Final NRL & AFL Predictions for the Weekend

Final NRL & AFL Predictions for the Weekend

[NRL/AFL] Final NRL & AFL Predictions for the Weekend

Here are EIUOO SPORTS tips for Round 15 of the NRL and Round 12 of the AFL.

NRL ROUND 15
Panthers to beat Warriors by 4
Bulldogs to beat Sea Eagles by 2
Raiders to beat Cowboys by 1
Knights to beat Titans by 10
Sharks to beat Rabbitohs by 8
Storm to beat Dragons by 12
Broncos to beat Tigers by 12

Special Fried Rice of the Week - Bulldogs to beat Manly at Brookvale at $2.50 (Bulldogs had a 15 minute window to knock out the Broncos last week and didn't capitalise - if they get the same opportunity against the Sea Eagles I'm thinking they will.)
Near Certainty of the Week - Sharks to beat Rabbitohs at $1.75 (Rabbitohs can't score points at all and the Sharks just couldn't score points last weekend.)

Although if you decide to part with your hard earned to actually back these two teams you are a braver man than I!

AFL ROUND 12 (3/5 in first half of the round)
Demons to beat Tigers by 11
Swans to beat Magpies by 22
Eagles to beat Saints by 34

Special Fried Rice of the Week - Tigers to beat Demons at $2.55 (yes I realise I picked the Demons to win in my tips but again if you're a betting man the Tigers are certainly not without a good shot in this one.)
Near Certainty of the Week - Eagles to beat Saints at $1.10 (So why would you bother?)

Kobe Bryant wants out of the Lakers

Kobe Bryant wants out of the Lakers

[NBA] Kobe Bryant wants out of the Lakers

It only took a few weeks but it seems Kobe Bryant has finally figured out that yes, he does want to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and play elsewhere in the NBA next season. He has changed his mind publicly a few times during this period but now thanks to the internet his latest tirade regarding the inability of the Lakers to build a competitive team around him (he didn't say it quite that plainly mind you) has confirmed the fact he wants to leave.

So where will Bryant end up?

The challenge for NBA executives after Bryant start with whether or not Kobe wants to play in their city to the prospective NBA team having the players on their roster to trade for Bryant (both on a talent and salary level). Ironically in this day and age of professional sport - money may be the most irrelevant factor when it comes to Bryant's contract because let's be honest - anyone who can get Bryant will pay for him happily with the chequebook.

Check out the full Dan Wetzel article here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgmasgXPJ7sstGdFchuqVq45nYcB?slug=dw-kobebryant061907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Big Petero to the Roosters?

Big Petero to the Roosters?

[NRL] Big Petero to the Roosters?

Foxsports.com.au is reporting that the Sydney Roosters have tabled a rather large offer to off-contract prop Petero Civoniceva with the intent of pairing him up with another big name signing Mark O'Meley for the 2008 NRL season. While the Roosters are always linked with the big name free agent this move still looks a little media driven given the Roosters will have O'Meley, Nate Myles, Danny Nutley and David Shillington on the books in 2008 even if they do sign Civoniceva.

The money from England has already been thrown at Civoniceva's agent and the 31 year old Australian and Queensland representative would have been weighing up his options overseas for some time now. But there seems to be a desire in the big fella to stay in the NRL and he wants a 3 year contract - and there should be a number of teams other than the Roosters after his signature.

While this is purely speculation I believe the following sides should be throwing the cash at one of the game's top three props:

Brisbane - they can't afford to lose him because Joel Clinton is not a #1 prop despite his contract.

Canberra - desperately need a leader in the forward pack for their young guns to follow.

Bulldogs - may not have the cap room but he'd be a far better option than the player he would replace in O'Meley.

Wests Tigers - if they can clear the cap room by letting the likes of Ben Galea and Ryan O'Hara go they would take the step from possible contender to probable contender in an instant.

Check out the full article here:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21940414-23214,00.html

Round 15 NRL Teams & Really Quick Predictions

Round 15 NRL Teams & Really Quick Predictions

[NRL] Round 15 NRL Teams & Really Quick Predictions

Here are the lineups for Round 15 of the NRL Premiership and a very quick prediction as of Wednesday 10am.

FRIDAY:

WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS @ MT SMART

WARRIORS
1-13: McKinnon, Ah Van, Martin, Mannering, Vatuvei, Witt, Rovelli, Tuimavave, Fien, Price (c), Anderson, Swann, Luck.

Bench: Gatis, Rapira, Lauaki, Koopu.
PANTHERS
1-13: Wesser, Gordon, Jennings, Lewis, Youngquest, Blair+, Gower (c), Clinton, Aiton, F Puletua, Moors, T Puletua, Smith.
Bench: Grant, Pritchard, Peters, Daniela, R Williams.
Referee: S Clark

Wednesday Tip: Panthers

FRIDAY:
MANLY-WARRINGAH v BULLDOGS @ BROOKVALE
SEA EAGLES

1-13: B Stewart, Robertson, Bell, Matai, Hicks, Lyon, Orford (c), King, Monaghan, Kite, Watmough, G Stewart, Williamson.
Bench: Dunley, Hall, Bryant, Menzies, Cuthbertson.

BULLDOGS

1-13: Patten, El Masri, Millard, Tonga, Phelps, Roberts, Sherwin, O'Meley, Hughes, Mason, Williams, Ryan (c), Maitua.

Bench: Perry, Kouparitsas, Cleal, Hickey.

Referee: T Archer

Wednesday Tip: Bulldogs

SATURDAY:
CANBERRA RAIDERS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS @ CANBERRA
RAIDERS

1-13: Zillman, Milne, Chalk, Best, Kelly, Campese, Dobson, Thompson, Withers, Logan, Costigan, Turner, Tongue (c).
Bench: Miller, Tilse, Jones, Plum, Cross, Thurling, Hinchcliffe.

COWBOYS

1-13: M Bowen, B Bowen, Minto, Graham, Williams, Justin Smith, Thurston (c), Tronc, Payne, Webb, Southern, Lillyman, Faumuina.

Bench: Faiumu, Jason Smith, Bartlett, Cashmere, Henry.

Referee: T De Las Heras

Wednesday Tip: Raiders

SATURDAY:
GOLD COAST TITANS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS @ CARRARA
TITANS

1-13: Campbell, Petersen, Rogers, Delaney, Webster, Lewis, Prince (c), Bailey (c), Friend, Donnelly, Laffranchi, Minichiello, Swain.
Bench: Hilder, Stosic, Cooper, Amos, Kahler, O'Dwyer.

KNIGHTS

1-13: Gidley, McManus, Carmont, Tighe, A MacDougall, Mullen, Walsh, Snowden, Buderus (c), Woolnough, Simpson, Paterson, Tanner.

Bench: Young, Bailey, Tolar, Sargent, Royal, L MacDougall.

Referee: B Cummins

Wednesday Tip: Titans

SATURDAY:
SYDNEY ROOSTERS v PARRAMATTA EELS @ AUSSIE
ROOSTERS

1-13: Roberts, J Williams, Monaghan, Soliola, Perrett, Sa, Pearce, Shillington, Wing, Nutley, Tupou, Fitzgibbon (c), Harrison.
Bench: Shackleton, L Paea, Aubusson, D Williams.

EELS

1-13: Burt, Hayne, B Smith, Inu, Grothe, Finch, T Smith, Cordoba, Marsh, MoiMoi, N Hindmarsh (c), Mateo, Wagon.

Bench: Riddell, I Hindmarsh, Robinson, Cannings.

Referee: G Badger

Wednesday Tip: Eels

SUNDAY:
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS @ TELSTRA
RABBITOHS

1-13: Peachey, Merritt, Vagana, Talanoa, Mellor, Rogers, Smith, Cusack (c), Webb, Asotasi (c), Stuart, Fa'alogo, Widders.
Bench: Luke, Rigon, Manuokafoa, Geddes.

SHARKS

1-13: Simmons, Brown, Pomeroy, Anderson, Covell, Dykes, Kimmorley (c), Douglas, Kingston, Stapleton, Williams, Thompson, Bird.

Bench: Selmes, Ross, Ciraldo, De Gois.

Referee: S Hampstead

Wednesday Tip: Sharks

SUNDAY:
MELBOURNE STORM v ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS @ OLYMPIC
STORM

1-13: Turner, Geyer, King, Quinn, Folau, Inglis, Aubusson, Cross, C Smith, White, Newton, Hoffman, Johnson.
Bench: Lima, Crossman, J Smith, Tagataese, Blair, Chambers, Manu.

DRAGONS

1-13: J Morris, Nightingale, Scott, Cooper, Hewitt, Chase, Soward, Poore, Woolford, Ryles (c), Payne, Houston, Creagh.

Bench: Hunt, Thorby, Setu, Ellis, Stanley, Caine.

Referee: P Simpkins

Wednesday Tip: Storm

MONDAY:
BRISBANE BRONCOS v WESTS TIGERS @ SUNCORP
BRONCOS

1-13: Hunt, Michaels, Boyd, Hodges, Tate, Lockyer (c), Ennis, Hannant, Berrigan, Civoniceva, Parker, Carlaw, Carroll.
Bench: Lacey, Eastwood, Thorn, Taylor, Moon.

TIGERS

1-13: McDonnell, Fitzhenry, Collis, Whatuira, Tuiaki, Lawrence, Morris, Payten (c), Farah, Gibbs, Galea, Heighington, Halatau.

Bench: Fulton, Te'o, Harrison, Galloway, Ryan.

Referee: S Hayne

Wednesday Tip: Broncos

Last week: 4 from 8.

Year to date: 62 correct tips.

Tiger Woods becomes a father

Tiger Woods becomes a father

[GOLF] Tiger Woods becomes a father

June 18, 2007 may go down as the most significant date in the Tiger Woods' career after he announced on his website www.tigerwoods.com he is now the proud father of a baby girl - Sam Alexis Woods.

According to the personal message on his website, Tiger's little cub was born on Monday morning and both Sam and his wife Elin are doing well.

We now have to wait a little longer until Tiger has a baby boy and calls him the name we all want him to... Juan.

Even non-contact sports produce serious injuries

Even non-contact sports produce serious injuries

[VOLLEYBALL] Even non-contact sports produce serious injuries

It is never a good thing to report a sporting injury and sadly the following injury is far more serious than your run of the mill hamstring strain. Tang Miao, a star on the Chinese Men's Volleyball Team broke his neck when he ran into a wall during practice in Russia. After emergency surgery, his doctor's indicated they expected the 25 year old to walk again but he would never play volleyball again.

The injury highlights the dangers any sport (let alone any physical activity) present to the participant - no matter how little contact a sport may advertise to the masses.

While this may very well be a one in a million injury in volleyball at this level* it just goes to show that kids playing any competitive sport will be at risk of injury.

But in saying that from what I understand the odds that you'll have a car accident are much higher than sustaining an injury in any competitive sport... so those who get up on their high horse when it comes to injuries in sport really need a reality check.

In saying that I'm not for one second saying that if you get injured playing sport you should just accept it - any injury (life threatening or not) is serious and if your personal experience has not been positive then by all means you can feel distraught if an injury affects someone close to you.

*That is a random figure I generated and not in fact - fact.

For the full article check out:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21924875-23218,00.html

Can the 'unfashionable' Spurs go back to back?

Can the 'unfashionable' Spurs go back to back?

[NBA] Can the 'unfashionable' Spurs go back to back?

It only seems like yesterday that the San Antonio Spurs swept the Cleveland Cavaliers and took out their 4th NBA Championship in the past 9 seasons... and that's because it was. Now the press turns to the NBA Draft and looking forward - which team will topple the Spurs from the top of the pile. In an article by Ian Thomsen on SportsIllustrated.com he examines why there may not be a new champion in 2007/2008 as everyone seems to want given the Spurs unfashionable status.

Makes for a good (if relatively light) read:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/ian_thomsen/06/15/spurs.next/index.html

What can coaches really say about referees?

What can coaches really say about referees?

[NRL] What can coaches really say about referees?

One of the biggest grey areas in Rugby League is just what NRL coaches can say about the referees controlling the games they coach in. Today in the Daily Telegraph journalist Steve Mascord reports that South Sydney coach Jason Taylor and Penrith coach Matthew Elliott could be facing fines from the NRL for questioning the integrity of the referees who controlled their respective games in Round 14.

The NRL's Media and Communications Manager John Brady tried to explain what coaches can say about referees with this statement: "You can criticise a decision, you can criticise the referee, you can even say he shouldn't be in first grade. What you can't do is suggest some sort of preconceived idea on the part of match officials. You can't question their integrity."

Ummm forgive me for my ignorance but if you criticise a decision and thus/also the referee and then suggest he should be in reserve grade the next week - are you or are you not basically saying he's hopeless and has no business controlling a game at the top level because of his incompetence. Sure you may not technically be saying 'he's a cheat when he's officiating us' in so many words but you aren't exactly saying he's giving your team a level playing field if you are questioning his ability. Because if he is not up to the standard to officiate at the NRL level then isn't that lack of ability conspiring against the chances of your team winning games?

What do you think?

Check out Steve Mascord's article here:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21922067-23214,00.html