Preview panel for round two

NRL preview panel for this weekend’s round-two matches (all times AEDT).

FRIDAY
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v CANTERBURY at WIN Stadium, 7.35pm.
Head to head: Bulldogs 12, Dragons 6
Last clash: Dragons 20 bt Bulldogs 18 at WIN Jubilee Oval (Rd 10, 2009)
TAB SportsBet: Dragons $1.50, Bulldogs $2.50
FootyTab: Bulldogs +5.5.

The Dragons followed coach Wayne Bennett’s game plan to the letter to upset Parramatta in round one with an amazing completion rate of over 90 per cent while the Bulldogs missed superboot El Masri in their shock loss to Newcastle. The last time these two teams met at Kogarah Oval the game ended in uproar with video referee Stephen Clark making a clanger that cost the Dogs. The Bulldogs have won their last eight games at WIN but Bennett wasn’t a factor.

Key: Both clubs will be without their first-choice hookers so whoever adjusts best at dummy-half will win.
Tip: DRAGONS

SOUTH SYDNEY V GOLD COAST at ANZ Stadium, 8.35pm.
Head to head: Titans 3, Rabbitohs 2
Last clash: Titans 22 bt Rabbitohs 14 at ANZ Stadium (Rd 23, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Souths $1.70, Titans $2.10
FootyTab: Gold Coast +1.5.

Souths were victims of their own press last week, believing what they read about how intimidating their new pack would be headed up by English international recruit Sam Burgess and boom Brisbane prop Dave Taylor. The Titans are a professional outfit who came from 12-0 down to wear down the Warriors last weekend but the man who inspired the comeback, Preston Campbell, has been ruled out late. They aren’t great performers away from Skilled Park but the Rabbitohs’ 4-10 record at ANZ 10 isn’t exactly anything to get too excited about either. Titans five-eighth Greg Bird will be looking to improve on his debut “shocker”. If the Rabbitohs can’t hit back, questions will be asked.

Key: Whether the Titans can take their Skilled Park form on the road this season.
Tip: Rabbitohs

SATURDAY
WARRIORS V CRONULLA at Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm.
Head to head: Sharks 13, Warriors 11
Last clash: Sharks 18 bt Warriors 10 at Toyota Stadium (Rd 13, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Warriors $1.50, Cronulla $2.50.
FootyTab: Cronulla +5.5.

Both these sides opened 2010 with losses but they were gallant in defeat, the Warriors falling victim to fatigue against the Titans and Cronulla giving premiers and world club champions Melbourne a real run for their money. The Sharks have lost their last 11 games and have a poor record at Mt Smart but the Warriors didn’t set the world on fire in back half of last season. The Warriors’ attack was good against the Titans while the Sharks still look to have problems in that department.

Key: New No.7 Brett Seymour and five-eighth James Maloney looked dangerous against the Titans and will be better for the run.
Tip: Warriors

NEWCASTLE V MELBOURNE at Energy Australia Stadium, 7.30pm.
Head to head: Knights 9, Storm 3
Last clash: Knights 26 bt Storm 14 at Energy Australian Stadium (rd 23, 2009).
TAB Sportsbet: Melbourne $1.65, Newcastle $2.20
Footytab: Newcastle +2.5

Melbourne have been the most successful club of the past decade but Newcastle have been the most successful at beating them, especially at Energy Australia Stadium where their record is an impressive 10-2. Knights coach Rick Stone pulled off a massive upset over the Storm in his first outing as head coach last year after replacing Brian Smith and he came up with the right tactics to upset the more-fancied Bulldogs last weekend. Melbourne will miss the organisation and composure of Cooper Cronk.

Key: Whether Newcastle can keep in touch with Melbourne long enough for their boisterous fans to get them home again.

Tip: Storm

NORTH QUEENSLAND V PENRITH at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 9.30pm.
Head to head: Panthers 15, Cowboys 9
Last clash: Panthers 28 bt Cowboys 20 at Dairy Farmers Stadium (Rd 20, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Cowboys $1.57, Panthers $2.20
Footytab: Penrith +4.5

This is a tough one to pick. The Cowboys, or at least Johnathan Thurston, staging a serious comeback from 24-0 down to lose 30-24 to Brisbane and Penrith bursting out of the blocks to beat a disappointing Canberra last week. This looks a very even contest but the Panthers have the wood on the Cowboys in recent years and they cope well with the Dairy Farmers atmosphere. Whichever pack gains the supremacy – Petero Civoniceva, Frank Pritchard and co or Cowboys enforcers Luke O’Donnell, Willie Mason and Antonio Kaufusi – will give their side the best chance.

Key: Thurston is in wonderful form so early while Penrith need centre Michael Jennings to get involved.
Tip: Cowboys

SUNDAY
PARRAMATTA V MANLY at Parramatta Stadium, 2pm.
Head to head: Sea Eagles 76, Eels 42, drawn 4
Last clash: Sea Eagles 34 bt Eels 10 at Brookvale Oval (Rd 10, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Eels $1.36, Sea Eagles $3
Footytab: Manly +8.5

Manly coach Des Hasler must be wondering what else can go wrong after a spate of injuries including the loss of star fullback Brett Stewart, who is looking at five months on the sidelines. Parramatta were expected to justify their premiership favouritism but couldn’t beat a disciplined Dragons outfit last weekend, although they showed flashes a brilliance at times. Manly played on Monday and the short turnaround will work against them while Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson has had time to work on correcting some areas that broke down against the Dragons. Manly have won their last five games against the Eels.

Key: Jarryd Hayne – one of the game’s most opportunistic attackers and if he fires it could be a tough day for the injury-hit Sea Eagles.
Top: Eels

SYDNEY ROOSTERS V WESTS TIGERS at SFS, 3pm.
Head to head: Roosters 8, Tigers 7
Last clash: Wests Tigers 17 bt Roosters 10 at SFS (Rd 22, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Tigers $1.30, Roosters $2.60
Footytab: Roosters +3.5.

Lote Tuqiri‘s first game of rugby league in seven years stole the headlines from a very impressive Tigers comeback win over Manly while the last year’s wooden spooners looked good in bursting the Rabbitohs’ bubble with an eye-catching victory. There was a lot to like about the performance of both these sides, especially the combination between Roosters No.7 Mitchell Pearce and fullback Todd Carney, who amazed coach Brian Smith with his return to the NRL. The Roosters have an average record at the SFS and lost twice to the Tigers at the ground last season.

Key: If Pearce and Carney can get some time and space, they could make it a tough Sunday for the Tigers.
Tip: Roosters

MONDAY
CANBERRA V BRISBANE at Canberra Stadium, 7pm.
Head to head: Broncos 21, Raiders 15, drawn 1
Last clash: Broncos 22 bt Raiders 10 at Suncorp Stadium (Rd 26, 2009)
TAB Sportsbet: Raiders $1.70, Broncos $2.10
Footytab: Brisbane +2.5

Canberra, Monday night. Alarm bells for Brisbane, whose last visit resulted in the club’s biggest-ever loss, a 56-0 thrashing last August. The Broncos haven’t managed to bring a premiership point home from the capital since 2005, which suggests another tough journey for Ivan’s infants. Canberra were outgunned by Penrith in round one but showed enough attack to suggest they will be a dangerous rival. Brisbane put 24 points on the Cowboys in a blink to lead 24-0 before hanging for a six-point win. Darren Lockyer, Peter Wallace and Israel Folau are three very good reasons why they can avenge their big loss.

Key: Can teenage fullback Corey Norman repeat his heroics against the Cowboys in Canberra, where conditions can make it very difficult?

Tip: Broncos

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