blackcrow
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 10 (May 18th - 21st) So far this week: Titans :@ Parra 13+ :) Melbourne 1-12 :@ Tigers :) Sharks -4.5 :) So good results for everyone, so well done all. Leaning also on an easy Manly win and i'll put my final pick tomorrow before the game. :ok
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 10 (May 18th - 21st) Sharks -4.5 @ 2.00 Sharks have been playing well and meet the Bulldogs at a good time where they have several players out. The Sharks forwards have been solid and with Kimmorley's kicking game, they look a good bet to win. The Sharks have a great defensive line and without their premier forwards, the Bulldogs will find it very hard to bust it. Also they are backing up from Monday's game so some fatigue may set in. Tigers win The Tigers have won their last 4 games and are playing with confidence. They go into this game with virtually a full strength side (Marshall being the main casuality). They ahve some good dummy half runners and will look to exploit their speed around the rucks to tire out the big Warriors forwards, who have shown in recent weeks to tire very badly in the last 20 minutes of a game. The loss of Price to State of origin also hurts the Warriors quite badly as he has been their best player over the course of the season. The Tigers should have all the answers for the Warriors to come out deserved victors Like your picks once again jumbo. GL :ok
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 10 (May 18th - 21st) Parramatta win by 13+ margin @ 3.00 Thurston is a big loss for the Cowboys as he has been excellent in recent weeks and organises most of their attacks. The Cowboys tend to struggle without him and this could be the case again as Bowen works well with Thurston rather than having to do it all himself. The Cowboys were woeful at home to the Panthers and i expect Parramatta to pile on more pressure on them. An added problem is that they without their coach Murray who coaches NSW for the State of Origin matches. Parramatta have been playing relatively well in recent weeks and even though they lose an inspirational player in Hindmarsh, they still have enough quality in the team to win this and win well. They have many more options than the Cowboys and they will look to make up for last weeks loss to get back up into the top 8 Melboune win by 1-12 margin @ 3.00 Normally you would expect the Storm to smash the Roosters but there are sebveral variables which make thus a more even contest. The Storm have lost quite a few players to rep. duty as have the Roosters. The Storm played well last week but the opposition were quite poor and handed them the victory. They haven't been playing at their maximum at all during the year and without some of their leading playmakers this could see some confusion and uncertainty. Also the fact that they are backing up from Monday night could play into the Roosters hands to make this a competitive game. The Roosters are pretty ordinary but have some players that could cause some damage. Can't see them winning but can see a Storm win but not by more than two converted tries
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 10 (May 18th - 21st) Jumbo, i too like the Tigers based on consistency. :ok The Warriors are unpredictable and having been making too many msitakes. I've lost some money on them in the last few weeks where they can't keep the ball and then they are under pressure. They conceded soft tries because of the fatigue of continuously defending. By the last 20 minutes they have no petrol in the tank. Look at the Newcastle game which is a perfect example where they conceded 3 tries in the last 15 minutes because of the amount of dropped balls an ddefending they had too. Tigers, despite their bad record there, look good value to win this.
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 10 (May 18th - 21st) Titans win @ 2.45 Like the views of the above people for an upset tonight. The Dragons have been woeful in the last few weeks and with the injuries piling up, they look even less,ikely of winning this one. While the Titans haven't been flash, their simple style of rugby has made them competitive and often have performed well against the lesser side. The Dragons lack leadership and direction and i think the Titans will exploit this. Prince in the backs and Lafranchi in the forwards are those players who can drive the Titans to victory over the very disappointing Dragons GL all :ok
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Re: UEFA Cup final on Wednesday Over 2.5 Both games between the two sides have gone over in the Primera Liga. Espanyol's last 7 games, in all competitons, have gone over while Sevilla have gone over in 5 of their last 8 games, but have scored at least 2 goals in 7 of their last 8 games (in all competitions)
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 9 (May 11th - 14th) Agree with the above picks. GL lads :ok Melbourne 1-12 margin Melbourne come into this game with a disappointing loss against Wests while the Bulldogs had great win over Newcastle. The Storm had been playing reasonably well but were often guilty of making too many mistakes and last week they got punished for it. The Bulldogs have started to gain momentum and will relish this game. Both sets of teams have big forwards however reports are that both O'Meiley and Mason are out which is a big blow for the Bulldogs. The Storm have a definate edge in the backs when they click, but they have been showing only patchy form. They will look to target the smaller wingers of the bulldogs. The Storm have a great record at home and under the lights. I expect them to be out to prove a point that last week's loss was a one off, especially they don't want to lose to the bulldogs. The Bulldogs themselves will be competitive but the loss of key forwards tips the balance in the Storm's favour. If they had played then i think an upset was on the cards but i think the Storm will have an enough to win by about 6 or 8
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Re: Super 14: Semi finals Sharks win by 13+ margin :D Late try gets it for me Bulls win by 1-12 margin :@ One too many fields goals
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 9 (May 11th - 14th) New Zealand -2.5 @ 2.10 :wall They threw this game away. Fitness is a huge issue here Canberra win :) Nice doggie wins here but only made a small amount North Qld 13+ :wall They looked very flat. Monday hoodoo strikes again
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Re: Super 14: Semi finals Double post
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Re: Super 14: Semi finals That second game is a tough one AJ. I rate Carter very highly and if anyone is going to do it for the Crusaders it will be him. I think the Bulls will try to take him out of the game by putting the ball through their forwards and targeting him. Get hi to make tackles and maybe he will be too tired to set up the attacks. Well, thats what i would do if i was the coach Jumbo: the Wallabies are in trouble and the coach is very primitive with his style of rugby. No imagination, no flair and no ticker right now. The All Blacks have it, the French have it and now the Boks have it once again. The Aussies remind of Dorothy's companons in the Wizard of Oz.
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 9 (May 11th - 14th) Won't be around tomorrow, so getting in early with these picks Titans -2.5 @ 2.10 The Titans play a simple game based around getting field position, from good yardage from their forwards and kicking from Prince, and eliminating mistakes and penalties. They are nothing flash but the wins they have had is from playing to the basics very well. The Roosters are a frustrating side with some very good players mixed with some ordinary ones. There is not much cohesion between the players and have largely underperformed as a team this year. While they struggle to match the better teams the Titans are very competitive with the weaker ones and i think they will do enough to beat the Roosters Tigers -3.5 @ 2.10 Very similar review for this game as the one above. However the Tigers have alot more going for them than the Titans while the Dragons are on par with the Roosters. I don't understand why the line is so low given the Tigers performance last week when beating the Storm and they have won their last 3 weeks. Could it be the loss of Benji Marshall or the fact that there are many Dragons supporters out there with more dollars than sense / cents ;) . Each week you hear of a plunge by Dragons supporters who have nothing to show for their side's poor performance. This looks too good to be true as the Tigers have also won 3 of the last 4 clashed between the two sides
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Re: Super 14: Semi finals Thanks bro. Must be disappointing for you to see probably a shift in fortunes as i think South African rugby could be back on its way up at the expense of your boys. They are good value for the World Cup As for us, the Waratahs etc and the Wallabies have shown in the last year or so we have major problems
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Sharks win by 13+ margin The Sharks topped the ladder after the regular season and played the most consistent rugby. They have the 4th best attack and the 2nd best defence so they are pretty good on both sides of the ball. The Blues were looking like the winners half way during the season but the wheels have fallen off in the second half. They possess a very good pack especially with Flavell leading the way (but hurt by the loss of Williams) but they need to lift here if they want to monster the Sharks pack. While they have some very good backs, the loss of Macallister in midfield is a big blow, for his running and his ability to pot field goals from a long way out. On the flip side you have Montgomery who can hit them from anywhere inside the oppositin half, then quite a few penalty goals should be scored here. The Sharks just look simply too good for the Blues especially in their own backyard which is a pretty tough place to get a result. Bulls win by 1-12 margin The Bulls have been very impressive lately and come into this game with much confidence. They have an excellent forward pack and have really come into their own in the last few weeks. They have the ability to outmuscle the Crusaders pack which have shown some weaknesses in the last few weeks. The Bulls have the form on the board but they ahve to watch out for probably the best player in rugby: Dan Carter. He has an outstanding football brain and his incisive kicking and passing are the cornerstone of the Crusaders maintaining possession and momentum. To a lesser extent, the Bulls have a simialr player in Hougarrd who plays a similar role for them. This will be a great game to watch and there should be nothing in it. The Crusaders have the experience while the Bulls have the form and the home advantage, which should be just enough for them to win.
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 9 (May 11th - 14th) New Zealand -2.5 @ 2.10 Both packs have big sets of forwards complimented by some good dummy half runners. Look to both sides to target the weakness of their opposing big packs which is their slow recovery to get back in the line. While Buderus is probably the best player of both teams to exploit this, in actual fact, it is the Knights who have had the most problems in this area during the season, so look to players like Fien to make the most of it. I think the Warriors to be more primed to make up for their loss last week and they head to Newcastle with a good record, having won the last 2 games there, as well as 3 out of last 4 between the two sides. Canberra win No disrespect to the Souths supporters out there, but i don't like this team so i'm only making a small bet here for an upset. One player i have alot of time for is Carney and he's back for Canberra. The raiders are nothing flash but he gives them that bit of spark and unpredictability that every team needs. North Qld 13+ Two teams going in opposite directions. The Cowboys have picked it up a bit in the last few weeks, especially their playmakers like Bowen and Thurston. The Panthers look disorganised, and uninspired. Too many mistakes and to many of their players out of form. Can't see anything but a comfortable Cowboys victory Once again jumbo, we share similar views. GL all :ok
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 9 (May 11th - 14th) Manly win by 1-12 margin :) Cronulla win by 1-12 margin :) Feels good when the result plays out on how you expected it to. Well done to everyone else who made some money too :ok
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 9 (May 11th - 14th) Manly win by 1-12 margin A pretty consistent Manly side face an inconsistent Parramatta side. Manly are known for having a very good defence and Parramatta have shown that they can get frustrated with a team that has a good defensive line. Also Manly have a great home record as opposed to Parramatta who have only won once away this season. While Manly are expected to win this one, the problem is by how much. Parramatta have shown that they can play some good football when they want to, and there is the possibility that because these two teams share a rivalry from the past, this could ignite the team to play one of their better games. So, rather than take Manly at the handicap i'll take them at the margin. Cronulla win by 1-12 margin As mentioned, this should be a low scoring game which should be dominated by the forwards. Cronulla match up well here with Stuart's influence leading to the Sharks having the highest number of dominant tackles in the league. The forwards are utilised so effectively that they have are the leading team for carting the ball forward, which should set it up for Kimmorley and his kicking game. On one hand you have Cronulla winning a tough and bruising encounter away to the Warriors and now they have to back up from that, and on the other hand you have a below par Brisbane team beating a Souths team in a game with many errors and generally, poor play. As long as the Sharks can back up for this, they should win his as they have shown better recent form than the Broncos. There is nothing between the teams in terms of points scored, tries scored and completion rates, but on average, Cronulla concede 8 points less than Brisbane. Being at home is a plus, and they usually play better there at night too. Should be a close one so take the Sharks to win, but not by much. Like the picks jumbo :ok GL everyone with their's :ok
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 8 (May 3rd - 7th) Cowboys -5.5 @ 2.10 :)
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 8 (May 3rd - 7th) Cowboys -5.5 @ 2.10 Last week the Titans smashed the Eels but that wasn't very surprising considering most oftheteam was struggling with the effects of a virus. What was a better performance was the Cowboys win over Manly and this may have been the catalyst to get them back on track and for the season to go on an upward swing. It was the performance of Bowen especially and to a lesser extent Thurston that were the major factors for the amount of points they put up against, at that stage, the best defence in the competition. I don't think the Titans can withstand these two players if they show the same form again, and while Prince will od his best, i think Thurston is a better all round player. Both players are playing for the number 7 QLD jersey and i think Thurston will want to send a message that he is the best player in that position.
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 8 (May 3rd - 7th) Warriors -14.5 @ 2.10 :@ Melbourne -8.5 @ 2.10 :@ Parramatta -6.5 @ 2.15 :) Both the Warriors and the Storm put some very disappointing performances especially the storm who were shocking
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Re: Super 14 - final round Hurricanes -13.5 (@ 2.10) :@
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 8 (May 3rd - 7th) Parramatta -6.5 @ 2.15 Parramatta were playing well up until the virus hit their team last weekend and they got smashed. The Roosters were ordianry but lifted last week to beat a pretty poor side in St. George. Now the Eels return home and recovered from their illnesses, and somewhat embarassed by that scoreline, look to them to beat the Roosters who have 5 players backing up from Thursday night's game. Also the Eels average more than 7 points a game then the Roosters which should be enough to see us get the win.
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 8 (May 3rd - 7th) Melbourne -8.5 @ 2.10 Wests are coming into form but they face probably the best team in the competition in the Melbourne Storm. The Storm are offensively and defensively a better team but is their completion rate that is a concern and often keeps weaker teams in the game. It is has been coming for a few weeks but i think it may be time for the Storm to pay one team a lesson and it could be the Tigers who bear the brunt of this. The Storm have a very good head to head record with the Tigers and i think it will continue here. Just a note for those who like to pick tryscorers in the game: Slater has scored 9 tries in 7 matches vs the Tigers
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 8 (May 3rd - 7th) Warriors -14.5 @ 2.10 Cronulla have played well lately but they are up against a big forward pack and especially, a fresh one. Cronulla played on Monday night and many teams have problem backing up after playing then but they also had 5 players play on Thursday night. It was going to be a very tough game for Cronulla as it is, but then to play 3 games in such a short time frame could see some very tired legs in the second half leading to some easy points for the Warriors.
NRL Rugby - Round 10 (May 18th - 21st)
in Other Sports & Novelty Predictions
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Re: NRL Rugby - Round 10 (May 18th - 21st) Manly -12.5 @ 2.00 (jumped to -14 a minute later) The competiton leaders (Manly) are at home to the the Brisbane side who are missing 7 regular players. Manly have been playing very well and are not affected by the loss of a number of players like Brisbane are. Defensively, Manly are very good and it will be hard to see Brisbane beeing able to penetrate it. On the other side, Manly have qute a few attacking weapons and they should find plenty of gaps from their inexperienced oppositon. Should be a comfortable Manly victory