Kick to Come – The Gurgler on League

Welcome to Gurgler’s Rugby League Weekly – Kick To Come, a brief catch up on all things Rugby League.

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EYE CATCHERS FROM ROUND 5

The Good Friday clash for all it’s tsk tsking from the wider media, was a great battle that somehow Souths won despite being outplayed for a large majority of the game. Hopefully the rugby league world will get over the unsavoury incidents and ensure that this is a permanent fixture on a Good Friday in the future as it will be one worth pencilling in when the draw comes out.

On the negative side, at least some of the ugly parts of the game have been punished, and most players will think again before venting frustrations at their referee with severe suspensions handed down. However, it is hard to think that the kick to the head of Isaac Luke by Josh Morris doesn’t get a week off no matter what early plea-carryover points a players has. The sooner the NRL gets rid of a points system and simply has a set amount of weeks off for each offence the better.

Finally, maybe Channel 9 should think about their attempt to play live football before the news. A good idea would be less fluff before the game, and really less is more when it comes to Channel 9 analysis, and kick off with enough time to soak a little of the post game before being rushed off to catch whatever dreary news comes on at 6pm. At least Queenslanders get it live now that the cows no longer control the time in the Sunshine State.

Is Wayne Bennett starting to work his magic at the Broncos? For a side who looked like a busted arse in Round 5, steady progress has been made since through defence and attack with 4 wins from 5 and second on the ladder the reward. If they manage to sort out the second halves, they may be hard to beat later in the season.

Only the die-hardest of Sharks fans could have predicted such a win against the Roosters on Sunday, killing many a tipping round and multi in the process. The form of newcomer (or boom rookie) Jack Bird has been good enough to keep Ben Barba out of the starting side, another peg down for the former Dally M player of the year. Perhaps England calls if he can’t get back into the 13.

Of the rest of the games, Manly will regret taking their away game to a place much more suited and closer to Canberra. Manly find themselves last for the first time in a long while. The young Tigers look like the Panthers (aka surprise packets) of last year with their young side after their win against the Eels. The Panthers of this year, the Panthers were on the receiving end of the Cowboys waking up for 2015. Melbourne continue to amaze with their side of no names alongside the stars. NZ remain a rugby league enigma.

One stats from the weekend was that all but one away sides won on the weekend. Although with so many teams using the Olympic stadium as a home base, and who could blame them with the money they get to do so, a lot of the games these days are home and away for Sydney clubs.

LOOKING FORWARD TO ROUND 6

BRISBANE V ROOSTERS – FRIDAY 7:35pm

Heavyweight clash and rightly the live game in both states. Broncos looking for five in a row, Roosters looking to avoid water based team mascots.
GURGLER TIP: Broncos to win the first half.

CRONULLA v NEWCASTLE – FRIDAY 7:35pm

Surprise packets of last weekend and the previous four meet in Cronulla in a game for the diehards on delay.
GURGLER TIP: TOTAL SCORE UNDER 36.5 points.
PARRAMATTA v GOLD COAST – SATURDAY 3:00pm

The Super Saturday has to start somewhere. This one will be one to keep an eye on whilst watching the horses.
GURGLER TIP: PARRAMATTA -5.5 start
NZ v WESTS TIGERS – SATURDAY 5:30pm

The enigma that is the Warriors take on the Tigers side who will be fearless. Hard to guess as it depends on which NZ side shows up.
GURGLER TIP: TIGERS +10.5 start
PENRITH v MANLY – SATURDAY 7:30pm

Penrith will be licking their wounds after Monday night, as will Manly from their loss on Saturday night. Manly to remain last will keep 15 sets of fans happy.
GURGLER TIP: PENRITH to win
CANBERRA v MELBOURNE – SUNDAY 2:00pm

Both sides should be used to the cold, and Canberra surprised the Storm last year and Billy Slater is out. Another win for the Raiders?
GURGLER TIP: CANBERRA +8.5 start
DRAGONS v BULLDOGS – SUNDAY 4:00pm

Dragons will be hoping for their run to continue, Bulldogs will be hoping for less controversy, Channel 9 will be hoping the news starts at 6pm.
GURGLER TIP: UNDER 38.5 start.

SOUTHS v COWBOYS – MONDAY 7:00pm

Souths get John Sutton back to replace Adam Reynolds, not a bad swap. Whether the Cowboys reawakening continues is yet to be seen. Although Monday night seems to suit.
GURGLER TIPS: SOUTHS to win.

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