NRL Wk Two

[Anders]

Game One) Brisbane Broncos v Bulldogs, ANZ Stadium
Broncos -10

The Broncos wore down the Cowboys on opening weekend as Alfie Langer looked sharp in his comeback match.
In contrast, the Bulldogs as -12.5 chalk got beaten SU by the unfashionable Wests Tigers as they played what coach Steve Folkes rightly called a "dumb" display.
The Bulldogs should be sharper this weekend and were tremendous value last season ATS as road dogs. But it's very hard to compete against the Broncos at home.
Broncos are at full strength apart from their long-term injuries like Ikin and Prince and have a very big and powerful bench. Halfback Tricky Trindall was in doubt for the Doggies (back) - I think the club will have problems around halfback/dummy half this season - while monster Willie Mason has been dropped.
Expect the Broncos to seek revenge for a surprise 37-30 home defeat when the teams met here late last season. And remember that was when the injury plague had really started to hurt Wayne Bennet's mob.
At the start of 2001, the Broncos won at ANZ by the following margins in their early matches - 16 (Panthers), 18 (Tigers), 34 (Knights!), 2 (Storm), 24 (Dragons) and 19 (Sharks).
In Alf's 1st home NRL match on return, that makes them value in my book.

PLAY BRONCOS -10

 

[jotster]

4-1 last week

i totally agree anders, anasta just doesnt impress me that much, when hes got other top shelf players around him, he looks good, but when he has to come up with the plays and organise the other players, i think he still has lots to learn
and like you said anders, broncos at full strength and at home!!
go the broncos at -10
good luck
jotster

 

[Anders]

Game Two) Sharks v Storm, Toyota Pk
Sharks -11.5

Two first-week winners clash in an interesting one mainly due to the presence of former Storm and current Sharks coach Chris Anderson.
Anderson didn't leave Melbourne and great terms and apparently most of the Storm are keen to prove a point v his new side.
Sharks did well to beat the Dragons in the heat last Sun but are still finding their feet under Anderson's method of play.

NO PLAY

Game Three) Knights v Cowboys, Energy Aus Stadium
Knights -20.5/22.5

Definite gulf in class here. Knights kicked off defending their crown in great style, cruising to victory at will over the Eagles while the Cowboys got run over by the Broncos.
Cowboys will be without fullback Tim Brasher, who again injured his knee, while standoff John Doyle will start off the bench also due to ongoing injury problems.
Should be a comfortable win to the Knights, who have Ben Kennedy back but I'm playing enough chalk this weekend without taking a team giving more than 20.

NO PLAY

Game Four) Raiders v Rabbitohs, Bruce Stadium
Raiders -10.5/12

Raiders fronted up well in their away opener to the Storm and were probably a little unlucky they didn't steal a SU win. Coach Matthew Elliott looks to have them fit, strong and well-prepared.
Rabbitohs were just dreadful v the Roosters; beaten in every department and now are without skipper Adam Muir and fellow forward Andrew Hart (injuries). I think the week one drubbing could prove very hard to recover from mentally and physically. Raiders have a very consistent goalkicker in Clinton Schifcofske; sharp playmakers in Brett Finch and Mark McLinden.

PLAY RAIDERS -10.5

 

[Anders]

Adding a total

PLAY SHARKS/STORM U50.5

GLTA

 

[jotster]

scrappy game last night in the rain, bulldogs showed some class comming back after last week
this afternoon, doubling up on the sharks at -11.5. sharks have too many playmakers and a mobile team

4-2 season so far

good luck

 

[Anders]

Man, I gotta find an easier hobby :shrug:

Game Five) Warriors v Roosters, Ericsson Stadium
Warriors +2/3.5

Am not going to play any Warriors game this season as it would be unprofessional - am covering their games for the newspaper and could definitely do without the distractions.
However, believe it would be most unreasonable of me not to provide as much info on the club as possible to help all other punters here.
I know there are already a significant chunk putting their wedge on the Roosters. Don't want to sway players or hex that bet, but I'll list a few thoughts on why I initially thought the Warriors offered some value as home dogs - they have a great record getting points at home.
The feeling in the Warriors camp is that yes, the Roosters looked great in whupping the Rabbitohs but the Rabbitohs were more dreadful than the Roosters were brilliant.
Both coach Daniel Anderson and former Tigers centre John Carlaw told me that they feel there are areas in the visitors game they can challenge and exploit.
In return, the Roosters will no doubt target the small fry the hosts have at halfback and standoff in Stacey Jones and PJ Marsh.
Us media folk reckon the Warriors should have their best season ever - mind you, the NZ league writers always say that (hey, don't include me; I'm a rookie!). But they were definite improvers under Anderson last year and have strengthened the squad with the puchases of Marsh, Carlaw, Sione Faumuina and Brent Webb.
They have a monstrous, athletic pack - Villasanti, Seuseu, Campion, Lauitiiti, Paleasina...with some fine ball players - Guttenbeil, Lauitiiti, Jones and Marsh.
Should be a cracker encounter - Roosters have pace and elusiveness to burn, Freddie Fittler guiding them. Big question is over halfback Craig Wing - could split the game wide open but will Fittler miss the more orthodox service of the injured Paul Green?

NO PLAY

Game Six) Panthers v Dragons, Penrith
Panthers +2.5/4.5

Can the Panthers recover from their slaughtering by the Eels? Hard to imagine their defence being as bad but their offence wasn't much to write home about either. May be some time before Girdler and Gower feel at home as a combo - and will be tough for them to back up given last week's health concerns.
Panthers were surprisingly poor ATS as home dogs last year so the small start for the Dragons is too good to pass up. Their tough forward pack needs to get on top to give Barrett and Blacklock the go-forward to make holes and should do.

PLAY DRAGONS -2.5

Game Seven) Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels, Leichardt
Tigers +14.5/15.5

Carlaw pretty much summed up his ex-club nicely this week - "They ain't world beaters but if you show up to play them not ready then they'll knock you over."
That's what they did to the Bulldogs but it will be hard to repeat against the Eels - only if the Eels sit back after their humiliation of the Panthers.
Everything did go right for the Eels in that match - the ball always bounced their way and Tim Mander made calls worth approx 20-24 points in the hometown fave's favour. But they still showed what power and pace they have. They still seem to be improving - interesting to note that Ian Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan, Brett Hodgson and Jason Moodie will all reach the 50 first-grade game mark in this one.
Wary of the hard-working Tigers getting DD points at home but Eels should get home by 18 or so.

PLAY EELS -14.5

GLTA

 

[jotster]

god damb sharks, were up by 20, colapse and just win by 6 ! preston hurt, stevens out with bad back, was ganna be hard!

well sunday i have to say that i really like the roosters chances to come away with a big win over there in anders part of the wood, even though im yet to see how the worriors play as a team this season, the roosters are a hot side, worriors may still be a bit nervous in front of their home crowd, for me a good sized play on the roosters

my second play will be on parra, playing emotionally high, should get it done, just dont hope the tigers do a rabbitohs freekie win !!

good luck !!