The so-called experts who predicted teams like the Tigers and Warriors would again be the cellar dwellers this year have been left with egg on their faces as those two sides have recorded wins in their first two matches while more fancied outifts like the Sharks and Eels are yet to open their accounts.

Even the bookies are struggling with upsets the order of the day for the first two rounds and form lines becoming impossible to predict.

With all that going on, then, what possible hope does the humble home tipster have? Well, plenty, it would seem.

Bathurst’s Janelle Butler defied the odds in Round 1 by picking a perfect round in the Western Advocate readers’ tipping competition, picking up the great weekly prize of a $45 voucher for some NRL merchandise from competition sponsor News On William.

And just tow prove it wasn’t a fluke (maybe), Janelle’s daughter Cindy repeated the dose in Round 2, also picking a perfect round and also picking up $45 worth of merchandise.

And that’s how easy it is. If you’re not getting involved in our readers’ competition then you should be.

It’s free to enter each week – just fill out the tipping form that’s printed in the paper each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and drop it into our office at 163 George Street.

IT’S going to be a bit of a bumper edition of the Weekend Advocate on Saturday.

First, the paper will look a little different on the news stand because it will feature an eight-page wrap-around promoting the Gold Crown carnival.

It will feature interviews with some of the major players associated with harness racing extravaganza along with plenty of information about the nine-day carnival.

And inserted inside you the Weekend Advocate will find a special 76-page souvenir liftout celebrating 40 years of the Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo.

Don’t miss out.