HANSO'S WEEK IN SPORT #5

July 13: I don't know about anyone else in the NRL tipping contests but I'm about to hand in my PHD in rugby league tipping.

Thought I was on fire in Round 17, tipping five out of six, including Queensland in the State of Origin...of course.

Then, full of confidence, Round 18 comes along and old dufus here tips two out of eight!

Thank goodness for Thommo's Bulldogs and Neil's Eels who saved the day...kinda.

I haven't tipped the shivering Sharks all year. But as soon as I jump on the band wagon the Knights give it to Ricky's mob.

Then Rusty's Rabbitohs finally start to show some good old fashioned passion and spirit and the rising Roosters snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The panicking Panthers should go back to pink because the team that couldn't break the Warriors defence (even with good old Petrol in form) didn't look like the same outfit that steamrolled the stuttering Sea Eagles (now that's another story).

The stop-start Raiders, who struggled against the Tigers, gave it to my old team the Eagles at Brookie - so much for the Fortress, which is starting to show a few cracks in it these days.

Then there's the tireless Titans, who were absolutely robbed against the Tigers, who again fell in courtesy of a 50 metre Benji drop kick.

Now for Round 19...for what it's worth!

-         Titans v Broncos at Skilled - Titans in a toss up. They love a close one at home.

-         Rabbitohs v Dragons at ANZ - Hard to tip against Benny's Dragons

-         Warriors v Storm at Mt Smart - Best defensive game of the year by Ivan Cleary's boys against the Panthers - just might upset the Storm at home

-         Panthers v Eels - the battle of the west. On form? The Eels - but at home the Panthers could not play any worse...Petrol's Panthers

-         Sharks v Sea Eagles - the battle of the beaches at Shark Park - The Eagles (but with no confidence) Look to the coaches boxes for plenty of entertainment and hair pulling.

-         Raiders v Knights - The Raiders buoyed by Josh Dugan's signature.only just

-         Roosters v Bulldogs - Another cracker - Thommo's born-again Bulldogs.... Just.

-         Tigers v Cowboys - Can't tip against Tim's Tigers in Tigerland - JT and the Cowboys are in for another long night.

Don't whatever you do follow these tips...NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN WHAT SO EVER!

Hanso