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Opinion
The first of two split rounds is upon us, with only four matches to be played this weekend as several teams are weakened due to State of Origin commitments.
Here is your preview to round 13.
Titans vs Cowboys
Things do not get any easier for the under-siege Titans when they welcome the third-placed Cowboys to Cbus Super Stadium.
Gold Coast have won only three games, all of which could so easily have been losses, given their highest winning margin was by only four points – a golden point win over the Dragons in Magic Round last month.
Leading the Broncos by 24-4 at halftime last week, they appeared set to cruise to their fourth win of the season, only to cough up 31 unanswered points to crash to their ninth loss from 12 matches.
As a result of their poor percentage they sit third-last on the ladder, with coach Justin Holbrook feeling the heat.
In contrast, the Cowboys have become one of the most improved teams this year, winning eight matches.
After a heartbreaking golden point loss to the New Zealand Warriors in Round 5, Todd Payten’s team notched up six wins in succession to rocket up the ladder, before being taught a lesson in what it takes to be a consistently successful side by the Panthers last Friday night, North Queensland failing to even score any points.
Despite the defeat, they are still tracking well as they bid to return to the finals for the first time since 2017, and their good form has seen several of their players rewarded with Origin selection, including Valentine Holmes, debutants Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai, and concussion sub Tom Dearden.
In some good news for the club, Jason Taumalolo will play after suffering an injury in their 36-6 win over the Storm.
On current form it’ll be hard tipping against the northerners in this one.
Prediction: Cowboys by 16 points.
(Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Panthers vs Bulldogs
Up to six Panthers players will be in Origin camp when the reigning premiers tackle the Dogs, who have no players selected for either Origin squad, meaning they’ll virtually be the stronger side on paper.
Josh Addo-Carr will be hellbent on earning a recall for NSW, with speculation that he was snubbed simply because he plays for the bottom club being quickly dismissed.
The Mountain Men continue to go about their business swimmingly, shutting out the Cowboys 22-0 at home, reinforcing themselves as the team to beat for this year’s premiership.
Meantime, despite an improved performance in front of a sell-out Belmore crowd, the Bulldogs crashed to yet another defeat, this time going down to the Dragons by 34-24.
They had trailed 16-2 going into halftime and briefly hit the lead in the second half before some crucial errors resulted in them crashing to their tenth defeat of the season, with no quick way out of their current predicament.
Not having Addo-Carr selected for Origin will help their cause, but even against a weakened Penrith, the hosts should still prove a class above.
Prediction: Panthers by 20 points.
Sea Eagles vs Warriors
Already reeling from the season-ending shoulder injury to its fullback Tom Trbojevic, the Sea Eagles will be without skipper Daly Cherry-Evans when they welcome the Warriors, who have no players selected for Origin.
The Silvertails’ inconsistent season continued last Thursday night when they were beaten by the Storm by 28-8 in Melbourne, the result seeing them 11th on the ladder.
The Warriors are not faring any well either, having lost their past four matches as well as seeing forward Matt Lodge walk out on the club.
Despite their current losing run, they have been unlucky in recent matches, losing their past three by only single figures, of which the 32-30 loss to the Rabbitohs in Magic Round came after they trailed by 26-0 before halftime.
Last week, they started strongly against the Knights, but capitulated to lose 24-16.
With no players selected for Origin, here lies the opportunity for Nathan Brown’s side to bounce back, though it will not be easy against a Sea Eagles side which, from its strongest possible side, will only be missing their skipper.
However, the home-ground advantage should get Manly home as they try to keep in touch with the top eight.
Prediction: Sea Eagles by 10 points.
Raiders vs Roosters
Without James Tedesco and Lindsay Collins, the Roosters can expect a chilly reception when they arrive in the nation’s capital.
Their absences are cancelled out by those of Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton for the Raiders, who after a poor start to the season won three consecutive matches before going down to the Eels 28-20 at home last Sunday afternoon.
They now sit in tenth place on the ladder, but with a poor points differential of -41, victory over the Roosters is a must if they are to remain in touch with the eight.
The Chooks’ on-and-off season continued last Saturday night with an impressive 36-16 victory over the Sharks, which came after they led 20-0 at halftime, effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
The win was masterminded by captain Tedesco, who reinforced his standing as the game’s number one fullback with a try and two try assists.
It was their third win in four matches, their seventh straight win over the Sharks, and saw them move up to sixth.
However, tackling Canberrra without their captain will be a challenge, and at home the Raiders should bank the points as they look to keep their finals chances alive.
Prediction: Raiders by eight points.
Byes: Broncos, Dragons, Eels, Knights, Rabbitohs, Sharks, Storm, Wests Tigers.
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