Hey Roarers!

We saw it all in Round 5 – field invaders, a hotly contested sin binning, Captain Challenge loopholes – and that was all in just one match!

Let’s recap…. 

On Thursday night Manly showed us all that they are not a one-man team, beating the Knights 30 – 6 in Newcastle without Tom Trbojevic. 

The Sea Eagles were more controlled and adapted to the rainy conditions better than the home side. The Knights were their own worst enemy, making too many errors and bombing certain tries, ensuring they left without the two points.  Also helping demonstrate why I never win a tipping competition. 

We watched a thriller on Friday night between the Warriors and the Cowboys, with a Shaun Johnson field goal in Golden Point eventually separating the sides and securing the win for the Warriors. The exciting match was unfortunately marred with Marcelo Montoya directing a homophobic slur against Kyle Feldt that was picked up on the referee’s microphone. Montoya will now miss four matches for his stupidity.

The second match of Friday Night Footy was another entertaining encounter, with Joey Manu and Sam Walker putting on a masterclass. The duo helped the Roosters come from behind, scraping home 24-20 winners over the Broncos. 

The first match of Super Saturday saw Melbourne do what they do best, with the Storm putting on a clinical performance against Canberra. With Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Harry Grant pulling the strings, the Raiders just couldn’t match their opponents, going down 30-16. 

The second game was extremely frustrating to watch. The Bunnies beat the Dragons 24-12, but both sides were full of errors and poor discipline. Latrell Mitchell went off in the 14^th minute with an injured hamstring and has since been ruled out for eight weeks. Positives for Souths, Blake Taafe took Latrell’s spot out the back and did a stellar job, and young Lachlan Ilias is getting better and better each week. Positives for the Dragons, Aaron Wood’s jersey seemed to look cleaner after the match then it did before it, so they won’t need to wash it for next week.  

And then we had the Eels vs Titans game. Hooley Dooley!

As I mentioned earlier, this was the game that had it all. Junior Paulo was sent to the sin bin with what many saw as a beautiful shoulder to shoulder tackle on AJ Brimson that the match officials claimed made contact with the head. The Titans twice gave away penalties on purpose so they could stop play and then use a captain’s challenge for the play before, and then we had a field invader that was tackled by the security guard with such precision that one of the clubs needs to sign him ASAP.

On top of all of that, was a brilliant game of footy, where the Eels held out a Titans comeback to win 26-20.

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Sunday footy saw two of the front runners face off with two of the….not so front runners. 

The Sharks gave the Tigers their fifth loss on the trot, with a 30-4 thumping. They almost kept them scoreless, but winger Ken Maumalo crossed in the final minute to help ease a bit of the pain. There were also some more geniuses from the crowd run onto the field – their mums must be so proud.

Then it was the Panthers and the Bulldogs in the last match of the round. While it wasn’t the Premiers best efforts, the Bulldogs made life difficult on themselves and never really pressured Penrith, going down 32-12. We saw Kyle Flanagan make his much-anticipated return to the top grade, and we also saw that Trent Barrett doesn’t understand English. 

Mary, Paul, Mike, all of you legends out there in The Crowd and if you can believe it, Moi, tipped a solid 6/8. AJ was just behind on 5. We have a new leader of the pack with Paul on 28, followed by AJ, Mary, and The Crowd on 27. Mike is on 25 and I’m still out on the golf course on 24. 

Ok Roarers, let’s check out this round…

Tonight sees the Cowboys travel to Canberra to take on the Raiders at 7.50pm. Both teams have had a mixed start to the season and will be hoping to leave with the win.

At the special Good Friday time of 4pm we have the Bunnies and the Dogs. Will Addo-Carr finally cross for a try? 

Then you have time to go and peel your prawns or duck up the road to grab some fish and chips and settle back in at 8pm for the Panthers and the Broncos. Kurt Capewell will be hoping for an upset against his former club.  

We only have the two games on Saturday, with the Sea Eagles and the Titans doing battle at 5.30pm. Then we are in for a real treat – the Storm and the Sharks in Melbourne. Both teams have had sensational seasons so far, and it will be first time Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes run out onto AAMI Park not wearing purple.  

After you have spent most of Sunday eating way too many Easter Eggs and hot cross buns, you can watch the Roosters and the Warriors clash at the SCG from 2pm, and then the Dragons and the Knights in Wollongong at 4pm. 

To close out the round on Easter Monday, the Eels take on the Tigers at Commbank Stadium at 4pm. Will the Tigers perform an Easter miracle? 

If you would like to see how you go up against the Experts this round, just remember to get your tips in below by 5pm tonight to be counted in The Crowd’s tips.

With his new position on top of the ladder I’ll hand over to Paul to lead us this week. 

Good luck with your tipping everyone and Happy Easter!

Paul Suttor

Raiders, Rabbitohs, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Storm, Roosters, Knights, Eels

The Cowboys should have beaten the Warriors last week and they will come away from Canberra after another narrow loss they probably could have won. 

Souths might only score two or three tries but that will be enough against the neutered Bulldogs. 

Penrith could put 40 on Brisbane although the Broncos have given them a bit of trouble in recent years. 

Manly will put away the Titans who should start to be wondering if they’re as good as people are telling them. 

The Storm will edge out Cronulla in the match of the round which will be a good learning exercise for the upstart Sharks. 

The Roosters will easily account for the Warriors whose form is flattering to deceive. 

Newcastle should come away from Wollongong unless the Dragons change their fossil fuel selection policy. The fact that Josh McGuire has been named in the 17 in his first game back from suspension suggests they won’t. 

The Tigers will arc up against Parramatta and an improved effort should keep their final losing margin under 20. 

Mary Konstantopoulos

Raiders, Rabbitohs, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Storm, Warriors, Knights, Eels

If you had told me that when the Raiders and the Cowboys met this week that the Raiders would be ranked 13th and the Cowboys 8th, I would not have believed you. But I guess with my tip of the Raiders, it means I am tipping the upset. I’ve been impressed with the efforts of Jack Wighton so far this year and the Raiders have a number of players returning including Hudson Young, Jarrod Croker and Seb Kris. I’m tipping them to get the win in front of their home crowd.

The Rabbitohs will beat the Bulldogs, who still do not seem to have a settled team and still look woeful in attack. The Bunnies will be rueing the loss of Latrell Mitchell but given their opponents in the next couple of weeks, it could not have come at a better time. 

The Panthers will beat a Broncos team who keep getting praised for their ‘efforts’ despite poor handling and being unable to win games. 

The Sea Eagles and the Titans is tricky because I cannot get a read on either team. Sometimes the Titans look good, other times they look appalling. I made the mistake of tipping against Manly last week and won’t make it again. Perhaps given the rule changes this year, the loss of Tom Trbojevic is not as significant as it was last year. 

The Storm and the Sharks will be match of the round and it will be exciting to see Nicho Hynes come up against his former club. The Sharks often match up well against the Storm, but in this instance I’m tipping the Storm in a tight one. Facing the Storm at home is always a difficult prospect so I’m tipping them. By the end of this match, we should have a much better understanding of how the Sharks will compete against competition front runners. 

The Roosters have been far from impressive but are strong enough to beat a very average Warriors side.

The next game is also hard. I’ll tip the Knights against a very average Dragons team. Since Kalyn Ponga returned the Knights have not looked the same, it feels like they are relying too much on Ponga and have moved away the strategies that served them so well in the opening rounds. This could be the week they get back on track.

I will tip the Eels against the Tigers, but I am never confident heading into the Easter Monday match. The Eels are without another winger and have lost Junior Paulo. Hopefully a locked out CommBank Stadium will be enough to bring the blue and gold home.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mike Meehall Wood

Raiders, Rabbitohs, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Storm, Dragons, Roosters, Eels

Canberra because even though they lost to the Cowboys a few weeks back, they’re usually good enough at home.

Souths are better than the Dogs and Penrith are better than the Broncos, which makes tipping both easy.

Manly are at home and I’m unconvinced on the Titans, so I’ll go for my Sea Eagles.

Melbourne in the hardest game of the round to tip – Sharks are the real deal and I think they’re a chance. The bookies have them at $3.10 which is great value, but in a straight either or I’ll stick with the Storm.

It’s hard to pick split the Dragons, who I don’t rate at all, and the Knights, who I do rate but have many injuries. I’m going to go Dragons because I know Danielle will go for her Knights and it might be a point for me against her. 

Roosters over Warriors because I never, ever tip the Warriors. 

Eels over Tigers because I have a functioning brain.

AJ Mithen

Canberra, South Sydney, Penrith, Manly, Melbourne, Roosters, Newcastle, Parramatta

My red hot tipping run will continue this week led by your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders as they spend their Thursday avenging a grave round two injustice by posting a 56 point victory over a hapless North Queensland.

Friday offers little by way of contests as Souths should do over Canterbury in a 4pm game, then Penrith should do the business against Brisbane.

Two decent games on Saturday starting with Manly scraping past the Gold Coast and then we’ve got a potential belter between as the Storm host the Sharks. I’ve on the Storm, but I’m keen to see how the new and improved Sharks defence handles what’s coming.

Sunday also has a couple of interesting matches, I think the Warriors will push the Roosters but will fall short, and I’m going to give the Knights the nod to beat the Dragons. I keep saying the Knights are better than advertised and they keep chunking it – last chance this week!

Easter Monday is traditionally the day of resurrection for believers, but we’re likely to see another burial instead as Parramatta do over Wests Tigers.The Tigers defence has actually shown some grit before folding but their attack is slower than a herd of sloths chasing a strawberry… 

Danielle Smith

Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Panthers, Titans, Storm, Roosters, Knights, Eels

Yep, I’m still on the Cowboys train. I think they were unlucky to not get the win against the Warriors and I think the Raiders were lucky not to get beaten by more. 

I’m going the Bunnies but not by much. They won against a dreadful Dragons and didn’t make it look easy, but I still think they will be better than the Dogs. 

The Panthers can’t seem to be stopped at the moment, and I don’t see the Broncos being the ones to hand them their first loss this season. 

I’m bucking the trend and picking the Titans over Manly. Let’s see if the bad press around his recent efforts gets a rocket under David Fifita and then the good one gets off the team bus to play.  And while this tip actually had nothing to do with Mike tipping the Dragons over the Knights, now that I know he barracks for Manly, it did help make my decision easier. 

I cannot wait for the Storm v Sharks game. This will be a brilliant battle, the Sharks are playing some great footy and will push Melbourne the whole game, but I’ve gone the Storm in a very close one. 

I typed the Roosters, then I deleted it, then I typed it again, deleted it, then typed it again. Roosters.

While I would love to see the Tigers get on the board and have Madge breathe a little bit easier, I can’t see it happening this weekend against Parramatta. 

And finally, Newcastle and Dragons. My boys are playing poorly, all of the Ponga drama is distracting, we have injuries as far as the eye can see……but as always, I’m tipping my Knights.

Multi tip from PlayUp: 

Lots of great games coming up for this Easter long weekend, let’s try and find some money in amongst the easter eggs. 

Leg 1. $1.95 – Cowboys +3.5 head start – Raiders haven’t shown much thus far this year and cowboys are showing some fight so I like them to cover the line. Only concern will be is that it’s a long way from home for them. 

Leg 2. $1.47 – Manly H2H – Starting to look like the eagles are going to replicate their 2021 season of starting slow but ramping up. GC have been valiant but lack the killer punch. 

Leg 3. $1.95 – Sharks +6.5 head start – Sharks have been great and former Storm Players Hynes and Finucane will be keen to impress against the old team.

Total = $5.45

Good luck this weekend. Be sure to check out the great odds and the same game Multi-feature at PlayUp. Please gamble responsibly.