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FRIDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons v Melbourne Storm at WIN Jubilee Stadium
Head to head: Storm 16, Dragons 5, Drawn 1
Last clash: Storm 17 bt Dragons 16 at Olympic Park (Rd 1, 2009)
Historically there is no love lost between these two clubs, with the Storm's 20-18 grand final victory over the Dragons in 1999 still a sore point for fans of the Red V. The Dragons haven't been back to a grand final since that day but that could all change this season with Wayne Bennett instilling a Melbourne-like consistency into his side. Craig Bellamy's team aren't the force they once were but are still in the top four and welcome back Greg Inglis, Dallas Johnson and Ryan Hoffman from injury. They are still without captain Cameron Smith (shoulder), and prop Adam Blair. The Storm won a close game in round one at Olympic Park in golden point and expect another tight encounter at Kogarah.
Key: Two of the most exciting backlines in the NRL will do
battle here, with Jamie Soward, Wendell Sailor, Brett Morris and co
up against Inglis, Billy Slater and the exciting Joseph Tomane. Who
wins may well determine the contest.
Tip: Dragons
Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys at Skilled Park
Head to head: Titans 3 Cowboys 1
Last clash: Titans 14 bt Cowboys 10 at Dairy Farmers Stadium (Rd 5,
2009)
The Titans are on the cusp of their first-ever finals campaign thanks largely to their 100 per cent home record at Skilled Park and they will fancy their chances against a Cowboys side struggling for form. Mark Minichiello is back after injury and will take his place in the second row for the Titans. Defeat at home to Penrith last week saw Neil Henry's side drop to eighth on the ladder and with their form outside of Townsville about as impressive as a Kyle Sandilands radio stunt, there's a real danger of their season spiralling out of control. The loss of Luke O'Donnell has been felt hard by the Cowboys as has the absence of hooker Aaron Payne (shoulder). Travis Burns struggled out of dummy-half against the Panthers so the return of Anthony Watts from suspension is a welcome one for Henry's side in a game they can't afford to lose.
Key: Johnathan Thurston is the best player in the game and he
will need a massive performance for the Cowboys to stop the Titans
in their own backyard.
Tip: Titans
SATURDAY
Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium
Head to head: Broncos 20 Raiders 14, Drawn 1
Last clash: Broncos 34 bt Raiders 6 at Suncorp Stadium (Rd 21,
2008)
The prospect of Brisbane missing out on the finals was an unthinkable one at the start of the season but defeat in Canberra on Sunday would take them to the precipice. Wayne Bennett was the master of getting the Broncos through games disrupted by State of Origin call-ups, but Ivan Henjak has found it not such an easy task with his side losing six of the seven games they have played since Origin I on June 10. AFL-bound Karmichael Hunt is set to play at halfback in place on injured Peter Wallace as Henjak plots a way to find a first win in the nation's capital since 2005. The Raiders were dismal against the Tigers last week as they kissed goodbye to their 2009 campaign.
Key: Hunt and Darren Lockyer will need to muster all of their
class and experience to negotiate a difficult test in the cold of
Canberra if the ninth-place Broncos are to stay in the hunt for a
finals spot.
Tip: Broncos
Penrith Panthers v Warriors at CUA Stadium
Head to head: Panthers 13, Warriors 10
Last clash: Warriors 42 bt Panthers 20 at Mt Smart Stadium (Rd 25,
2008)
It seems to have taken victory over the Cowboys last week for people outside Penrith to finally start taking this young Panthers team seriously. Matt Elliott's side, who have been the bane of tipsters all season, were superb in Townsville and moved into fifth on the NRL ladder thanks to their Michael Jennings-inspired 28-20 win. Having not made the finals since 2004, Penrith can go a long way to securing their top-eight spot with a win over a Warriors side who have been disappointing all year. With Jarrod Sammut and Michael Gordon also in fine form and Trent Waterhouse more than comfortably filling the huge hole left by Petero Civoniceva's absence, things are looking good for the Panthers. The Warriors won on their last trip to Sydney against the Roosters two weeks' ago, but they will need a much-improved display to repeat that result at CUA Stadium.
Key: Can the Warriors cope with the red-hot form of Jennings who
will be looking for his third hat-trick of the season?
Tip: Panthers
Newcastle Knights v Sydney Roosters at EnergyAustralia Stadium
Head to head: Roosters 19, Knights 16, Drawn 2
Last clash: Knights 38 bt Roosters 6 at Sydney Football Stadium (Rd
10, 2009)
The battle of Brian Smith's soon-to-be-old team against his soon-to-be-new team will have plenty of sub-plots. The Knights have made unconvincing noises about not letting the coaching situation affect them, but they looked a shadow of the side that has been so impressive for much of the season in the defeat by Manly last week. Victory on Saturday would get the Knights finals aspirations back on track. Meanwhile, the Roosters, who are on course for their first wooden spoon since 1966, have a superb record at EnergyAustralia Stadium where they haven't lost since 2001. This game will also be a real chance for Willie Mason to show his new boss he can still play a roll next year. The Knights will welcome back Kurt Gidley from injury and have named Jarrod Mullen to play, despite Smith saying the young halfback is doubtful with a knee injury.
Key: The Roosters say they are playing for their coach Brad
Fittler and nothing would give the former NSW five-eighth more
pleasure than putting one over the man who has taken his job.
Tip: Knights
SUNDAY
Cronulla Sharks v Parramatta Eels at Toyota Stadium, 2.00pm
Head to head: Sharks 37, Eels 33
Last clash: Sharks 13 bt Eels 10 at Parramatta Stadium (Rd 12,
2009)
It's amazing what the the prospect of new faces can do to a side. Ever since the announcement that forwards Justin Poore and Shane Shackleton were joining Parramatta in 2010 from St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters respectively, the Eels' big men have been outstanding. And with Jarryd Hayne in scintillating form and Eric Grothe and Krisnan Inu rediscovering their mojos the Eels have started to believe they may just have a chance of reaching the finals. Back-to-back wins against Melbourne and the Bulldogs have given them hope, but realistically, they need to win every one of their last-six games to book a top-eight spot. Defeat against a depleted Sharks side, who have lost Trent Barrett for the rest of the season with a fractured cheekbone, will end their season, and they should underestimate an inexperienced, but battling Sharks side at their peril. Blake Green will fill-in at five-eighth in place of Barrett, but it will need a heroic Sharks performance to topple an Eels side who are hitting form at the right time.
Key: Can the Sharks stop Jarryd Hayne?
Tip: Eels
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium
Head to head: Bulldogs 71, Rabbitohs 62, Drawn 4
Last clash: Bulldogs 14 bt Rabbitohs 12 at ANZ Stadium (Rd 5,
2009)
The second-placed Bulldogs had a wake-up call against a fired-up Eels side last week, and will face another tough encounter against a mercurial Souths side, who have scored more tries this season than any other team, but have a defence with more leaks than Rome's Trevi Fountain. Souths have won their last three games to reignite their finals hopes, but have tasted victory against the Bulldogs just twice in 13 encounters. Kevin Moore's side have not played badly in two successive games all season and Jason Taylor's men will need to produce a season-best performance to topple the Dogs, who welcome back tackling machine David Stagg after injury.
Key: Parramatta showed how the Bulldogs can be beaten in the
forwards last week, and Souths skipper Roy Asotasi's availability
after taking an early guilty plea at the judiciary this week, is a
huge boost.
Tip: Bulldogs
MONDAY
Wests Tigers v Manly Sea Eagles at Sydney Football Stadium
Head to head: Sea Eagles 8 Tigers 4
Last clash: Sea Eagles 23 Tigers 10 at Brookvale Oval (Rd 5
2009.)
Of all the teams outside the top eight harbouring hopes of finals action, the Tigers have arguably the best chance. Their for and against is the best of any team in the bottom half of the ladder and their end-of-season run-in is not the worst. Three successive victories has silenced calls for Tim Sheens' head, and the veteran coach has stumbled across a solid-looking halfback pairing in Tim Moltzen and Benji Marshall, who have yet to taste defeat playing alongside each other. Manly are showing signs they are getting back to their menacing best with wins in six of their last seven games and will be confident of extending their run of five successive victories against the Tigers. With their season on the line, Tigers fans must have been wishing this game was at fortress Leichhardt, but will comforted by the fact their team is unbeaten in all three of their Monday night games this season.
Key: The backrow battle between the in-form Anthony Watmough and
Tigers' England international Gareth Ellis will be an intriguing
one.
Tip: Tigers
