NRL round 15 preview panel

Preview of this weekend’s National Rugby League round 15 games (times AEST):

FRIDAY

BRISBANE BRONCOS v WESTS TIGERS at Suncorp Stadium, 7.45pm
Head to head: Broncos 11, Tigers 3, Drawn 1
Last Match: Broncos 34 bt Tigers 22 at ANZ Stadium (Rnd 8, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Broncos $1.55, Tigers $2.35
FootyTAB: Tigers +4.5 points

Brisbane have lost four of their past five, but don’t be fooled, those losses had more to do with injury than poor form. The Broncos have been devastated by injury and Origin duty the past month but now face a side equally ravaged and down on troops. The Tigers have four props sidelined and found it difficult to penetrate Parramatta last week without some big boppers up front. The return of winger Taniela Tuiaki and lock Liam Fulton will add some size to the side but they still lack firepower in the forwards. Both sides are coming off heavy losses and the Tigers don’t have a good record in Brisbane after being belted 48-18 last year.

Key: Brisbane are short of backs, the Tigers down on forwards. Will size or speed win the game?
Tip: Broncos

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v PENRITH PANTHERS at ANZ Stadium, 7.45pm
Head to head: Dragons 12, Panthers 6
Last Match: Dragons 38 bt Panthers 20 at CUA Stadium (Rnd 19, 2007)
TAB Sportsbet: Dragons $1.33, Panthers $3.15
FootyTAB: Panthers +7.5 points

St George Illawarra are chasing five wins in a row for the first time since 2006, the last time they reached the NRL finals. And a win here would firmly entrench the Dragons in the NRL top eight. Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper are back from NSW Origin duty, adding further danger to their firing backline. Winger Jason Nightingale has scored in each of his past six games to lead the NRL tryscoring race. Penrith are coming off back-to-back losses but can maintain top eight pace with a win here. The loss of hooker Luke Priddis and prop Tony Puletua to injury will hurt the Panthers, but their away record is strong in 2008 winning four of six on the road.

Key: Momentum. The Panthers have hit a midseason stumbling block, but has the bye stunted the Dragons’ charmed run?
Tip: Dragons

SATURDAY

BULLDOGS v CANBERRA RAIDERS at ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to head: Bulldogs 29, Raiders 21
Last Match: Bulldogs 52 bt Raiders 4 at Telstra Stadium (Rnd 22, 2007)
TAB Sportsbet: Bulldogs $1.65, Raiders $2.20
FootyTAB: Raiders +3.5 points

Canberra have had the Sonny Bill Williams voodoo dolls out all week and pray the Bulldogs’ superstar rests his knee for another week. SBW terrorised Canberra last year, scoring three tries as the Dogs romped to a 10-try smash up at Homebush. He hasn’t played since 11 and it’s no coincidence they’ve lost both games since. Canberra hit stride with a dominant win over Brisbane last week and unearthed another young star in two-try hero Justin Carney. The Raiders will travel to Sydney by bus this week in a bid to solve their poor away form which stands at just one win from six games on the road this year.

Key: Canberra were clinical last week failing to concede a single penalty. If they reproduce on the road, and that’s a big if, they could upset the Dogs.
Tip: Bulldogs

MELBOURNE STORM v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS at Olympic Park, 7.30pm
Head to head: Storm 12, Cowboys 5
Last Match: Storm 12 bt Cowboys 10 at Dairy Farmers Stadium (Rnd 7, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Storm $1.05, Cowboys $8.50
FootyTAB: Cowboys +20.5 points

North Queensland are the one team that can make the ridiculously hard look simple and the simple look down right impossible. They had a chance to beat Newcastle last week but conceded two soft tries on their own goal line with poor one-on-one defence against two of the Knights’ smallest men. It was the Cowboys’ seventh straight loss, their worst streak since 1999. And there’s no sign of a reprieve as they head to Melbourne where they haven’t won since 2001. The Storm have their Origin stars back and should jump straight back into the groove to maintain their position with the pacesetters.

Key: Melbourne are at full strength and North Queensland on the short Monday turnaround with a long road trip. This could get ugly.
Tip: Storm

SUNDAY

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v MANLY SEA EAGLES at Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm
Head to head: Warriors 6, Sea Eagles 8
Last Match: Sea Eagles 52 bt Warriors 0 at Brookvale Oval (Rnd 3, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Warriors $2.20, Sea Eagles $1.65
FootyTAB: Warriors +3.5 points

Manly carved up the Warriors earlier this year and although they had the bye last week they enter this game buoyed by their 42-0 thumping of the Roosters. The Sea Eagles have won six of their past seven and lead the competition thanks to their runaway victories. But they’ll face a tougher Warriors side this time, mainly because they’re playing in Auckland. The Kiwis perform much better at home, but kick defence is a concern as they conceded all four tries from kicks in losing to Cronulla last week and erratic winger Manu Vatuvei returns from a broken leg. The Warriors have lost four of their past five and must win to get back on finals pace.

Key: Manly halfback Matt Orford is in career-best touch and will relish the chance to taunt the Warriors’ back three with his dangerous kicking game.
Tip: Sea Eagles

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 2pm
Head to head: Knights 15, Roosters 18, Drawn 2
Last Match: Knights 34 bt Roosters 20 at Bluetongue Stadium (Rnd 6, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Knights $2.35, Roosters $1.55
FootyTAB: Knights +4.5 points

The Roosters have won five of their past six but are still smarting from their capitulation to the Knights earlier this year when they conceded four tries in the final 12 minutes. The 60m solo effort by Knights prop Danny Wicks in the last minute left many Roosters with red faces and there is no doubt they want revenge after the rotund forward’s wild celebration upon touching down. The Knights have won their last two games, but if you believe in patterns they’re bound for defeat as they’ve had two wins followed by three losses throughout 2008.

Key: Rooster Mark O’Meley has come into NSW reckoning but needs a big performance if he is to beat returning Knights prop Ben Cross for Origin III selection.
Tip: Roosters

CRONULLA SHARKS v PARRAMATTA EELS at Toyota Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Sharks 35, Eels 33
Last Match: Sharks 25 bt Eels 24 at Parramatta Stadium (Rnd 22, 2007)
TAB Sportsbet: Sharks $1.95, Eels $1.85
FootyTAB: Eels +1.5 points

The sleeping giants of Parramatta have awoken, but can the Sharks strangle the life back out of them? The Eels have won two straight and with confidence at its highest all year they head to Shark Park where they have won their past five over Cronulla. The Sharks are travelling nicely too, winning three straight to sit with the NRL pacesetters as their attack starts to gel with halves Brett Kimmorley and Brett Seymour hitting form. Winger Luke Covell has scored six tries in his past three games as Cronulla reap the benefits of developing an attacking kicking game. Has all the makings of another Sunday afternoon blockbuster.

Key: Parramatta five-eighth Feleti Mateo has been unstoppable lately and his offloading ability will seriously test the Sharks’ scrambling defence.
Tip: Eels

MONDAY

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v GOLD COAST TITANS at ANZ Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: Rabbitohs 1, Titans 1
Last Match: Rabbitohs 20 bt Titans 14 at Telstra Stadium (Rnd 20, 2007)
TAB Sportsbet: Rabbitohs $2.65, Titans $1.45
FootyTAB: Rabbitohs +6.5 points

This match won’t decide if Gold Coast are the real deal in 2008, but it could certainly tell us if they’re not. South Sydney may have beaten the Warriors last start but this is a game the Titans must win if they’re to threaten for the top four this year. The Titans have struggled away from home this year, just one win from five games on the road, and should be too strong with a full strength side this week. The Rabbitohs are persisting with the youth that got them home over the Warriors and coach Jason Taylor will be hoping his side doesn’t produce the same limp effort they did coming off the bye last time.

Key: Gold Coast halfback Scott Prince is the best in the NRL and should bring Souths rookie Chris Sandow back down to earth after his starring debut against the Warriors.
Tip: Titans