Andrew Moore

AUDIO - Andrew Moore on a crazy NRL weekend

The biggest question to come out of an amazing weekend of rugby league: can Manly possibly win the premiership after losing their first four games?

How have you gone with your footy tipping this week? Mine has been a nightmare – one out of seven so far.

The Bulldogs have given me my only joy so far this weekend, and I regret to inform Canberra I’ve tipped the Raiders to win tonight against North Queensland.

I tipped Manly to rebound but they were hammered by Newcastle on Sunday afternoon, 26-12.

And the Sea Eagles were totally outplayed.

Manly peppered the Knights’ line in the first half but the often suspect Newcastle defence held firm, and they ran away with it in the second half.

No wins, four losses for the Sea Eagles – almost unbelievable for a team which so convincingly won the premiership in 2008 and won the World Club Challenge just six weeks ago.

How things have collapsed since then.

Brett Stewart’s court appearance comes up in a couple of days, and the Sea Eagles will be desperate to have him back because they are definitely missing a spark.

And it is hard to believe that a team could win the competition after starting with four straight losses.

Mind you, on the other hand, they’re only four points outside the top eight.

But if Canberra beats North Queensland tonight, Manly will be stone motherless last.

The Bulldogs dominated a 24-12 win over Cronulla at ANZ Stadium.

Michael Ennis was outstanding for the Bulldogs, in a game marred by some terrible decisions by the referees. The Bulldogs were robbed blind of two definite tries.

A sweet win no doubt for ex-Cronulla halfback Brett Kimmorley, and it’s also great to see Bulldogs skipper Andrew Ryan playing such good football again.

How about the South Sydney Rabbitohs, sitting proudly atop the NRL ladder after a gutsy win over the Warriors in Auckland 22-16, after trailing for most of the match.

The Rabbitohs have looked very good to me so far this season, and deserve to be where they are. Why can’t South Sydney make the finals?

And weren’t the St George Illawarra Dragons terrific against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium? They simply dominated that match.

The Sydney Roosters got up against a Parramatta team that looked so ordinary. I don’t know how committed some of the young Eels are, but they’re not aiming up week after week.

On Saturday Penrith scored 20 points in the last 11 minutes to beat Wests Tigers 42-22. It was an entertaining game, but I though some of the Tigers’ defence was woeful.

And what about the massive upset at Olympic Park, with the Gold Coast – normally so ordinary away from home – putting in a great defensive performance to beat Melbourne?

As I say, one out of seven for me with the tips, and I’m lucky to score one.

Hope you’ve had a more successful weekend than I.

How have you gone with your footy tipping this week? Mine has been a nightmare – one out of seven so far. Andrew Moore