Compiled by PETER JESSUP
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18
St George Illawarra v Bulldogs at Sydney Football Stadium (9.30pm)
Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Jamie Ainscough, Jason Hooper, Lee Hookey, Anthony Mundine, Trent Barrett, Craig Smith (c), Nathan Brown (c), Chris Leikvoll, Lance Thompson, Darren Treacey, Wayne Bartrim; interchange Corey Pearson, Luke Bailey, Andrew Hart, Matt Cooper.
Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Hazem El Masri, Shane Marteene, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Corey Hughes, Ricky Stuart, Troy Stone, Adam Perry, Darren Britt (c), Darren Smith, Steve Price, Glenn Hughes; interchange Barry Ward, Steve Reardon, David Thompson, Dennis Scott, Craig Polla-Mounter, Brent Sherwin.
Ref: Sean Hampstead
* The Bulldogs will be seriously concerned about their inability to score points, a solitary Halligan kick from two games while allowing their opponents seven tries. Ricky Stuart described their effort against Penrith as "pathetic" - given the lack of intensity, invention and commitment it's hard to see them coming back against the Dragons who, while hardly spectacular themselves so far have at least shown their ability in patches. The Dragons should have too much power up front and too much flair out back.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Parramatta v Sharks at Parramatta Stadium (8.30pm)
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Clinton Schifcofske, David Kidwell, Luke Burt, Jason Moodie, Stuart Kelly (c), David Penna, Gary Larson, Dennis Moran, David Westley, Daniel Wagon, Nathan Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Ben Kusto, Michael Hodgson, Andrew Ryan, Jason Smith, Wade L'Estrange, Troy Wozniak.
Sharks: David Peachey, Mathew Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Russell Richardson, Brett Howland, Adam Dykes, Mitch Healey, Martin Lang, Dean Treister, Andrew Pierce, Chris McKenna, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Tim Maddison, Sam Isemonger, Paul Mellor, Shannon Donato, Blaine Stanley, Colin Best..
Ref: Paul Simpkins
* The Sharks have been hugely impressive so far while the Eels appear to be missing in the leadership department and short on killer instinct. Jason Smith made a brief bench start last week but should play a greater role and should help ease some of those problems. The Eels will be desperate in front of their home crowd and the enthusiasm that generates should be enough to get them home in what promises to be hard, fast and close, especially as they're yet to be put under any real pressure.
Canberra v Melbourne at Bruce Stadium (10.30pm)
Raiders: Brett Mullins, Anthony Swann, Ken Nagas, Brandon Costin, Leslie Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Andrew McFadden, Ruben Wiki, Simon Woolford, Luke Davico, David Furner, Anthony Colella, Jason Crocker; interchange Mark McLinden, Mark Corvo, Anthony Brann, David Atkins, Justin Morgan (one to be added).
Storm: Robbie Ross, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Scott Hill, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Stephen Kearney, Paul Marquet, Matt Rua; interchange Danny Williams, Wayne Evans, Russell Bawden, Tasesa Lavea, Ben Roarty.
Ref: Mark Oaten
* Captain Kearns admitted their minds were not on the game at Newcastle last week, days after they'd buried manager Mike Moore. The Storm are too good to keep on losing and the premiers' lack of competition points so far, the thrashing in Newcastle last week and their superior forward power should see them steamroll Canberra. Ruben Wiki is a tough nut but he's a transplanted centre against hardnut props in Howe and Kearns. Brett Mullins looked sharp last week and undoubtedly the Raiders hopes lie via Daley, Mullins and the Mac Attack in McLinden and McFadden.
Sydney Roosters v North Queensland at Sydney Football Stadium (10.30pm)
Roosters: Craig Wing, Shannon Hegarty, Richie Barnett, Ryan Cross, Robert Miles, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Scott Logan, Simon Bonetti, Peter Cusack, Craig Fitzgibbon, Bryan Fletcher, Luke Ricketson; interchange Ian Rubin, David Solomona, Nat Wood, Andrew Lomu, Luke Phillips, Darren Burns.
Cowboys: Tim Brasher (c), Damien Smith, Julian O'Neill, Paul Bowman, Brian Jellick, Scott Prince, Noel Goldthorpe, John Buttigieg, Brett Boyd, Martin Locke, Jason Nicol, Mark Shipway, Kyle Warren; interchange Paul Green, Robert Relf, Shaun Valentine, Glenn Morrison, Josh Hannay.
Ref: Steve Clark
* The Roosters are depowered up front after the loss of Quentin Pongia (7 weeks), now the most-suspended player in the history of the competition after eclipsing Les Boyd's record, and bench player Brendan Hurst (2). And they still lack a kicker. But they'll still have enough to run over the disjointed Cowboys outfit dripping with stars unable to find any combination or form. The Roosters should look to make ground through their backrowers then go to halves Lam and Fittler or back to fullback Wing, who's looking very comfortable there.
Sunday
Auckland v Brisbane at Ericsson Stadium (6pm)
Warriors: Lee Oudenryn, Odell Manuel, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Scott Pethybridge, John Simon (c), Robert Mears, Jerry Seuseu, Jason Death, Joe Vagana, Tony Tuimavave, Logan Swann, Scott Coxon; interchange Monty Betham, Matt Spence, Mark Tookey (two to be added).
Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Michael Hancock, Ben Ikin, Michael Devere, Wendell Sailor, Kevin Walters (c), Ben Walker, Petero Civoniceva, Luke Priddis, Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn, Gorden Tallis, Kevin Campion; interchange Phil Lee, Shane Walker, Tonie Carroll, Lote Tuqiri, Harvey Howard, Shaun Berigan.
Ref: Bill Harrigan
* Brisbane is the only side the Warriors have never beaten and this should be the day to break the barrier. They're seriously disappointed about missing two points against the Tigers and should pick up plenty of crowd support. The match officials should also get plenty of advice from the crowd given the feeling following the episode at Leichhardt on Monday. Captain Simon was superb last week and the character his side gained by outscoring the Tigers in the second spell when down to 12 men should carry them home in a near run. Tallis and Sailor are the ones they have to close down.
Newcastle v Wests Tigers at Marathon Stadium (8pm)
Knights: Adam MacDougall, Darren Albert, Matthew Gidley, Mark Hughes, Timana Tahu, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, David Fairleigh, Danny Buderus, Tony Butterfield (c), Ben Kennedy, Peter Shiels, Bill Peden; interchange Matt Parsons, Steve Simpson, Sean Rudder, Glenn Grief, Troy Fletcher, Lenny Beckett.
Tigers: Joel Caine, John Carlaw, Owen Craigie, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Kevin McGuinness, Craig Field, Shane Walker, Darren Senter, Jason Lowrie, Mark Stimson, Jarrod McCracken (c), Tyran Smith; interchange Adam Nable, Steve Georgallis, Mark O'Neill, John Skandalis, Ken McGuinness, Luke O'Donnell.
Ref: Tim Mander
* The Knights were clinical in their demolition of Melbourne last week and should go the same way against the Tigers in a back-up at Marathon. Coach Warren Ryan this week dismissed talk of a rift between him and the players and said they'd do their talking on the field. Andrew Johns has a slight groin strain, a repeat of the problem that dogged him last year, but will play. It's a fact that teams that have played the Warriors lose the following week more often than they win and that's what should happen here after the bashing the Tigers took from Auckland on Monday.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Northern Eagles v Penrith at Brookvale Oval (9.30pm)
Eagles: Andrew King, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Brett Grogan, Brendan Reeves, Michael Buettner, Jason Taylor, Mark O'Meley, Geoff Toovey (c), Steve Trindall, Adam Muir, Steve Menzies, Nik Kosef; interchange Owen Cunningham, Daniel Gartner, Steve Ebril, Willie Leyshon, Jamie Goddard, Joel Wilson.
Panthers: Rhys Wesser, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, David Woods, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Craig Greenhill, Craig Gower, Carl MacNamara, Matt Adamson, Scott Sattler, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Tony Puletua, Nigel Gaffey, Sid Domic, Peter Jorgenson, Matthew Rieck.
Ref: Mogsheen Jadwat
* The Panthers have been running on all cylinders, a mobile and skilful forward pack supported by quick backs. Rodwell has slotted in well as the link to a quick-handling backline. And they have an impressive looking bench that costs them nothing as they interchange. Royce Simmons rates this side as having more potential than the Panthers 1991 grand final winning unit. They meet an Eagles side going better than anyone predicted, backrowers any side would have, a points-scorer in Taylor. Interesting to see how the Brookvale crowd adapts to the merged entity.
Peter Jessup's picks:
Dragons, Eels, Storm, Roosters, Warriors, Knights, Panthers.
Success rate so far this season: 50%
Rugby League: NRL Preview - Round 3
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