Our experts check out teams for NRL round 21 and offer their tips
IT’S getting tight at the top after Michael Carayannis narrowed the gap on leader Nick Walshaw to a single win. Check out our NRL experts’ tips for round 21.
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IT’S getting tight at the top after Michael Carayannis narrowed the gap on leader Nick Walshaw to a single win.
Follow Phil Rothfield, Dean Ritchie, Carayannis, Matty Logue, Paul Crawley, Barry Toohey, Christian Nicolussi, David Riccio, Walshaw, James Phelps and Paul Kent throughout the season for advice and tips.
Have they got it right for round 21 or are some of them way off the mark?
ROUND 21 FIXTURES: Panthers v Bulldogs, Warriors v Sharks, Eels v Broncos, Knights v Dragons, Rabbitohs v Raiders, Roosters v Cowboys, Storm v Sea Eagles, Titans v Tigers.
Nick Walshaw's top tips:
Score so far: 99
No brainer: Roosters to end the Cowboys' winning run without JT.
Upset: Getting tougher to find at this time of year, although Manly must be some chance against a Melbourne side missing Billy Slater.
Coin toss: Raiders and Rabbitohs ... the Green Machine to get home by a couple.
Michael Carayannis's top tips:
Score so far: 98
No brainer: Tough round this week. But think the Storm at home will have too much firepower for the Sea Eagles.
Upset: South Sydney to beat the Raiders. The Rabbitohs have been among the worst-performing sides in the competition while Canberra's season is all but gone. Expect the Rabbitohs to show some fighting spirit to overcome a deflated Canberra.
Coin toss: Cronulla without James Maloney to beat the Warriors. If it were any other side you'd probably pick New Zealand, but you can't justify tipping them, can you?
Matt Logue's top tips:
Score so far: 94
No brainer: The Dragons have rediscovered their fire in attack and will have too many points for the Knights in Newcastle.
Upset: The Cowboys have the form and ability to beat the under-strength Roosters in Sydney on Saturday night.
Coin toss: The Rabbitohs and Raiders clash is a deadset lottery. Take your pick.
David Riccio's top tips:
Score so far: 91
No brainer: Penrith. You're a brave man to tip Canterbury.
Upset: Roosters are far from specials against the Cowboys. Tread carefully in this match.
Coin toss: Raiders. Just feel like they have more points in them than the Bunnies.
Paul Kent's top tips:
Score so far: 90
No brainer: A rejuvenated Dragons over the Knights.
Upset: Tough to pick Manly over Storm but I believe the Storm will be down on manpower.
Coin toss: Roosters and Cowboys is a toughie.
Phil Rothfield's top tips:
Score so far: 87
No brainer: Panthers far too strong and classy for the Bulldogs.
Upset: Manly to bounce back from the shocker against the Dragons.
Coin toss: Hard to separate Souths and Canberra, two of the competition's biggest under-performers.
Dean Ritchie's top tips:
Score so far: 86
No brainer: The Dragons ran up a half-century against Manly last week and could do so again in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
Upset: You can never tip the Warriors with any confidence, but the Kiwis are a good chance to get up at home over a Sharks side missing the direction of James Maloney.
Coin toss: Manly to put up a strong showing after last week's drubbing in Wollongong against a Storm side suffering from some key absences and injuries.
Paul Crawley's top tips:
Score so far: 83
No brainer: Dragons have too much to play for against Newcastle.
Upset: I've gone Cowboys over Roosters.
Coin toss: Have also picked Manly to upset Melbourne.
James Phelps's top tips:
Score so far: 82
No brainer: Unfortunately the Knights' pain will continue this weekend against the in-form Dragons.
Upset: The Tigers could trouble the Titans. Could...
Coin toss: Rabbitohs v Raiders is shaping as a tight one.
Christian Nicolussi's top tips:
Score so far: 75
No brainer: Even without James Maloney, the Sharks will be too strong.
Upset: The Tigers could have been shooting for four in a row.
Coin toss: Souths and the Raiders are evenly matched in a game that will be high scoring.
Originally published as Our experts check out teams for NRL round 21 and offer their tips
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