Preview of NRL Round 23 matches (all times AEST):
FRIDAY, Aug 16
BRISBANE v PARRAMATTA at Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to Head: Broncos 27 Eels 18 drawn 1
Last clash: Eels 19 bt Broncos 18 at Parramatta Stadium, Round 9, 2013
Tab Sportsbet: Broncos $1.14 Eels $6.00
FootyTAB: Eels +10.5
The Broncos are playing to keep their season alive, while the Eels still have a slim chance of avoiding back-to-back wooden spoons. Justin Hodges’ achilles injury means he won’t pull on the Broncos jumper for another nine months and he’ll be replaced by David Stagg in the centres for this clash. Jordan Kahu also returns from a hand injury on the wing for Brisbane. The Broncos have won two, and drawn one, of their last three matches, while the Eels snapped a 10 game losing streak against the lowly Wests Tigers on Friday. The Eels will take heart from the fact their last win before that monstrous losing streak was against the Broncos. However Brisbane should be too strong at home this time round.
Key: Jarryd Hayne will look to back up his standout performance at five-eighth last week and will only grow in confidence the further he puts his hamstring injury behind him.
Tip: Broncos
FRIDAY, Aug 16
SOUTH SYDNEY v MANLY at Bluetongue Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to Head: Rabbitohs 58 Sea Eagles 71
Last clash: Rabbitohs 20 bt Sea Eagles 12 at Brookvale Oval, Round 7, 2013
Tab Sportsbet: Rabbitohs $2.05 Sea Eagles $1.80
FootyTAB: Rabbitohs +3.5
Manly are gunning for seven on the trot in what is undoubtedly the match of the round. The second placed Rabbitohs have started slipping, losing three of their last four and could find both the Storm and Sea Eagles breathing down their necks with another loss. Both Greg Inglis and John Sutton must pass fitness tests to play, while suspended prop Sam Burgess will be replaced by brother Luke. Manly on the other hand will be missing Anthony Watmough due to a knee injury he suffered in last week’s impressive 27-12 win over the Warriors. The momentum may be in the Sea Eagles’ favour, but they’ll struggle to match the Souths pack without Watmough.
Key: Prepare for a cracking battle between fullbacks Brett Stewart and Greg Inglis, the more influential of which could tip the scales in their side’s favour.
Tip: Rabbitohs
SATURDAY, Aug 17
CANBERRA v CANTERBURY at Canberra Stadium, 3pm
Head to Head: Raiders 26 Bulldogs 33
Last clash: Raiders 34 bt Bulldogs 6 at Canberra Stadium, Round 25, 2012
Tab Sportsbet: Raiders $1.80 Bulldogs $2.05
FootyTAB: Bulldogs +2.5
The fifth-placed Bulldogs need a victory to keep a top four finish in their sights, while the ninth-placed Raiders are desperate for a win to stay in touch with the top eight. The Raiders have lost their last two games against the competition’s two favourite sides but will lift at home against a Bulldogs outfit that went down to the Titans 26-16 on Monday. Key Raiders defender Shaun Fensom and captain Terry Campese have been ruled out with injuries. The Bulldogs pack has lost some of its sting with Kiwi Test pair Sam Kasiano and Greg Eastwood out injured. Expect the Raiders to restore their pride at Canberra Stadium after a streak of 12 straight wins at home was humiliatingly ended by the Storm 68-4 a fortnight ago.
Key: Blake Ferguson was spectacular in his return game for the Raiders last week with two tries. He and enforcer Josh Papalii will look to create havoc down the right edge.
Tip: Raiders
SATURDAY, Aug 17
NORTH QUEENSLAND v GOLD COAST at 1300SMILES Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to Head: Cowboys 5 Titans 7
Last clash: Titans 31 bt Cowboys 12 at Skilled Park, Round 12, 2013
Tab Sportsbet: Cowboys $1.30 Titans $3.60
FootyTAB: Titans +7.5
Both sides come into this match unchanged and rejuvenated following back-to-back wins, each knocking off a top five side in the process. For the Cowboys that means their season remains alive by the narrowest of margins, while the Titans have snuck back into the top eight. There’s sure to be a great battle between the forward packs, the Titans boasting Origin stars Nate Myles and Greg Bird and the Cowboys James Tamou and Matt Scott. It’s highly unlikely both these teams will make the finals so expect a no holds barred Queensland showdown.
Key: Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston’s man-of-the-match performance in their 36-4 romping of the Panthers last week shows he’s pulling no punches in a desperate bid to lead his team to the finals.
Tip: Cowboys
SATURDAY, Aug 17
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v CRONULLA at WIN Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to Head: Dragons 15 Sharks 15 drawn 1
Last clash: Dragons 25 bt Sharks 12 at Remondis Stadium, Round 4, 2013
Tab Sportsbet: Dragons $4.00 Sharks $1.26
FootyTAB: Dragons +6.5
The Dragons are out of finals contention and reeling from injuries but that won’t stop them from lifting for old rivals the Sharks. The 14th placed Dragons have lost influential players Trent Merrin and Josh Dugan to injury after their 26-24 loss to the Broncos last weekend, while the Sharks will be without Wade Graham. The Sharks are sitting in sixth place, and while a top four spot is still possible, they’ll be more focused on locking down a top eight spot after last week’s 18-14 loss to the Knights. This task looks just a little too big for the injury depleted Dragons, who have also lost three on the trot.
Key: Todd Carney. His stunning recent form has seen him take over as favourite to win the Dally M player of the year award.
Tip: Sharks
SUNDAY, Aug 18
WARRIORS v PENRITH at Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm
Head to Head: Warriors 14 Panthers 16 drawn 1
Last clash: Panthers 62 bt Warriors 6 at Centrebet Stadium, Round 10, 2013
Tab Sportsbet: Warriors $1.14 Panthers $6.00
FootyTAB: Panthers +12.5
Both sides head into this clash with slightly shuffled line-ups and needing a win. It’s the last roll of the dice for the 13th placed Panthers, who are still a mathematical chance of making the play-offs. They’ll have fond memories of the last time they played the Warriors though after hammering them 62-6. The Warriors sit just two points outside the top eight, and will be out to improve on last week’s poor 27-12 loss against Manly. They should be too strong at home against a Panthers outfit that has lost four straight.
Key: Shaun Johnson. The Warriors halfback needs to lift his game to get his side back on the winning path towards the finals.
Tip: Warriors
SUNDAY, Aug 18
NEWCASTLE v MELBOURNE at Hunter Stadium, 3pm
Head to Head: Knights 12 Storm 17
Last clash: Storm 16 bt Knights 14 at AAMI Park, Round 14, 2013
Tab Sportsbet: Knights $2.90 Storm $1.43
FootyTAB: Knights +6.5
The Knights are in red hot form, losing just one game in their last six. Unfortunately they’re coming up against competition heavyweights the Storm, who not only trounced the Rabbitohs 26-8 last week, but spanked the Raiders 68-4 at their Canberra Stadium fortress the week before. Alex McKinnon returns for the Knights, while the Storm have the luxury of an unchanged line-up. While the match-up between fullbacks and Maroons teammates Billy Slater and Darius Boyd could be a corker, expect a low scoring arm wrestle with the Storm coming out just on top.
Key: Cooper Cronk. He’s been reliable all year and will need to be at his pinpoint kicking best to outdo Knights five-eighth Jarrod Mullen.
Tip: Storm
MONDAY, Aug 19
WESTS TIGERS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at Allianz Stadium, 7pm
Head to Head: Tigers 8 Roosters 14
Last clash: Roosters 44 bt Tigers 20 at Allianz Stadium, Round 25, 2012
Tab Sportsbet: Tigers $9.00 Roosters $1.07
FootyTAB: Tigers +18.5
This is as big a mismatch you could currently conjure up. The Roosters are gunning for eight straight, while the Tigers have lost their last five. In a battle of the code-hoppers, Tigers coach Mick Potter has stuck with Super Rugby-bound Benji Marshall, Lote Tuqiri returns to the Tigers’s wing for the first time in over a year, and Sonny Bill Williams will slot back in at second row for the Roosters after serving a two week suspension. A victory here for the Roosters will make it very hard for the Rabbitohs to chase them down for the minor premiership. They’ll likely win big.
Key: The form of Roosters halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney should be a class above the Tigers’ Braith Anasta and an out of sorts Marshall.
Tip: Roosters
