PREVIEW OF NRL ROUND-TEN MATCHES (all times AEST):
THURSDAY MAY 10:
Wests Tigers v North Queensland at Leichhardt Oval, 7:50pm
Head to head: Tigers 18, Cowboys 16, Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 25, 2017 – Cowboys 22 bt Tigers 14 at Campbelltown Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Tigers $2.15 Cowboys $1.73
FootyTAB: Tigers +2.5
One of seven teams mired in the middle of the table on 10 points, the Tigers’ top-eight spot will be on the line as they attempt to arrest a worrying three-game slide. They’ve been boosted by the return of key prop Russell Packer from a knee injury. In their way is a Cowboys side who turned in arguably their best performance of the year against the Panthers in Bathurst, although it was mired by an indecent assault charge on prop Scott Bolton during the week.
Key: Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston has never won a game in Leichhardt.
Tip: Cowboys
FRIDAY MAY 11:
Newcastle v Penrith at McDonald Jones Stadium, 6:00pm
Head to head: Knights 23, Panthers 19, drawn 5
Last clash: Round 11, 2017 – Panthers 30 bt Knights 20 at McDonald Jones Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Knights $2.25 Panthers $1.67
FootyTAB: Knights +2.5
A mounting injury toll appears to have caught up with the Panthers, after losing last week to the Cowboys. They’ve have been forced to dig deeper into their roster by making Jarome Luai their fifth debutant of the season after a long-term injury to Moses Leota and Jack Hetherington’s suspension. They take on a Knights side who made a handful of changes after last week’s loss to the Rabbitohs, including recalls for Brock Lamb, Josh King, Luke Yates and Danny Levi.
Key: Lamb has another shot because his kicking game is superior to Jack Cogger’s, and he could keep Penrith at bay by peppering inexperienced fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Tip: Knights
Canterbury v Parramatta at ANZ Stadium, 7:55pm
Head to head: Bulldogs 82, Eels 65, drawn 7
Last clash: Round 22, 2017 – Eels 20 bt Bulldogs 4 at ANZ Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Bulldogs $2.00 Eels $1.85
FootyTAB: Bulldogs +1.5
Pride might be at stake when last meets second last, but so will the chance to start a climb up the ladder, looking more difficult by the week. Bulldogs coach Dean Pay, fresh from a $25,000 fine for criticising, has opted for a second debutant in as many weeks in Renouf Toomaga, while the Eels have copped a double injury blow in Tim Mannah and Kaysa Pritchard. Interestingly, Will Smith has been preferred as a sole hooker over Cameron King.
Key: The Eels have won their past nine when leading at the break, while the Bulldogs have won eight of nine when up at the interval.
Tip: Eels
SATURDAY MAY 12:
Warriors v Sydney Roosters at Mt Smart Stadium, 3:00pm
Head to head: Warriors 22, Roosters 16, drawn 2
Last clash: Round 4, 2018 – Warriors 30 bt Roosters 6 at Allianz Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Warriors $1.73 Roosters $2.15
FootyTAB: Roosters +1.5
Shaun Johnson’s ankle injury has robbed the match-up of some lustre, but the Warriors have proven more resilient this year and will be again expected to be when led by strong-performing back-up Mason Lino. The Roosters continue to look unimpressive but are still widely expected to turn the corner in the near future, even without the services of suspended youngster Victor Radley.
Key: The reborn Issac Luke was a shock selection after dislocating his shoulder last week, and his inclusion might just be the crucial element to the Warriors being up to the job.
Tip: Warriors
Melbourne v Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm
Head to head: Storm 11, Titans 6
Last clash: Round 10, 2017 – Titans 38 bt Storm 36 at Suncorp Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Storm $1.18 Titans $5
FootyTAB: Titans +14.5
After being humbled last week by the Dragons, the Storm will want to take their frustrations out on the Titans. Centre Curtis Scott is back in a boost for the Storm backline and no doubt keen to press his chances of an Origin call-up. The Titans have finally pulled the trigger on exciting youngster AJ Brimson who is facing a daunting first assignment against the Storm. He will debut in the halves alongside Ash Taylor, with Bryce Cartwright being relegated to the bench.
Key: Josh Addo-Carr has scored nine tries in four matches and is searched for his fifth-consecutive haul of two tries or more.
Tip: Storm
Manly v Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, 7:35pm
Head to head: Sea Eagles 21, Broncos 21, Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 10, 2017 – Broncos 24 bt Sea Eagles 14 at Suncorp Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Sea Eagles $2.50 Broncos $1.55
FootyTAB: Sea Eagles +4.5
The Jack Bird halves experiment is over with Wayne Bennett throwing the former Shark back into the centres. Bird is battling to find fitness and confidence and being moved away from the action can’t have gone down well with Bird, who is known to prefer to be on the ball. Kodi Nikorima returns to the Broncos’ scrumbase to partner Anthony Milford. With three wins from their past four, the Broncos are starting to get some momentum. The Sea Eagles are lurching from crisis to crisis and, if they fail to win here, it will be their worst start to a season since 1989.
Key: James Roberts is being looked at by NSW selectors and will want to make an impression.
Tip: Broncos
SUNDAY MAY 13:
South Sydney v St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium, 2:00pm
Head to head: Rabbitohs 12, Dragons 17
Last clash: Round 5 – Dragons 16 bt Rabbitohs 12 at Jubilee Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Rabbitohs $2.55 Dragons $1.53
FootyTAB: Rabbitohs +5.5
Both sides have performed above expectations in the early rounds. The Dragons, as noted last week by Storm coach Craig Bellamy, are the competition benchmarks. The Rabbitohs find themselves in the top five and real contenders to plays finals football for the first time in several years. After missing the four of the past five matches through suspension, Sam Burgess is back for the Bunnies as they come face to face with the competition’s best pack.
Key: Cameron McInnes v Damien Cook. This head-to-head showdown will likely decide the match and who wears the NSW No.9 jersey.
Tip: Dragons
Canberra v Cronulla at GIO Stadium, 4:10pm
Head to head: Raiders 32, Sharks 37
Last clash: Round 22, 2017 – Raiders 30 bt Sharks 12 at Southern Cross Group Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Raiders $1.55 Sharks $2.50
FootyTAB: Sharks +4.5
Are the Raiders back? After winning four of their past five, it’s a question some are asking. Yet every side they’ve beaten this year has been in the bottom five. They’ll get more of a test against the Sharks and will have to do it without Junior Paulo (foot). The Sharks hope to have talismanic skipper Paul Gallen back from a knee injury. However with Wade Graham re-injuring his hamstring, the Sharks can’t take a trick.
Key: Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend. At last the Sharks’ halves look like they’re coming together, although they still have a long way to go.
Tip: Sharks
