NRL tips Round 7: Joey, Freddy and the crew give their verdicts
Penrith has had a huge week off the field with the exit of club legend Phil Gould and they’ll need overcome some changes to their backline in their Friday night clash against the Rabbitohs at Panthers, in what Andrew Johns describes as “one of the toughest” matches to pick in Round 7.
Penrith currently sit 12th with two wins from six and take on the fourth placed South Sydney, who have been a bit down on form the last month after a hot start to their 2019 campaign. Penrith sit near the bottom of most attacking statistical categories despite predictions of grand final glory coming into the season.
With Gould’s time at the club behind them him, Ivan Cleary will now live and die on the results of his team assuming full responsibility. And while changes off the field may have an impact on the team’s overall chemistry and morale, the changes to their backline may have an impact on the result according to Johns.
“Caleb Atkins comes in at fullback and Dalin Watene- Zelezniak goes to centre, I can’t remember him playing in the centres,” Johns said.
“He’ll be targeted defensively.”
Check out the tipping leaderboard and the full set of Round 7 tips from Freddy, Joey and our Channel Nine experts below!
Nine
Blues coach Brad Fittler challenged the Panthers centre to play better saying he and other players owed the club a better performance after a poor showing last week against the Sharks.
“I think a few of them owe Penrith a big performance so hopefully they can show their home crowd.”
While Ivan Cleary and the Panthers are under a heap of pressure, Nathan Brown must know the knives are out for him following the Knights’ poor start to the year.
Brown and Newcastle need to fight off a confident Parramatta side to stave off their sixth straight loss.
Newcastle legend Johns pleaded with the Knights’ to put in a stronger effort after their poor loss to the Titans last week, singling out the side’s forwards, who were totally outmuscled last time on ground.
“Give 100 percent especially the forwards, they were just waiting on the Titans last week. Get some mongrel in ya and at home, rip into Parramatta.”
Nine expert tips for round 7
Mat Thompson
Dragons
Storm
Cowboys
Souths
Tigers
Sharks
Canberra
Parramatta
Ruan Sims
Dragons
Storm
Cowboys
Rabbitohs
Titans
Sharks
Raiders
Eels
Wally Lewis
Roosters
Storm
Cowboys
Rabbitohs
Tigers
Broncos
Raiders
Eels
Danika Mason
Roosters
Storm
Bulldogs
Rabbitohs
Tigers
Sharks
Manly
Eels
Andrew Johns
Dragons
Storm
Cowboys
Souths
Tigers Sharks
Manly
Eels
Brad Fittler
Roosters
Storm
Cowboys
Souths
Tigers
Sharks
Raiders
Eels
Phil Gould
Roosters
Storm
Bulldogs
Panthers
Titans
Broncos
Sea Eagles
Eels
Darren Lockyer
Roosters
Storm
Cowboys
Panthers
Titans
Broncos
Sea eagles
Eels
Billy Slater
Roosters
Storm
Cowboys
Rabbitohs
Titans
Broncos
Raiders
Eels
Allana Ferguson
Roosters
Storm
Cowboys
Rabbitohs
Titans
Broncos
Raiders
Eels
James Bracey
Dragons
Storm
Cowboys
Panthers
Tigers
Broncos
Raiders
Eels
The Mole
Roosters
Storm
Cowboys
Souths
Tigers
Sharks
Manly
Eels
Cam Williams
Roosters
Storm
Cowboys
Panthers
Tigers
Broncos
Raiders
Eels
