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Dragons!  Top of the NRL ladder!

Kev, my apologies that we had to beat (also known as flog) your Panthers to get there…

Hi Arthur,

It is Jean who is the super Panthers fan - not me. Although, for some insane reason, this week I picked them to win - another tragic decision on my part ;)

I ( sadly )  picked the Eels to win, but am happy to have gone for Warriors and Knights ! Have chosen the Rabbitohs for tomorrow’s clash with the Raiders.

Anyway, I’m off to see the new Dr Who on ABC TV in a few minutes. Cheers

No, not me, I’ve never been a Panthers’ fan (even though I live there). I’m a devoted Western Bulldogs fan in the AFL (and to a lesser extent a Canterbury fan in the NRL). Went to Canberra on Saturday to see the mighty Dogs. The Swans played too, but only for two quarters. Most of the Swans should be ashamed to put their hands out for their pay packets this week.
7 out of 8 in the AFL tipping comp (abysmal in the NRL), but my other half (who thought he only had 2 -the Bulldogs and the Tigers) actually got 8. Unbelievable! Who would have thought that the Tigers would win in Perth? Well, he did, actually, but no-one else.
I’m chuffed because in our AFL tipping comp I’m two clear of the rest of the family, but I think I’ll drop from the top in the NRL, even if the Bunnies do get up.

Hi Jean,

Sorry for the mix-up. I now realise that it’s the ” mighty Penrith Waratahs (rugby league) under 12/2s ” that you barrack for. My apologies for tarring you with the wrong brush ;)

And you’re right - who would have picked Richmond ? I erroneously picked Swans and my ( low flying at the moment ) Hawks. On that note, I cannot believe that the AFL have got Hawks playing the Swans again this weekend - after just playing each other 8 weeks ago in Round 2. Hopefully, the result will be different this time ;)

Kevin, an understandable error -the Waratah’s game was called off on Saturday because the council closed the grounds (which was just as well because I wouldn’t have been there!). They were due to play the only other undefeated team in their comp-I don’t know whether it will be re-scheduled.
As for the AFL, well I can assure that the Swans truly were woeful on Saturday. They scored one point in the second quarter (the mighty Dogs scored 8.4) and they were lucky to score the point -it was totally against the flow of play. If the Hawks are to be any chance of reaching the finals this year they will have to beat the Swans, and fairly convincingly too. Not just for the four points, but if they are to have any chance at all against the good teams they have to start beating some of the not-so-good teams. You can lose the odd game against average opposition, but you can’t do it too often.

Haha I thought that both of you were Panthers supporters based on where you live.  Was I proved wrong!

OT: I know I shouldn’t say this but I found the Ben Cousins incident a little amusing (as there was absolutely no reason at all for him to do so).

Unbelievably good tipping this weekend in the NRL. 

After a few ordinary weeks, I’m on 7/7 (assuming that the Dragons win against the Cowboys).  Picked the right upset with the Sharkies against the Raiders.

Not so good for me in the NRL-missed both Manly and the Sharks.
In the AFL, Hawthorn (not for the first time in my life) have proven to be a grave disappointment but I’ve got the rest so far. Is anyone else watching the Adelaide v Norths game? I have to leave in a few minutes for Church, so I’ll miss most of it. Is this the first time this season that a team hasn’t scored in a quarter. At quarter time, Adelaide led 16 to nil, at half time 24 to 8. Norths have just moved up to 9. Scary how bad both teams are. My beloved Bulldogs (who were utterly awesome last night -won by 93 points) play Norths next round - let’s hope their woeful form (and our great form) continues! Oh, Norths just moved to 10.

WELL! Who would have thought it? (My dad and number 2 brother actually, but who else?) Cronulla, four in a row! (and I’ll probably pick them next week against the Roosters). The only one I missed in the NRL, and Hawthorn ONCE MORE let me kown in the AFL split round. Is there no end to the trouble that team causes me?
In the NRL my dad is 3 in front of me, #2 brother is 2 in front of me, I’m third. In the AFL I am doing very nicely indeed-three clear of second.

NRL - 4/5 this week (Roosters let me down) while 7/8 last week (Eels had a shocker).  Remaining 4 away from the lead in my office comp.

Union - don’t tip here but was shocked that NZ got beaten by France the other week.  France will prove to be more than a handful for Australia.

Queensland :=(

Hopefully a big Dragons victory tonight will alleviate the pain of a fourth-straight SOO series defeat.

The Penrith Waratahs U12/2s had a fine 36-6 victory this morning - still undefeated.
The game was marred a bit, right at the end. The Warras scored another try under the post, the ref was right there, crouched down to check that the ball was grounded and paid the try. It didn’t change the result of course, in the last minute of the game. Then two or three of the Minchinbury players told the ref to “Get F—-ed”. Nathan thinks they have been reported; hopefully the league will come down heavily on them. If they think it’s OK when they’re 12, it’s only going to get worse as they get older.

Looking back through this thread, I can see a common thread in my posts; I did very well in the AFL tipping comp, but ONCE AGAIN Hawthorn let me down. Who would have thought??? My mum actually-she got 8/8, I got 7/8 and still hold top spot, now 4 in front of second, 6 in front of third. Actually I think two of my nieces might have picked WCE too -the 13yo is madly in love with Ben McKinley (No. 27 for the Eagles) and they are both Eagles fans, but they only got 6 each.
In the NRL, the Knights can salvage a 6/8 for me-I thought I had tipped the Eels but mucked it up, I could never have picked Canberra to beat the Storm.

Well done Jean.  I’m assuming you got 5/7 as there were only 7 NRL matches last weekend. 

I got only 3/7 ... especially stunned by Canberra’s win, my parents thought the match was rigged by the Storm haha.

At least the Dragons won again.  Going to the game vs Roosters on Friday, only two days away :=).  With players out from both sides the contest won’t be as clear-cut!

Yes, 5/7!  Which was pretty good under the circumstances -we all got the same score so I am still 3 behind my dad and 2 behind my number 2 brother (but 2 in front of fourth)
This weekend will be probably the toughest all year in the AFL-the only certain winners are the mighty Dogs against the hapless Hawks. As for the rest well, throw the names up in the air and see who lands where.

Ah finally a good news story for rugby league: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25715589-5006066,00.html

NRL star Junior Sau saved my girl’s life July 01, 2009

JUNIOR Sau spent the night at Mayfield Bowling Club. Listening to his DJ cousin spinning discs. About the tamest Saturday night you could ever get for an NRL star.
And for that a young Newcastle girl now owes him her life.

Sau is today being hailed the new White Knight of Newcastle after intervening to save a 15-year-old girl as she was being punched, kicked and glassed in a savage mob assault.

The 102kg centre was driving past a house party in Waratah on Saturday night when he noticed a group of teens encircling the gang bashing as it spilled on to the street.

The girls’ distraught parents, who had responded to a phone call and arrived only moments earlier, witnessed Sau jump from his car and move toward the crowd of up to 100 teens who had already begun hurling beer bottles at their car. Speaking out last night, the girl’s mother - who asked that her family remain unidentified - said she had no doubt Sau saved her daughter’s life.

NRL good guy #2: Your ticket to Hazem’s farewell

“When Junior arrived, they still had her on the ground, punching and kicking her in the head,” she said. “But when he came across to see what was going on they all sort of moved back. “And to be honest with you, I don’t even want to think about what would’ve happened had he kept driving. Because (name withheld) had already been glassed in the back of the head. (She) remembers someone saying ‘we should cut up your face and leave you scarred for life’.

“This was the very first party we had ever let her go to. We’d been told there would be security guards too. But who knows what would’ve happened if Junior didn’t stop to help like he did.”

Phil Rothfield’s blog: Buzz names team of the year

Enjoying a rare afternoon off at home yesterday, 21-year-old Sau said he had only done what any other bloke would’ve if confronted with the same situation.

“You see four on one, five on one, beating the crap out of a young girl, that’s not fair,” he shrugged. “I just saw the young girl struggling and basically got out of my car to ask the parents if they needed help.

“I used to be a security guard so I guess in the back of your mind you’re thinking that you just need to break up the all-in brawl. I hung around for a while too because the kids were drinking and you never knew what else might happen.”

Only hours before Roosters players Jake Friend, Mitchell Pearce and Sandor Earl would be caught up in a wild brawl at city bar Tank Nightclub - where a woman was left with facial bruising - Sau was listening to his cousin DJ for a local cricket function.

But this is far more than simply some positive PR spin midway through another black week for the NRL - as evidenced by a letter the girl’s family sent to Knights HQ.

“This act will not be forgotten by our family,” the typed thank you said. “We can not thank him enough for what he did. A real gentleman.”

Refusing to take matters further with police, the family were last night just thankful their daughter was home safely and able to return to work for the first time yesterday.

She underwent head X-rays on Monday but was cleared of any damage while the glass that was smashed against her head also failed to produce any serious head wound.

“And for that we can thank Junior,” the mother said. “Not only for stopping to help but the way he did it. He never shouted or got angry, never tried to intimidate anyone.”

127 comments too shows how desperate league fans are for a good story!

Braved the cold conditions to go to the stadium yesterday, what a win by the Dragons > Roosters and how good was Soward!

I just checked the scores - and the Bulldogs are leading the Hawks 88 to 4 near the end of the second quarter. Oh woe is me !!!!

Oh well,  that’s the end of the Hawks challenge for this year. Start planning for 2010 !!

Meanwhile in NRL, I actually tipped the Tigers - pity I went and picked the Knights over the Storm ;)

Meanwhile, the Tour de France has started !

Kevin Goddard - 04 July 2009 08:33 PM

I just checked the scores - and the Bulldogs are leading the Hawks 88 to 4 near the end of the second quarter. Oh woe is me !!!!

AND THEY WERE LUCKY TO GET THAT 4!!!

I was out last night (a girls’ night out at Steel Magnolias -highly recommended!) but I was getting text messages at the end of each quarter. I am hoping to be able to watch a replay some time this week, but suffice to say, we Bulldogs fans were VERY happy.
Bit cheesed off with the Port Adelaide and Swans finally showing a little bit of form but if St Kilda and Freo can hold on I’ll get 6/8. In the NRL, I’ve missed the Raiders, if the Bulldogs win tomorrow I’ll get 7/8.

Jean Marlow - 05 July 2009 05:03 PM

I was out last night (a girls’ night out at Steel Magnolias -highly recommended!)

Being a guy, I may not qualify for going on a girl’s night out ;)

Well, this week (for once) I’m not complaining about Hawthorn -Brisbane, North Melbourne and Freo all let me down instead, and now I’m only 2 in front (my son-in-law only missed on Melbourne).
Hopeful of moving up in the NRL, go dogs!
Forgot to mention earlier that in the most important footy news of the weekend the Penrith Waratahs U12/2s won 46-14, and Nathan scored 3 tries to be man of the match. STILL undefeated!
J PS there were quite a few men in the theatre on Saturday, but I went with my mother, two sisters in law and a niece. A bit teary, but superbly acted. Very similar to the film but all the action is set in a beauty salon. The film was based on this play, which in turn was based on the playwright’s sister’s life.

In the NRL I’m also on 6/7 gunning for 7/8.  Got the Panthers game wrong.

Tipped the Bulldogs also but as a Dragons supporter I hope that Manly gets up!  Then the Dragons will be alone at the top of the ladder!

Arthur Lee - 06 July 2009 12:01 PM

Tipped the Bulldogs also but as a Dragons supporter I hope that Manly gets up!  Then the Dragons will be alone at the top of the ladder!

Arthur, that is SO pathetic! And SO typical of the true fan! We all do it - I wanted both Geelong and St Kilda to lose yesterday so my Bulldogs would have been closer to the top.
It’s so hard to be impartial when our own club is involved!

In all seriousness, even this far out it should be a Bulldog v Dragon grand final -they have been the two dominant teams all year.
In the AFL, even though St Kilda and Geelong have been undefeated until this week, even all my (Swans loving and anti-Bulldogs) relatives are agreed that there really are three dominant teams-my Bulldogs still have a chance to improve on last year’s third place.