The Adjudicator gives his final verdict on round 18 of the 2011 NRL premiership
- FOX SPORTS
- July 07, 2011
I never thought I would say this but good riddance to Origin, now let's get our focus back on the real heavyweights like Cronulla and Canberra.
The Adjudicator's Tipping League
Rank | Name | Points |
1 | Ben Gussey | 3751 |
2 | paul waddington | 3739 |
3 | Robert Jones | 3716 |
4 | matt Stacey | 3711 |
5 | Jason Cone | 3634 |
6 | Troy Willmot | 3630 |
7 | Allan Bracken | 3614 |
8 | Jake Murphie | 3562 |
9 | kev conway | 3560 |
10 | Jason Ashford | 3547 |
285 | The Adjudicator | 2777 |
That's right the two highest-scoring teams from round 17 are set to face-off in what many are calling an October premonition. But more about those powerhouses later.
Johnathan Thurston has made sure the scent of Origin will still waft over the action this round as he watches from his wheelchair on the sideline, hidden underneath a blanket and that cheeky grin.
It's the first round of the rest of our lives and the countdown to finals footy can begin ... now!
Read on for my final verdict, but make sure you return on Tuesday for my round-19 thoughts. You see, my friends, you have the power to influence The Great Adjudicator. Get typing if you dare!
NRL Tipping: Take on The Adjudicator
Sign up, if you carelessly haven't already, and enter code 15967-5501 to join my tipping league
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Warriors v Titans | Eels v Tigers |
Sharks v Raiders | Bulldogs v Storm |
Roosters v Panthers | Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs |
Knights v Cowboys |
Warriors v Gold Coast Titans, Mt. Smart Stadium, Friday 6.30pm (EST)
The Adjudicator says: "I haven't been less inspired by a Friday night match-up since Adelaide Rams hosted Hunter Mariners in Super League round three, 1997. While the never-say-die (until they're punted) Rams snuck home in a thriller that night, I get the feeling this match could be one-way traffic. If both teams used their byes to freshen up on their best work from 2011, the Warriors would have realised they actually can be competitive while Gold Coast would have struggled to find a decent a match tape."
The Adjudicator's verdict: "Both teams have the bye week behind them but the Warriors welcome back Michael 'nothing but good' Luck and the only NRL player to be portrayed by Sean Penn in a major motion picture, 'I am' Sam Rapira. Easy, Warriors by 10."
Agree/disagree with The Adjudicator? Tell him, in 100 words or fewer, why your team will win this match by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
Parramatta v Wests Tigers, Parramatta Stadium, Friday 7.35pm (EST)
The Adjudicator says: "How good was Reni Maitua last Friday night? After two years out of the game and a couple of trips to Bali, the Eels utility produced more attacking opportunities in 80 minutes than Jeff Robson has done in 18 months. Parramatta are providing great nuisance value at the moment, reminding me of the kid at school that you always beat, but not before he ensured you walked away with a few scratches and a couple of lost buttons. I read on Wiki Leaks that Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has locked Robert Lui in a room with a fridge full of protein shakes and the Best of Benji Marshall DVD. If the young halfback picks up a few tricks the Tigers will go close, but I tend to favour the Eels at this stage."
The Adjudicator's verdict: "So much can change in a day at Concord Oval. I was ready to tip the Eels all week, but then Stephen Kearney got wind that Benji could return and Tim Sheens is doing nothing to deny it. Tigers by eight, but I reserve the right to deny that tip if the halves combination is Miller-Lui."
Agree/disagree with The Adjudicator? Tell him, in 100 words or fewer, why your team will win this match by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
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Cronulla v Canberra, Toyota Stadium, Saturday 5.30pm (EST)
The Adjudicator says: "Just a month ago, a trip to the Shire for an NRL team was more like a summer holiday - stroll in, land a few waves, work on your tan and pick up your complimentary two points from reception upon departure. These days, Toyota Park has sides more nervous than a wade in the shallows after watching Jaws. Big Gall has the locals singing I’m A Believer all the way towards an unlikely spot in the eight. But we all know the Sharks have a history of deflating quicker than a blow-up dingy hitting the bottom at Shark Island. They will face a Canberra side brimming in confidence after landing two big wins on the trot. However, the Raiders are more accustomed to the Antarctic conditions of Canberra Stadium and might just leave the Cronulla Resort with nothing more than a burnt backside.
The Adjudicator's verdict: "Take this one in carefully fans, so you know what to expect when the first Sunday in October rolls around. With that in mind, only one of these teams knows how to win a grand-final calibre match. Sorry Sharkies, it's Canberra by four."
Agree/disagree with The Adjudicator? Tell him, in 100 words or fewer, why your team will win this match by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
Canterbury-Bankstown v Melbourne Storm, Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7.30pm (EST)
The Adjudicator says: "Ahhh how much things can change in 12 months. This time last year the Storm were sitting on zero points, questioning what they had left to play for and drawing straws to decide who had to take the first pay-cut. These days, Craig Bellamy's biggest headache is deciding whose turn it is to drive Cameron Smith's luxury cruiser during team recovery sessions. While it's all smooth sailing in Storm Land, there are rumours of a virus spreading through Belmore this year. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: a loss of creativity, indecisiveness, poor decision-making, an ineffective kicking game and giddiness upon approaching the line with gusto. The latest victim is Ben Barba , while Keating, Roberts, Ryan and Halatau haven't been able to shake it since round one."
The Adjudicator's verdict: "I'm not sure if the Bulldogs got along to a GP during the week, but Mr A spoke to the only medical practitioner I trust – Dr Karl – who told me that it only take one micro sleep for the Storm to skip our of reach. Bad news for the Dogs. My prognosis? Melbourne by 16."
Agree/disagree with The Adjudicator? Tell him, in 100 words or fewer, why your team will win this match by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
Sydney Roosters v Penrith, Sydney Football Stadium, Sunday 2pm (EST)
The Adjudicator says: "Members of the St Mary's local command on Monday morning were sent around to a house on the outskirts of Penrith for the third time in a week to deal with another noise complaint. Apparently Steve Georgallis's neighbours aren't taking too kindly to his wailing 5am renditions of What About Me. But you do have to feel for the poor Panfer coach - there hasn't been a greater sadness around the 'Riff since Craig Gower announced he'd be leaving - and taking Amanda Flynn with him; or since the government banned smoking in pubs and clubs. But while Luke Walsh has the ball on a string, Mr A says "never fear Stevie, there's still hope for 2011!" Against a woeful Roosters outfit who can just about cash their lay-by receipt for an oversized eating utensil forged from mahogany, Georgie looks set for a purr-fect three in Pantherland.
The Adjudicator's verdict: "This week's result is a faitacompli so let's ponder one of the ramifications instead; how will the Panthers justify letting Stevie G go should he finish the year with a 100 per cent record? Only 13 wins to go and it starts here with Penrith by 20."
Agree/disagree with The Adjudicator? Tell him, in 100 words or fewer, why your team will win this match by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
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Manly v South Sydney, Brookvale Oval, Sunday 3pm (EST)
The Adjudicator says: "The high-flying Sea Eagles came back to earth with a thud when a near full-strength Dragons reclaimed the title of competition favourites in round 16. But apart from that, everything has been running like clockwork at Brookvale Oval - right down to Des Hasler's game day routine trip to his favourite Harbord salon for a blow-dry and perm. Brett Stewart looks to be nearing peak form, and I sense with a week to freshen up Manly's favourite son will be all over the Rabbits like a good thing in the red rug at Wenty Park. Souths were simply awful against the Sharks last week; Chris Sandow might be starting to focus more on memorising the directions from Redfern to Parramatta than on directing his troops to the try line, while John Sutton's only appearance on the highlight reel came when he knocked teammate James Roberts into touch from the opening kick-off."
The Adjudicator's verdict: "The Bunnies knew they had a tough game coming up against a highly-rated beachside outfit, but bless 'em they thought that was the Sharks last week. From south to north and from bad to worse, Souths are counting down the days to Cooper Cronk's arrival. Seagles by 12."
Agree/disagree with The Adjudicator? Tell him, in 100 words or fewer, why your team will win this match by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
Newcastle Knights v North Queensland Cowboys, Ausgrid Stadium, Monday 7.00pm (EST)
The Adjudicator says: "I remember reading through player profiles earlier this season ... and there's always a gee-up or two hidden amongst the usual 'favourite music' and 'childhood heroes'. Well when I read that Jarrod Mullen's goal for 2011 was "to win a premiership", I nearly choked on my Rice Bubbles. Was he planning a mid-season code switch or partially concussed from an all-nighter at Fannys? Seventeen rounds into the season, young Jarrod looks set to return to a side that's won four of their past five and rapidly ascending towards the pointy end of the ladder. Perhaps the joke is on me? The Novocastrians will need to be good against JT and the Cowboys, who spent the bye week with Neil Henry propped alongside a chalk board, running over the rules of rugby league. The topic of 'headers' took a while to sink in, but thankfully for the Townsville faithful, Henry's first lesson - how to win - only took a once-over."
The Adjudicator's verdict: "Turns out I didn't the help of fans to decide this one, just the weight of Ash Harrison's useless frame crushing JT's leg six feet under the Suncorp turf! Done and dusted, while the Cowboys have no halves, the Knights don't have enough room for all their playmakers. Newcastle by 10."
Agree/disagree with The Adjudicator? Tell him, in 100 words or fewer, why your team will win this match by leaving a comment at the bottom of the page.
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