We were going to abandon this week’s column due to lack of our own interest, but we decided to go back on our thoughts and do it.
Just like Daly Cherry-Evans who decided today that he likes Manly after all and will stay for probably more money.
It’s not his fault, if the game allows it and players are looking after their best interests, then who can blame them.
But it sucks for the fans and the clubs who lose out on the deal, and the sooner the NRL adopt a system that means players can’t sign for another team until after the current season the better. Arguments about players not being able to move in the tiny three and more months between end of season and start of serious training are hard to agree with when you consider other sports which have to move continents in their off season of around a month and less.
What will happen no doubt is the NRL will eventually admit the AFL does it better when it comes to running their own game, again, and copy that system. Not the draft, just the trade week. But like Channel 9 the NRL aren’t in the business of listening to fans.
Anyways onto to this week’s multi tips.
BRISBANE to beat Manly
After being disorientated by playing on a night other than Friday the Broncos return to the usual timeslot and should see off Manly whose performances of late warrant a position higher on the ladder.
GOLD COAST +6.5 start v Wests Tigers
Gold Coast were as good as Souths last weekend, and were unlucky to lose. Wests Tigers are coming off the bye which is always hard to predict.
CANBERRA +6.5 start v Newcastle
Canberra have been much better on the road this year and who could blame them with the cool winter games in Canberra. They go to Newcastle who were good against NZ last weekend without winning. One wonders what excuse Ricky Stuart could come up with if they lose.
Despite failing to see what Ricky was actually upset about, you can’t blame him for not saying anything to the press. In this world of sanitised sports personalities it would be good if they were allowed to speak their mind. How about a licence/points system which would give 12 points a year to say what you want, and the points lost depends on the offence. So you could chip away at the establishment or have one big spray a year without fine.
SOUTHS -7.5 start v NZ
Souths haven’t played well lately, and they are due. Hopefully they get a fit Inglis. NZ meanwhile very rarely put two good games together and the double travel from Auckland to Perth wasn’t very nice.
STORM -5.5 start v Penrith
Penrith played well for a 20 minutes burst last weekend against the Eels, Melbourne were well beaten by the Roosters. Hard to see the Storm putting two bad ones in a row together.
SHARKS +12.5 start v Roosters.
The Sharks surprisingly beat the Roosters easy last time around and we say it can happen again. Wishful thinking given the Tricolours excellent form last round.
DRAGONS +4.5 v Bulldogs
Hard to imagine that the Dragons are the betting outsiders for a team on top of the table. St George Illawarra seem to have found the attacking goodness to go with the solid defence. Not bad for a team that looked a popular pick for bottom three.
EELS +8.5 start v Cowboys
Eels were good against Souths and Penrith and will need to be against the in form Cowboys. North Queensland were lucky to beat Manly last week, and may struggle to do the same in Sydney this week.
MULTI TOTAL = $65 for $1.
