We’ve finally made it to the end of another NRL regular season, and to celebrate we have our NRL Round 26 Preview.
There’s plenty of questions left to be decided, and we’ll do just that with our final Big Question for the season.
We also have our final short form preview of the games, show our final ridiculous stat for the season and base tips on it, plus see if our multi can get past Thursday for the first time in months.
THE NRL ROUND 26 PREVIEW MATCH BY MATCH IN 26 WORDS OR LESS OR SO
THURSDAY – COWBOYS (7th) v BRONCOS (3rd)
Hopefully the Cowboys long injury toll doesn’t ruin one of the NRL’s showpiece games. Best Thursday game in a while. Broncos looking to locate pants after Eels game last weekend.
FRIDAY – EELS (4th) v RABBITOHS (11th)
Can two sides be more/less impressive last weekend. Eels put 50 on the Broncos, Melbourne put 60+ on the Rabbitohs. Add them together and Souths could lose by 100+. If former Gurgler Person of the Year nomination Semi Radradra plays like he did last weekend, lord help Souths.
SATURDAY – ROOSTERS (2nd) v TITANS (14th)
Roosters with an effective bye thanks to the mess that the Titans become. The Titans could do fellow Queensland Club a favour with a win, but that seems unlikely.
SATURDAY – SEA EAGLES (8th) v PANTHERS (6th)
Penrith may still need to win to make the Top 8, so should make the Top 8. Manly too need a win, but we’re less unhappy if they don’t make it.
SATURDAY – STORM (1st) v RAIDERS (10th)
WOW, Melbourne could hardly have been more impressive the last two weeks, smashing two teams who were in reasonable form before meeting the Storm. They can piss Ricky Stuart off one more time before season’s end.
SUNDAY – KNIGHTS (16th) v SHARKS (5th)
The Sharks were a little hard done by last weekend, Knights will be hoping to end the season in style. It doesn’t come across as the game of the week though.
SUNDAY – DRAGONS (9th) v BULLDOGS (12th)
Bulldogs almost standard FTA game sees them attempt to ruin the Dragons’ Top 8 hopes.
SUNDAY – TIGERS (15th) v WARRIORS (13th)
Meh.
THE BIG QUESTIONS FOR NRL ROUND 26
So many questions, so little time to decide them, and here goes.
Top 4
As is.
Top 8
As is.
How far will the Warriors fall?
Third last.
Has Jarryd Hayne still got his worst performance of the year in him?
Yes
How penalties for James Maloney?
Three
Will anyone tune into the Tigers v Warriors
Sure, it’s better than Friday 6pm. And Monday 7pm.
Sunday Afternoon 4pm?
You know it, all Sydney, just the way we all love it. Sunday Football that is*.
- As long as it is within the Sydney area.
THE USELESS FACTS – WHICH TEAM HAS THE BEST LAST ROUND WIN % FROM LAST FIVE SEASONS
With the last round upon us, what better time to check out whether one team is much better than another in the last round of the year.
Unsurprisingly, the Storm and Cowboys are unbeaten in 5 games, Canberra is a small surprise. At the other end it is no surprise that the Warriors have not won a last round game in the last 5 seasons.
| Team | Points | Points Diff |
| Cowboys | 10 | 102 |
| Storm | 10 | 58 |
| Panthers | 8 | 65 |
| Raiders | 8 | 59 |
| Dragons | 8 | -10 |
| Broncos | 6 | 5 |
| Roosters | 6 | 4 |
| Knights | 4 | 46 |
| Bulldogs | 4 | 12 |
| Rabbitohs | 4 | -16 |
| Sea Eagles | 4 | -42 |
| Sharks | 2 | -32 |
| Titans | 2 | -54 |
| Eels | 2 | -64 |
| Tigers | 2 | -76 |
| Warriors | 0 | -71 |
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 26 PREVIEW TIPS
BRONCOS to beat Cowboys
EELS to beat Rabbitohs
ROOSTERS to beat Titans
PANTHERS to beat Sea Eagles
STORM to beat Canberra
SHARKS to beat Knights
DRAGONS to beat Bulldogs
TIGERS to beat Warriors
NRL ROUND 26 PREVIEW TIPS – GUEST TIPSTER – FINAL ROUND FORM
Based on our findings above, the most points / better points difference wins. Points from the last 5 years worth of final round games in brackets.
COWBOYS (10) to beat Broncos (6)
RABBITOHS (4) to beat Eels (2)
ROOSTERS (6) to beat Titans (2)
PANTHERS (8) to beat Sea Eagles (4)
STORM (10) to beat Raiders (8)
KNIGHTS (4) to beat Sharks (2)
DRAGONS (6) to beat Bulldogs (4)
TIGERS (2) to beat Warriors (0)
NRL ROUND 26 PREVIEW TIPS – REGULAR GUEST TIPSTER – THE DOG
BRONCOS to beat Cowboys
RABBITOHS to beat Eels
ROOSTERS to beat Titans
PANTHERS to beat Sea Eagles
RAIDERS to beat Storm
KNIGHTS to beat Sharks
BULLDOGS to beat Dragons
WARRIORS to beat Tigers
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.
Most Visited Website – 88% – 7/8
Best Worst Coaches – 88% – 7/8
R3 Ladder Improvement from 2016 – 75% – 6/8
Deadliest Mascot – 75% – 6/8
Free To Air TV Games Record – 63% – 5/8
Scrabble – 63% – 5/8
Penalties Conceded 63% – 5/8
Twitter – 63% – 5/8
Number of Jerseys – 63% – 5/8
<strong>The Gurgler – 60% – 100 / 168 </strong>
Jersey Sponsor’s Annual Turnover – 4/7 – 57%
Selections by Postcode – 55% – 22/40
<strong>The Dog – 53% – 77 / 144</strong>
RGB of Jerseys – 50% – 4/8
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
Best Chart Position of Club’s Fan -16% – 1/6
Origin Players from last 3 Years – 0% – 0/4
