PAUL: I am kicking-off this week and my old mate Brian Smith turned 56 on Sunday and what a birthday present for the coach, a victory for the Roosters against their arch-enemy Souths. It was a 36-10 spanking for the Bunnies. I am told Smithy dined out at a Bondi restaurant on Sunday night to celebrate with a gourmet rabbit stew dish. The Chooks were very impressive. My Dragons were as solid as a rock over the Eels and the Knights much better than I thought they could be in lancing the Bulldogs. Penrith were explosive thrashing the Raiders and the Titans scratched around to beat a gallant Warriors.
ERIC: And what about my Wests Tigers last Monday or should that be a whole Lote of Heart Attack kids. Still, a win's a win, and we'll take the two points and victory over Manly any old day. If the boys can settle down and play good footy for 80 minutes, Wests will go well this year.
PAUL: The Wests Tigers are the cardiac kids, the comeback kings. What a mighty performance to come back from a 20-4 deficit to topple the Sea Eagles 26-22. And Liam Fulton was outstanding in his return for the club after playing with Huddersfield Giants last season in the British Superleague.
ERIC:As for round one, it certainly was worth the wait, especially if you're one of the old coaches in the league, although I don't know how old the Knights' mentor Rick McCosker is. Good on him anyway, a very good bit of coaching against the complacent Doggies. As for your little mate Smithy, you don't have to be so humble by not mentioning your role in the Chooks' triumph. You know, that little meeting you and B Smith had the other night over pizza and pasta.
PAUL: Smithie and a few footy gurus and myself caught up for a meal a few days ago and some battle plans were discussed. Smithy did expose the Bunnies' midfield defence and the fact their forward pack is the same large physique. Watch for rival coaches to target their big men such as Asotasi, Taylor and co around the rucks and use clever switches of attack to tire them around the play the ball. Coach Bennett, the oldest coach in the league, but with a mind as sharp as a tack, also had a win with the mighty Dragons. But coach John Lang, back in the saddle for the Bunnies, would have felt 79 after the way his team played.
ERIC: And let me be the first to declare that after just one round he's the coach under danger of getting the flick: bring back that fightin' man, Jason Taylor. I thought the footy was terrific, except at Shark Park where the fish fingers just couldn't beat Melbourne and showed that they still cannot score tries. I hear their fans now walk home after matches by referring to tries with that lovely jingle: where the bloody hell are they? But more on bingles and bangles later when we cast an eye on the magnificent scheduling of cricket these days. Over to you, Sam.
PAUL: Don't forget the mighty Sydney FC is trying to regain the title it won a few years ago when they play Melbourne Victory this Saturday night at Etihad Stadium. The Victory are the premiers but we won't accept second place this time. Sydney FC must go for goals and bring back the A-League trophy to Sydney.
ERIC: Melbourne fans will win the flares war of course, as our fans won't be allowed to take any across the border, but where it matters, on the big, fat Etihad scoreboard it will read Sydney 5 Melbourne 0. Mind you, our big soccer mate, Rale Rasic, the greatest Socceroo World Cup coach of the 20th century, will probably tell you, forget FC, bring on the Western Sydney Rovers, the second Sydney team. Maybe we should put him in the My Liverpool hot seat soon so he can tell us how the Rovers can be roped into making Liverpool their home. It's all about Liverpool, mate, just ask that good old Liverpool-born-and-bred cricket champion Mickey Clarke. Isn't he having fun at the moment? Bingo!
PAUL: Go Mickey. You will find some form on the field with the bat now and I reckon Clarkie will crack a century against the Kiwis in the Test match starting in Wellington this Friday. There are no car thefts or bingles to stop the kid from Liverpool becoming the superstar of the cricket world anymore. The best is yet to come, son.
ERIC: The poor bugger; it's all the fault of those toffee-nosed dorks on the Australian cricket board who do the scheduling. It's a joke, and no wonder Clarkie and the rest of the boys don't know which town they're in on any given day. I feel sorry for the boy, and Punter and co. OK, enough on the cricket, old sport. Let's use our incredible (because we're anything but credible) prognosticating powers and give our readers some tips for round two of the NRL. Can't see your Dragons getting bested by the Dogs down at Illawarra on Friday and also on the same night the Rabbits will get some redemption against the Titans.
PAUL: The poor old Sharks travel to NZ to play the Warriors and the Kiwis will get the cash. The Knights tackle the premiers, Melbourne Storm, on Saturday night at Newcastle. I will give the Knights the nod here, the Cowboys to bounce back and defeat Penrith at Townsville. Then on Sunday the Eels host the Sea Eagles at Parramatta Stadium, I fancy the Sea Eagles here.
ERIC: The Tigers on Sunday will give your little mate Brian Smith an important lesson: you don't get to play the Bunnies every week, Benji Marshall come on down. Then on Monday night footy, the Raiders will bounce back to beat the Broncos in the nation's capital with the Prime Minister, the Reverend Rudd, to attend the match to relax after dealing with the Abbott in parliament. See ya all next week.
Email a friend