I too am currently on 6/7 - picking the Knights was my downfall - I too have opted for Brisbane tonight. Interesting to see the Tigers back in the top 8. The next month will be most intriguing as a few teams fight to get into the finals at others’ expense.
In AFL I’m still wondering what happened. Geelong going down to Carlton was unexpected - to most of us. Only got 3/8 this week. ( Our top tipper this week only got 5/8 - and she only picked the ‘away’ teams to win. ) However, even though I picked Port Adelaide to win, I am delighted that the table now has both the Swans and Hawks only one win behind Port Adelaide’s 8th spot. Thank you Fremantle ;)
Kevin, our top tipper got 6, then two of us were on 5 (including me) then some on 4 and 3. Next week will not be any easier. My son in law is now one behind me and we are just watching one another to see who blinks first. We have both got to the top of the ladder by being quite conservative in our tipping, and there is always the chance that one of us will go a bit crazy at the end of the season in an attempt to get/stay on top. There is a further four point gap to third so I am really only worried about him. With three rounds to go, I am determined to hold my nerve!
The Penrith Waratahs U12/2s had a 2 point win over the third placed team - one more game this Saturday against the comp leaders then the finals from 22/8. We are going to Darwin the last week of August but are flying home on the Friday/Saturday red-eye to be home in time for the game.
In the NRL I am running out of time to catch my dad who is three in front of me but could still catch my second brother who is only one point in front of me. I think we still have four rounds to go, so you never know, I MIGHT be able to get to the top.
It is actually possible that I could win the three -I won the Super 14 by quite a margin, and am a possibility for both the others (but I would be surprised).
O frabjous day! I have caught and even passed my brother. Well definitely caught, and have a one point better pick-the-margin than him even though we have the same score. If it all finished today I would be second, he would be third. Unfortunately my dad got 7/8 too, so he is still three in front, but I have him in my sights.
NRL got 7/8, up to 105 and climbed my work comp’s ladder from 7th to 5th. Could possibly get 3rd with 4? rounds to go. Top 2 are way out in front.
My mum, using my tips, has extended her lead at the top of her work comp.
My friends’ soccer team won again over the weekend and will almost certainly get 3rd (3rd and 4th aren’t much different in the top 4 knockout finals system they’ll undergo in three weeks).
YES!!!!
In the AFL, 6/8 was a little disappointing (my sweetheart got 7, but a little bit of him is still a Melbourne follower, so I can understand that), but my son-in law only got 5, so I am now two in front of second and six in front of third. Only two rounds to go. I can see the winning post from here.
And yes, let’s talk about those mighty Bulldogs, how good were they? The only low point on the AFL weekend was the low-life Brisbane fan who threw a glass of beer over our captain. If they can find her (and it shouldn’t be hard - she was in clear view) she should be banned for life. She looked as if she thought she was doing something very smart, so she is probably boasting to everyone she knows about her “moment in the sun” so finding her is going to be like following a trail of crumbs through the woods.
For the Waratahs, a slightly disappointing loss, but the more disappointing thing was the refereeing which allowed the opposition to have head high shots, late tackles and throw punches (although at least the Warras did get a penalty awarded to them after the worst of the punches). One of Nathan’s team-mates had to go to the doctor after being badly hit in the head. With decent refereeing they might have still lost, but they wouldn’t have been as bruised and battered as they were. They didn’t make a thing of it at the game but got the forms to lodge an official complaint. Part of coaching juniors includes (or at least should include) teaching them to not lose their cool on the ground (or off), but to follow the rules. My son in law is their coach and if any of them retaliated they would have been pulled off the ground immediately, so if they learn nothing else, they are learning how to behave under pressure. The finals start on Saturday, Penrith v Windsor I think, not sure where, because it is always a neutral ground and they get the best referees and linesmen for the game.
In the NRL, well that’ll teach me to pick the Bunnies. And as for Penrith, well, 6 in front at half time, I thought my gamble might have paid off. Unfortuantely they forgot to play after half time. PATHETIC! Remind me to never pick them again. The Storm can get me 5/8 if they get up tonight, but I don’t like my chances of catching my dad, three in front and this week and three more to go.
WOW - what an exciting end to this tear’s NRL season :
Twelve sides put their NRL finals aspirations on the line this weekend
By Dean Ritchie From: The Daily Telegraph August 17, 2009
IT COULD be the greatest weekend of footy in the history of the NRL. It’s Destiny Round - and it couldn’t have a more fitting name.
With the Broncos and Wests Tigers both having big wins yesterday, the playoff picture has become even more intriguing.
No less than 12 sides will put their finals aspirations on the line in a series of blockbusters this weekend, with seven games having a bearing on the top eight.
It all starts with a massive double-header on Friday night when Wests Tigers put their six-match winning streak up against Parramatta’s five-match winning streak at the Sydney Football Stadium.
“I’d be disappointed if there was less than 30,000 people there on Friday night,” said Parramatta forward Nathan Hindmarsh.
“I can’t see why it wouldn’t be a sell-out. You’ve got two western Sydney teams, the Tigers have won six in a row, we’ve won five in a row. It’s an important part of the season and it’s a crucial game for both clubs.”
And front-runners St George Illawarra meet Brisbane - Wayne Bennett against his old side - in what should be a 22,000 sell-out at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium.
Then there is the Grand Final rematch between Melbourne and Manly at Olympic Park on Sunday in what is a monumental game for the Sea Eagles.
Throw in the Newcastle-North Queensland match, Gold Coast Titans pushing for a top-two spot against the Sharks, the Bulldogs chasing the minor premiership against the Roosters and South Sydney facing Penrith in a do-or-die encounter, and it’s a feast of football.
“If you’re a league fan, this round is as good as it gets,” former Test forward Gorden Tallis said last night.
“In fact, I can’t remember a better competition. Everywhere you go, people stop you to talk about the footy.
“I remember now why they call it the Greatest Game of All.”
Former Test skipper Laurie Daley rated it one of the “most important rounds of football for years and years”. “All bar one game has a big impact on whether teams make the finals or where they finish in the top eight,” Daley said.
NRL got 5/8 - tipped the Knights which paid off. Up to 110 but slipped to 7th/45 in my work comp. My mum’s still on top of her comp using my tips.
Next round should be a cracker, except that 4 of those matches will be wild guesses. Should I pick upsets in order to catch up to the leaders (4 behind 1st, 3 behind 2nd)?
My friends’ soccer team Hurstville Glory Fs will get 3rd with one round to go, no matter what happens. Then come the elimination finals!
NRL got 5/8 again - up to 115 (6th/45). Can’t possibly get 1st or 2nd but 3rd’s a possibility. Mum’s still on top of her work comp using my tips.
Hurstville Glory Fs win 5-1 and play 4th in an elimination final next week. Won’t be able to see as I’ll be at Engage, so here’s hoping they either draw or win to get through.
Well, what can I say!
In the NRL, 5/7 and the Knights can make it 6, but last week my dad gained one more on all of us, so he is now 4 in front with this week and next to go. Doesn’t look good for first but I’m still a point in front of third.
The Penrith Waratahs U12/2s won well. We couldn’t get to the game. We booked a flight which should have got us to Sydney by 7.30; by the time we got the luggage and the car we figured we had an hour for the 45 minute trip to the 9am game at Riverstone. Unfortunately our plane was an hour late leaving Darwin so we missed our connection and the next flight too. We finally got in after 9am. The week before (I’ve been away so didn’t post) Nathan got carried off after a head clash late in the first half (he had scored their only try and things were evenly poised) and without him they were over-run. His mum and I were on the sideline feeling ill. He was quite out of it for a few hours but recovered totally by the next day. The Warras play the same team next Saturday, hopefully with a better result.
BUT, ta da, in the news of the week, WHAT ABOUT THOSE MIGHTY BULLDOGS!!! They had to beat Collingwood by 24 to take third place, with two minutes left to play they were 18 in front and then our wonderful captain kicked a goal and the defence held to the end, so we sank the Magpies by 24. We play Geelong on Saturday (beat them well last week) and Collingwood play St Kilda (who have been wobbly for the past few weeks) on Sunday. It’s quite conceivable we could play Collingwood on the 26th September -they are the two current form teams. And in the end, after a terribly nervous weekend, I won the tipping comp by 3 from my son-in-law, with my mother a further three behind him.
And totally unrelated to tipping, isn’t it a joy to see a footballer on the front page of the SMH for all the right reasons!
NRL 7/8, dropping a game which I don’t want to mention here lol. Least I wasn’t watching the game as I was at Engage Conference. Back to 7th/45 in my work comp somehow.
Hurstville Glory Fs win their Finals Week 1 match by 1-0, and progress to the next elimination round. 2nd beat 1st in the other major quarterfinal so 2nd get a bye and we play 1st.
The team ranked lower has to win (namely us) so it will be tough. Fixture: Firmstone Gardens, Banksia this Saturday 1pm. At least I can be there this time to cheer them on!
[ Edited: 01 September 2009 11:15 AM by Arthur Lee]
Awesome night at the footy on Friday night. 37 to blot!
7/8 for the week in NRL tipping made it 129 overall. Dropped the Sharks game. Terrible end to that one that could have launched me to 2nd place if that went the right way (including a bonus point for a perfect round). As it stands though, I got 6th/45 for the end.
And my soccer mates won their way to the Grand Final, with a 1-0 win in the last 5min of regular time! They play this Saturday, 2.30pm at the Rockdale Illinden Sports Centre (in Banksia). Again they’ll have to win within either regular or extra time due to their lower regular season position.
[ Edited: 09 September 2009 11:14 AM by Arthur Lee]
AFL : Western Bulldogs
Adelaide ( I think ) - but I haven’t had time to look closely at the stat’s/form etc - so I might
change my mind before the weekend. )
Well, a bit of a disastrous weekend; the Waratahs U12/2s lost their preliminary final. Under Dr’s orders I missed the game, but Robert said Nathan was quite distressed -they had played really well all year and just played poorly in the last month. Then the mighty Bulldogs had a shocker and went down by 14 to Geelong. There are quite a few positives to come out of it - they had one of their worst games for the year and only lost by a smidge over 2 goals, and a couple of players who have returned from injury were a bit out of sorts - the extra game should see them in better form on Friday. Finally, I had a terribly ordinary week tipping in the NRL, so my dad won by five from my second brother and I was one behind in third place. Disappointing, because I seriously thought I could win the three - S14, AFL and NRL. Still, two out of three isn’t bad.
This week? In the NRL; Melbourne, St George, Bulldogs and Titans, eliminating Parramatta and Newcastle. In the AFL; Adelaide and the Bulldogs.
Only one out of three on Saturday, although I thought Collingwood were gone for all money against Adelaide. I don’t know what Mick said to them at half time, but it was a different team in the second half. The one I got right (the Bulldogs against Newcastle) was pretty impressive.
I can’t help but think it would be OK if I was wrong today too - if Parra win, it’s goodnight Manly and that is never a bad thing!
1/4 in NRL tips. Manly gone, Dragons don’t go to week 3 but Bulldogs do *grr*
But got both in the AFL even though I don’t know anything about AFL! (Those were just makeshift tips from me above by the way; I’ve never tipped AFL during the regular season).
2/4 in the NRL, 1/2 in the AFL. On the face of it not good, BUT I got the results I actually cared about. The rest I didn’t really care which way they went.
I thought St Gerge would win today, but Parra were very impressive - they will be hard to beat if they continue to play like that. Still, the Bulldogs and Storm were also very good, so it could be an interesting month.
Apparently the average NRL tips for the week on the Footytips website was less than 1/4! (People who don’t tip are allocated the away teams and would have gotten 2/4).
Next round tips. NRL - Eels and Dragons. AFL - St Kilda and Collingwood.
Arthur, I think you’re right with the NRL, but wrong with both the AFL games.
Collingwood and St Kilda will both be hard to knock off, but once we get to the last four, anything can happen. I am particularly anxious about the Friday night game, but I seriously think the Dogs can do it.
For the record, I decided at the beginning of the week to go for Parramatta, now it looks like I’m on to a winner :
Eels’ finals hopes blessed by the hand of God - Hillsong Church members
By Josh Massoud From: The Daily Telegraph September 25, 2009
NOT since Lazarus has there been such an unlikely back-from-the-dead tale.
So it should come as no surprise that a helping hand is guiding Parramatta’s amazing run toward the NRL’s highest prize.
The Eels ascension to tonight’s preliminary final against the Bulldogs has been blessed by two of the most influential figures in Australia’s fastest growing church, Hillsong….....
From:The Daily Telegraph EDITORIAL September 25, 2009
THERE is no mention of eels in the Bible - the closest similar term, possibly a little worrying for Parramatta fans, is Beelzebub - but that should be of little concern to Parra fullback Jarryd Hayne, who along with several teammates is carrying his faith through the NRL finals.
Many in the tough world of rugby league may be inclined to mock Hayne and his fellow faithful but it is worth considering how much possible benefit to the game may result from their beliefs.
For a start, those following a religious calling are usually less inclined to get into the sort of controversies that have diminished league in recent seasons.
This can only be a very good thing. Look at the example set by the Bulldogs’ Hazem El Masri, who might just be the most admired man in rugby league. In large part this is due to, not despite of, his deeply-held religious convictions.
Also, it is also worth appreciating that new audiences may be brought to the game by those who share an enthusiasm for various religious beliefs. The potential size of that audience is large and growing.
Beyond league, this can only help build bridges in wider society. The NRL, through the example of its players, is now able to take a stand against bigotry. Good on them.
My tips are : Parramatta and Storm in NRL - and St Kilda over Geelong in AFL
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