That was quick, I have received a email (from a mate who is trying to beat me in our tipping comp!) asking to keep the blog going so I will.

This round is going to be a quick post because I have a lot going on today but it will be back to normal next week.

Dragons v Broncos – Half the Broncos are on SOO or suspended.

TIP : DRAGONS

Warriors v Rabbitohs – Warriors are at home this week and that will be enough to see them get the win.

TIP : WARRIORS

Bulldogs v Knights – Like the Broncos half of the Knights team is missing this week.

TIP : BULLDOGS

Eels v Raiders – The Raiders have to start playing well and winning away from home before I pick them when they don’t play in Canberra.

TIP : EELS

Tigers v Cowboys – Cowboys are in all sorts of trouble at the moment and it doesn’t look like it will be changing any time soon.

TIP : TIGERS

Panthers v Sharks – Panthers are playing great football and Cronulla are missing Bird and Gallen.

TIP : PANTHERS

Titans v Storm – Melbourne are missing their coach and entire starting line up because of SOO!!!!

TIP : TITANS

I will be deciding over the next couple of days if I am going to continue this blog or not, I’ll let the readers decide.

IF YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE LEY ME KNOW! POST A COMMENT OR SEND AN EMAIL..

Anyway round 12 ended up a pretty average round for my tipping(again), with a score of 5 from 8. The last 9 rounds have seen some up and down tipping form and I ended up with a score of 42/65 with 64.6%. This result is well short of my target but has left me in third position in my tipping comp 5 points away from first position at the half way mark of the season.

Again,

Thanks for reading and let me know if you want me to continue this blog.

Signing out

Chris McP

!GO THE MIGHTY RAIDERS!

Hello fellow tipsters and welcome to the second last post for “Pick the Winners.” After this weeks tips I will post the results for the previous twelve rounds and compare them to my goal of 80%.

Anyway onto this weeks tips and it is a full round before we go into the second SOO game.

Canberra v Sea Eagles – A bad loss to the Dragons last week and a spray from Des Hasler should see Manly come out firing on a cold Canberra Friday night. Canberra however perform well at home no matter who they are playing or who is playing for them. I think Canberra in a close game.

TIP : CANBERRA

Broncos v Eels – Darren Lockyer back for the Broncos and he should supply enough good ball for Hodges and his fellow outside backs to run riot over Parramatta. I think the Eels have played well below expectation this year and they will need to improve soon to keep their season alive.

TIP : BRONCOS

Storm v Bulldogs – The Bulldogs have been decimated by injury this week and are fielding a side that few apart from Bulldogs supports would recognise. Melbourne back to full strength and will win by a considerable margin.

TIP : STORM

Cowboys v Panthers – A tuff game to pick, Cowboys at home but have not played well for a long time and Penrith travelling a long way but taking good form into the game. Both teams have little injury worries Matt Bowen for the Cowboys being the exception. My usual rule is if JT or Bowen are out the Cowboys lose but I am going against that this week.

TIP : COWBOYS

Knights v Warriors – Steve Price has been back for a game and the Warriors are a different team with him there. The problem for the Warriors this week is that they are travelling across the Tasman to Newcastle. NZ have not one in Australia sine August last year and I think they will struggle against a solid Knights team.

TIP : KNIGHTS

South’s v Dragons – Can the Bunnies win another game? They have a good chance this week with Gasnier out for the Dragons but even with him out I have my doubts. I cant bring myself to pick South’s until they start winning.

TIP : DRAGONS

Sharks v Titans – The blues brothers are back and in form for the Sharks and they will be looking to bash Gold Coast out of the game. Scott Prince will have other ideas as will Luke Bailey. The Titans have not produced the form they show at home on the road and the Sharks the other way around, they play well away and struggle at home. So the question is who will turn it around this week?

TIP : SHARKS

Roosters v Tigers – This is looking to be the match of the round, both teams in some good form and at full strength. Braith has been outstanding for the Roosters the last couple of weeks and I think he may be the difference in a hard fought but entertaining game on Monday night football.

TIP : ROOSTERS.

TIP SEA EAGLES

Rabbits v Storm – Melbourne have an incredible 9 players who played in the SOO on Wednesday night. Greg Inglis has been ruled out and I’m sure more will follow. Lucky for Melbourne they are playing the Rabbits this week and could probably still win with only 10 players on the ground.

TIP : STORM

Warriors v Roosters – This is turning out to be a hard game to pick. Roosters are coming of a good win and the Warriors playing at home where they have not lost this year. Look for the Roosters to break this run of wins with Braith Anasta and Willie Mason to lead the team to victory.

TIP : ROOSTERS

Tigers v Titans – The form team of the competition is travelling to Liechardt oval this week to play the unpredictable Tigers who are at full strength. Benji Marshall has been coping a lot of flack from the media and his coach about his defensive ability so look for him to prove himself with a massive game in front of his home crowd. Matt Rogers is back for the Titans to continue his good partnership with Scott Prince but I don’t think it will be enough for the Titans to win this week.

TIP : TIGERS

Bulldogs v Sharks – The Bulldogs desperately need a win this week to keep their season a live. Cronulla have been playing well over the year especially away from home where they have only lost one game. Brett Kimorley will be up against the club he is going to next year a will be keen to impress. Greg Bird should control the game for the Sharks after his outstanding display on Wednesday night against Queensland

TIP : SHARKS

Parramatta and Brisbane were the two teams I tipped that didn’t win, Brisbane were in the game against the Sharks right up till the end but didn’t have the class to get over the line. On the other hand Parramatta put in a poor performance and I will be reluctant to tip them in the future.

I will post my tips on Thursday this week after the Origin battle has settled down and injuries can be assessed, it is a short round again this week with only five games so I will be going for the perfect round this week and aim for 5 out of 5!

Titans v Bulldogs – Skilled Park has turned into a graveyard for opposition teams this year with the Titans yet to loose. Scott Prince will be disappointed but primed to show the Queensland selectors what they are missing out on and should lead the Titans to a win. The Bulldogs continue there disappointing run this year, I can’t see them winning even if Sonny Bill has a massive game.

TIP : TITANS

Eels v Roosters – The Roosters have been hit hard by origin and will be missing most of there forward pack. Last week against the Raiders Willie Mason and Tupou were instrumental in the win and will be missed. The Eels have close to a full squad to pick from and are coming off two wins in a row. I think they will be to strong for the Roosters and will take advantage at Parramatta Stadium.

TIP : EELS

Sharks v Broncos – Brisbane are missing half there team this week and the Sharks are missing Bird and Gallen who mean just as much to the Sharks as half a team does to Brisbane. I’m having a lot of trouble picking this game and am going to revert back to an old betting rule I used to follow. When ever Brisbane were priced above $2 to win in the betting markets, bet on them! They would always win, the Queensland under dog thing I think. Brisbane are priced at $2.35 to win.

TIP : BRONCOS

Sea Eagles v Cowboys – Cowboys minus Thurston and Bowen does not equal a win. Manly have a good team with Matt Orford, Brent Kite and Jamie Lyon and should win easily this week.

TIP : SEA EAGLES

Dragons v Storm – Melbourne are missing 9 players this week, so they are not the Melbourne they usually are. The Dragons almost beat Parramatta last week despite playing poorly. Dragons are missing a couple of class players in Cooper and Gasnier but I think they will win in a hard fought and close match.

TIP : DRAGONS

Panthers v Warriors – General rule for the Warriors is pick them at home and don’t when they play in Australia. Penrith won last week and will be looking to win at home this week which is a rare thing lately.

TIP : PANTHERS

Knights v Tigers – This should be a good game to watch because the Tigers are at full strength for the first time this year. The Knights have shown this year that they can win without key players but that is when Kurt Gidley is playing, he is not this week.

TIP : TIGERS

Raiders v Rabbitohs – The Bunnies had there first win last start and will be as confident as they have all season. On the other hand Canberra have been poor the last two games making 38 errors and only scoring two tries. The saving factor for Canberra is that they are at home this week and they are a completely different side, traditionally they perform well on Monday nights but will have to be at the top of there game to win.

TIP : RAIDERS

NSW v QLD Game 1 – NSW

State of Origin is around the corner and I think this year we will see the Blues sneak home in a close series. I am tipping the Blues to win games one and two and take out the series. I will stick by these tips and not talk about S.O.O much because everything is based around loyalty and passion rather than reason.

This week will see teams without their origin stars and this will have a huge effect on some teams like the Storm and Brisbane.

Anyway stay tuned Rd 10 tips are coming up soon.

Australia v New Zealand – Australia have been rocked by injuries this week with first Darren Lockyer ruled out and now Jonathan Thurston is in severe doubt after rolling his ankle at the final training session on Thursday. Cooper Cronk is the replacement should Thurston not be fit. This news will encourage NZ as has the presence of Wayne Bennett but they will need much more than encouragement from the best coach in the game to beat Australia.

TIP : AUSTRALIA

Roosters v Raiders – Canberra were very disappointing last week, worse than my footy tipping and that’s the nicest thing I can think of to say about the Raiders. The Roosters have five players playing in the test match and will have to back up in under 24 hours against Canberra but this shouldn’t matter, it looks like the Raiders cant win away from home again this year.

TIP : ROOSTERS

Cowboys v Sharks – JT rolled his ankle on Thursday night and looks to be out of this clash as is Matt Bowen. The Sharks have a great away record winning 4 from 5 so far this year and after a few poor home field performances will be looking to put in a good performance against the Cowboys.

TIP : SHARKS

Bulldogs v Panthers – Panthers like the Sharks have a better away record than home record, which is unusual in Rugby League these days. Penrith are slowly getting better as a team, they played well for sixty minutes last week then let the game slip in the last twenty. Sonny Bill controls the destiny of the Bulldogs and it is too much for one person, apart from him they are getting very little from the rest of the team, and he will be tied after the test match on Friday.

TIP : PANTHERS

Broncos v Sea Eagles – Hardest game of the round to pick for me, both teams are in good form but Brisbane have lost Lockyer all though they have played the majority of the season without him. Manly are coming of a bye and this may effect them a little, just enough for Brisbane to edge home in a close game.

TIP : BRISBANE

Eels v Dragons – Eels came back late against Penrith last week and look to be coming into some good form. I like their team at the moment with Feleti Mateo at 5/8 and Finch at half. The once mighty Dragons aren’t breathing too much fire these days and the class of the Eels should see them home.

TIP : EELS

Storm v Knights – Melbourne have five maybe six players backing up from the test match but like the Roosters I don’t think this will effect the team. Knights are a good team this year but they have not beaten Melbourne in the past six attempts and not for a long time in Victoria.

TIP : STORM

I will be praying to the football gods this week to help my tipping, I hope they are listening!

Speak to you all next week and good luck to your teams this week.

PS Good luck Manchester United on Sunday night when they travel to Wigan, if they win the League title is won for a second year, good luck in Moscow next Wednesday for the Champions League Final against league rivals Chelsea.

GLORY, GLORY MAN UNITED, GLORY, GLORY MAN UNITED…………..

Back to the Rugby League, and the more I think about this weeks games the more doubt I have about picking a winner. All the games could go either way and a referee decision or a bit of luck here or there could decide the result of games.

Country v City – I am a Canberra boy and Raiders fan so Country.

TIP : COUNTRY

Knights v Titans – The Titans form this year has been great and considering what was expected of Newcastle this year, theirs has been as well. The Knights will have home ground advantage and few injury concerns, while the Titans have Scott Prince and an abundance of confidence. My first thoughts are that the Titans will win easily but the Knights can’t be underestimated.

TIP : TITANS

Panthers v Eels – Another tuff game to tip, both teams have shown glimpse’s of good form while been poor at other times. Penrith have won a few games lately and are playing at home. The Eels have lost Tim Smith but Finch is the better half and that should strengthen the team.

TIP : PANTHERS

South Sydney v Cowboys – Well South’s have not been good this year and the dramas have continued this week with players failing breath tests and been dropped. Maybe the hole team should be dropped! JT and the Cowboys have been playing good football in the last months and that has lead to three from four wins, the only loss to the Storm last week.

TIP : COWBOYS

Tigers v Broncos – I thought this was a hard game to tip, Brisbane were not great against South’s and the Tigers are all ways strong at home. With Benji Marshall ruled out for the next few weeks I am leaning towards the Broncs.

TIP : BRONCOS

Warriors v Raiders – The Warriors have been decimated by injury this week while the Raiders have a few players coming back, especially in the forwards. I found this game the hardest to tip. I have a good feeling about the Raiders this week, Todd Carney and Joel Monaghan will be excited after Fridays game and the team has been playing good almost beating Melbourne in there last start. GO THE RAIDERS!!!

TIP : RAIDERS

5 out of 6. The best I have tipped all year and if it was not for the class of Melbourne I would have had my first perfect round of the season. Maybe this week. At first glance round 8 is shaping up as a hard week to tip, are the Bunnies going to win their first game of the year, can the Raiders win in New Zealand for the first time since 2001? Tuff questions that will need to be answered.

As well as the normal round of football this week there is also the first representative game of the season City v Country which I will also be tipping. Congrats must go to the two Raiders who will play for Country on Friday night Joel Monaghan and Todd Carney.

Stay tuned for RD-8 tips.

PS GO MANCHESTER UNITED AGAINST BARCA IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!