Footy Tipping: NRL Round 3 Wrap
Round 3 of the NRL season had tipsters befuddled - nobody managed to pick 8! The jackpot will increase to $40 next week as a result, so remember to get those tips in!
The Wests were the first to upset the applecart as only 37% of tipsters backed them to beat the Eels. Benji Marshall got the better of Jarryd Hayne as Parramatta's slow starts again became a concern. The Tigers' second win in nine starts against the Eels was most welcome after the Roosters belted them last Sunday.
St George maintained their unbeaten start to 2010 with a comprehensive 33-8 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys at WIN Stadium on Friday night. The six tries to one victory helped set up a Good Friday clash against reigning premiers Melbourne at Etihad Stadium next week. The Dragons have conceded just four tries in three games, while the Cowboys had very little to show for themselves until the 67th minute when Ashley Graham crossed for a consolation try.
The heavily favoured Melbourne only just scraped past the Panthers to maintain their unbeaten record, but many tipsters will be starting to ponder where they are really at as they won "ugly" once again. After Melbourne got out to a 16-4 lead, a try and conversion got the Panthers back within six with eight minutes to play, but they were unable to make use of their opportunities.
Tipsters could not split Manly and Newcastle but it was the former who handed out a 36-12 drubbing at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford on Saturday night. Manly once again had a comfortable 16-point lead at half time but after being overrun by the Tigers and Eels in the first couple of rounds, they were determined not to let it happen again and maintained their advantage for the remainder.
While they may have a salary cap investigation hanging over their heads, the Gold Coast Titans showed no ill effects on the field as skipper Scott Prince - at the centre of the investigation - led them to an emphatic 24-4 win over an error-prone Canberra side. Prince scored all eight first-half points for the Titans as their unbeaten start continued.
The big upset for most tipsters occurred on Sunday when the New Zealand Warriors buried the Broncos to win 48-16. Halfback James Maloney scored a whopping 28 points, including a hat-trick, as the Warriors stunned the home side and raised big queries on the Broncos' future this season. A spate of injuries saw the Broncos, who only trailed 14-10 at half time, smashed in the second half as the Warriors ran riot.
Bulldogs centre Josh Morris scored four tries as his side smashed a poor Sydney Roosters outfit 60-14 at ANZ Stadium. The Bulldogs entered the half with a 30-4 lead, Morris already with a hat-trick in the bag as they blew the Roosters out of the water in a twelve-try performance.
Monday night football saw Cronulla extend their run of losses, this time at the hands of South Sydney who eased to a 30-8 victory at Toyota Stadium. It was the Sharks' 13th defeat in a row, one short of the NRL record, while South Sydney picked up a much-needed victory to kick start their season.
Will fortunes reverse next week? Can you pick eight? Will the jackpot go off? Time will tell!If you haven't signed up, please visithttp://www.tipper.com.auand join today! It's completely free and as you can see, the jackpot is there for the taking!
Good luck and happytipping!
Tommy the Tipper
