Storm vs Bulldogs
I have absolutely no idea who wins this game, with both sides coming into the finals with average form to say the least. However, I’m expecting this to be a banger and finals footy personified — low scoring, clinical defence, and high drama.
I’m expecting wholesale changes from Craig Bellamy when team lists are revealed one hour before kick-off, which will likely revolve around Cameron Munster playing fullback. He is their X-factor, and one of the biggest big-game players of the modern era. For Melbourne to go deep in this finals series, it’s going to revolve around Munster being at his best.
There’s been a lot said about the Bulldogs and their scratchy form and attacking combinations since Lachlan Galvin made the switch to the blue and white mid-season. Guess what? I don’t give a shit, because I think it’ll mean nothing this weekend. The best attacking side won’t win this finals series — the best defensive side will, and that’s been the Dogs all year. If they can recapture that strangling defence and line speed that’s made them a top-tier side, they’ll be a huge sniff of lifting the trophy in early October.
My tip – Bulldogs by 4.
Warriors vs Panthers
The first of the elimination games on Saturday. I’ve read a lot of comments this week about people in NZ complaining that there’s a time clash with the All Blacks on Saturday, but something tells me NZ rugby league fans are going to be cheering that they have something else to watch — because unfortunately, this Wahs side has limped into the finals and is going to need a miracle to feature in Week 2.
Penrith will be clinical and ruthless and stroll into Week 2 looking for that five-peat. They’ll be aware of the ambush from the Warriors at home and will just need to combat that for the first 20 minutes before running away with it.
My tip – Panthers by 14.
Sharks vs Roosters
One of the harder games to tip this weekend, given the gap between both of these sides’ best and worst footy. Either team can beat a top side on their day, then lose to a cellar dweller the following week.
The stars have aligned for Nicho Hynes to get the monkey off the back and put on a clinic in a big game. He got off his suspension, he’s playing at home in front of a few people at Shark Park, and he had a bloody great performance last week against the Bulldogs — but he needs to back it up and guide his team to Week 2 of the finals. Just quietly, I’d be keeping Atkinson in the halves — there’s just something about the combination of Hynes and Trindall that doesn’t work.
Which Roosters side are we going to see this week? The one that completed at 57% and got dominated by the Eels, or the one that put on 40 points in a half and smashed the Storm in Melbourne? The Roosters can be their own worst enemy with ill-discipline, but if they can sort that out, this is a very winnable game. Backing James Tedesco to have a blinder like he always does.
My tip – Roosters by 8.
Raiders vs Broncos
Match of the weekend and should be an absolute ripper. This young, exciting but gritty Raiders side up against the show-stopping, Reece Walsh-led Broncos has the makings of some awesome Sunday arvo viewing.
The question all year has been whether this inexperienced (in big games anyway) Raiders side can get it done in September, and we’re about to find out. With their gritty defence, elite forward pack going forward, and Jamal Fogarty’s kicking game, they have the strike out wide to beat anyone if they get those things right. But will the lights be too bright this week? I don’t think they will be — and as a Parra fan, I’m now cheering the Raiders all the way to the big dance.
Reece Walsh has been elite over the past month and has put the Broncos on his back to carry them into the top four. He’s going to have to do that for another month if the Broncos want to lift the trophy. He is the key to the result of this match-up. If the Raiders handle Walsh, they win. If they don’t, they’ll be playing a sudden death semi next week.
My tip – Raiders by 4.
