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NRL preview panel for round 24.
FRIDAY
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v BRISBANE BRONCOS at WIN Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Dragons 12, Broncos 9
Last clash: Dragons 25 bt Broncos 12 at Suncorp Stadium (Rnd 4, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Dragons $1.25, Broncos $3.75
FootyTAB: Broncos +10.5 points
No matter which way you look at it this game is about Wayne Bennett and his old club and their battle to make the finals for the 18th straight year. The Dragons have been the yardstick all year and Brisbane’s acid test will be to play tough against them to convince the doubters they have what it takes to challenge for the premiership. Darren Lockyer, Bennett’s lieutenant in most of his great victories over the years, produced a vintage performance against Penrith that would have Bennett more than a little worried. Brisbane have to limit Jamie Soward’s input, quell the fire of their forwards and get their attack flowing to have a chance of an upset. This is a tough one to call but it is Brisbane’s moment of truth or they can pack up for 2009.
Key: Giving Lockyer the room to do what he does best by standing up to Origin props Weyman and Poore and cutting down Jamie Soward’s options with the football.
Tip: Broncos
WESTS TIGERS v PARRAMATTA EELS at SFS, 7.35pm
Head to head: Tigers 5, Eels 13, drawn 1
Last clash: Tigers 23 bt Eels 6 at Parramatta Stadium (Rnd 14, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Tigers $2.30, Eels $1.60
FootyTAB: Tigers +3.5 points
This game shapes as the biggest regular season clash in Sydney in several years. Two teams on red-hot winning streaks fighting for spots in the NRL top eight. An expected crowd of 30,000 plus. And two of the game’s most dazzling attacking stars in Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall and Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne on display. The Tigers have won six straight to climb to fifth, but this is their biggest test. The Eels have won five straight, but more importantly, have conceded only two tries in their past three games and have scored 137-20 in their last four outings. Eels skipper Nathan Cayless (calf) is back from injury, while the Tigers have lost prop John Skandalis (corked thigh).
Key: Marshall v Hayne. Both sides are evenly matched so it’s going to take something special from someone special to split them after 80 minutes.
Tip: Eels
SATURDAY
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to head: Knights 13, Cowboys 8
Last clash: Cowboys 36 bt Knights 10 at Dairy Farmers Stadium (Rnd 11, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Knights $1.55, Cowboys $2.40
FootyTAB: Cowboys +4.5 points
Talk about pressure. Newcastle delivered for new coach Rick Stone in a massive upset against the Storm last week and like the Cowboys and several other desperate sides are now walking the finals tight-rope. The Cowboys rely so much on Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen but they need their forwards firing and that is where this battle royale will ultimately be decided. Newcastle’s season looked on the rocks until last week when Stone made his coaching debut. The Knights front-row of Mark Taufua, hooker Isaac De Gois and Richie Fa’aoso will have to repeat their defensive effort of 85 tackles against the Cowboys who were disappointing after leading the Bulldogs 12-6 at half time last week.
Key: This will be be a bash and grind affair so the “p” words – possession and patience – will be the key.
Tip: Cowboys
PENRITH PANTHERS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at CUA Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Panthers 29, Rabbitohs 37, drawn 1
Last clash: Rabbitohs 36 bt Panthers 12 at ANZ Stadium (Rnd 18, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Panthers $1.30, Rabbitohs $3.40
FootyTAB: Rabbitohs +9.5 points
Make or break. Penrith fell from fifth to tenth in 40 disastrous minutes last week, conceding 40 points to nil in the second half to capitulate to Brisbane. Can they recover against a South Sydney side which simply must win to stay alive in 2009? The Rabbitohs are 12th and three points outside the top eight, and one more loss would officially end their season. Souths will do it tough though, they’ve lost Michael Crocker (ankle), Craig Wing (hamstring), Beau Champion (hand) and Fetuli Talanoa (knee) for the crucial game. The Bunnies also haven’t won at Penrith since 2002.
Key: Patience. With so much at stake for both clubs, the team who can remain composed and not get flustered in attack is likely to get the points.
Tip: Panthers
SUNDAY
WARRIORS v CANBERRA RAIDERS at Mt Smart Stadium, 12pm
Head to head: Warriors 10, Raiders 13
Last clash: Raiders 38 bt Warriors 12 at Canberra Stadium (Rnd 11, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Warriors $1.90, Raiders $1.90
FootyTAB: Raiders +2.5 points
Someone is going to end a hoodoo here. Canberra have not won in Auckland since 2001, while the Warriors have gone 10 weeks without tasting success on their home turf. Both sides are out of finals calculations so pride is all that is at stake here. Canberra are coming off their finest win of the year so coach David Furner will be hoping his men can continue on from the upset of the Dragons last week. The Warriors have been dreadful in recent weeks but will be buoyed by the return of skipper Steve Price (rib cartilage) and Jerome Ropati (shoulder).
Key: The Raiders forward pack showed plenty of grunt in the win over the Dragons, their test now is to prove they can do it every week.
Tip: Raiders
GOLD COAST TITANS v CRONULLA SHARKS at Skilled Park, 2pm
Head to head: Titans 2, Sharks 2
Last clash: Sharks 30 bt Titans 14 at Toyota Stadium (Rnd 12, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Titans $1.10, Sharks $6.50
FootyTAB: Sharks +17.5 points
The Gold Coast have been distracted with the William Zillman biting case which has taken their eye off the ball a little but it is hard to see the Sharks putting the bite on them given their injury woes and lack of confidence. Still this is a serious danger game for the finals-bound Titans with the Sharks playing for pride and to avoid the wooden spoon. The Titans have lost one game at home all year but coach John Cartwright hasn’t been able to finalise a team with Zillman appealing his four week biting ban, Preston Campbell battling injury and Josh Graham little hope of playing. Cronulla have conceded almost 90 points in their past two games and on form they would appear to have no hope up at Skilled Park.
Key: How long can Cronulla handle the heat of a Gold Coast afternoon game and Scott Prince turning up the pressure in attack?
Tip: Titans
MELBOURNE STORM v MANLY SEA EAGLES at Olympic Park, 3pm
Head to head: Storm 9, Sea Eagles 6
Last clash: Storm 22 bt Sea Eagles 8 at Brookvale Oval (Rnd 8, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Storm $1.90, Sea Eagles $1.90
FootyTAB: Sea Eagles +2.5 points
Melbourne has been a graveyard for Manly and another loss at Olympic Park this week could be the first nail in the coffin for their title defence. The Sea Eagles have never won in Melbourne and given they’re still in the dogfight to make the finals, they simply must keep winning to ensure a safe passage to the semis. Melbourne are coming off their worst performance of the year, Storm coach Craig Bellamy labelling his forwards “soft” in the loss to Newcastle last Monday. Both sides are still without their star attacking weapons – Manly’s Brett Stewart (knee) and Melbourne’s Greg Inglis (suspension) – but this game should match the intensity expected of a grand final re-match.
Key: How will Melbourne respond to heavy criticism from their coach?
Tip: Sea Eagles
MONDAY
BULLDOGS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at ANZ Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: Bulldogs 72, Roosters 76, drawn 5
Last clash: Roosters 24 bt Bulldogs 14 at SFS (Rnd 16, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Bulldogs $1.11, Roosters $6.00
FootyTAB: Roosters +17.5 points
The Bulldogs charge at the NRL title starts now, even though they’re up against a side fighting to avoid the wooden spoon. The second placed Dogs took full advantage of their 10-day break with a camp on the south coast of NSW to recharge and refocus on the finals. They’ve won their past three games, but coach Kevin Moore was concerned they’d let their standards slip in recent weeks. The Roosters can’t wait for 2009 to end, they sit in last place in a battle with Cronulla to avoid the spoon. Queensland prop Nate Myles returns for the Roosters in his first game since his disgraceful behaviour at a Central Coast hotel resulted in a lengthy suspension.
Key: Can the Bulldogs deliver an emphatic performance and put a team to the sword for the first time in several weeks?
Tip: Bulldogs
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