An Alternative NRL Round 6 Preview – The Kick To Come

Welcome to the Kick to Come – our alternative NRL Round 6 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. Our NRL Round 6 Preview awaits.

NRL ROUND 6 PREVIEW – MATCH BY MATCH IN 30 WORDS OR LESS

THU 7:50pm – ROOSTERS v RABBITOHS

One of the big rivalries in the NRL, and oldest with a mere 216 battles since 1908. It is a welcome start to the weekend and while both teams have been hot and cold this year, the Roosters are travelling better, especially with their off season recruiting. Souths big name from the off season trading – Dane Gagai – was named on the wing last week. Thankfully he is back in the centres and is due.

Side Interest – Luke Keary rubbing Souths nose in it again. Or Inglis coming alive. One is likely.

FRI 6pm – STORM v KNIGHTS

The Storm are outside the Top 8 for the first time in a long time, the Knights are in the Top 8 and deservedly so. Things will probably reverse after the early Friday game, but not with Brodie Croft who has been dropped for the steadier ship that is Ryley Jacks, who is no mug. Bad luck for Croft, but will be a great addition to the Easts Tigers. The Knights young gun Kalyn Ponga isn’t likely to be dropped anytime soon.

Side Interest – Talking of Queensland Cup, how much longer do we have to wait to see PNG star Justin Olam in action in the NRL.

FRI 7:50pm – DRAGONS v SHARKS

Another quick turn around as the local derby repeats just a few weeks after the first edition. Dragons remain unbeaten, but it took a lot of effort to beat the Sharks last time out. They should have been behind by more, but somehow the Sharks threw it away. Probably by not scoring enough points. They are currently the second worst attacking team. The Dragons have scored more than double their opponents.

SIDE INTEREST – Enjoying the work from PNG’s Man Mountain Nene McDonald.

SAT 3pm – WARRIORS v BRONCOS

Now this is an interesting game. The Broncos are a goal post and a lucky referee decision away from being winless, and it is hard to remember a game they truly bossed in 2018. So to head to New Zealand, where the home side are undefeated and the home crowd positively buzzing is a very tough ask. The Broncos have lost 60% of their games in Auckland too. The Warriors form has been great, but some are still waiting for the wheels to fall off. Watching their games, it doesn’t look likely. More pain for the Broncos awaits.

SIDE INTEREST – Hopefully were talking about the Milford and Johnson head to head after the game.

SAT 5:30pm – COWBOYS v BULLDOGS

From one struggling Queensland team to another, the Cowboys have one less win than the Broncos, but the as this week’s opponent, the Bulldogs. Both are nestled together on the ladder in second and third last, and one would think a loss here and 1-5 start to the season means no finals football. Good to see Ben Hampton kept is place in the side this week with Lachlan Coote’s return, as Hampton looked like one of the real triers last weekend in NZ.

SIDE INTEREST – Been a lot of Qld Cup and PNG talk this week, so why not hope PNG’s Rhyse Martin gets a go for the Bulldogs this weekend.

SAT 7:35pm – RAIDERS v EELS

The Raiders probably put in the best shift last weekend against the Bulldogs with 14 players in the end last weekend. It may be the performance to kick start their season. In need of defibrillation is the Eels who have scored just 44 points in 5 weeks, and currently the leakiest defence. The second worst defence? The Bulldogs, who Canberra beat well last weekend.

SIDE INTEREST – Clint Gutherson – looking like the Eels saviour for their 2018 season.

SUN 2pm – PANTHERS v TITANS

Penrith have slipped under the radar a little, their 4-1 record to start the season has been lost under the hype of other great performances. Given even less hope for victories this season is the Titans, but they have certainly stepped up since their battering in Toowoomba. The teams are only 1 point apart in attack, but the Panthers against is exactly half that of the competitions’ worst defenders, the Titans.

SIDE INTEREST – Some ex Panthers return to Penrith, with mixed results of their 2018 moves so far.

SUN 4pm – SEA EAGLES v TIGERS

Manly have the second best attack in the competition, and they are up against the defensive machine that is the Wests Tigers. The 2018 surprise packets have seen off the Storm twice and the Roosters thus far, but have to get over a poor record at Brookvale. They have won just once in 9 meetings there. All of them probably on a Sunday at 4pm.

SIDE INTEREST – The return of Josh Reynolds from the bench. Hopefully for the Tigers he buys into the Bus.

NRL ROUND 6 PREVIEW – 3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO

1 – Warriors v Broncos

2 – Roosters v Rabbitohs

3 – Ponga v Slater

NRL ROUND 6 PREVIEW – THINGS TO AVOID THIS WEEKEND

It’s looks all good this weekend.

Channel Nein. Until Origin time.

NRL ROUND 6 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 6 TIPS

ROOSTERS to beat Rabbitohs
STORM to beat Knights
DRAGONS to beat Sharks
WARRIORS to beat Broncos
COWBOYS to beat Bulldogs’
EELS to beat Raiders
TITANS to beat Panthers
TIGERS to beat Sea Eagles

THE DOG’S NRL ROUND 6 TIPS

Like the infamous octopus at the 2010 Football World Cup, we have our own Muttstradamus to provide tips every week. Unlike Paul, the dog is hopeless at tipping winners.

ROOSTERS to beat Rabbitohs
KNIGHTS to beat Storm
SHARKS to beat Dragons
WARRIORS to beat Broncos
BULLDOGS to beat Cowboys
EELS to beat Raiders
TITANS to beat Panthers
TIGERS to beat Sea Eagles

GUEST TIPSTER ROUND 6 TIPS – BETTER DEFENSIVE SIDE

ROOSTERS (70) to beat Rabbitohs (88)
STORM (67) to beat Knights (124)
DRAGONS (60) to beat Sharks (76)
WARRIORS (65) to beat the Broncos (102)
COWBOYS (123) to beat Bulldogs (130)
RAIDERS (122) to beat Eels (134)
PANTHERS (68) to beat Titans (136)
TIGERS (55) to beat Sea Eagles (101)

Background:

They say defence wins titles, and on the whole they are correct. From the last 10 seasons, five of the season’s best defenders at the end of the regular season have gone on to win the title. 2nd best has also won three titles in the last ten years.

So given the above, and taking some inspiration from the Wests Tiger’s fine work, the side that had conceded the fewest points get the tip.

Number of points conceded so far in 2018 in brackets. Some interesting 10 year stats below.

Year – Best Defence – Points – Premiers – Defence Rank

2017 – STORM – 336pts – (Storm Premiers)
2016 – STORM – 302pts – Sharks 404pts – 4th
2015 – ROOSTERS – 300pts – Cowboys 454pts – 5th
2014 – RABBITOHS – 361pts – (Rabbitohs Premiers)
2013 – ROOSTERS – 325pts – (Roosters Premiers)
2012 – STORM – 361pts – (Storm Premiers)
2011 – STORM 308pts – Sea Eagles 331pts – 2nd
2010 – DRAGONS 299pts – (Premiers Dragons) – best defence by 190+ points to 2nd.
2009 – DRAGONS 329pts – Storm 348pts – 2nd
2008 – STORM 282pts – Sea Eagles 355pts  2nd

Lowest – 282 Points in 2008
Average for Best – 320

CURRENT SCOREBOARD

THE GURGLER – 19/40 – Last Week 4
MUTTSTRADAMUS 12/40- Last Week 4
GUEST TIPSTERS TOTAL – 19/40 – Last Week 4
Guest Tipsters Breakdown:
R1 – OUR 2018 SEASON PREDICTIONS 3/8
R2 – INTERNET RANDOM RESULT GENERATOR 5/8
R3 – WORST LOSSES EVER 4/8
R4 – EASTER LONG WEEKEND HOLIDAY VENUES 3/8
R5 – FEWEST PENALTIES CONCEDED 4/8

NRL ROUND 6 PREVIEW – ODDS AND SODS

SUPER MULTI MADNESS

Here’s our Mega Multi Madness for NRL Round 6

RABBITOHS +8 start @ $1.90
TOTAL GAME SCORE +38.5 – Storm v Knights @ $1.88
SHARKS +8.5 start @ $1.57
TOTAL GAME SCORE +36 – Warriors v Broncos
COWBOYS -7.5 start @ $1.65
EELS to win @ $2.25
TITANS + 6.5 start @ $1.93
TIGERS +7.5 start & Total Score +33.5

$1 could “pay” $144 – but will probably pay NIL

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 multi week Cash Cow. A year long moving All Up.

THIS WEEK’S BEST BET

$1 on Dragons @ $1.52

LAST WEEK’S RESULT

LOSS – $1 on RABBITOHS to win @ $3.35

CURRENT RUN / RETURN

NIL

BEST RUN / RETURN SO FAR

2 Weeks – $3.52 (Weeks 2/3)

RUGBY LEAGUE VIEWING THIS WEEKEND

Wanting to know when its on so you can have that special sloth time? Here’s all the live league this weekend.