NRL Round 9

By Stephen Gallagher

THURSDAY: Rabbitohs V Panthers – Accor Stadium – 22.00NZT

In Ben Hornby We Trust. That’s the new motto going around Redfern supposedly.

But yeah, look, coming up against the Panthers sans your head coach is a tough gig no matter who you are.

Souths attack is just rudderless right now, and their defence even more so.

Penrith are cruising as they do until September. They will look to build on their attack from last week – but more importantly for them is the ease they leaked points in a 20-minute period.

Hard to think of this being anything other than a comprehensive Panthers win.

TIP: Panthers 13+

 

FRIDAY: Sea Eagles V Raiders – 4 Pines Park – 20.00NZT

The Sea Eagles look to be finding the right balance of everything and coming up against a Raiders side that has no answers, this is a great opportunity for Manly to really put the pedal to the metal.

While yes, the Raiders are without their star half – he’s not the one missing all the tackles – so this forward pack really need to dig deep and find something within themselves, that typical Raiders grit.

Brookie is a tough place to play, and the Sea Eagles will run in some good tries to win this comfortably.

TIP: Sea Eagles 13+

 

Broncos V Roosters – Suncorp Stadium – 22.00NZT

I don’t trust the Roosters one bit. I tip them, they lose. I tip against them, they win. 

This is the match-up of the round for me, especially after they both put in clinical performances last weekend.

Brisbane are destructive all over the pitch. The electricity you feel when you watch them attack is hard to replicate. So fun.

For Easts, the retirement announcement of Luke Keary is another string to their bow of winning the comp. They have a mass exodus of players this year and there’s no better time to show up then now.

They have to tire the Broncos out, but more importantly, they have to go with them early and not let them in.

TIP: Roosters 1-12

 

SATURDAY: Bulldogs V Tigers  – Accor Stadium – 17.00NZT

The Tigers hype has died down, while the Bulldogs’ bravado increases with every performance.

The difference between these two is the executing of chances. The Tigers have failed to convert on a few occasions, whereas Canterbury Bankstown are starting to really nail those opportunities.

That Bulldogs backline is looking pretty deadly at the moment too, and they feed off confidence.

If Wests give them a reason to feel confident, they’ll run in tries all day long.

TIP: Bulldogs 13+

 

Titans V Storm – Cbus Super Stadium – 19.30NZT

The recipe for a competing Gold Coast side is simple. A full scoop of AJ Brimson at fullback. I think we’ve seen the last of the centres experiment with him. 

He’s easily their most dangerous player, so the more he can inject himself into the game, the better the Titans get.

However, they’re coming up against a Melbourne side who love to bully a side like the Titans.

The first ten minutes, there’s hope. Then the Storm score. And score again. And then twist the knife in again.

So what I’m really trying to say is – despite that first win of the season, the Titans won’t win this.

TIP: Storm 13+

 

Cowboys V Dolphins – Queensland Country Bank Stadium – 21.35NZT

Like the Roosters, I can’t trust either of these sides. I’ve got no idea how they operate on a week-to-week basis. They are all over the show – so I guess the unpredictability of this match-up makes it a good watch.

The Cowboys are probably the better-rounded of the two. They’ve got a gameplan, but sometimes get so worked up into trying to win every play it goes away and they stumble.

If the Dolphins have any space around the ruck, Marshall-King will run riot and really tire those Cowboys out.

Reckon this’ll be close.

TIP: Cowboys 1-12

 

SUNDAY: Knights V Warriors – McDonald Jones Stadium – 16.00NZT

Well these are two very similar sides, aren’t they?

Both with their ups and downs in 2024, but with Newcastle being the less patient of the two. Is that a good thing? They got a result last week.

The Warriors could do with some changes, however, after three poor weeks they have to turn it around here.

Newcastle’s blueprint is simple. Just compete. The Warriors have failed to put teams away all year bar Souths. So if they’re in it with 20 to go, they should have the confidence of running them down.

The Wahs are looking a little one-dimensional on attack, almost as if teams have figured them out. They will have to come up with a plan B.

TIP: Knights 1-12

 

Sharks V Dragons – PointsBet Stadium – 18.15NZT

I loved the mind games in the ANZAC Day presser from Dragons coach Shane Flanagan after their humiliating loss, deflecting the result to say that the Sharks haven’t won a comp since he left.

While that is true, Cronulla are showing up in a big way in 2024 and look to remain top of the table.

Their backline is probably the most lethal in the comp. They definitely know how to score some tries.

St George Illawarra have to work on consistency. They’re good enough to be a threat but need to work on sticking it to bigger teams and show them what they’re made of.

I’m sure there’s something brewing in this game. I just don’t know what.

TIP: Sharks 1-12

BYE: Parramatta Eels

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