StephenP
ArnoldNRL News Footy Tips - Round 20
July 25th 2008 04:11
I'M BACK!
Well after two weeks of continuous rain at the Universities Rugby League World Cup, I am finally back to offer my thoughts on the NRL's run home to the semi-finals. I would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to my mate Arnold who generously donated his time to keeping this blog up to date in my absence - much appreciated!
Round 20 of the NRL - where has the season gone? It's going to be a tense but exciting run home to the semis, with up to 13 teams still alive for the 2008 NRL crown. By my reckoning, 5 teams ae definately through, with the Dragons, Titans, Panthers, Raiders, Tigers, Warriors, Knights and Eels left to fight it out for the remaining three positions. If I had to stick my neck out, I woudl say that the Dragons and Panthers should advance, with form to decide the eighth spot.
The 2008 NRL News Footy Tipping competition is far from being decided, with up to six tipsters still in the running to claim the '08 crown. Eastsideboy (91) has snatched a slight lead over the past few weeks, with igornadrog and t-roy69 only two points behind on 89. But Brizdaz (86), GIVE THE FAT A WHACK and PMell (both 85) are all within striking distance, so its still anyones crown to claim!
Which brings us to my Round 20 Tips -
Brisbane v Cronulla
A full strength Brisbane squad should have too much class for the third placed Sharks, especially given the successful return form injury of Lockyer, Wallace and Hodges. Too much strikepower for mine - Bronx by 6Parramatta v North QLD
The Eels need a massive win here to not only restore their confidence, but also to help their ailing For and Against record. The Cowboys just have too many injuries, and are staring down the barrel of their 12th straight defeat here - Eels by 12Canberra v Gold Coast
Despite being without bad boys Goodwin and Carney, the Raiders should have too much firepower for an injury riddled Titans side. You cannot knock the committment of the Titans, but they are just missing that individual brillaince of Prince and Bailey to get them over the line - Raiders by 8Penrith v Wests
A tough match to pick, with both sides displaying inconsistent form of late. I might stick with the Pantehrs in a thriller, on the basis of having more fit troops at their disposal - Panthers by 6New Zealand v Melbourne
Despite playing on their home ground, it is gard to see the inconsistent Warriors troubling the well oiled Storm machine - Storm by 10Newcastle v South Sydney
I think the bubble has burst for the BUnnies, and with Buderus returning in front of a huge home crowd, there seems only one result for mine - the Knights by 12Sydney v Manly
The match of the round for mine, pits the star-studded Roosters against the form NRL team in Manly. There are some mouth-watering individual match-ups here, and with Lyon unavailable and Orford under a fitness cloud, I am going to stick my neck out and say the Roosters by 4St George-Illawarra v Canterbury
Too much turmoil at Canterbury - the Saints in a canter!Cheers,
StephenP
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