Wasted $100k becoming an NRL laughing stock

3 years ago 359

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns has joked that the NRL should springiness distant a "free travel to Vegas" to incentivise a competitory Round 25, with respective premiership contenders choosing to remainder their stars a week retired from finals.

Speaking to Johns connected Wide World of Sports' Freddy & Joey's Tips, Brad Fittler pointed retired that the Storm's determination to marque wholesale changes for their last circular clash with the Sharks was peculiarly alarming fixed that the insignificant premiership is astatine stake.

Scroll beneath for the existent leaderboard and Round 25 tips by Johns, Fittler and each Nine's adept tipsters!

If Melbourne suffer to Cronulla, who request a triumph to seal a top-eight berth, and the Panthers bushed an Eels side that is understrength owed to Brad Arthur's determination to remainder players, the Storm volition surrender apical spot, gifting the $100,000 reward for winning the insignificant premiership to Penrith.

"One happening that is wide is I deliberation the insignificant premiership means precise little," Fittler said, referencing the Storm's determination to remainder their biggest names.

"I cognize there's a small cheque astatine the extremity but the mode clubs are holding players retired and... Anyway, possibly (the NRL) could look into that due to the fact that it's astir most apt thing that's a small spot much important than teams instrumentality it."

That prompted Johns' left-field solution: "I deliberation it's $100,000. Do you cognize what they should do? They should propulsion a escaped travel for 30 to Vegas for a week, I reckon teams would effort then."

The Storm person rested Cameron Munster, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi, Jesse Bromwich, Josh Addo-Carr, Kenny Bromwich and Reimis Smith, with Craig Bellamy fielding a hardly recognisable 17, portion the Eels volition beryllium missing Clinton Gutherson, Junior Paulo, Mitchell Moses, Marata Niukore and Waqa Blake for their clash with the Panthers.

Ivan Cleary went the different way, fielding his strongest line-up disposable successful a lucifer that Johns, the Eels halves coach, is tipping the Panthers to triumph by 50 points.

The Rabbitohs, who won't decorativeness little than 3rd and are improbable to leap either the Storm oregon Panthers into 2nd besides rested their guns with Adam Reynolds, Damien Cook, Cody Walker, Dane Gagai, Liam Knight and Tom Burgess each sitting retired of their clash with the Dragons. They are besides missing Latrell Mitchell owed to his season-ending suspension.

Andrew Johns: Raiders, Sharks, Panthers, Knights, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Warriors, Tigers

Brad Fittler: Roosters, Sharks, Panthers, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Titans, Bulldogs

James Bracey: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Titans, Tigers

Darren Lockyer: Raiders, Broncos, Storm, Panthers, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Titans, Bulldogs

The Mole: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Knights, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Titans, Tigers

Paul Gallen: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Warriors, Tigers

Peter Psaltis: Raiders, Storm, Panthers, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Titans, Tigers

Billy Slater: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Knights, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Titans, Tigers

Ruan Sims: Raiders, Storm, Panthers, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Titans, Tigers

Tim Elbra: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Knights, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Titans, Wests Tigers

Ben Glover: Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Knights, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Warriors, Tigers

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