Footy Tipper’s exclusive UFTC NRL Finals Series is the field of dreams. Build it and they will come.
We have a record 39 financial Tipsters confirmed this season which means we can offer three prizes like last season’s UFTC.
Finals Week 1 Review
Wow! What a fantastic start to a finals series!
To see so many upsets showcases why these teams are playing finals football. The skill shown in attack and defense was fantastic to watch.
Panthers v Eels
The Panthers are red hot favourites to go back to back after a comprehensive win over the Eels.
With the scores locked at 6-6 minutes before halftime, Eels halfback, Mitchell Moses attempted a field goal to go in the sheds with a lead and missed. Two minutes later, to prove a point, Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary attempted a field goal and scored.
This exemplifies the difference between the two teams.
- Cleary had a blinder of a game and the Panthers ran away with it.
- Moses had a different sort of blinder being knocked out trying to tackle Viliame Kikau. The Eels were leading at the time.
Cleary was brilliant especially with his kicking game where he terrorised Waqa Blake with towering torpedoes.
The Panthers are the team to beat.
Storm v Raiders
This was a sensational final. 5th placed Storm v 8th placed Raiders in Melbourne.
Despite winning seven from their last eight matches and beating the Storm in Melbourne the last four times they played, only three Tipsters backed the Raiders.
It was seesawing and exciting with the Raiders hitting the lead and then cementing a semi-final berth against the Eels in the final minutes of the match.
Sharks v Cowboys
The games just kept on getting better. This was a thriller.
The Cowboys trailing by 8 points with 7 minutes left rolled the dice with a penalty goal before scoring with 23 seconds on the clock to take the match to extra time. After no points were score, the game went to unlimited golden point.
Ex Sharkie, Val Holmes received a 15m pass to slot a 2 point field goal 45m out.
Sensational finish and the Cows go to the GF Qualifier.
Sharkies fans will be able to cheer on their team again next weekend.
Roosters v Rabbitohs
The Book of Feuds has another chapter.
What a brutal/spiteful game. What an entertaining match to watch.
Referee Ashley Klein was forced to distil a tinderbox. Both teams bent the rules. Both teams took dives. Both teams played to the extreme.
You could see and feel the incendiary tension in the teams, crowd, even viewers at home.
It was win at all cost, and that cost, was a record seven sin-bins. five HIA and multiple injuries. Let’s see what the fallout is.
The Rabbitohs redeemed themselves from last week’s loss against the Roosters and are through to the semi-final against the Sharks.
The Sharkies would have enjoyed watching their opposition teams bashing each other
The Leaders
Only one Tipster managed to pick all winners.
Congratulations MLC who is sitting on 4 points and with the best margin of 33 (lower the better).
Admireel, DaveM, BigBadBenji, Robert Cook, The Creator, Lou and Footy Tipper are next in-line and chasing on 2 points with only margins separating them.
A big shout out to micrider for correctly picking a perfect 0.
Semi Finals
From here on in all matches are knock-outs.
- Eels v Raiders with the winner taking on the Cowboys for a GF place
- Rabbitohs v Sharks with the winner playing the Panthers for a GF place
This should be another fantastic weekend of football.
Lots of Tipsters are sitting on 2 points so there is still room to strike.
You will want to pick both winners this week.
Good luck with your tipping and your team.
-Rob
