Preview of NRL Round 20 matches (all times AEST).
FRIDAY, July 25
Newcastle Knights v Sydney Roosters at Hunter Stadium 7.40pm
Head to Head: Knights 18 Roosters 25 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 14 2014 – Roosters 29 bt Knights 12 at Allianz Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Knights $4.00 Roosters $1.26
FootyTAB: Knights +7.5
A dramatic week at the Knights following an emotion-charged weekend with the Rise For Alex round. Coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed he’s heading back to Brisbane at season’s end while star fullback Darius Boyd has checked himself into a mental health clinic for depression following a midweek trashing of a hotel room. It’s hardly ideal preparation for taking on the premiers. The Roosters scored an impressive win over Penrith last week and appear to be getting into good form leading into the final rounds of the year.
Key: Aidan Guerra’s return to lock means the premiership winning backrow of Guerra, Boyd Cordner and Sonny Bill Williams are back together. Dangerous for the Knights.
Tip: Roosters
Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium 7.40pm
Head to Head: Broncos 11 Storm 22 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 17 2013 – Storm 32 bt Broncos 0 at AAMI Park
Tab Sportsbet: Broncos $1.86 Storm $1.98
FootyTAB: Storm +1.5
Brisbane’s players say they are committed to sending Anthony Griffin out a winner at Red Hill following the news he was to be replaced by Wayne Bennett at season’s end. Last week’s gutsy win over the Warriors lifted the Broncos to sixth and thinking about a tilt at the top four. The Broncos will welcome back Matt Gillett from injury while Corey Oates, Jack Reed and Daniel Vidot are on an extended bench after they missed the victory over the Warriors for disciplinary reasons. The Storm head north with a great record against the Broncos, including five wins from their past six visits to Suncorp Stadium but even coach Craig Bellamy admits he’s not sure whether their opponents will be inspired or insipid following the coaching news out of Red Hill.
Key: How the Broncos respond to the off-field announcements from earlier in the week will be a crucial factor in this one.
Tip: Broncos
SATURDAY, July 26
Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks at Carrington Park 3.00pm
Head to Head: Panthers 37 Sharks 43 drawn 3
Last clash: Round 8 2014 – Sharks 24 bt Panthers 20 at Remondis Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Panthers $1.33 Sharks $3.45
FootyTAB: Sharks +8.5
Was last weekend the moment Penrith’s 2014 bubble burst? The Panthers have confounded everyone with their form this year but some telling injuries and an improving Roosters outfit did for them last weekend. They travel to Bathurst with the welcome addition of captain Peter Wallace from injury while there’s speculation winger Josh Mansour may also return despite not being initially named. The Sharks too are poised to surprise with plenty of talk captain Paul Gallen could be deemed fit to take on the Panthers. His return will be welcome as the Sharks try to lift themselves from the competition basement.
Key: Penrith’s kicking game against the Roosters was highlighted by coach Ivan Cleary as ordinary. The return of Wallace alongside Jamie Soward should spark that aspect back to life against the Sharks.
Tip: Sharks
Gold Coast Titans v Parramatta Eels at Cbus Super Stadium 5.30pm
Head to Head: Titans 7 Eels 3
Last clash: Round 11 2013 – Titans 42 bt Eels 4 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Titans $1.72 Eels $2.15
FootyTAB: Eels +2.5
Winless at home since round 6 but having lost just twice on the road this year, the Titans will book themselves into a local hotel before hosting Parramatta in a bid to capture that magic and finally give their home fans something to cheer about. Greg Bird will also make his return from suspension while Dave Taylor gets another run at centre following his barnstorming display there against Newcastle last weekend. The Eels head north knowing their finals hopes are drifting away. A rare win on the road would be a massive boost to top eight chances for Brad Arthur’s men, who are still without co-captain Tim Mannah due to injury.
Key: This looks a tight contest between two teams desperate to keep their season alive, that’s why a match-winner like Jarryd Hayne could be a crucial edge for the Eels.
Tip: Titans
Canterbury v North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium 7.30pm
Head to Head: Canterbury 21 Cowboys 10
Last clash: Round 13 2013 – Canterbury 36 bt Cowboys 26 at 1300SMILES Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Canterbury $1.56 Cowboys $2.50
FootyTAB: Cowboys +5.5
North Queensland may have ended their season-long wait for a win on the road last weekend at Cronulla but a trip to ANZ Stadium is probably the last one the Cowboys want to make right now. Winless at the venue since 2006, the Cowboys have lost nine straight to the Bulldogs and South Sydney on their trips to Sydney. That appears unlikely to change this time around with the Bulldogs sure to be revved up following their abysmal display against Wests Tigers last weekend. Cowboys coach Paul Green has stuck with the same team which beat the Sharks while the Bulldogs welcome back Origin representative Josh Morris. Young half Moses Mbye will don the No.6 jersey for the Dogs.
Key: The Dogs’ forward pack, so dominant in 2014, failed to fire against the Tigers. Expect them to bounce back hard in a tough night for the Cowboys.
Tip: Canterbury
SUNDAY, July 27
NZ Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles at Mt Smart Stadium 2.00pm
Head to Head: NZ Warriors 8 Sea Eagles 17
Last clash: Round 22 2013 – Sea Eagles 27 bt NZ Warriors 12 at Central Coast Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: NZ Warriors $2.02 Sea Eagles $1.83
FootyTAB: NZ Warriors +2.5
A mouthwatering clash between two of the competition’s form teams. The Warriors had won four straight before last weekend’s loss to Brisbane while the Sea Eagles sit atop the competition despite reports of player unrest following Monday night’s win over St George Illawarra. The Warriors, who love playing at Mt Smart Stadium so far this year with four wins from four games, will be at full strength with Ngani Laumape and Sam Rapira coming back into their lineup. The Sea Eagles have included James Hasson on the bench but will monitor Steve Matai, Dunamis Lui and Jorge Taufua before the clash across the Tasman.
Key: A couple of extra days rest and the home ground factor should be enough to get the Warriors past the Sea Eagles in a tight one.
Tip: NZ Warriors
Wests Tigers v St George-Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium 3.00pm
Head to Head: Tigers 13 Dragons 15
Last clash: Round 1 2014 – Dragons 44 bt Tigers 24 at ANZ Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Tigers $1.70 Dragons $2.20
FootyTAB: Dragons +2.5
All eyes will be on Benji Marshall as he takes on his old club for the first time since leaving the Tigers but this game has plenty more going on. Neither team can afford to slip up as they chase finals footy, with both needing to overcome inferior points differentials on the teams around them. The Tigers were stunning against Canterbury last weekend while the Dragons gave Manly a fright on Monday night. Neither team has made big changes for this game although Shane Pumipi and Charly Runciman have been added to an extended bench for the Dragons with winger Brett Morris named to start following his late inclusion against Manly.
Key: The Tigers should be riding high after their demolition of the Bulldogs and that form will give them the edge.
Tip: Tigers
MONDAY, July 28
Canberra v South Sydney Rabbitohs at GIO Stadium 7.00pm
Head to Head: Raiders 28 Souths 20
Last clash: Round 4 2014 – Raiders 30 bt Souths 18 at ANZ Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Raiders $4.30 Souths $1.34
FootyTAB: Raiders +8.5
South Sydney’s top-four aspirations were put back on track last weekend with a good win at Parramatta. With the chasing pack still too close for comfort, Monday night’s trip to Canberra is the sort of game the Rabbitohs need to win to keep themselves clear. The Raiders went down to Melbourne last weekend to all but kill off their finals hopes, but coach Ricky Stuart has stuck with the same 17 that lost to the Storm. Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire has named Bryson Goodwin in place of suspended winger Lote Tuqiri while Queensland Origin rep Ben Te’o will return to the second row.
Key: Luke Keary came off the bench to spark the Rabbits home against the Eels last weekend. The Raiders will be wary of his match-winning ability if he’s injected late again.
Tip: Souths
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