- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Preview of this weekend’s National Rugby League round 19 games.
FRIDAY
NORTH QUEENSLAND v BRISBANE at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Cowboys 4, Broncos 18, Drawn 1
Last match: Broncos 36-2 at Suncorp Stadium (Rnd 3, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Cowboys $5, Broncos $1.15
Footy TAB: Cowboys +14.5
The Cowboys are one defeat away from making it 11 losses, which would be the worst losing sequence in the 14 year history of the club. To make matters worse, they’ll be without inspirational skipper Johnathan Thurston due a knee injury for the next month. It’s hard to see how the Cowboys can match it with the Broncos, who will be stinging from a shock home loss to the Bulldogs. The absence of Tonie Carroll (ankle) is a blow for the Broncos, but look for the 2006 premiers to begin their charge to the finals with a resounding win here.
Key: The Broncos have Darren Lockyer and Peter Wallace, the Cowboys don’t have Johnathan Thurston.
Tip: Broncos
MANLY v PARRAMATTA at Brookvale Oval, 7.35pm
Head to head: Sea Eagles 74, Eels 42, Drawn 4
Last match: Sea Eagles 20-16 at Parramatta Stadium (Rnd 6, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Sea Eagles $1.22, Eels $4
Footy TAB: Eels +12.5
Before the start of the season this game would have been considered one of 2008’s real blockbusters. Unfortunately, Parramatta’s season of torment has turned it into a must-win for the Eels to keep their finals hopes alive. The loss of Feleti Mateo is a massive blow for the visitors, Kris Keating to make his run-on debut in his place at pivot. Manly flexed their premiership muscle in man-handling Cronulla last weekend, and they should be pumped in front of a big Brookie crowd.
Key: The Sea Eagles produced almost the perfect game of football in downing the Sharks last week – can they do the same against the out of form Eels?
Tip: Sea Eagles
SATURDAY
GOLD COAST v PENRITH at Skilled Park, 5.30pm
Head to head: Titans 1, Panthers 0
Last match: Titans 24-22 at CUA Stadium (Rnd 4, 2007)
TAB Sportsbet: Titans $1.90, Panthers $1.90
Footy TAB: N/A
The Titans defied the odds to down the Roosters last week, keeping alive their bid for a first taste of finals football. While they appear comfortable in sixth place on the ladder, the Warriors in 13th are only four points behind. Preston Campbell showed he was the man to take over from injured playmaker Scott Prince, and he is sure to play a large part in instigating Gold Coast’s attacking raids. Penrith are clinging to eighth spot after benefitting from a round of upsets, but they will be sweating on the availability of Trent Waterhouse, whose wife is due to give birth this weekend, and injured pair Luke Lewis and Frank Pritchard.
Key: Can the Titans continue their smoke and mirrors magic act without injured halfback Scott Prince for a second straight week?
Tip: Panthers
CRONULLA v NEWCASTLE at Toyota Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Sharks 13, Knights 18, Drawn 1
Last match: Knights 20-16 at EnergyAustralia Stadium (Rnd 7, 2007)
TAB Sportsbet: Sharks $1.50, Knights $2.50
Footy TAB: Knights +5.5
The Sharks will still be stinging from last week’s humiliating loss to Manly, sparking calls of another lade season choke for the men from the Sutherland Shire. The only way they can silence the doubters will be with a win this weekend, which won’t be easy against a Newcastle side playing some inspired football. Kurt Gidley is the x-factor in this game after turning in the type of dominant display not seen in a Knights jumper since Andrew Johns ran around in the red and blue No.7. A loss here will put a serious dent in either Cronulla’s top four hopes or Newcastle’s bid for finals football.
Key: Jarrod Mullen. The Sharks will pay plenty of attention to Gidley, which could give Mullen the opportunity he needs to shine.
Tip: Sharks
BULLDOGS v NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS at ANZ Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Bulldogs 12, Warriors 9, Drawn 2
Last match: Warriors 36-16 at Mt Smart Stadium (Rnd 5, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Bulldogs $1.70, Warriors $2.10
Footy TAB: Warriors +2.5
Are the Bulldogs for real or was last week’s resounding win over Brisbane merely an all too rare highlight in a season to forget for the blue and whites. Sonny Bill Williams was amazing last weekend, and it seems the Dogs will only go as far as his powerful yet fragile frame can carry them. Teams don’t get more enigmatic than the Warriors, yet remarkably, they can slip back into the top eight with a win and another few results going their way. The Dogs have had the wood on their trans Tasman arrivals in recent times, winning six of their last seven meetings.
Key: Sonny Bill Williams was back to his best last week, but how bad is the back injury that has reportedly plagued him in recent weeks?
Tip: Bulldogs
SUNDAY
CANBERRA v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at Canberra Stadium, 2pm
Head to head: Raiders 21, Roosters 25
Last match: Roosters 30-4 at SFS (Rnd 8, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Raiders $2.35, Roosters $1.55
Footy TAB: Raiders +5.5
The Raiders have earmarked their five remaining home matches as must-wins if they are to snatch a top eight finish. A rare away win against the Dragons last week gave their finals hopes a push, but the pressure is now on the green machine to back it up against one of the premiership high flyers. The Roosters escaped the World Youth Day frenzy in Sydney this week by spending a couple of days on the south coast, coach Brad Fittler hoping the time away will help rid memories of last week’s second half capitulation at the hands of the Titans.
Key: The Raiders are sure to come up against a fired up Willie Mason this week after the outspoken Roosters forward was slapped with the “most overrated” tag in a magazine poll.
Tip: Roosters
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v WESTS TIGERS at ANZ Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Tigers 6, Rabbitohs 5
Last match: Tigers 30-10 at SCG (Rnd 6, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Tigers $2, Rabbitohs $1.80
Footy TAB: Tigers +1.5
They’re only one point outside the top eight, but after four straight losses, the Tigers are on the brink of bowing out of this year’s finals race. Confidence is at an all-time low in Tigertown, with coach Tim Sheens forced to move hooker Robbie Farah into halfback in a desperate bid to spark a stagnant backline. Given their predicament, the Tigers can probably take heart from Souths’ resurgence, the Bunnies having made it five straight wins. A finals charge looks unlikely, but the cardiac kids are certainly fun to watch.
Key: Chris Sandow. The Rabbitohs haven’t lost since the 19-year-old was handed the No.7 jumper.
Tip: Tigers
MONDAY
MELBOURNE v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA at Olympic Park, 7pm
Head to head: Storm 14, Dragons 5, Drawn 1
Last match: Dragons 36-12 at ANZ Stadium (Rnd 10, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Storm $1.18, Dragons $4.50
Footy TAB: Dragons +14.5
The last time the Dragons played Melbourne, the Storm were without ten Origin representatives plus coach Craig Bellamy. There’s no such luxury this time with the premiers at full strength and hellbent on exacting revenge following the 36-12 loss earlier this year. The bubble burst for the Dragons in less than spectacular fashion at WIN Stadium last week, and it remains to be seen whether they can re-group in time to snatch an unlikely win. St George Illawarra’s troubles haven’t only been consigned just to on-field troubles, but news of Mark Gasnier’s impending defection may finally allow the Dragons to concentrate on playing football.
Key: Round three of Greg Inglis v Gasnier. They shared the spoils in their two Origin bouts, but who will walk away the winner in what could be their last ever match-up?
Tip: Storm
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.