PREVIEW OF NRL ROUND EIGHT MATCHES (all times AEST):
THURSDAY May 2
South Sydney v Brisbane at ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm
Head to Head: Rabbitohs 9, Broncos 28 , Draw 1
Last clash: Round 23, 2018 – Broncos 38 bt Rabbitohs 18 at Suncorp Stadium.
This match has been circled on the calendar since Wayne Bennett and Anthony Seibold’s bizarre job swap last December. Both insist it’s nothing personal but there’s plenty of pride on the line. The Broncos, who have only managed two wins under Seibold, are throwing teen halfback Tom Dearden in for his NRL debut. Talk about a baptism of fire. The Bunnies are at full strength.
Key: Going up against mastermind Bennett, it’s Anthony Seibold’s chance to prove that the Broncos got the better of the deal.
Tip: Rabbitohs
FRIDAY May 3
North Queensland v Gold Coast at 1300SMILES Stadium, 6.00pm
Head to Head: Cowboys 13, Titans 8
Last clash: Round 25, 2018 – Cowboys 30 Titans 26 at Cbus Super Stadium
Fullback Te Maire Martin is out after a brain bleed but the Cowboys are hopeful superstar Jason Taumalolo (knee) will play. The Titans need a repeat of last round’s hot start against the Bulldogs but they need to stay on task for the entire 80 minutes. Prop Jarrod Wallace is back from suspension and itching to make a case for Origin against the Cowboys’ highly rated pack.
Key: Money man Michael Morgan – cut him off and the Cowboys backs have been playing like they have little to offer.
Tip: Titans
Cronulla v Melbourne at PointsBet Stadium, 7.55pm
Head to Head: Sharks 14, Storm 23
Last clash: Preliminary final, 2018 – Storm 22 bt Sharks 6
at AAMI Park.
There’s plenty of bad blood between these teams, led by their ageless skippers and fierce rivals Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith. Kyle Flanagan replaces injured Sharks five-eighth Shaun Johnson while Melbourne are mostly unchanged. The Storm have looked vulnerable in their last two matches and the Sharks would like nothing better than to sink their teeth in.
Key: Teen Shark Bronson Xerri is set to be put through the Storm ringer by chief sledger and centre rival Will Chambers.
Tip: Sharks
SATURDAY May 4
Canberra v Penrith at McDonalds Park, 3.00pm
Head to Head: Raiders 35, Panthers 38, Draw 1
Last clash: Round 21, 2018 – Panthers 40 bt Raiders 31 at Panthers Stadium
The Panthers have had the recent wood on the Raiders although they’ve relied on a big finish each time. They played their best game of the year in their narrow loss to the Rabbitohs but will need to lift their attack to get through Canberra’s miserly defence in Wagga. Raiders centre Joey Leilua scored a hat-trick the last time they met – another would be a nice way to celebrate his 200th NRL game.
Key: Raiders playmaker Jack Wighton needs to lift – he holds the unenviable title of the most errors by any player this season with 17.
Tip: Raiders
Manly v Canterbury at Lottoland, 5.30pm
Head to Head: Sea Eagles 65, Bulldogs 58, Draw 5
Last clash: Round 22, 2018 – Sea Eagles 18 bt Bulldogs 6 at Lottoland
Manly have lost seven of their past eight games without Daly Cherry-Evans however they showed plenty of ticker to trump the Raiders when he went off injured. Kane Elgey is the new No.7 while winger Abbas Miski will make his debut. The Bulldogs have the best completion rate in the comp but their defensive record is the club’s worst in more than 10 years. They could have injured stars Kieran Foran and Dylan Napa back to boost their chances.
Key: Kane Elgey hasn’t started at halfback since 2015 when he played for the Titans and will be put under the pump.
Tip: Bulldogs
Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers at SCG at 7.35pm
Head to Head: Sydney Roosters 23, Wests Tigers 9
Last clash: Round 13, 2018 – Sydney Roosters 16 bt Wests Tigers 14 at Allianz Stadium
The Roosters have five-eighth Luke Keary back from concussion but have lost Jake Friend (biceps). Some good news for the Tigers with veteran playmaker Benji Marshall over his hamstring injury. Both teams are coming off a win but the Roosters have won 15 of their past 17 encounters.
Key: Cooper Cronk will quietly equal Darren Lockyer as the second most capped player, with 355 games, and will want a win to mark the milestone.
Tip: Roosters
SUNDAY May 5
New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium, 2.00pm
Head to Head: Warriors 20, Knights 18, Draw 1
Last clash: Round 22, 2018 – Warriors 20 bt Knights 4 at Mt Smart Stadium
The Warriors should get some confidence after taking the Storm to the wire, and that’s without Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Blake Green who are set to return. The Knights cracked a last round win but they seem to go to water across the ditch, losing 12 of 13 games on the Warriors’ turf.
Key: Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga had his best game of the season last round, setting him up for an epic showdown with RTS.
Tip: Warriors
Parramatta v St George Illawarra at Bankwest Stadium, 4.05pm
Head to Head: Eels 18 Dragons 15, Draw 2
Last clash: Round 22, 2018 – Eels 40 bt Dragons 4 at ANZ Stadium
You could flip a coin to decide this top-eight battle with both teams showing plenty of potential but coming off losses. Parramatta are back at their new home ground and will look to impress in front of another bumper crowd, but St George have shown in patches they can match it with anyone and a complete performance will be hard to stop. Eels prop Daniel Alvaro returns from concussion, while Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa is back in the starting side.
Key: Dragons halfback Ben Hunt is playing for his State of Origin future and will be determined to shut down his opposing number Mitchell Moses.
Tip: Dragons
