NRL finals week three preview panel

A PREVIEW PANEL FOR THE THIRD WEEK OF NRL FINALS:

FRIDAY, Sept 22:

Melbourne Storm v Brisbane at AAMI Park, 7.55pm

Head to Head: Storm 28 Broncos 13 drawn 1

Last clash: Round 17, 2017 – Storm 42 bt Broncos 12 at Suncorp Stadium

Tab: Storm $1.26 Broncos $4

FootyTAB: Broncos +16.0

The Melbourne machine rolls on as they aim to qualify for their sixth grand final in 12 years. Friday’s clash with Brisbane looms as a danger game though. The Storm have sat atop of the NRL ladder since round eight but a loss at AAMI Park will all of a sudden spell their season over. It too would end the career of Cooper Cronk at Melbourne, while Billy Slater is yet to finalise his future beyond this year. Meanwhile Brisbane are confident Darius Boyd will return from a hamstring injury for the clash, while winger Corey Oates has trained this week and is tipped to overcome a heavy concussion to play. Boyd’s return means Kodi Nikorima will return to the halves, where he and five-eighth Anthony Milford have a 10-1 record when together. Benji Marshall then drops back to the bench.

Key: Bisbane’s defence – unbreakable one week, paper-thin the next – will determine this game. Just a month ago the Broncos conceded 50 points to Parramatta, but were as resilient as ever in the second half against Penrith last week. Any defensive lapses will kill them against the ruthless Storm, and they will have to be back to their best if they are to qualify for the grand final.

Tip: Storm

SATURDAY, Sept 23:

Sydney Roosters v North Queensland at Allianz Stadium 7.40pm

Head to Head: Roosters 25 Cowboys 10

Last clash: Round 21 2017 – Roosters 22 bt Cowboys 16 at Allianz Stadium

Tab: Roosters $1.35 Cowboys $3.30 Draw $1.00

FootyTAB: Cowboys +8.0

North Queensland have never won three straight weeks in Sydney, but they haven’t cared too much for history in the most unlikely of finals runs. Without Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott, the Cowboys have come from behind in both of their two do-or-die matches to become the first eighth-placed team to reach the third week of the finals under the current system. Somehow, despite all the fanfare surrounding their run, they’ve still managed to be the most composed team when it matters most in their wins over Cronulla and Parramatta, so expect Saturday night to be no different. Meanwhile the Roosters have enjoyed a week off, allowing their bodies to refresh from their tight week-one win over Brisbane. Luke Keary will overcome a bout of food poisoning to play, while Daniel Tupou has fought off an ongoing groin complaint to be named on the wing.

Key: The Roosters have made no secret of the fact they have to stop the rampaging Jason Taumalolo. The Cowboys’ past two opponents in Sharks and Eels tried and that didn’t end so well for them. Taumalolo this season has run the most metres of any forward in the history of the game, at an average of 196m per game. He and the Cowboys have shown no signs of running out of puff. A similar effort by Taumalolo on Saturday could take the Cowboys to the most unlikely of grand finals.

Tip: Roosters

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