Preview of this weekend’s NRL round two (times local).
FRIDAY
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v PARRAMATTA EELS at ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Rabbitohs 58, Eels 48, drawn 2
Last match: Rabbitohs 32 bt Eels 20 at ANZ Stadium (Rd 18, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Rabbitohs $1.68, Eels $2.15
Footy TAB: Eels +2.5 points
Fluke or finals contenders? South Sydney’s 40-point hammering of the Roosters last week ignited a betting frenzy on the Rabbitohs but is the hype justified? With a forward pack playing strong and direct and a creative halves pairing running the game this could be a very good year for the Bunnies. Parramatta on the other hand struggled in round one and relied too heavily on the instinctive flair of Feleti Mateo. NSW winger Jarryd Hayne’s move to five-eighth has given him more opportunity with the ball but the other outstanding backs need to stand up. It should be noted Parramatta won just two of seven Friday night games in 2008.
Key: Halves. Can Brett Finch and Jarryd Hayne match the creative genius of Chris Sandow and John Sutton?
Tip: Rabbitohs
BRISBANE BRONCOS v MELBOURNE STORM at Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Broncos 9, Storm 14, drawn 1
Last match: Storm 16 bt Broncos 14 at Suncorp Stadium (semi-final, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Broncos $1.60, Storm $2.30
Footy TAB: Storm +2.5 points
They might have a new coach and half the side of last year but this game is personal for the Broncos. A Greg Inglis try in the final play knocked them out of the finals and the dream of a fairytale finish for coach Wayne Bennett. New boss Ivan Henjak enjoyed a winning start last week as both Brisbane and Melbourne savoured one-point wins in round one. Former Storm winger Israel Folau starred for the Broncos with a try on debut and now faces his former teammates for the first time. Doubt still remains over Inglis, who has knee and shoulder injuries. He was the difference for Melbourne last week and could be again, if he plays.
Key: Both sides boast star-studded backlines but reputations will mean nothing if the forwards don’t win the battle in the middle.
Tip: Storm
—–
SATURDAY
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v GOLD COAST TITANS at WIN Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to head: Dragons 4, Titans 0
Last match: Dragons 26 bt Titans 22 at Skilled Park (Rd 16, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Dragons $1.53, Titans $2.45
Footy TAB: Titans +4.5 points
The Dragons’ confidence after a one-point loss to Melbourne has been sapped somewhat by news rampaging prop Justin Poore (hand) will miss four weeks. Poore and new recruit Michael Weyman were outstanding last week and now it’s up to the former Raider to lead the way against Titan workhorse Luke Bailey. Former Dragon Bailey will play his 150th NRL game at his old stomping ground but will want a better performance than last week’s win by the Titans. The Gold Coast gave up 14 points early before coming back to beat Newcastle in searing heat. They can’t afford to let the Dragons skip away if they’re to become the first Gold Coast team since 1989 to win in Wollongong.
Key: Did last week’s battle in the heat empty too much fuel from the Gold Coast tank?
Tip: Dragons
PENRITH PANTHERS v BULLDOGS at CUA Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Panthers 29, Bulldogs 44, drawn 3
Last match: Panthers 52 bt Bulldogs 16 at CUA Stadium (Rd 23, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Panthers $2.45, Bulldogs $1.53
Footy TAB: Panthers +4.5 points
Both clubs played in the same atrocious wet conditions last week but their performances were worlds apart. The Bulldogs were slick and concise in their shock defeat of premiers Manly as key recruits Brett Kimmorley and Mick Ennis dominated the play. Teenage centre Jamaal Idris scored a double to show he is a star on the rise and tough for any defender to stop. Penrith were erratic and impatient against Cronulla, scoring just one try despite dominating possession. The likely return of Frank Pritchard (ankle) should help, but the Panthers need better performances from halves Jarrod Sammut and Luke Lewis – especially against master No.7 Kimmorley.
Key: Jarrod Sammut. With Penrith signing Luke Walsh from Newcastle midweek Sammut is running out of time to put his stamp on the No.7 jumper.
Tip: Bulldogs
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v WESTS TIGERS at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Cowboys 10, Tigers 9
Last match: Tigers 40 bt Cowboys 16 at Campbelltown Stadium (Rd 13, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Cowboys $1.38, Tigers $3.00
Footy TAB: Tigers +7.5 points
New coach Neil Henry will be looking for another solid performance from his side this week as North Queensland aim to re-establish Townsville as the toughest road-trip in the NRL. The Cowboys have lost eight of their past nine games at home and this week’s task is no easy feat with the Wests Tigers buoyed by a first-round win and strong record over North Queensland. While defence has been questionable for both teams in recent years there were signs last week the clubs had turned the corner in that department. Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston and Tigers star Benji Marshall clash for the first time since the Kiwi stole the World Cup from the Australian star last year.
Key: Thurston v Marshall. Two of the game’s most exciting players go head-to-head for the first time as rival halfbacks.
Tip: Cowboys
—–
SUNDAY
CANBERRA RAIDERS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at Canberra Stadium, 2pm
Head to head: Raiders 22, Roosters 25
Last match: Raiders 34 bt Roosters 12 at Canberra Stadium (Rd 19, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Raiders $1.45, Roosters $2.65
Footy TAB: Roosters +6.5 points
It’s not a good time to be a Rooster. Less than 24 hours after their 40-point belting from Souths, the players got on the drink with hooker Jake Friend busted drink-driving three times over the limit. Perhaps a week of bad headlines will jolt the glamour boys into action but they couldn’t find a tougher task than playing Canberra in the nation’s capital – where they haven’t won since 2004. The Raiders have built a fortress at home in recent years with high-scoring wins the name of the game. They looked sharp in the first half against the Tigers last Monday but failed to score points in the second term to lose the game.
Key: David Shillington. The new Raiders prop has a point to prove after he was punted by the Roosters for glamour buys Willie Mason and Mark O’Meley.
Tip: Raiders
MANLY SEA EAGLES v WARRIORS at Brookvale Oval, 3pm
Head to head: Sea Eagles 10, Warriors 6
Last match: Sea Eagles 32 bt Warriors 6 at SFS (prelim final, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Sea Eagles $1.53, Warriors $2.45
Footy TAB: Warriors +4.5 points
The NRL season starts now for premiers Manly as the club looks to put behind the off-field issues and shock loss to wooden spooners the Bulldogs last week. Their round one performance could not have been further away from their form of 2008 or the World Club Challenge. A return to their beloved Brookie Oval will help, as too the presence of prop Josh Perry (illness) who missed last week. The Warriors were very impressive last week and effectively had the game won by half-time. Prop Steve Price shows no signs of slowing as he heads into game 301 while legendary halfback Stacey Jones is back in the NRL for the first time since 2005 playing off the bench.
Key: Manly’s focus. It was well off last week. There is no excuse this time.
Tip: Sea Eagles
—–
MONDAY
CRONULLA SHARKS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS at Toyota Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: Sharks 14, Knights 18, drawn 1
Last match: Sharks 16 bt Knights 13 at Toyota Stadium (Rd 19, 2008)
TAB Sportsbet: Sharks $1.65, Knights $2.20
Footy TAB: Knights +3.5 points
Times are tough at Cronulla. Prop Ben Ross (neck) is gone for the season, fullback Brett Kearney (ankle) out for six weeks and halfback Brett Seymour under the pump for getting on the cans. But the Sharks are a side that pride themselves on staying strong and showing character. They won ugly against Penrith last week in horrendous conditions but face a far more dangerous side this week in Newcastle. The Knights led the Gold Coast 14-0 after 30 minutes last week only to trail at half-time and lose the game. The sweltering Sunday afternoon heat could explain the fade-out, but there will be no excuses this week.
Key: Patience. Cronulla are the masters at sticking it out, but can Newcastle keep their heads if the scoreboard takes time to tick.
Tip: Sharks
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