NRL round 17 preview panel

Preview of League Round 17 matches (all times AEST):

THURSDAY, June 29

Parramatta Eels v Canterbury at ANZ Stadium 7.50pm

Head to Head: Eels 60 Canterbury 75 drawn 5

Last clash: Round 9 2016 – Eels 20 bt Canterbury 12 at ANZ Stadium

Tab Sportsbet: Eels $1.45 Canterbury $2.75 Draw $23.00

FootyTAB: Canterbury +6.5

With the season almost two-thirds through, the stakes are getting higher and it’s no different for both these teams. The Eels are eighth with two teams one win behind them, meaning they have to overcome season-ending injuries to Kaysa Pritchard and Beau Scott and keep winning. The Bulldogs are all but in panic mode in 13th spot, six points back of the Eels and without key grunt men James Graham and Greg Eastwood.

Key: The Bulldogs have lost ten of their past 15 without Graham in their line-up.

Tip: Eels

FRIDAY, June 30

Gold Coast Titans v St George-Illawarra Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium 6.00pm

Head to Head: Titans 6 Dragons 11

Last clash: Round 19 2016 – Titans 32 bt Dragons 12 at UOW Jubilee Oval

Tab Sportsbet: Titans $1.90 Dragons $1.90 Draw $21.00

FootyTAB: Dragons +1.5

The 14th-placed Titans kept the pulse beating on their season with a win over the last-placed Tigers last week but have little margin for error and are just about gone with another loss here. Chris McQueen and Tyrone Roberts returning from injury is a boost against a Dragons outfit that lost two in a row before getting out of jail against Newcastle last week. They’ve also lost key prop Paul Vaughan, but do get Euan Aitken and Jack de Belin back.

Key: The battle between NSW centres Jarryd Hayne and Josh Dugan is a beauty.

Tip: Titans

Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium 7.50pm

Head to Head: Broncos 13 Storm 27 drawn 1

Last clash: Round 3 2017 – Storm 14 bt Broncos 12 at AAMI Park

Tab Sportsbet: Broncos $2.22 Storm $1.67 Draw $1.00

FootyTAB: Broncos +2.5

The result appears a no brainer after ladder leaders Melbourne welcomed back more than 1100 NRL games worth of experience with the return of skipper Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Will Chambers from Queensland Origin duty. To boot the Storm have won 11 of their last 13 games against the Broncos including the past six at Suncorp Stadium and are still smarting from last round’s golden point loss to Sydney Roosters. But few would rule out an upset from a Brisbane side that has won eight of their last 10 games, especially with revitalised half Benji Marshall remaining at the reins.

Key: Can Kodi Nikorima show enough spark to justify wearing the Broncos No.7 jersey with an in form Ben Hunt waiting in the wings on the bench?

Tip: Storm

SATURDAY, July 1

Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks at Central Coast Stadium 3.00pm

Head to Head: Roosters 20 Sharks 15 drawn 1

Last clash: Round 25 2016 – Sharks 37 bt Roosters 12 at Southern Cross Group Stadium

Tab Sportsbet: Roosters $1.71 Sharks $2.15 Draw $1.00

FootyTAB: Sharks +2.5

Cronulla will need to dig deep to keep their title defence on track when they line up against a confident Sydney Roosters after last round’s thrashing at home from Manly. Fa’amanu Brown has been named at hooker as the Sharks face a No.9 dilemma with Jayden Brailey (broken jaw) joining James Segeyaro (arm) on the sidelines and back-up Dan Mortimer linking with English club Leigh. But Cronulla are no strangers to adversity and have not lost back to back matches this season. And they have won their last five games against the tri-colours. The Roosters are unchanged from last round’s golden point win over Melbourne – their third straight victory.

Key: Can Cronulla overcome their troubling slow starts – they trailed 18-0 after 24 minutes against Manly – against a rampaging Roosters?

Tip: Roosters

Manly Sea Eagles v Warriors at nib Stadium 5.30pm

Head to Head: Sea Eagles 21 Warriors 8

Last clash: Round 19 2016 – Sea Eagles 15 bt Warriors 14 at nib Stadium

Tab Sportsbet: Sea Eagles $1.43 NZ Warriors $2.85 Draw $23.00

FootyTAB: NZ Warriors +6.5

Just how far can the Sea Eagles go this season? They stormed into the top four with a big victory over reigning premiers Cronulla and now have a chance to solidify that spot when they meet the Warriors in Perth. The marathon trip from Auckland to WA doesn’t make things any easier for the Warriors but they are set to get back star five-eighth Kieran Foran, offsetting the loss of hooker Isaac Luke (shoulder). Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans can boost his hopes of a Queensland Origin return by continuing his sparkling form.

Key: Manly’s attack has been irresistible this season. Do the Warriors have the stopping power to shut them down?

Tip: Sea Eagles

Canberra v North Queensland Cowboys at GIO Stadium 7.30pm

Head to Head: Raiders 21 Cowboys 17

Last clash: Round 1 2017 – Cowboys 20 bt Raiders 16 at 1300SMILES Stadium

Tab Sportsbet: Raiders $1.54 Cowboys $2.48 Draw $21.00

FootyTAB: Cowboys +4.5

Despite widespread expectation the Raiders will find their groove at some stage this season, after 16 rounds they languish in 11th. Contemplating life without Johnathan Thurston got a little easier for the Cowboys last week when they ground out a 14-12 victory over Penrith. Mid-season signing Te Maire Martin will make his club debut in the halves alongside Michael Morgan. Canberra are set to start favourites but have done so in six of their nine losses this season, including last week’s defeat to an under-strength Brisbane outfit. Former Origin star Dave Taylor returns for his first game since round five with his career and the Raiders’ season on the line.

Key: Things are getting desperate for the Raiders. Can they end a three-game losing streak to stay in the hunt?

Tip: Raiders

SUNDAY, July 2

Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium 2.00pm

Head to Head: Knights 12 Tigers 11 drawn 1

Last clash: Round 11 2016 – Tigers 20 bt Knights 12 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium

Tab Sportsbet: Knights $1.80 Tigers $2.00 Draw $1.00

FootyTAB: Tigers +1.5

The likely battle for the wooden spoon. The Wests Tigers come into the match after losing their last seven matches, while the Knights are in slightly better form – their last win coming five games ago. Newcastle have at least been competitive in recent weeks. They blew a 28-10 lead over St George Illawarra last week, and were unlucky to be beaten by Manly before the bye. Stringing three performances together has been a concern for them though. Meanwhile the Tigers gave up a lead against an Origin-depleted Cronulla a fortnight ago, but struggled against the lowly-ranked Gold Coast last week.

Key: Both sides are ranked low in most areas, but the Tigers forwards get through far more metres and produce more offloads than the Knights. Newcastle must shut their middle men down.

Tip: Knights

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium 4.00pm

Head to Head: Rabbitohs 44 Panthers 34 drawn 1

Last clash: Round 6 2017 – Souths 21 bt Panthers 20 at Pepper Stadium

Tab Sportsbet: Souths $2.35 Panthers $1.60 Draw $1.00

FootyTAB: Souths +2.5

Both teams will be desperate heading into Sunday’s clash. Penrith sit just one win outside the eight and will be desperate to ensure last week’s last-minute loss to North Queensland doesn’t stunt the momentum formed from the previous four straight wins. Meanwhile South Sydney are at the point in their season where they have to win – and can afford just three more losses. They will welcome back captain Sam Burgess from a glute injury.

Key: Matt Moylan must continue to have the same influence in the halves for Penrith as he did after his initial shift there.

Tip: Panthers

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