PREVIEW OF NRL ROUND TEN MATCHES (all times AEDT):
THURSDAY May 16
Melbourne v Wests Tigers at AAMI Park, 7.50pm
Head to Head: Storm 19, Wests Tigers 12, Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 5, 2018 – Tigers 11 bt Storm 10 at Mt Smart Stadium
The two most emphatic Magic Round winners promise plenty of points in Melbourne, although it was an arm wrestle when the teams met in Auckland last year, where they were separated by a Benji Marshall field goal. Marshall’s battle with Cameron Munster shapes as pivotal. Both should need to work harder than last week to unlock defensive lines.
Key: Storm speed – A maiden start for flying fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen surely gives Melbourne the fastest back three in the comp, alongside wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu.
Tip: Storm
FRIDAY May 17
Penrith v Warriors at Panthers Stadium, 6pm
Head to Head: Warriors 17, Panthers 24, Drawn 3
Last clash: Elimination final, 2019 – Panthers 27 bt Warriors 12 at ANZ Stadium
Another week, another chance for the clawless Panthers to stop the rot. It’s been said before but this time coach Ivan Cleary has backed up his words with action by dropping Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell-Gillard. The Warriors are rejuvenated by a win over the Dragons and the promise shown by new five-eighth Kodi Nikorima.
Key: Blues halves? – There will be a limit to Brad Fittler’s patience which James Maloney and Nathan Cleary won’t want to test out as State of Origin looms.
Tip: Warriors
Brisbane v Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm
Head to Head: Broncos 30, Roosters 20, Drawn 1.
Last clash: Round 4, 2019 – Roosters 36 bt Broncos 4 at Sydney Cricket Ground
After chalking up their third win of the season the Broncos’ challenge goes up a large notch against the table-topping premiers. Teenage halfback Tom Dearden will have his work cut out against NRL great Cooper Cronk. Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner is out through concussion while Brisbane have a new-look backline following the season-ending knee injury to centre Jack Bird (knee) with rookie winger Gehamat Shibasaki taking his spot.
Key: Playing just his fourth NRL game, how will Shibasaki contain the competition’s leading tryscorer Latrell Mitchell.
Tip: Roosters
SATURDAY May 18
Gold Coast v Canterbury at Cbus Super Stadium, 3pm
Head to Head: Titans 8, Bulldogs 8, Drawn 1.
Last clash: Round 15, 2018 – Titans 32 bt Bulldogs 10 at Belmore Sports Ground
Both teams will be desperate to bank a third win in a clash of the cellar-dwellers. To be fair both teams showed some good form last round and were in the hunt until the end. Bulldogs coach Dean Pay has again made plenty of changes, with the return of Corey Harawira-Naera and Rhyse Martin among them. For the Titans, AJ Brimson starts at fullback for the injured Michael Gordon, with Tyrone Roberts the new No.6.
Key: Expect a big game from Titans centre Tyrone Peachey as he fights to keep his NSW Origin jersey.
Tip: Titans
North Queensland v Parramatta at 1300SMILES Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to Head: Cowboys 19, Eels 20, Drawn 2.
Last clash: Round 24, 2018 – Cowboys 44 bt Eels 6 at 1300SMILES Stadium
The Eels get a chance for redemption following their 54-point humiliation at the hands of Melbourne. That performance led to a raft of changes by newly re-signed coach Brad Arthur. They need to aim up in defence or feel the wrath of Cowboy aces Michael Morgan and Jason Taumalolo. North Queensland showed some good signs in their loss to South Sydney
Key: Cowboys hooker Jake Granville will be out to impress with the Queensland Origin No.9 jersey still wide open.
Tip: Cowboys
Canberra v South Sydney at GIO Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to Head: Raiders 32, Rabbitohs 23, Drawn 1.
Last clash: Round 24, 2018 – Raiders 24 bt Rabbitohs 12 at GIO Stadium
Canberra score more points at home against South Sydney than any other club but the Rabbitohs enter this one in red-hot form. A slow start cost the Raiders against the Roosters last week they’ll need to be on for 80 minutes to challenge the NRL’s next best team. Even then, the Burgess trio, Cody Walker and Damien Cook will likely prove too much too handle.
Key: Battle of the coaches – Canberra’s favourite son Ricky Stuart is not a fan of Wayne Bennett and it’s easy to see why, he’s won just one of his past 13 against the super coach.
Tip: Rabbitohs
SUNDAY May 19
St George Illawarra v Newcastle at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee 2pm
Head to Head: Dragons 27, Knights 11, Drawn 1.
Last clash: Round 4, 2019 – Dragons 13 bt Knights 12 (GP) at McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle hasn’t won four games in a row in more than four years but look primed to do so on the back of some Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga brilliance. St George on the other hand are trying to snap a three-game losing streak. Expect Pearce and Dragons halfback Ben Hunt to press their State of Origin claims in what shapes as an intriguing halves battle.
Key: Knights star Kalyn Ponga is thriving back in the No. 1 jersey and if the fullback puts in another standout performance they’ll be hard to stop.
Tip: Knights
Cronulla v Manly at PointsBet Stadium, 4.05pm
Head to Head: Sea Eagles 71, Sharks 26, Drawn 4.
Last clash: Round 21, 2018 – Sea Eagles 33 bt Sharks 32 (GP) at Southern Cross Group Stadium
Manly have the wood on Cronulla big time having won 15 of their past 18 clashes. But the Sharks have proved the toughest team in the NRL over the past month with some gritty wins and have named an unchanged team. The Sea Eagles welcome back centre Dylan Walker who can prove a game-changer but that could be a tall order in his first hit-out of the season.
Key: Ageless Cronulla enforcer Paul Gallen against this generation’s superstar forward Jake Trbojevic will be worth the price of admission alone.
Tip: Sharks
