Magic Round. 16 teams, 8 matches, 1 venue.
From the Las Vegas kick-off to consecutive weeks of the Easter long weekend, ANZAC Round, Magic Round and now with State of Origin fast approaching, the NRL are the envy of all other codes.
The AFL could only wish they had anything as progressive and exciting.
Friday Magic
Magic Round started with entertaining and, dare I say, some magical tries with the Sharks win over the Eels before the Roosters blew away the Dolphins.
It was the Tri-colours third consecutive win and makes you again wonder about their salary sombrero considering the millions of dollars that left the Club at the end of last season.
Level playing field anyone?
Saturday Magic
Saturday started with a massacre and ended with two close games that all teams would have banked on winning.
The depleted Rabbitohs made the Knights look like world beaters as they fell to their fourth consecutive loss. Next up for the Rabbitohs is the hot/cold Broncos. We know what the Broncos temperature was this round so this could get ugly.
This was followed by a highly entertaining matchup between the Wahs and Cows before former Spoon favourites, Wests Tigers, defeated fellow spoon favourites, the Dragons.
Dragons fans will add this loss to the two 1 points losses as wins that got away. Especially with the 12-point turnaround at the stroke of halftime. The image below says it all.
Sunday Magic
The final day of Magic Round saw the Dogs maul the Titans to remain two wins clear of the pack before two matches few predicted to finish the round.
It was déjà vu all over again when the Panthers fired up against a very disappointing Broncos.
The Broncos are such a hard team to read. Last week they played well for half a match this week 10 minutes scoring one try against a Panthers defence averaging almost 30 points/game.
Are the Panthers back? They have another tough match on the road against the Cowboys that will be a must watch.
The final match was a golden point thriller with the Raiders kicking a penalty goal to win after scoring a last grasp try with two minutes to go in regulation time.
This was after the Storm looked to have the game sown up when Ryan Papenhuyzen kicked what looked like the winning field goal to extend their lead to seven points. Only to have the Raiders given a penalty for the attacking player elbowing the defender in the head during the play the ball.
Tipsters who lost their Standout can blame Roosters Angus Crighton for his multiple elbowing of Lachlan Illias in the Anzac Day game. He got away unpunished but not unnoticed.
Round 9 Results
Round 9 Stats
| Standouts Correct | 34 |
| Standouts Wrong | 19 |
| Round High Score | 8 – Rossco the Pom, Runner, I miss Benji |
| Round Low Score | 0 – Chunka, Big Baba, Krusty, GeorgeTheDragon |
| Average Score | 2.6 |
| Biggest Mover | 18 – I miss Benji |
| Biggest Drop | -20 – Big Baba |
The Standout
If you had your money on the Bulldogs or Sharks you generally did better than the rest of the Tipsters.
It was also a brave(?) pick by Splinter to take the Knights.
Main Competition
C.Y.L.C. holds onto 1st place by the skin of his teeth with Rossco the Pom just 4 Differential points behind. Round 10 will be interesting.
We also welcome murch to the prize pool as former competition leader Robert Cook bids farewell.
Bart Simpson Weekly Jackpot
Big upsets by the Panthers and Storm meant no Tipsters had a look in at a perfect round.
The Bart Simpson Weekly Jackpot continues to grow and now stands at B$70.
Good luck with your team and tipping this week.
Rob
The Creator
