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NRL preview panel for round seven (all times AEST).
FRIDAY
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v CRONULLA SHARKS at ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Rabbitohs 30, Sharks 39, drawn 3
Last clash: Sharks 28 bt Rabbitohs 14 at Toyota Stadium (Rnd 22, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Rabbitohs $1.60, Sharks $2.30
FootyTAB: Sharks +3.5 points
The Bunnies copped plenty of criticism for their lacklustre play against Manly last week, but it will be nothing compared to the roasting they’ll get should they lose to bottom-of-the-table Cronulla. Souths have gone off the boil over the last fortnight, with halfback Chris Sandow’s confidence seemingly on the wane as opposition teams target him in defence. Sandow has come up with a league-high 51 missed tackles in 2009, including 19 in his last two games. The Sharks are averaging a league-worst 12 points a game, but the return of captain Paul Gallen will give them an extra threat on the edge of the ruck.
Key: Points. Cronulla need to score more than the 12 per game they average to get the better of the Bunnies.
Tip: SHARKS
BRISBANE BRONCOS v PARRAMATTA EELS at Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Broncos 23, Eels 14, drawn 1.
Last clash: Broncos 30 bt Eels 26 at Suncorp Stadium (Rnd 12, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Broncos $1.25, Eels $3.75
FootyTAB: Eels +10.5 points
Speculation over Darren Lockyer’s place in the Origin side could not have come at a worse time for the Eels. Accused of playing without heart by their coach Daniel Anderson last round, Parramatta may yet have their hearts torn out by a fired up Lockyer. The Broncos skipper says he will respond to the surprise Origin rumours like he did in 2006. That year Lockyer won the NRL title with Brisbane, the Origin series for Queensland and the Tri Nations crown for Australia. Anderson resisted wielding the axe but made his point by dropping Kiwi international Krisnan Inu to NSW Cup – making him the highest paid reserve grader running around this weekend. While flying high on the ladder, the Broncos have their own worries after consecutive late fade-outs. They have conceded 53 second-half points in their last three games.
Key: Will the Eels convince Anderson they have pride in their jersey?
Tip: BRONCOS
SATURDAY
SYDNEY ROOSTERS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS at Sydney Football Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Dragons 10, Roosters 8, drawn 1.
Last clash: Roosters 10 bt Dragons 0 at Sydney Football Stadium (Rnd 26, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Roosters $2.35, Dragons $1.57
FootyTAB: Roosters +3.5 points
What have the Roosters been drinking at halftime this season? Second-half fade-outs have become the norm out Bondi way, never more so than against the Warriors last week when they were rundown after leading 16-0 at the break. The Origin snubbing should fire up Roosters trio Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon and Braith Anasta, especially with Dragons forwards Michael Weyman, Justin Poore and Ben Creagh making the cut. The Dragons faltered under the burden of premiership favouritism last week, but with Weyman, Matt Cooper and Neville Costigan all returning this week, it could be a different story against the Roosters.
Key: Jamie Soward. Keep his trusty right boot quiet and the Roosters will be halfway towards the much-needed two points.
Tip: DRAGONS
MELBOURNE STORM v WARRIORS at Olympic Park, 5.30pm
Head to head: Storm 11, Warriors 10, drawn 1
Last clash: Warriors 18 bt Storm 15 at Olympic Park (Qualifying final, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Storm $1.40 v Warriors $2.90
FootyTAB: Warriors +7.5 points
Who has kidnapped the Storm? The side that went down to the Tigers on Monday was a far cry from the dominant force of the last few years. With Greg Inglis back out in the centres, the Storm appear lost in attack and it could take a while until they find their rhythm with new-signing Brett Finch yet to come into the side. Finch hasn’t been named, but don’t be surprised if he runs out this weekend. The Warriors will have good memories of Olympic Park following their epic finals win there last year and they’ll arrive in Melbourne on a high following their golden point win over the Roosters.
Key: He’s been the inspiration behind two of the Warriors’ three wins, but how long can veteran half Stacey Jones keep it going?
Tip: STORM
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v MANLY SEA EAGLES at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Sea Eagles 8, Cowboys 5
Last clash: Sea Eagles 38 bt Cowboys 6 at Bluetongue Stadium (Rnd 10, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Cowboys $1.60 v Sea Eagles $2.30
FootyTAB: Sea Eagles +3.5 points
The Cowboys know a win doesn’t make a season. But last round’s away victory – albeit against the lowly Sharks in Adelaide – appears to have done the trick for North Queensland. Coach Neil Henry suddenly looks relaxed after maligned halfback Johnathan Thurston – and more importantly his teammates – finally gave the Cowboys a morale-boosting victory. And after losing two of their three home games to date, North Queensland are now determined to make Dairy Farmers Stadium a fortress. Not good news for Manly. But they would be used to that. Just when the Sea Eagles looked ready to soar again, they were grounded by news fullback Brett Stewart would be out for up to three months
Key: Will Manly defy the stats – just 31.3 per cent winning record without Brett Stewart – and fly high against the Cowboys?
Tip: COWBOYS
SUNDAY
CANBERRA RAIDERS v BULLDOGS at Canberra Stadium, 2pm
Head to head: Raiders 23, Bulldogs 29
Last clash: Raiders 52 bt Bulldogs 34 at Canberra Stadium (Rnd 26, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Raiders $1.80 v Bulldogs $2.00
FootyTAB: Bulldogs +0.5 points
This match shapes as a beauty with both sides travelling well early in the season. Canberra in Canberra is never an easy task and they were unlucky not to nab a win against Gold Coast last week. But the Bulldogs are doing everything right and showed they could put the foot on the accelerator as they thrashed an inferior Parramatta last week. The Michael Ennis-Brett Kimmorley combination is the best hooker-half partnership in the game at the moment, but the loss of speedy centre Josh Morris ses them lose a bit of potency out wide.
Key: Battle of the No.7s. One, Brett Kimmorley, is a veteran of 267 games and playing some of the best football of his career. The other, Josh McCrone, is making his NRL debut.
Tip: BULLDOGS
WESTS TIGERS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Tigers 6, Knights 7
Last clash: Tigers 38 bt Knights 26 at EnergyAustralia Stadium (Rnd 10, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Tigers $1.80 v Knights $2
FootyTAB: Knights +1.5 points
The normally tackle-shy Tigers may have appeared bullet-proof in defence against the Storm last weekend but this match still looks set to be a try-fest. The Knights have one of the best attacks in the competition with the likes of Jarrod Mullen and Kurt Gidley always punching holes in opposition sides. But the Tigers have plenty of flair themselves in Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and the electrifying Chris Lawrence. The youngster’s pace could prove a handful for old-timer Adam MacDougall. The Tigers lose some grunt up forward with Chris Heighington missing the match with an ankle injury.
Key: Whether the Tigers can back up from Monday night with the Knights having two extra days rest between matches.
Tip: KNIGHTS
MONDAY
PENRITH PANTHERS v GOLD COAST TITANS at CUA Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: Panthers 1, Titans 1
Last clash: Panthers 36 bt Titans 22 at Skilled Park (Rnd 19, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Panthers $1.90 v Gold Coast $1.90
FootyTAB: Panthers +2.5 points
The clash will end a very long week for the Panthers. Since the police became involved in Penrith star Michael Jennings’ 21st birthday celebrations, all the Panthers have wanted to do is concentrate on football. They would be forgiven for changing the subject again when they crunch the numbers on an in-form Gold Coast Titans. The most miserly outfit in the league – conceding just 74 points in six games – are also the most confident armed with the likes of Scott Prince and old stagers Preston Campbell and Mat Rogers. The recent NSW squad selection of Luke Bailey, Mark Minichiello and Anthony Laffranchi will no doubt give their big boppers extra incentive to go forward. The Panthers have won only one of their past five games at CUA Stadium, but the Titans have won only one of their past five in Sydney. However, the Gold Coast believe they are finally on track to become “road warriors” after recent back-to-back away wins in Melbourne and Townsville.
Key: How will the Panthers respond after a nightmare lead-up off the field?
Tip: PANTHERS
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