Game 1: New England Nomads v Tamworth Swans
This one is a no-brainer. The Nomads will be looking for redemption after maybe throwing away their claims for a minor premiership in Inverell on the weekend. The Swans will also be hurting after being rolled by the Cats, but the Nomads will be looking to not let second place slip away as well and the Swans will be looking to... maybe enjoy their footy. The Swans throwing caution to the wind might take them some way into the match, and if they can stop Richards, Ross and Whitby they could just spring an upset. But if they could stop Richards, Ross and Whitby they wouldn't be in second to last place.
The Drum: Nomads by eleven goals, four behinds and a partridge in a pear tree.
Game 2: Tamworth Kangaroos v Inverell Saints
This pair have had some cracking contests in recent years, and this match is one that would be pencilled in at the start of the season as a must see. The Kangaroos will be flying high after two big wins on the road, and heading back to Number One with a chance to pretty well stitch up first place should see them at the top of their game. The Saints have brought themselves back into contention with a good two months, and are strongly placed to challenge for the first home semi final. A win here might put them in position to challenge for the top rung, but will also go a long way to securing a second chance in September. The Saints should have the physical wood on the Kangaroos, who rely on their mobility to move the ball and do so with effect. The smaller confines of Number One may suit the Saints bigger men, but the Kangaroos have not been rolled at home so far and I can't see that changing here. Even down on troops the Kangaroos have found ways to get the job done, and The Drum is that the result from last week might have flattered the Saints given the Nomads that were missing for that.
The Drum: Kangaroos by five goals.
Game 3: Muswellbrook Cats v Gunnedah Bulldogs
The Cats received a confidence boost with a good win over the Swans away from home last week. One might expect they are capable of going on with the job in this, as the Dogs have not travelled in big numbers for much of 2011. The Bulldogs are coming off a bye, but were big losers to the Kangaroos the week before and will be keen to get their season back on the black stuff with just three matches to be played in the regular season. The Cats have some big bods, and The Drum is that this height was telling when in mattered against their cellar-dwelling buddies. The Dogs should line up better for stature and are a classy outfit at their best. The Drum is that the Gunnedah side, at their peak, might be the only genuine challengers to this year's top pairing. Trouble for this is you just don't know what you'll get. Like a box of chocolates. But it should be sweet enough to beat the Cats.
The Drum: Bulldogs by six goals.
Last Modified on 03/08/2011 21:43