NRL expert tips and predictions: Round 9
NRL tipping – and we’re up to Round 9 with the representative season rapidly approaching. Here at Wide World of Sports we’re sorting you out with our NRL tips and predictions, each and every week, brought to you straight from the mouth of our experts.
King Wally still maintains his advantage over the pack at the top of the leaderboard but Sterlo is only one point behind in an absorbing battle. Joey is still anchored at the bottom of the table but hasn’t given up hope of closing the gap on his fierce rival Freddy after this round.
For his part Freddy was disappointed Channel Nine commentator James Bracey awarded the tipping trophy to Joey this week even though they shared the spoils in round eight, on the basis the rugby league Immortal had a sore back and needed it for treatment.
"Is this mine?" Freddy asked before being told about Johns’ condition.
"Andrew didn’t beat me. Mate, he’s a princess. That’s what he does."
The Penrith Panthers might be hopelessly out of form with only two wins from six games but Joey is confident they can get their season back on track when they face the indomitable Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium,"I watched the Broncos last week and they should have got beaten against the Rabbitohs," Johns said.
"Penrith have gone north for a three or four-day camp before this game so they’re having an Origin-like preparation for this.
"I’ll go Penrith up there. I just think Brisbane has played a lot of really hard football, and with (Ben) Hunt being out I think they’ll put the pressure on Milford."
"I think Penrith will win this one."
Fittler might be an ex-Panther but he was sticking with the Broncos.
"I’m just about to fly up now, I’m on my way to the airport, thought I’d drop past and do my tips," Fittler said.
"I’m going for the Broncos. I feel like the Panthers, they’re giving away most penalties, giving away most errors while on the other hand the Broncos are the opposite, they’re the best of those two areas.
"Penrith have got to find something and at the moment, it’s still lost."
Andrew Johns believes Parramatta halfback Corey Norman could prove to be the difference against North Queensland. (AAP)
While Joey and Freddy might have disagreed on the Broncos and the Panthers, they were in sync on Parramatta springing an upset on North Queensland in Townsville, live and free on Channel Nine on Friday night.
There is already plenty of intrigue over whether halfback Johnathan Thurston will make his return from a calf problem with the Cowboys desperate to get him back before their season slips away.
"I’ll go Parramatta up there," Johns said. "I think the Cowboys haven’t been in great form, especially without Matt Scott and Thurston.
"Obviously it will change if Thurston plays but I’ll go that Thurston’s not playing and I’ll go with Parramatta. Corey Norman, I keep singing his praises. Class."
Fittler added: "This is my surprise for the week. I feel like Parramatta are building to something at the moment. Even if Thurston comes back."
Find out how all the Channel Nine commentators are going and who they're tipping in NRL Round 9 below
LEADERBOARD
Wally: 39
Sterlo: 38
Freddy: 35
Gus: 33
Locky: 34
Joey: 33
Wally
Broncos
Sea Eagles
Cowboys
Titans
Raiders
Sharks
Roosters
Storm
Sterlo
Broncos
Sea Eagles
Cowboys
Titans
Raiders
Sharks
Roosters
Storm
Freddy
(Watch the video above)
Gus
Panthers
Sea Eagles
Cowboys
Titans
Raiders
Tigers
Warriors
Storm
Locky
Broncos
Rabbitohs
Cowboys
Titans
Raiders
Sharks
Warriors
Storm
Joey
(Watch the video above)
