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Doing a hammy is no fun. Even a very modestly credentialed sportsman like me experienced this injury a long time ago in a far away land when I used to play hockey. (Was it prescient that my position was on the right wing?) The saying \u2018being hamstrung\u2019 fits the bill beautifully because of the extent of the debilitation that results from it. I\u2019d love to know the odds of two players from the same team suffering this injury on the same single play. Multiply those odds by the fact that they are both key positional players as the team\u2019s halves. Then multiply that again by a third member of the same team suffering the same fate in the same game. I can\u2019t calculate those odds but what it does tell me is that the Broncos are absolutely gone and will struggle to stay in the top eight race. If they do somehow manage that, they\u2019ll be easy fodder come the first week of the finals. Three torn hamstrings equals a team totally hamstrung for 2025.<\/p>\n
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NRL<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in\u00a0Round 23, the Broncos, in the circumstances, actually did quite well to hold the Storm to a respectable scoreline in a performance that showed quite a bit of character. But the Storm are the Storm, Xavier Coates is Xavier Coates, and Harry is on a roll! Meanwhile, the Panthers roll ominously on; the Raiders are top of the pile but need a couple of stiff games before September to really test their mettle; the Sea Eagles are joining the \u2018can\u2019t wait for the end of the season\u2019 list; the Dragons continue to play spoiler while the Sharks keep raising questions about themselves; the Roosters are in wicked form but can they go far in the finals from the bottom half of the eight?; the Dolphins are in strife at the wrong end of the season; the Bulldogs can win in the wet but the Warriors are a real worry at the moment; the Titans were unlucky at the death but blew 6 certain points in the first half that may well have made a lot of difference; BLM (as RITV and I call Latrell Mitchell) continues to be either enigmatic, mercurial or frustrating, or all of the above, while AJ inches closer to the record that we all thought would never be broken; the Eels played a better constructed game this week as opposed to the last couple of weeks where it was all about bustle and not much else; and Mitchell Moses is the modern day equivalent of Geoff Toovey as a whinger and the NRL\u2019s sole nomination for the Academy Award for overacting. You\u2019ve got the talent, Mitchell \u2013 just get on with the game and showcase your wares!<\/p>\n
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Round 24, which is also the NRL\u2019s Indigenous Round, starts off tonight with the match of the round when the irresistible force, the Penrith Panthers, host the immoveable object, the Melbourne Storm. A grand final preview? That\u2019s not out of the question at this stage. You can discuss and debate this one endlessly without necessarily throwing too much light on the outcome, so I\u2019ll admit that I\u2019m tossing a coin. (It worked for me last week when I picked the Rabbitohs.)\u00a0Penrith.<\/p>\n
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The round continues in Auckland tomorrow night when the wobbling Warriors host the disruptive Dragons. The Wahs are a different animal at home but, credit to them, the Dragons are coming home with a wet sail. I expect the\u00a0Warriors to please their home crowd, but only after a tough fight. The later game is, in the context of the season, the next best game of the weekend \u2013 the rampant Roosters against Burton\u2019s ball-bursting Bulldogs. I don\u2019t think the Dogs can finish better than 2nd or 3rd while every game is a final for the Roosters. Are the Roosters on a perfectly timed run to September? Are the Bulldogs fully on their game? Even though they were impressive last week it\u2019s hard to tell in a wet weather game. I\u2019m going with the Roosters who are so much better with Walker at No 7.<\/p>\n
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On Saturday afternoon, the stuttering Sharks are at home to the could have\/should have Titans. Lose this one and the Sharks might as well pack it in for the year. The situation demands that they win, and win well, to retain any credibility. The Titans certainly have their moments but rarely are those moments a cumulative, sequential 80 minutes, so I\u2019ll have to go with Cronulla, even though I think they\u2019re premiership pretenders. The twilight game has the battered and bruised Broncos up against the decimated Dolphins. A few weeks ago this would have been all set up to be a classic shoot-out. Unfortunately injuries and suspension have nobbled those prospects. However, both are fighting for season survival so that should ensure a contest. Another toss of the coin here \u2013 Dolphins. The same might be said of the late game, Rabbitohs v Eels. Have the Bunnies found a winning formula or was last week another false dawn? Or are the Eels on the way to better things under the uncompromising Ryles? I think the Eels may have a bit too much pace and energy and should run out winners.<\/p>\n
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Sunday afternoon footy begins with the Wests Tigers opposed to the Sea Eagles. (Are there any easy games to tip this weekend?) The Tigers have made definite progress this year while the Sea Eagles have slowly slipped away in recent weeks. I\u2019ll have to go with the Tigers who, again, have pace and a touch of momentum on their side. The final game sees the Cowboys at home to the Knights. Neither has been at all convincing \u2013 and that\u2019s a flattering! If the Cowboys can pick up from where they left off last week they\u2019ll win and, with the help of their home crowd, that\u2019s the way I think it will play out \u2013 go Cowboys.<\/p>\n
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The Canberra Raiders have the bye.<\/p>\n
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NRLW<\/p>\n
Not a lot happened in Round 6 to change the status quo \u2013 it\u2019s the Roosters, Broncos and Knights as contenders, and then there\u2019s the rest.<\/p>\n
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Round 7\u00a0starts with the Sharks (5th) taking on the Titans (=8th). The Sharks may lack polish but they have a certain strength and presence which should see them continue on their way to stay in finals contention. The Titans just haven\u2019t shown enough to earn a tipster\u2019s support. The Broncos (2nd) play the Eels (7th). Brisbane looked like running up a cricket score last week before losing focus and giving away cheap points. Do that in a final and they\u2019ll be out of the running quick smart. Nevertheless, I think they\u2019ll have too many scoring avenues and should win. The Warriors (6th) play the last placed, winless Raiders and I can\u2019t see that situation changing. The Canberra girls give it their all but it\u2019s nowhere near enough to test the stronger teams. Get on the\u00a0Warriors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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On Sunday we see the Wests Tigers (11th) against the Dragons (10th), a battle of the cellar dwellers. Coin toss \u2013\u00a0Dragons. \u00a0This will be followed by the match of the round, the Roosters (1st) v the Knights (3rd). Form suggests the Roosters but they won\u2019t run away with this one as the Knights have the best defence in the competition. I\u2019ll stick with the\u00a0Roosters because they have more strike power. In the final game, the Cowboys (4th) play the Bulldogs (8th). I like the energy in the northerners\u2019 game and expect them to come away with the points. Go Cowboys.<\/p>\n
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Finally, a reminder of the forthcoming annual Tom Brock Lecture to be held at the Petersham RSL on September 1. See the details here.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRL click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRLW click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n To see the details for State of Origin in 2025 click HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?<\/p>\n And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.<\/p>\n Become an Almanac (annual) member \u2013 CLICK HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755118994_143_almanac-1.jpg\")
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