OK let me start with three gripes - First: Bloody Refs - Manly would have won if they could tell the difference between forwards and backwards!!  Second:  Bloody Manly - the game goes for 80mins, not 45 (if they could play for just 5 mins more in a game they would have won and my tips would look a lot better!). Third: where are the scandals this year?

Now to the games:

TIGERS v EELS
Each have a win and a loss going into this game and both teams wins were against Manly in similar last minute fashion and by almost identical scores.  People are pitching this as Benji v Hayne and on their form, it's hard to argue, but don't forget Mortimer for the Eels and Farrer for the Tiges.I'd like to have something smartarse to say about this game but quite frankly I've got nothing...  I can't even bag out the game being played in hicksville Sydney because it's at the SFS.  Guess that just leaves my tip which is the Tiges but I don't think there is much in this one.  Should be an entertaining game.

(more games after jump)

DRAGONS v COWBOYS
The cowboys will be tired from cleaning up after the cyclone last week -- they got the points but looked scratchy doing it.  The dragons are playing good old fashioned % (read boring) football but they are winning.  Bennett is a F%#king genius coach.  The Dragons are at v. shorts odds to win this and I'm with the bookies on this one.  Unless the rest of the Cowboys start helping Thurston, the Dragons are going to win this one easily.

PANTHERS v STORM
The Panthers choked last week (or perhaps were beaten by a classy Thurston) after having a good lead (taking tips from Manly perhaps).  The Storm put the knife to the Knights but only after trailing by about as much as the Panthers were ahead at the same time.  Cronk's back for the Storm (probably) which will help them but they have no forwards to speak of.  The Panthers on the other hand are pretty much full strength.  I actually tipping the Panthers to win this one.  Jennings hasn't really fired yet this season and while Cronk will help the Storm recover some of the flair they had at the end of the season last year, he isn't going to have much time to do anything without any forwards there to protect him.

SEA EAGLES v KNIGHTS
Hmmm - Manly's first home game of the season and they decide to play it away from Brookie; I wonder if they are regretting that decision after two great choking performances in the first two rounds.  Stewart is out for the season it seems so we don't need to speculate too much about what his (alleged)shenanigans last year with his 17yr old neigbour will do to affect his game when it finally gets to trial later this year (and the complain about Stern Hu's trial process - at least it has gone to trial already!).  Dessie has changed the teram all around and Lyon looks like he is going back to the Centres.  Hodkinson, the new Manly Halfback, looks all class though and big Georgie Rose is back after his onfield indiscretions from round one.  The knights are missing Vuna but are otherwise pretty much the same side that knocked off the Doggies in round one and almost (and should have) beaten the Storm last week.  Even though the Knights pretty much have a home town advantage for this 'away' game, I tipping with my heart and hoping like hell that Dessie's rev up of the team has given their defence a bit of spine in the second half - Manly to win by a couple of tries (Might be worthwhile putting some money on Manly leading at half time but losing just in case though!)

TITANS v RAIDERS
What to say ... Bird played OK last week and didn't drop the ball at very oportunity like he did the previous week; he hasn't been charged for off-field indiscretions either so the Titatns must be breathing a sigh of relief over that one.  Preston Campbell is also liekly to be back for the game aftyer not knowing who, what or where he was for the last fortnight - just as long as Princey points him in the direction of the opposing try line, I think he should be OK.  Ten Raiders are their usual inconsistent self.  The win las week  was pretty solid even if they did let the Bronco's back into the game a bit.  If campo can start to fire a bit more, they will win a few more games - unfortunately this won't be one of them - the Titans by a couple of Campbell tries which he may or may not remember.

BRONCOS v WARRIORS
I don't know what happened to TBs Bronco's last week but the coach will haven given them a serve for it.  They are at home against the Warriors this week who have travelled to the sunny Qld climes twice in three weeks - they were unsuccessful against the Titans and I suspect will also go home disappointed this week - oh well, at least it is better weather than back in Auckland!.

DOGGIES v CHOOKS
The only thing close to a scandal in the NRL at the moment is the fact that Josh Hannant is missing Qld and wan't out of his contract at the Doggies.  He wants top go to the Titans it seems but Scott Prince isn't so keen (not sure why - couldn't be bothered reading the article  - I felt the headline said it all!).  Common NRL, give me something here - this is attrocious.  A homesick footballer is the best you can offer FFS, (come on Daily Telegraph, sledge the guy - he is a grown man with a wife and kids for christs sake! Bag him out for being a mummy's boy). Anyway, maybe mummy boy's not homesicjk at all and just wants to leave a club that is losing - can't blame him really, the Doggies have looked even worse than Manly this year and only Cronulla looks worse (which isn't saying much because they have sucked for about 18mths).  The Roosters on the other hand are something of a revelation under Smithy.  Booting out Mason seems to have done them wonders and Todd 'rebel without a cause but looking for one called trouble' Carney is probably the best fullback going around at the moment (yes - even better than wonderboy Hayne).  The Chooks should win this one easily.

SHARKS v BUNNIES
A game of two losers.  Ricky Stewart is trying a new tactic this week - starting from scratch and, given his teams performances over the last 26 rounds (3 wins in there!), it's probably not a bad idea.  The Bunnies nearly got there against the Titans but ... didn't.For some reason they had all their key forwards on the sideline at the same time - hint to Lang, this probably isn't a good tactic and having just one of them on the field at the time would probably have made a difference.  Given Ricky is running a whole new team against the Bunnies, I've got no idea what they'll be like - if Gallen is in the team (and a quick check of the team lists suggests he will be)  that's probably good for a couple of penalties to the Bunnies so I'll use that as my guide - Bunnies to win by a penalty goal.

Over to you - any news of scandals is also welcome (I'm having to talk about the football here and I'd much rather write about NRL players being dick heads).