In the first game at Tamworth's NO.1 Oval, the Tamworth Kangaroos take on the New England Nomads. The last time these 2 teams met was in round 11 last year in Armidale, with the Kangaroos victorious by 21 points. This is a big game for these 2 teams with the winner getting a top 2 spot on the ladder and the loser has the possibility of slipping to 5th. The Kangaroos bounced back to the winner's circle last week in a big way over the Cats, while the Nomads blew their chance to beat the Saints at Varley Oval in the third quarter by kicking 7 behinds. The Nomads played very well in patches last week, but will need to seriously address their kicking at goal during training this week, otherwise it will hurt them big time against the Kangaroos. The Kangaroos, on the other hand, have got big Andrew Hawkins back into top form last week with a lazy 6 goals. I don't think the Nomads will have the back line to combat the Kangaroos' big guns up forward, Hawkins and Overeem, and then there is Cotter in the midfield who has contributed 4 goals in each of the last 2 matches. The Nomads will need to get more out of its' star, Weston Whitby, if they are a chance to win this game. Last week Whitby, kicked 4 goals before half time and was on fire but faded in the last half.
My tip is for the Kangaroos to get over the Nomads by 42 points.
At Varley Oval the Inverell Saints will be looking to stay on the winning list when they host the Gunnedah Bulldogs. The last time these 2 teams met was in round 13 last year at the Kennel with the Saints winning by 35 points. The Bulldogs got their first taste of defeat last week and it was costly, as they slid down the ladder to fourth. It will take one almighty flogging for the Bulldogs to slip out of the top 4 and it will depend on how they travel this week, but they have beaten the Saints up in Inverell before. Farran Lamb has been the Bulldogs' shining light up forward this year, kicking 13 goals in 3 games. The Saints played well in patches last week, but if it wasn't for the Nomads inaccuracy, they wouldn't have been in the game at the start of the last quarter. The Saints discipline was better last week but they still gave away several 50 metre penalties, including a back to back 50. For the Saints to win this game they will need to take real control of their discipline and attack the ball not the man. The Bulldogs will need to bring their best game to Inverell if they are to win and it will be a big ask.
I am tipping the Saints at home to get over the Bulldogs by 13 points.
In the final game of the round and the second of the double header in Tamworth, the Tamworth Swans take on the Muswellbrook Cats. The last time these 2 teams met was in round 14 last year at NO.1 with the Swans getting a win by 16 points. The Swans were on fire last week after quarter time, beating the Bulldogs by 75 points. While the Cats' only positive to come out of their game against the Kangaroos being that they outscored them in the third quarter. The Swans will be too good for the Cats with the likes of Gavin Knee, this year's leading goal kicker, Damien Wendt and Lachie Rowling - too much fire power in the mid field for the Cats to handle. Add to this the forward line spearhead Dean Hoys' form, and the fact that if they win this game by enough the Swans will be on top of the ladder for the first time in 3 years, they will not let this slip.
My tip is the Swans to win by 86 points.
Last Modified on 25/05/2009 08:36