NRL Tips & Previews Round 24 2009 - AFL Tips & Previews Round 21 2009 - Australia v England 5th Test
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Make up any ground last weekend?
Only managed 5 from 8 in the NRL last week on this preview and missed the Raiders, Bulldogs and Broncos.
However Round 24 still presents a few tasty upset possibilities and a few games where the heavy favourite is vulnerable.
Friday Night Football features a superb double header with the in form Eels taking on the Tigers in Sydney and the Dragons hosting the Broncos in Wollongong, as Round 24 of the 2009 NRL Premiership begins.
The first and second parts of our 2009 NRL Premiership Reflections Series are also available on this site and are well worth a read.
The Saints will NOT be perfect.
Essendon struggle mightily in the last month in games they had to win and then come out and ruin the Saints perfect season. Even if St.Kilda win the premiership - this loss will burn at the entire playing group (and staff) for many years to come...
Australia take honours from the opening day of The 5th Ashes Test against England.
Stuart Clark retained his place (and then was hardly bowled in the final session for whatever reason...), Andrew Flintoff returns and South African Jonathan Trott makes his debut for England.
Those were the headlines before the start of play and England's first innings of 8/307 suggests we have a game on our hands.
Australia need only a draw to retain the Ashes but the score at the end of Day 1 suggests we'll see a result either way.
Australia and New Zealand face off in Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup #2. Sydney's ANZ Stadium will host this clash on Saturday Night but truth be told interest in the 'middle' year of a World Cup cycle is always much lower than any other season. Wake me in 12 months and I'll start worrying about how the Wallabies are playing with the 2011 World Cup in mind.
You can follow these sports and more, here on wdnicolson.blogspot.com or via my Twitter feed.
Can you kick a goal from the sideline just 1.5 metres from the tryline - interested in giving it a go? Go to http://wdnicolson.blogspot.com/2009/05/kick-off-2009-are-you-up-to-challenge.html for more information on Kick-Off 2009!
NRL & AFL Match Previews below.
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NRL ROUND 24 - 2009
Quick hit Previews for the Greatest Game of All.
TIGERS over EELS
> The combined class of Marshall and Farah wins this for the Tigers. Got the feeling Jarryd Hayne might have a night to forget...
DRAGONS over BRONCOS
> Jamie Soward won't go missing like last week. Dragons by plenty, as the Broncos discover the St.George-Illawarra defence is vastly superior to that of Penrith or Cronulla's.
COWBOYS over KNIGHTS
> North Queensland couldn't afford to lose to the Dogs at home but this week they just have to beat the Knights to think they are playoff bound. Give Thurston the lead and he shines, make him stage a comeback in the second half and he looks very average.
PANTHERS over RABBITOHS
> If not for the Rabbitohs injury list - you'd tip them here. Penrith missed a golden opportunity to beat a defensively challenged Broncos side and wrecked their differential in the process of leaking nearly 60 points - Penrith will use Michael Jennings a lot down the left edge and they'll win.
WARRIORS over RAIDERS
> The Raiders win was about two months too late for their season and might have inflated the heads of the players to the point where the Warriors pop them emphatically. Really think the Warriors win this.
TITANS over SHARKS
> Sharks have next to nothing to attack with - outside of Gallen, Tupou and Stapleton and the two forwards are hobbled with injury. Titans looked vulnerable against the Rabbitohs but held on. They should win.
STORM over SEA EAGLES
> Very hard game to pick given the location is Olympic Park. If this was at Brookvale and the Storm were still without Greg Inglis - you pick Manly in a second. But the home team factor weighs in here and the Storm were terrible against the Knights on Monday Night. Manly aren't in such great form that you have to pick them - so it's Melbourne.
BULLDOGS over ROOSTERS
> If the Roosters win this... won't even finish that sentence because it just shouldn't happen. Dogs to run in 4 or 5 tries down their left hand edge and win in a canter.
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AFL ROUND 21 - 2009
The fight for the final spot in the Top 8 will be down to two teams if both Essendon and Port Adelaide win (or get a draw) this weekend. In fact a Bombers win and a Port loss decides the Finalists with one round to play.
Both Carlton and Adelaide can keep pressure on the Bulldogs in 4th spot with wins this weekend, if the Cats beat the Doggies on Friday night.
CATS over BULLDOGS
Preview to come.
BLUES over DEMONS
PTC.
CROWS over EAGLES
PTC.
LIONS over POWER
PTC.
HAWKS over TIGERS
PTC.
SAINTS over KANGAROOS
PTC.
MAGPIES over SWANS
PTC.
BOMBERS over WHARFIES
PTC.
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2009 ASHES UPDATE
Day 1 Stumps: England 8/307 after winning the toss and batting.
Australia take honours from the opening day of The 5th Ashes Test against England. Stuart Clark retained his place (and then was hardly bowled in the final session for whatever reason...), Andrew Flintoff returns and South African Jonathan Trott makes his debut for England.Those were the headlines before the start of play and England's first innings of 8/307 suggests we have a game on our hands.Australia need only a draw to retain the Ashes but the score at the end of Day 1 suggests we'll see a result either way.
There'll be a 5th Test & Ashes Review following the Test Match.
Follow me on Twitter during the Day's Play.
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WALLABIES TEST SERIES WINTER 2009
The Tri-Nations all but over with South Africa specials for the crown and if Australia can't beat the All Blacks on Saturday night - the Bledisloe Cup is New Zealand's once again.
Here is the Test Schedule for Winter 2009:
June 6 Sydney 7:30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Barbarians
Won 55-7
June 13 Canberra 7.30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Italy
Won 31-8
June 20 Melbourne 8.00pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Italy
Won 34-12
June 27 Sydney 8.00pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v France
Won 22-6
July 18 Auckland 5.35pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
Lost 22-16
August 8 Cape Town 11.00pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
Loss 29-17
August 22 Sydney 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
August 29 Perth 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
September 5 Brisbane 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
September 19 Wellington 5.35pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
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Good luck with your tips this weekend!
AFL ROUND 21 - 2009
The fight for the final spot in the Top 8 will be down to two teams if both Essendon and Port Adelaide win (or get a draw) this weekend. In fact a Bombers win and a Port loss decides the Finalists with one round to play.
Both Carlton and Adelaide can keep pressure on the Bulldogs in 4th spot with wins this weekend, if the Cats beat the Doggies on Friday night.
CATS over BULLDOGS
Preview to come.
BLUES over DEMONS
PTC.
CROWS over EAGLES
PTC.
LIONS over POWER
PTC.
HAWKS over TIGERS
PTC.
SAINTS over KANGAROOS
PTC.
MAGPIES over SWANS
PTC.
BOMBERS over WHARFIES
PTC.
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2009 ASHES UPDATE
Day 1 Stumps: England 8/307 after winning the toss and batting.
Australia take honours from the opening day of The 5th Ashes Test against England. Stuart Clark retained his place (and then was hardly bowled in the final session for whatever reason...), Andrew Flintoff returns and South African Jonathan Trott makes his debut for England.Those were the headlines before the start of play and England's first innings of 8/307 suggests we have a game on our hands.Australia need only a draw to retain the Ashes but the score at the end of Day 1 suggests we'll see a result either way.
There'll be a 5th Test & Ashes Review following the Test Match.
Follow me on Twitter during the Day's Play.
===================================================================
WALLABIES TEST SERIES WINTER 2009
The Tri-Nations all but over with South Africa specials for the crown and if Australia can't beat the All Blacks on Saturday night - the Bledisloe Cup is New Zealand's once again.
Here is the Test Schedule for Winter 2009:
June 6 Sydney 7:30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Barbarians
Won 55-7
June 13 Canberra 7.30pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Italy
Won 31-8
June 20 Melbourne 8.00pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v Italy
Won 34-12
June 27 Sydney 8.00pm (EST)
Bundaberg Rum Series v France
Won 22-6
July 18 Auckland 5.35pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
Lost 22-16
August 8 Cape Town 11.00pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
Loss 29-17
August 22 Sydney 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
August 29 Perth 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
September 5 Brisbane 8.05pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v South Africa
September 19 Wellington 5.35pm (EST)
Tri-Nations v New Zealand
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Good luck with your tips this weekend! 
