Melbourne Rising vs NSW Country Eagles: NRC live scores

Roar Guru

22nd October, 2017

Where: Harlequin Oval, Melbourne
When: Sunday 2second October – 2:30pm AEDT
 Betting Odds: Vikings $1.15, Country $5.50 (Sportsbet)

Rising
1. Rory O'Connor, 2. Siliva Siliva, 3. Fereti Sa'aga, 4. Alex Toolis, 5. Emmanuael Latu-Meafou, 6. Sione Taufa, 7. Ikapote Tupai, 8. Rob Leota, 9. Nic Stirzaker, 10. Jack McGregor, 11. Henry Hutchison, 12. Lloyd Johansson, 13. Sione Tuipulotu, 14. Kitione Ratu, 15. Jack Maddocks Reserves
16. Cameron Mapusua, 17. Tom Moloney, 18. Pone Fa'amausili, 19. Jason Havea, 20. Mahe Vailanu, 21. Harrison Goddard, 22. Hunter Paisami, 23. Angelo Leaupepe

Country
1. Paddy Ryan, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Sam Needs, 4. Ryan McCauley, 5. Tom Staniforth, 6. Rohan O'Regan, 7. Maclean Jones, 8. Sam Ward, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Tayler Adams, 11. Seb Wileman, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Alex Newsome, 14. Alex Gibbon, 15. Andrew Kellaway Reserves
16. Connal McInerny, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Harry Johnson Holmes, 19. Tim Buchanan, 20. Pat McCutcheon, 21. Rowan Perry, 22. Tom Hill, 23. Henry Clunies Ross

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Nic Stirzaker of the Rising looks to pass the ball. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Nick Kelland

Roar Guru

22nd October, 2017

The NSW Country Eagles need to win to keep their season alive when they travel to Harlequin Oval to take on the bottom-placed Melbourne Rising. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from 2:30pm (AEDT).

The form guide suggests that Darren Coleman’s NSW Country side should win this game comfortably.

Last year’s grand finalists would be disappointed with their season so far, sitting just outside the top four – however, their last-start win over Perth Spirit was hugely promising.

The defensive tenacity showed by Coleman’s side has been desperately lacking through this season, and if they can channel that, they’re a great shot to sneak into the finals.

Meanwhile, it’s been a tough year for the Rising, with their young team struggling to keep up with other squads full of international and Super Rugby players.

For Country, Rowan Perry returns on the bench after two months out with a syndesmosis injury. In the starting XV, Sam Needs returns in the front row with Tom Robertson away on Wallabies duty. Jake Gordon and Tayler Adams continue their work in the halves, while their back three has been enterprising, with Andrew Kellaway, Alex Gibbon and Seb Wileman scoring tries aplenty in recent weeks.

For the Rising, the star has undoubtedly been fullback Jack Maddocks. At only 20 years of age, he looks to be an international player of the future, leading the competition in run metres and linebreaks. He will lead their attack from the back of the park.

Prediction
Coleman has some big bodies up front, and players like Tom Staniforth, Maclean Jones and Sam Ward know how to make their presence felt at ruck time. If they turn up ready to play, the Eagles should take this comfortably, sending the Rising out with a loss.

Eagles by 21.

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