMES THIS WEEKEND

Want more rugby league than you can watch? Well here’s the full schedule for the weekend ahead.

Thu, Apr 11	NRL	Sharks v Panthers	Nein/Fox	7.50pm
Fri, Apr 12	SL	Castleford v Wakefield	Fox	4:00am
Fri, Apr 12	NRL	Bulldogs v Rabbitohs	Nein/Fox	4.05pm
Fri, Apr 12	NRL	Storm v Roosters	Nein/Fox	7.55pm
Fri, Apr 12	SL	Wigan v St Helens	Fox	11:45pm
Sat, Apr 13	NSW	Canterbury v South Sydney	Fox	3:00pm
Sat, Apr 13	NRL	Warriors v Cowboys	Fox	5.30pm
Sat, Apr 13	NRL	Dragons v Sea Eagles	Fox	7.35pm
Sun, Apr 14	Touch	Titans v Broncos	Fox	11:07am
Sun, Apr 14	QLD	Redcliffe v Tweed Heads	Nein QLD/App	1:00pm
Sun, Apr 14	NSW	Newtown v Penrith	Nein NSW/App	1:00pm
Sun, Apr 14	NRL	Titans v Knights	Fox	2:00pm
Sun, Apr 14	NRL	Raiders v Broncos	Nein/Fox	4.05pm
Mon, Apr 15	SL	Catalans v Castleford	Nein/Fox	12:00am
Mon, Apr 15	NRL	Eels v Tigers	Fox	4:00pm