NRL preview panel for round 21 matches (all times AEST).

Friday

Canterbury Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm

Head to head: Bulldogs 72, Rabbitohs 63, drawn 4

Last clash: Rabbitohs 38-16 at ANZ Stadium (rd 4, 2010)

TAB Sportsbet: Bulldogs $2.30, Rabbitohs $1.60

FootyTab: Bulldogs +2.5

Souths appear to be back after a rough match of mostly narrow losses and showed plenty to down the in-form Warriors last weekend. They get brilliant hooker Issac Luke back for this one but their forward depth will be tested with Dave Taylor (collarbone) replaced by Dave Tyrell and Michael Crocker not named. They have won just four of their past 22 games against the Bulldogs but one of those was an impressive round four win this year. The Dogs should be desperate but may know deep down their season is as good as gone. Ben Roberts is a chance of playing after a comeback from an ankle injury in NSW Cup last week.

Key: Depth – can Souths’ young forwards cover the loss of the big guns?

Tip: Rabbitohs

Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys at CUA Stadium, 7.35pm

Head to head: Panthers 15, Cowboys 10

Last clash: Cowboys 28-20 at Dairy Farmers Stadium (rd 2, 2010)

TAB Sportsbet: Panthers $1.22, Cowboys $4.10

FootyTab: Cowboys +10.5

They may have been slapped with a ban on using social networking websites but the Panthers players haven’t exactly had much to write about of late after three straight losses. But the second-placed Penrith outfit would be forgiven for thinking their clash with lowly North Queensland would be their best chance to re-establish with title credentials. On paper it is hardly the case and the Cowboys actually have the wood on the Panthers in Penrith, winning four of their past six games. Mind you, they haven’t clashed at the venue since 2007. And the Cowboys would have to pull off another upset to clinch back-to-back wins for the first time since round 11, 2009.

Key: NSW Origin utility Luke Lewis’ return from a shoulder injury looms as the spark an ailing Penrith so desperately need.

Tip: Panthers

Saturday

Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters at Parramatta Stadium, 5.30pm

Head to head: Eels 59, Roosters 56, drawn 5

Last clash: Roosters 24-6 at Sydney Football Stadium (rd 4, 2009)

TAB Sportsbet: Eels $1.50, Roosters $2.50

FootyTab: Roosters +6.5

The match of the round and certain to be played in front of a packed “airport” as the blue and gold army clamber to get on the Hayne Plane. The Eels have won three straight on the back of Hayne’s brilliance, while the Roosters have won four with five-eighth Todd Carney the stand-out. Brian Smith has named halfback Mitchell Pearce (hamstring) and Nate Myles (hip) after they missed the last gasp win over Brisbane. The Roosters have a tough ask backing up from a trip away and have lost seven of their last eight follow-ups after a Monday night game. That could leave them due as the Eels ride, in the words of coach Daniel Anderson, a “wave of confidence”.

Key: The Monday night turnaround – the Roosters will need a massive effort to overcome it.

Tip: Eels

Wests Tigers v Cronulla sharks at Leichhardt Oval, 7.30pm

Head to head: Tigers 12, Sharks 5, drawn 1

Last clash: Tigers 56-10 at Toyota Stadium (rd 23, 2009)

TAB Sportsbet: Tigers $1.22, Sharks $4.10

FootyTab: Sharks +7.5

The Wests Tigers get a chance to hit back hard after last week’s 38-20 loss to Manly after weeks of winning but less than impressive football. If they’re serious about standing up with the big boys at the business end of the season, they will need to a job on the strife-ridden Sharks. In their favour, the Tigers have won 10 of their last 11 against Cronulla, who will hope to notch a first win for new coach Shane Flanagan in week two of his reign. Boardroom dramas won’t help the Sharks’ cause and neither will the returns to the Tigers’ line-up of English forward Gareth Ellis, fullback Wade McKinnon, winger Beau Ryan and utility back Geoff Daniela.

Key: Pride – if the Sharks can find it, they might make a game of it.

Tip: Tigers

Sunday

Warriors v Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart Stadium, 12pm

Head to head: Titans 4, Warriors 2

Last clash: Titans 24-18 at Skilled Park (rd 1, 2010)

TAB Sportsbet: Warriors $1.55, Titans $2.40

FootyTab: Titans +4.5

A golden point win over the ladder leaders was impressive – now the hard work starts for the Titans. Sure an injury-hit Gold Coast’s last round upset over the Dragons turned heads but it will almost be for nothing if they stumble across the ditch. They sit on the same competition points as New Zealand on a congested NRL ladder but are seventh behind the sixth-placed Warriors. In a sign of just how crucial this game is for the Titans, they could rise to third with victory – or drop as low as 10th with a loss. Stats back the Titans doing the former – they have won their last four games against the Warriors. The Warriors have just as much to play for and will be buoyed by their strong home form, winning four of their past five matches in NZ.

Key: Explosive Titans benchman Shannon Walker. Coach John Cartwright has shown faith in the youngster by retaining him despite some anxious moments against the Dragons.

Tip: Titans

Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders at AAMI Park, 2pm

Head to head: Storm 20, Raiders 6

Last clash: Storm 17-6 at Canberra Stadium (rd 10, 2010)

TAB Sportsbet: Storm $1.43, Raiders $2.75

FootyTab: Raiders +7.5

Melbourne’s “emotion-metre” is hard to read but hit the red zone last week with the unpredictable Storm well up for their home clash with second-placed Penrith. Whether they’ll be as fired up for the visit of the Green Machine is anyone’s guess, although taunts from Raiders supporters earlier this year about cheating the salary cap might help. It might not matter though because the Raiders’ record against the Storm is nothing short of woeful – they’ve lost 15 of their last 16 and haven’t won in Melbourne since 2000. The Raiders need a victory to keep their finals hopes alive – a big incentive the Storm don’t have – and welcome back Test prop Dave Shillington.

Key: Emotion – if Melbourne find a skerrick, they’ll be too good.

Tip: Storm

Brisbane Broncos v St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium, 3pm

Head to head: Dragons 13, Broncos 11

Last clash: Dragons 34-16 at at WIN Stadium (rd 5, 2010)

TAB Sportsbet: Broncos $2.00, Dragons $1.80

FootyTab: Broncos +2.5

There is never a shortage of emotion in games between these sides, especially since Wayne Bennett moved south. But the Broncos have upped the ante by donning a special one-off jumper to honour their legendary recruitment officer, the late Cyril Connell. Whether it gives the Broncos a lift remains to be seen – but they need something to inspire after dropping out of the eight with three losses in their last five games. The ladder-leading Dragons boast a 6-2 away record this year but will be wary because it was at this stage last year they got the wobbles. With a tough run home they will be keen for a victory to steady following two losses in their last three games.

Key: Stopping the Dragons’ try-scoring machines Brett Morris and Jason Nightingale who have crossed a total of 26 times this year – more than a third of the team’s overall total of 66.

Tip: Broncos

Monday

Newcastle Knights v Manly Sea Eagles at EneryAustralia Stadium, 7pm

Head to head: Sea Eagles 22, Knights 15

Last clash: Sea Eagles 36-12 at Bluetongue Stadium (rd 3, 2010)

TAB Sportsbet: Knights $2.65, Sea Eagles $1.45

FootyTab: Knights +6.5

Milestones loom for Manly coach Des Hasler (100th win) and prop Jason King (150th game) but only one stat really matters to the Sea Eagles in Newcastle – another win. Back-to-back victories have moved them to fifth on the congested ladder and another victory could push them up as high as second. It will be interesting to see how the Knights respond after a last round golden point loss to the Cowboys all but ended their slim finals hopes. Stats also back Newcastle – Manly haven’t won there since 2006 and the Knights have won three of their past four Monday night games.

Key: Kurt Gidley moving into the halves due to Ben Rogers’ injury may provide a spark for a Knights.

Tip: Knights

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