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Opinion
Here are my tips for all the opening-weekend action of the 2020 NRL season.
Eels vs Bulldogs
All I can see in this game is an Eels win after Jayden Okunbor and probably the Dogs’ best forward in Corey Harawira-Naera were suspended for off-field issues.
Prediction: Mitchell Moses to have two try assists and King Gutho to score one try. Eels by 20-plus.
Raiders vs Titans
English import George Williams is a huge in and expect him to get better during the season. Ash Taylor will be hoping for a better start to the year in 2020 after a poor 2019 season.
Prediction: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to score one try and have 120-plus running metres and Jarrod Croker to get four points to become the seventh player in history to reach 2000 career points. Raiders by ten-plus.
Cowboys vs Broncos
This will be a big game for both sides but I think Jason Taumalolo, Valentine Holmes and the new home ground for the Cowboys will be too much for the Broncos.
Prediction: Taumalolo 150-plus running metres and Holmes to score a try. Cowboys by eight-plus.
(Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Knights vs Warriors
After a season to forget for the Knights, who should’ve made the eight, they will be looking to improve with new coach Adam O’Brien with Kurt Mann playing five-eighth.
Prediction: Kalyn Ponga to score a try and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to run for 110-plus metres. Knights by 12-plus.
Rabbitohs vs Sharks
The Rabbitohs’ back line will be too much for he Sharks, who are looking to prove everyone wrong and have a good season with players like Shaun Johnson to stand up in 2020. Souths have won nine of the past ten games as the home team against the Sharks.
Prediction: Latrell Mitchell to have one try assist and Shaun Johnson to have two try assists to boost his confidence. Souths win by eight-plus.
Panthers vs Roosters
No Boyd Cordner for Round 1 will be a big out for the Roosters but they’re full of stars like James Tedesco, Joey Manu, Luke Keary and Victor Radley playing at lock. The Panthers have won five of eight at Panthers Stadium, which includes two of the past three, and the likes of Nathan Cleary, Viliame Kikau and James Fisher-Harris will need to be very good.
Prediction: Victor Radley to prove a handful with three line breaks, Luke Keary to have two try assists and Nathan Cleary to score a try. Roosters by four or less.
Manly vs Storm
The Storm have a Round 1 win percentage of 86 per cent (19 from 22), which is the best in NRL history and the last time these two teams played, the Storm rolled Manly 36-6.
Prediction: Ryan Papenhuyzen will be looking to have a good full year at fullback for the Storm in 2020 and will show his quality this game with 130-plus metres. Daly Cherry-Evans to score a try and this game to be decided by four points or less.
Dragons vs Tigers
The Tigers finally have the star power they need to spark something in attack with the much needed inclusion of both Leilua brothers, Adam Doueihi in the centres, Billy Walters starting at nine and Josh Reynolds named to come off the bench with his style of attack. That will make the Tigers unstoppable against the Dragons. New recruits Issac Luke and Billy Brittain will share the nine duties with Cameron McInnes injured for ten rounds.
Prediction: Tigers to whoop the Dragons by 18-plus points and young Billy Walters to have two try assists and Corey Thompson to have 120-plus running metres with three line breaks.
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