NRL 2012 Round 25: Canberra's Frozen Mudwrestle Title Defense

Canberra Appreciation Month was in full swing for the Raiders last week, and they kept their finals chances alive with a 4 point thrashing of the Roosters.  It was a game smothered in lime-green controversy, with Josh Dugan’s vicious face-first tackle on Anthony Minichiello’s elbow putting “Mini” in doubt for his 250^th game this weekend – thankfully, Mr Minichiello paid off was cleared by his uncle the tribunal and is set to carry on his merry way of being a sneaky little rat. 

The NRL also celebrated Canberra Appreciation Month with the news that Laurie “Groin Strain” Daley has been handed the coaching duties to the NSW Origin team for next year.  NSW are sticking to their “Mal Meninga used to play for the Raiders and now he’s a champion Origin coach” theory, and after giving Ricky Stuart a go for a few years, have decided that Lozz can have a crack at it too.  It’s a good time to be an ex-Raiders player.  Fuck it, Joel Monaghan might even get the call up by 2015.

It’s also a good time to be a current Raiders player (it’s usually a week-to-week thing), as they take on competition favourites, the Cannerbree Doggies tonight.  I’ve got that funny feeling that the Raiders are going to crack the top eight with a tough victory this week.  Also, it has been pissing rain for the last few days and it looks like it might snow today, and Canterbury appear to be leaving most of their good players at home.  Basically this means that the game will turn into the forward packs from each team belting each other senseless in the mud.  And when it comes to senseless belting, the Raiders are up there with the best in the world.  

In other NRL tips, I am VERY CROSS with the Souff Sinny Rabbidohs, as their inept performance last week cost me a perfect round.  Fuck you, Souths, you fucking fucks.  PS.  I’m still going to tip you this week.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Warriors will find some elusive form and knock off the Dragons, and the Knights will put one over the Cowboys.  I’m not tipping them, but it could definitely happen.  Definitely.

  

Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos

Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans

St George-Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors

North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights

Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Parramatta Eels

Melbourne Storm vs Sharks

Game of the Round:

Canberra Raiders vs Bulldogs

I think I said enough about this game earlier.  You know, rain and snow and big, boofy blokes rolling around in the mud?  Yeah.  That’ll do.  WOO GO RAIDERS.

Blake Ferguson borrowed Batman's suit to try and keep warm.  I guess Mr Freeze is on the loose again.