Well, the NRL have made it through magic round, and State of Origin is fast approaching, so it’s crunch time for all 16 clubs as they attempt to get some crucial wins before the competition becomes secondary to the State vs State battle. This is The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel for Round 10. Magic round might have brought with it a stack of injuries, but with the surface barely to blame, and the NRL generally being received well without incident, Suncorp Stadium will be back in the headlights when it hosts Friday night footy this weekend between the Broncos and Roosters. That’s not before the Storm and Tigers face off in the round opener though, with Ivan Cleary’s Panthers just about putting their season on the line in the early Friday game against the Warriors. Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Reddit Email Share Saturday takes us to the Gold Coast, Townsville and Canberra as the Titans face the Bulldogs in a battle at the wrong end of the ladder, the Cowboys face the Eels and banged up Raiders look to return to the winner’s circle against the high-flying Bunnies. The round will cap off on Sunday as we first head to Mudgee for a regional clash between the Dragons and Knights – who slugged it out in extra time some weeks ago – and to Cronulla for the Sharks to host the recovering Manly. Last week was a strong week for all our tipsters, with scores of six and seven across the board. It leaves The Crowd ahead of The Barry by three points. Advertisement Advertisement Don’t forget to join in with your tips at the bottom of the article to try and beat the experts in 2019 as The Crowd and try your luck in our Roar NRL tipping comp. Crowd tips will close at approximately 5:30pm (AEST) on Thursday afternoon. Tips: Storm, Panthers, Roosters, Titans, Cowboys, Raiders, Dragons, Sea Eagles Round 10 is shaping up as one of those tough tipping rounds and I am picking with uncertainty. I’ve taken a couple of risks. The Tigers looked good in the first half against a woeful Panthers side in Magic Round but Melbourne are a different kettle of fish. Can’t see anything but a Storm victory after their destruction of the Eels last start. I feel like Penrith hit rock bottom last weekend and are on the way back up after a week of players being interviewed by Ivan. Warriors are still unpredictable despite a good win last start. I’m going for the Panthers. If we haven’t had enough games at Suncorp we have another on Friday. Broncos showed some form last week with Milford firing but the Roosters just know how to win. Easts The Titans and Bulldogs are both off the pace at NRL level. Titans at home because I have to pick one. Advertisement Advertisement Both the Cowboys and Eels were last start losers with Parramatta feeling the full force of the Storm. Cowboys at home. The Raiders vs Rabbitohs looks to be the match of the round and a tough one to pick. Despite losing to the Roosters the Raiders were impressive and I’m backing them to cause an upset. Canberra I love a regional fixture and this time we go to Mudgee for what should be an entertaining game. I keep tipping the Dragons and they have let me down a few times. One more chance but they will have to stop Ponga. St George Illawarra. Again I am going to stick my neck out and back Manly in the battle of the Sydney beaches away at Cronulla. Walker’s back. Sea Eagles. Tips: Storm, Warriors, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sharks Storm beat the Eels by 50. Eels beat the Tigers by 50. Storm should win this one by 100. Simples. I’m tipping the Storm but what’s the bet the Tigers win after all of that? Advertisement Advertisement Absolute carnage at the foot of the mountains as Cleary wields the axe like a madman. Funnily enough, the number 7 survived. These sort of shock tactics are the sign of a desperate coach – just ask Dean Pay. I hate tipping the Warriors outside of NZ, but that’s the way I’m going. Was last week’s win against an injury-ravaged Sea Eagles a sign of a Broncos resurgence, or just a win against an injury-ravaged opponent? Either way, the Roosters are probably not the opponent you want to be meeting off the back of that win. Spoonapalooza may have come early this year as the Titans and Bulldogs playoff for the timber trophy that nobody wants. Bulldogs to win. They just have to. Gee this is a tough round. Cowboys vs Eels is another coin flip. Has Brad Arthur lost the plot? Dropped his 80-minute hooker to play star fullback Gutho at dummy half. Disaster. This week, he’s made multiple changes. Were things just going too well for the Eels that he needed some self-inflicted drama? Cowboys need to beware the bounce back factor but I’m tipping them. Raiders vs Rabbitohs is this week’s game of the round for mine. Tough one to pick. Raiders are at home but are carrying a lot of injuries. For that reason, I’m leaning slightly towards Souths. Speaking of coaches losing the plot, how good is Mary McGregor going? His benching of Zac Lomax last week was an inspired masterstroke and arguably won the game for the Warriors. I’m tipping the Dragons to beat the Knights despite Mary. The battle of the beaches sees two teams who keep putting up brave performances despite ever-growing casualty lists. I’m going with the Sharks despite the return of Dylan Walker. Advertisement Advertisement Storm, Panthers, Broncos, Titans, Eels, Raiders, Knights, Sharks I’ve held up this week’s tips, and I apologise. In my defence, I’ve got a three-week old baby at home who demands to watch replays of the 1989 grand final every two hours. Take these tips for what they are, done in true delirium… The storm will beat Wests Tigers but it’ll be more grindy than thought. Penrith surely must beat the Warriors, but New Zealand were great fun last week, so who knows. (Scott’s comment: Hi there. No, no they weren’t great fun. It was painful. This may be biased.) Broncos will beat the Roosters. Don’t ask why. Titans should beat the Bulldogs. Should. Parramatta celebrate the coach resigning by knocking over the Cowboys up north and my beautiful, undermanned Raiders will knock over the Bunnies by 25. Knights over Dragons and getting a whiff of the top four, while, finally, in the battle of the hospital wards, the Sharks will beat Manly 8-6 in an 80-minute grind. Advertisement Advertisement Tips: Storm, Panthers, Roosters, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sharks There are some tough games to pick this weekend, with teams struggling for form, but threatening a turnaround up and down the competition. The other key factor to take into account, for mine at least, is the mountain of team changes across the competition, and just how that is going to impact the way games are played out this weekend. For mine, the most intriguing battle is actually at the end of the round as Cronulla take on Manly. Cronulla have been solid the last couple of weeks, with that win over the Storm taking pride of place as possibly the club’s best victory since the 2016 grand final. On the other side of the coin, Manly are finally getting some players back – Lachlan Croker, Dylan Walker, Addin Fonua-Blake and Jorge Taufua. Manly have been good this year, but Cronulla is a tough place to go and play footy, so I’ll take the Sharks, but it could be game of the round territory. On the other side of getting players back are the Canberra Raiders. They play the final Saturday game against the Rabbitohs, but have players watching on from the sideline in all the key spots. That being said, I can’t see them beating a red-hot South Sydney.<doc-sep>May 9th, 2019 May 9th, 2019 Kodi Nikorima's first game in a Warriors jersey has convinced Andrew Johns to tip a big upset, with the former Broncos half ironically making his debut for his new club on Brisbane's familiar Suncorp Stadium. The NRL's Magic Round sets up an extremely difficult four days of tipping, with all eight games to be played on Brisbane's home ground for a rugby league extravaganza. It means that despite the Warriors nominally playing a home game, Nikorima will have to get comfortable in his new jersey at a place with unhappy recent memories after he was told by Broncos coach Anthony Seibold that he didn't have a long-term future in the halves. "This is the hardest one to pick," Johns told Wide World of Sports' Freddy & Joey's Tips of the Warriors-Dragons clash. "Dragons with a lot of injuries, no Corey Norman, they get Jai Field, who's been knocking at the door for a while at five-eighth, great player. "I'm going to go the Warriors ... you'd think (Nikorima) would want to make a really good impression in front of the Brisbane crowd and the Brisbane administrators, and the Brisbane coach and players." Check out the tipping leaderboard and the full set of Round 8 tips from Freddy, Joey and our Channel Nine experts below! NRL tipping leaderboard (Nine) Andrew Johns Sharks Tigers Broncos Knights Warriors Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Brad Fittler Sharks Tigers Broncos Knights Dragons Eels Roosters Rabbitohs Titans v Sharks preview: Round 9 James Bracey Sharks Panthers Broncos Knights Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Darren Lockyer Sharks Wests Tigers Broncos Bulldogs Warriors Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Allana Ferguson Sharks Wests Tigers Broncos Bulldogs Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Billy Slater Sharks Wests Tigers Broncos Knights Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Phil Gould Sharks Panthers Broncos Bulldogs Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Sea Eagles v Broncos preview: Round 9 Cam Williams Titans Tigers Sea Eagles Bulldogs Warriors Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Mat Thompson Sharks Panthers Manly Knights Warriors Storm Roosters Rabbitohs The Mole Sharks Tigers Broncos Knights Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Wally Lewis Sharks Broncos Rabbitohs Tigers Knights Dragons Storm Roosters Ruan Sims Sharks Tigers Sea Eagles Knights Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Rabbitohs v Cowboys preview: Round 9 Danika Mason Sharks Tigers Broncos Knights Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Ben Glover Sharks Panthers Broncos Knights Warriors Storm Roosters Rabbitohs Tim Elbra Sharks Panthers Broncos Knights Dragons Storm Roosters Rabbitohs<doc-sep>The Roosters will be sweating on Luke Keary to pass all the necessary concussion protocols to make the field on Anzac Day. Keary copped a nasty knock late in the Roosters’ win over Melbourne and will need to be “perfect” to be named to play the Dragons on Thursday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Daily Telegraph reports Trent Robinson will consider either Latrell Mitchell or Lachlan Lam to play five-eighth in his place, with suggestions Lam could come off the bench if Mitchell starts in the No.6 jumper. Across the ditch, the Warriors’ superstar captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is in doubt with a hamstring injury but Blake Green is expected to return to the No.7 jersey. Eels star Blake Ferguson was ruled out of their clash with the Wests Tigers on Monday as he battles a painful rib injury. Also sporting two black eyes from a broken nose, Ferguson is a ‘day-to-day’ prospect to play the Knights on Sunday. Meanwhile, Sharks’ rising star Briton Nikora has accepted a one-match ban for a dangerous throw and will miss Cronulla’s clash with the Broncos on Saturday. Read on for all the latest team tips and changes ahead of Round 7! THURSDAY Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Cricket Ground, 4.05pm Predicted Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Matt Ikuvalu 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley. Interchange: 14 Nat Butcher, 15. Mitchell Aubusson, 16. Zane Tetevano 17. Poasa Faamausili Team tips: The Roosters are set to welcome back a host of stars for their annual Anzac Day clash with the Dragons, with Jake Friend, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Joseph Manu due to return to the field. Five-eighth Luke Keary will be monitored for concussion after coming off late against Melbourne. If he is ruled out due to the six-day turnaround, Latrell Mitchell will take his place in the halves, while Lachlan Lam will be carried on the bench. “I feel good, I was a little bit dusty after the game,” Keary told The Big League Wrap. “I pulled up good. I’ve just got to go through the protocol they go through now. The next couple of days will be important for me.” Isaac Liu and Brett Morris are still sidelined. Luke Keary copped a nasty knock against the Storm. Source: FOX SPORTS Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > Predicted Dragons team: 1. Matt Dufty 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Euan Aitken 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Blake Lawrie. Interchange: 14. Jeremy Latimore 15. Zac Lomax 16. Jacob Host 17. Luciano Leilua. Team tips: The Dragons are set to name the same squad that overcame Manly in Wollongong last week. A verdict is not expected to be reached on Jack de Belin’s challenge against his NRL-enforced stand down in the Federal Court by Tuesday, meaning he will be unable to be named. The Dragons could opt to switch start Zac Lomax after Tim Lafai’s 2/5 kicking effort against the Sea Eagles. For all the latest NRL odds check out Sportsbet MORE NRL NEWS THE LAB: Roosters up against history; Knights at their worst ‘NOT THEIR JUNGLE ANYMORE’: Moses reveals inspiration behind Eels’ romp VOSSY: Incredible numbers show how Tigers were brutally exposed NEWCASTLE: Is a ‘party atmosphere’ the reason for Knights’ shocking start? Melbourne Storm v Warriors, AAMI Park, 7.55pm Predicted Storm team: 1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Curtis Scott 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Brodie Croft 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Christian Welch 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen. Team tips: Centre Curtis Scott returned for Melbourne in Round 6 and coach Craig Bellamy is expected to name the same team that suffered a one-point loss to the Roosters on Friday. Predicted Warriors team: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2 Peta Hiku 3 Gerard Beale 4 Solomone Kata 5 Ken Maumalo 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita 7 Blake Green 8 Agnatius Paasi 9 Issac Luke 10 Leeson Ah Mau 11 Adam Blair 12 Tohu Harris 13 Lachlan Burr. Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga 15 Isaiah Papali’i 16 Bunty Afoa 17 Nathaniel Roache. Team tips: David Fusitu’a came off with a suspected rib cartilage injury against the Sea Eagles and is not expected to recover in time to play the Storm on Friday, while Blake Green is a likely admission. Gerard Beale will come into the starting side, with Peta Hiku set for a shift to the wing. FRIDAY Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs v North Queensland Cowboys, ANZ Stadium, 6pm Predicted Bulldogs team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Jayden Okunbor 3. Kerrod Holland 4. Will Hopoate 5. Reimis Smith 6. Jack Cogger 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Ofahiki Ogden 11. Josh Jackson 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Rhyse Martin. Interchange: 14. Michael Lichaa 15. Danny Fualalo 16. Adam Elliot 17. Chris Smith. Team tips: Fullback Nick Meaney suffered a serious lacerated finger in their loss to the Rabbitohs on Good Friday. He returned to the field but will go for scans to assess the seriousness of the damage. If there is no risk to the tendons, he could be free to play in Round 7. Adam Elliott also succumbed to a rib injury he has been battling for several weeks and didn’t finish the game. He’ll be assessed through the week. Predicted Cowboys team: 1. Te Maire Martin 2 Javid Bowen 3. Jordan Kahu 4. Enari Tuala 5. Ben Hampton 6. Jake Clifford 7. Michael Morgan 8. Matt Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Josh McGuire, 13 John Asiata. Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Coen Hess 16. Scott Bolton 17. Francis Molo. Team tips: Kyle Feldt is a chance of returning from a groin injury, but might be given a week in reserve grade. Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs, Panthers Stadium, 7.55pm Predicted Panthers team: 1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Josh Mansour 3. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 4. Waqa Blake 5. Dylan Edwards 6. James Maloney 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tim Grant 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Isaah Yeo 13. James Fisher-Harris. Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa, 15 Tyrell Fuimaono, 16. Moses Leota 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Team tips: Centre Dean Whare has a grade one hamstring tear and is expected to be sidelined for between two and four weeks. It could force Dylan Edwards to return to first grade after playing reserve grade in Round 6. Predicted Rabbitohs team: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Corey Allen 3. Kyle Turner 4. Dane Gagai 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. George Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. John Sutton 12. Sam Burgess 13. Cameron Murray. Interchange:14. Tevita Tatola 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ethan Lowe 17. Liam Knight. Team tips: The Rabbitohs are expected to be unchanged. SATURDAY Wests Tigers v Gold Coast Titans, Scully Park, Tamworth, 5.30pm Predicted Tigers team: 1. Moses Mbye 2. Mahe Fonua 3. Robert Jennings 4. Esan Marsters 5. Corey Thompson 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Luke Brooks 8. Russell Packer 9. Robbie Farah 10. Alex Twal 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Luke Garner 13. Josh Aloiai Interchange: 14. Ben Matulino 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Michael Chee-Kam. Team tips: According to coach Michael Maguire, Robbie Farah will be available despite suffering a head knock against the Eels. Predicted Titans team: 1. Michael Gordon 2. Anthony Don 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Brian Kelly 5. Dale Copley 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ash Taylor 8. Shannon Boyd 9. Mitch Rein 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Jai Arrow. Interchange: 14. Phillip Sami 15. Max King 16. Jai Whitbread, 17 Keagan Hipgrave.<doc-sep>
We’re all going to Brisvegas! The NRL’s first Magic Round is here, with all 16 teams, over 300 players, a bunch of match officials, and thousands of fans taking a car, plane or train to the Queensland capital. The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel are going to tell you who will leave the city happy. While New South Welshmen get offended when Brisbanites try to claim their city as rugby league heartland, for one weekend, it is. It’s the only place you’d want to be as a fan of this great sport, because there will be eight games, on one ground, over four days. Of course, it’d be nice if we could get some magic into our tipping. Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Reddit Email Share The Crowd had a successful week in Round 8, grabbing six out of eight and increasing their lead to three points. The Barry leads the charge for the experts, but two scores of four in a row haven’t helped him since he went and gloated about his performance getting to the lead. Myself and AJ also picked up four, while Stuart had five, which ties him with AJ on 39 one point behind The Barry. The less said about my overall position, the better. The weekend in Brisbane kicks off with the Titans playing the Sharks, before the Cleary cup takes centre stage between the Tigers and Panthers, which is then followed up with the Broncos playing an away game at home against the Sea Eagles. Saturday brings us the Bulldogs and Knights, before Kodi Nikorima makes his homecoming to Suncorp less than a week after departing against the Dragons. The three-game feast of rugby league concludes with the Storm searching for their form against Parramatta. The Roosters will play the Raiders in a good chance for match of the round to get Sunday afternoon underway, before the Rabbitohs and Cowboys clash in the concluding match of what is set to be an enormous weekend. Don’t forget to join in with your tips at the bottom of the article to try and beat the experts in 2019 as The Crowd and try your luck in our Roar NRL tipping comp. Crowd tips will close at approximately 5:30pm (AEST) on Thursday afternoon. Tips: Titans, Tigers, Broncos, Knights, Dragons, Storm, Roosters, Rabbitohs It’s Magic Round! Get excited! Or don’t, that’s entirely up to you. Here’s who’ll make the most of their dirty weekend up north. The Gold Coast bloody better get the win over the dilapidated Sharkies, or they’re into the do not tip box next to the Warriors. The Tigers will beat the Panthers because Viliame Kikau is hurt and Isaah Yeo is out. Panthers in all sorts. Broncos to get a win against Manly, but they won’t get it easy and it’ll be a tough watch. Dragons to beat the untippable New Zealand, who disgusted us all with their lack of effort last week. Melbourne will have Bellamy’s motivational words ringing in their ears and they’ll take it out on Parra. Should be a great game. I’ve now tipped against my beautiful Raiders twice, and they won both times. So I tip the Roosters. No John Bateman and no Joseph Leilua hurts Canberra, obviously. To finish, Souths will topple the Cowboys. I was going to write something about a comedown after the Bennett and Seibold dramas of last week, but Wayne doesn’t care about that. He’ll get his boys to roll on. Tips: Sharks, Tigers, Broncos, Knights, Dragons, Storm, Roosters, Rabbitohs Forget about Magic Round, I just want some magic with my tips for once this season. The Sharks were impressive against Melbourne last week while the Titans are in the doldrums. Gold Coast will be closer to home but it has to be Cronulla. Sharks to win. The Wests Tigers just don’t seem to have the cattle to make a big dent in the competition while the Panthers have the team but are not fulfilling their potential at the moment. I’m tipping Wests Tigers but both teams need to improve. Manly continue to suffer injury problems following the last start win against the Bulldogs. Seibs has lost patience with the Broncos and has dropped Roberts and Isaako after they were lapped by Bennett’s Rabbitohs. Broncos in a home game. The Knights are a tough team to gauge week to week but they seem to have hit a sweet spot and I expect them to be too classy for the last placed Canterbury.