Graham Lowe: Mum's tips as good as anyone's

I mentioned in this column a couple of months ago I was finding tipping winners in the NRL so difficult that I was calling on our cat Bindi for help.

Now the grand final is a week away I've called in the heavy reinforcements. My 86-year-old mum is over from Perth staying with us.

What she doesn't know about football isn't worth knowing. In fact she has forgotten more about the game than most know.

Having four boys all playing in different teams, times and places meant her Saturday mornings were filled with league.

At one stage she even coached.

I noticed as I got older and involved in coaching myself she had a good eye for what was needed to win a game.

She could also identify good players. And, strangely enough for a little old lady, she doesn't mind giving me her opinion.

What I'm actually describing is an example of typical New Zealand mums who have followed, supported and encouraged their kids to be involved in sport. In my case it has been league.

And now I know when I ask her about any particular game she will give me an opinion that Channel 9 comments man Phil Gould would be proud of.

So, her tip is the Broncos to beat the Storm and the Dogs to upset the Eels.

Her reasons are simple. She loves watching Darren Lockyer and likes the Bulldogs because they tried to sign me as their coach on a number of occasions.

Maybe this sort of simple logic is a perfect example of how it is anybody's guess on what will happen.

In all honesty these games are too hard to pick.

Not being at full strength the Broncos shouldn't be able to match the Storm at home. And the Eels should certainly have too much momentum for the Dogs.

But mum's theories hold as much water as many others I have heard.

For me it is going to be great to be able to sit and enjoy a glass of wine with mum while we watch the game.

I know we will both enjoy it no matter who wins.