The second half of Round 11 features two clubs inside the top four as well as a number of players pushing for State of Origin jumpers.

The Sharks will take on the Sea Eagles in the battle of the beaches while the Panthers and Titans will square off in Sydney’s west.

We will see another Sydney derby with the Bulldogs beckoning for a spot inside the top four against the Roosters on Sunday afternoon before the Eels hope to salvage a win against the third-placed Storm.

Cronulla Sharks versus Manly Sea Eagles
Saturday, May 21, 7:30pm (AEST) at Southern Cross Group Stadium

The Cronulla Sharks will have an opportunity to grab top spot after 11 weeks when they face the Manly Sea Eagles.

Following some strong performances in recent weeks including a 62-0 flogging of the Newcastle Knights, the Sharks are now firming as one of the premiership favourites. Shane Flanagan’s side are hunting the club’s first ever premiership since their inauguration in 1967.

The Sharks’ impressive win over the Novocastrians was their biggest victory in history, equal with a 68-6 victory over Manly back in 2005.

James Maloney has steered Cronulla to new heights in 2016 with the five-eighth aiming at a State of Origin jersey in a possible partnership with troubled Roosters star Mitchell Pearce.

Maloney has been one of the keys to the Sharks’ rise alongside Ben Barba who is beginning to show glimpses of the form which saw him take out the Dally M Medal for player of the year back in 2012.

Cronulla will be boosted by the return of Jayson Bukuya who comes back from suspension in place of the injured Matt Prior while David Fifita comes onto an extended five-man bench.

Manly face a tough task with Daly Cherry-Evans needing to step up his game ahead of Origin. This clash is his last chance to prove he deserves to keep his spot for the Queensland Maroons.

Coach Trent Barrett has made a number of changes to his side with Martin Taupau, Tom Symonds and Addin Fonua-Blake replaced by Jamie Buhrer, Josh Starling and Steve Matai.

In 26 meetings since 1998, the Sea Eagles have dominated the battle of the beaches with 18 wins – more than double Cronulla’s eight wins.

The two clubs have already played each other in 2016 with a Round 3 clash at Brookvale Oval seeing the Sea Eagles record a 22-12 victory.

Prediction
The Sharks will continue their winning streak and win their eighth game in a row since their last loss, which incidentally came against Manly.

Sharks by ten.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Southern Cross Group Stadium
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Last meeting: Sea Eagles defeated Sharks 22-12 (Round 3, 2016)
Head-to-head: 26 played – Sharks 8, Sea Eagles 18
Sharks last three games: 62-0 versus Knights, 30-28 versus Broncos, 20-18 versus Panthers
Sea Eagles last three games: 6-30 versus Broncos, 18-34 versus Cowboys, 26-10 versus Knights

Cronulla Sharks
1. Ben Barba, 2. Sosaia Feki, 3. Jack Bird, 4. Gerard Beale, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. James Maloney, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. Sam Tagataese, 11. Luke Lewis, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen (c)

Interchange: 14. Ricky Leutele, 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Jayson Bukuya, 17. Joseph Paulo, 18. David Fifita

Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Matthew Wright, 3. Jamie Lyon (c), 4. Steve Matai, 5. Brayden Wiliame, 6. Dylan Walker, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Darcy Lussick, 9. Matt Parcell, 10. Nate Myles, 11. Lewis Brown, 12. Jamie Buhrer, 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Blake Leary, 15. Josh Starling, 16. Brenton Lawrence, 17. Siosaia Vave

Penrith Panthers versus Gold Coast Titans
Sunday, May 22, 2pm (AEST) at Pepper Stadium

The Gold Coast Titans head to the foot of the mountains when they prepare to take on the Penrith Panthers at Pepper Stadium.

The Panthers have been in some very close games so far in 2016 proving they are able to compete against any side. Their 23-22 win over the table-topping Broncos was particularly impressive.

In fact, before Penrith blew out the Warriors 30-18 last week in Christchurch, the chocolate soldiers’ biggest margin this season was in Round 1 when just eight points separated them and the Raiders.

Ultimately, in their first nine games, the scoring moment that defined the match came in the final five minutes on eight occasions. The only exception – Round 7 against the Roosters.

Put simply, the Panthers are kings of the clutch. Every minute matters.

The Titans were similar to the Panthers early on in 2016, leaving every game to the final moments.

The Queensland franchise have been inspired by rookie Ashley Taylor this season. The Broncos junior has helped lift the team to new heights despite going into the season with just one game of first-grade experience to his name.

Gold Coast have come a long way from the pre-season when they were earmarked by the bookies as certainties to win the wooden spoon. Neil Henry’s team’s never-say-die attitude has been impressive.

Nathan Peats is set to make his club debut off the bench after the highly rated hooker was forced out of the Parramatta Eels due to salary cap constraints.

He pushes Kierran Moseley to an extended bench where he is joined by Eddy Pettybourne while Papua New Guinea international Nene Macdonald replaces compatriot David Mead in the backline.

Since the Titans joined the competition back in 2007, they have met the Panthers on 13 occasions winning just five of their meetings with Penrith taking victory eight times.

Gold Coast got the last laugh in their most recent meeting with a 32-6 win at Robina back in Round 7 last year. However, just five weeks earlier in Round 2, Penrith demolished the struggling franchise 40-0 in Bathurst.

Prediction
Penrith will stun the Titans moments before the siren and climb into contention for a top-four spot.

Panthers by six.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 2pm (AEST)
Venue: Pepper Stadium
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Last meeting: Titans defeated Panthers 32-6 (Round 7, 2015)
Head-to-head: 13 played – Panthers 8, Titans 5
Panthers last three games: 30-18 versus Warriors, 19-18 versus Raiders, 18-20 versus Sharks
Titans last three games: 26-6 versus Roosters, 0-38 versus Storm, 20-21 versus Bulldogs

Penrith Panthers
1. Matt Moylan (c), 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Tyrone Pachey, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6. Jamie Soward, 7. Peter Wallace, 8. Sam McKendry, 9. James Segeyaro, 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11. Bryce Cartwright, 12. Isaah Yeo, 13. Trent Merrin

Interchange: 14. Suaia Matagi, 15. Jeremy Latimore, 16. Leilani Latu, 17. James Fisher-Harris

Gold Coast Titans
1. William Zillman (c), 2. Anthony Don, 3. Josh Hoffman, 4. Nathan Davis, 5. Nene Macdonald, 6. Tyrone Roberts, 7. Ashley Taylor, 8. David Shillington, 9. Nathan Friend (c), 10. Ryan James, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Chris McQueen, 13. Greg Bird

Interchange: 14. Luke Douglas, 15. Leivaha Pulu, 16. Agnatius Paasi, 17. Nathan Peats, 18. Eddy Pettybourne, 19. Kierran Moseley

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs versus Sydney Roosters
Sunday, May 22, 4pm (AEST) at ANZ Stadium

Josh Reynolds and Mitchell Pearce will both be eager to lock in a spot as the New South Wales Blues’ halves when the pair clash in a match between two of Sydney’s biggest clubs.

The Roosters have got off to a rocky start in 2016 with just two wins to their name so far. Trent Robinson’s men went without Boyd Cordner until Round 8 and without club leaders Pearce and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves until Round 9.

Their nightmarish start to the season became even worse with a loss to the Titans 26-6 on Monday night. They will be desperate to get back on their feet and competing with the best of the NRL again.

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, were sensational last week after dismantling the Wests Tigers 36-4, inspired by a brilliant effort down their right-hand edge from Sam Perrett, Reynolds, Josh Jackson and James Graham.

Des Hasler will be asking his troops to put in a similar performance against the Bondi boys with his outfit having been inconsistent so far in 2016. They have only won consecutive games on one occasion this year.

In 35 meetings since 1998, the Bulldogs have won 19 matches to the Roosters’ 16 including the 2004 NRL grand final – their eighth premiership.

The two clubs clashed three times in 2015 with their most recent meeting coming during last year’s semi-finals, in which the Roosters won 38-12.

They also won the other two encounters with a 38-28 Round 21 victory and a 24-10 win in Round 10.

Prediction
The Bulldogs will pick up the slack and storm into the State of Origin period in a formidable fashion through their mighty forward pack.

Bulldogs by ten.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 4pm (AEST)
Venue: ANZ Stadium
TV: Live, Nine Network and Fox Sports
Last meeting: Roosters defeated Bulldogs 38-12 (Finals Week 2, 2015)
Head-to-head: 35 played – Bulldogs 19, Roosters 16
Bulldogs last three games: 36-4 versus Wests Tigers, 12-20 versus Eels, 21-20 versus Titans
Roosters last three games: 6-26 versus Roosters, 38-0 versus Knights, 18-20 versus Dragons

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
1. Sam Perrett, 2. Curtis Rona, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Kerrod Holland, 5. Tyrone Phillips, 6. Josh Reynolds, 7. Moses Mbye, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Michael Lichaa, 10. James Graham (c), 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Greg Eastwood, 13. David Klemmer

Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano, 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 16. Tim Browne, 17. Craig Garvey, 19. Lloyd Perrett, 21. Adam Elliot

Sydney Roosters
1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Mitchell Aubusson, 4. Blake Ferguson, 5. Joe Burgess, 6. Jackson Hastings, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. Sam Moa, 9. Jake Friend (c), 10. Dylan Napa, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Aidan Guerra, 13. Isaac Liu

Interchange: 14. Sio Siua Taukeiaho, 15. Kane Evans, 16. Ryan Matterson, 17. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 18. Connor Watson

Parramatta Eels versus Melbourne Storm
Monday, May 23, 7pm (AEST) at Pirtek Stadium

The Parramatta Eels will have plenty on the line when they host the third-placed Melbourne Storm on Monday night.

Needing to win 12 of their last 14 games to be in with a shot at making the finals, the Eels need to lift. This game’s outcome will either make or break their season.

Coming up against one of the form sides in the competition, Parramatta made their journey to September footy slightly harder last week after the South Sydney Rabbitohs pipped the blue and gold at the post to run away with a 22-20 victory.

Coach Brad Arthur has made no changes to his side as he aims to get one up on his former mentor, Craig Bellamy.

Bellamy has pushed Ben Hampton out of his team with Christian Welch coming onto the bench after the Storm established themselves as premiership contenders with a 15-14 win over the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium last week.

Melbourne are now being viewed as one of the NRL’s best teams after they recently piled on an aggregate score of 80-0 against the Titans and Warriors in the space of two weeks.

Last time they met, in Round 14 last year, the Eels won in Melbourne 26-22 back in Round 14 last year. It was their 12th win against the Storm.

The Storm, however, got their 18th win against the blue and gold five weeks earlier in Round 9 with a 28-10 win at Pirtek Stadium.

Prediction
Parramatta will stay alive for at least another fortnight with a win over the Storm.

Eels by six.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 7pm (AEST)
Venue: Pirtek Stadium
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Last meeting: Eels defeated Storm 26-22 (Round 14, 2015)
Head-to-head: 30 played – Eels 12, Storm 18
Eels last three games: 20-22 versus Rabbitohs, 20-12 versus Bulldogs, 16-32 versus Cowboys
Storm last three games: 15-14 versus Cowboys, 38-0 versus Titans, 42-0 versus Warriors

Parramatta Eels
1. Michael Gordon, 2. Semi Radradra, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Vai Toutai, 5. Clinton Gutherson, 6. Brad Takairangi, 7. Corey Norman, 8. Junior Paulo, 9. Isaac De Gois, 10. Danny Wicks, 11. Manu Ma’u, 12. Beau Scott, 13. Tepai Moeroa

Interchange: 14. Kaysa Pritchard, 15. Peni Terepo, 16. David Gower, 17. Kenny Edwards

Melbourne Storm
1. Cameron Munster, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Cheyse Blair, 4. Tohu Harris, 5. Marika Koroibete, 6. Blake Green, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange: 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 15. Tim Glasby, 16. Christian Welch, 17. Felise Kaufusi

Roarers, which game are you most looking forward to in Round 11?

In case you missed it, you can read part one of my Round 11 preview here.