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Saturday first preliminary final
2-MANLY SEA EAGLES v 3-NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS at Sydney
Football Stadium, 7.45pm
Head to head: Sea Eagles 6, Cowboys 5
Head to head in 2007: Sea Eagles 0, Cowboys 1
Last Match: Cowboys 30-26 at Dairy Farmers Stadium (Rd 7, 2007)
FootyTAB: Cowboys 5.5 points
Centrebet: Sea Eagles $1.55, Cowboys $2.55
TAB Sportsbet: Sea Eagles $1.50, Cowboys $2.50
Johnathan Thurston escaped suspension for his spear tackle so North Queensland remain a chance of victory. But the champion halfback is certain to attract more defensive attention after revealing the extent of his shoulder injuries during his judiciary hearing last night. Both teams have injury concerns which could force late changes. Cowboys enforcer Carl Webb (calf) is rated unlikely to play, while Sea Eagles pair Glenn Stewart (ankle) and Chris Hicks (ankle) are also in extreme doubt. Manly may be favourites, but almost everything points to a Cowboys win aside from the location of the game.
The Cowboys have won their last seven games and also have won five of the six recent clashes with the Eagles. But because this game is played at the SFS, where the Cowboys have not won in two years, Manly have the advantage. The battle between opposing fullbacks Matt Bowen (Cowboys) and Brett Stewart (Eagles) could decide who claims the Test No.1 jumper.
Key: Thurston. Manly's defence is one of the best in the NRL, but is it good enough to stop the game's No.1 player?
Tip: Sea Eagles
Sunday second preliminary final
1-MELBOURNE STORM v 5-PARRAMATTA EELS at Telstra Dome, 4pm
Head to head: Storm 11, Eels 7
Head to head in 2007: Storm 1, Eels 0
Last Match: Storm 14-10 at Olympic Park (Rd 23, 2007)
FootyTAB: Eels 6.5 points
Centrebet: Storm $1.38, Eels $3.15
TAB Sportsbet: Storm $1.38, Eels $2.90
The rival CEOs of these clubs have traded blows all week, now it's time for the players to fire up. Parramatta took a lot of confidence out of their narrow loss to the Storm in Melbourne just five weeks ago and have improved remarkably this final nzs series with upsets over the Warriors and Bulldogs. But nobody can question
Melbourne's credentials, scoring 128 points in their last three games while conceding just 12. They obliterated reigning premiers Brisbane two weeks ago and are cruising on the highway of redemption after last year's shock grand final defeat. Greg Inglis and Ben Cross return from injury for the Storm, while the Eels are unchanged from last week's defeat of the Dogs. There's match ups galore in this game, but keep an eye on Storm young guns Israel Folau, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater up against Eels trio Krisnan Inu, Tim Smith and Jarryd Hayne.
Key: It's the two best back lines of the NRL, but the winner will be determined by which forward pack wins the battle in the middle.
Tip: Storm
