Rugby League: NRL preview - Round 21

Compiled by PETER JESSUP

Melbourne Storm v Sydney Sharks

Melbourne Cricket Ground; Friday, June 23, 9.35 pm.

Storm: Matt Geyer, Fifita Moala, Aaron Moule, Brad Watts, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Matt Rua, Paul Marquet, Scott Hill; interchange Danny Williams, Brett O'Farrell, Russell Bawden, Ben Roarty.

Sharks: David Peachey, Mat Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Russell Richardson, Colin Best, Adam Dykes, Blaine Stanley, Jason Stevens, Dean Treister, Martin Lang, Chris McKenna, Nick Graham, Nathan Long; interchange Andrew Pierce, Sean Ryan, Paul Mellor, Mitch Healey.

Referee: Tim Mander

* Commentators at the Warriors-Storm game last Sunday reckoned it was impossible to gauge the form of the home side given how poorly the visitors played. But the Storm showed enough to suggest they will deal to the Sharks here, their second experiment to see if they can attract more than Olympic Park's 22,000 capacity to the vast MCG. Scott Hill, Brett Kimmorley and Richard Swain have had specialist kicking training with the Aussie Rules side the Melbourne Demons this week, and they could fancy their chances using the boot to turn around the big Sharks forwards. The Storm signed former Norths and Wests prop Brenton Pomery, 27, to fill the gap left by David Lomax.

Saturday Sydney Roosters v Auckland Warriors

Sydney Football Stadium; Saturday, June 24, 4:35 pm.

Roosters: Luke Phillips, Matt Sing, Ryan Cross, Shannon Hegarty, Anthony Minichiello, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Dallas Hood, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange David Solomona, Darren Burns, Craig Wing, Julian Bailey.

Warriors: David Mulhall, Henry Faafili, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Lee Oudenryn, Jason Bell, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson, Logan Swann (c), Matt Spence, Scott Coxon; interchange Cliff Beverley, Henry Perenara, Jonathon Smith, Monty Betham.

Referee: Mark Oaten

* The Warriors have ballooned out to their biggest tote margin ever following repeat poor performances, no sign of leadership on or off the field, plenty of signs of despair among the players, and the continued absence of those players who might get them out of the hole they have dug for themselves. The Roosters are sure to attack the Warriors' back three with kicks, given the continued difficulty they display in handling them, while fullback Mulhall's missed tackle rate last week was cause for concern. Brad Fittler is sure to run his forwards through the middle because of the Warriors' inability to tackle there. Feel sorry for gifted ball-player Henry Perenara on his 20th birthday and hard-working second-rower Jonathon Smith, who could have been given a chance earlier in a better team rather than being lambs to the slaughter.

Canterbury Bulldogs v Brisbane Broncos

Stadium Australia; Saturday, June 24, 9.35 pm.

Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Gavin Lester, Hazem El Masri, Darren Smith, Daryl Halligan, Shane Perry, Brent Sherwin, Darren Britt (c), Jason Hetherington, Barry Ward, Steve Price, Dennis Scott, Travis Norton; interchange Glen Hughes, Jamie Feeney, Nathan Sologinkin, Willie Mason.

Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Tonie Carroll, Michael De Vere, Wendell Sailor, Shaun Berrigan, Kevin Walters (c), Shane Webcke, Luke Priddis, Bradley Meyers, Gorden Tallis, Brad Thorn, Kevin Campion; interchange Shane Walker, Ashley Harrison, Michael Hancock, Harvey Howard.

Referee: Sean Hampstead

* Canterbury continue to chase outside backs for 2001, the Warriors' Nigel Vagana, Cronulla's Brett Howland and Dragon Luke Patten the main targets, with Melbourne's Tony Martin and Aaron Moule on the second row of preference to join Kiwi Willie Talau, who is close to a new three-year deal. Given their lack of pace out wide they are likely to play this one tight up the middle and hope defence can win it. But that's unlikely, given the Broncos' scoring ability all over the park and their 50/50 record away from home, and eight wins from their last nine encounters with the Dogs. Given the Dogs' solidity and the Broncos' flair, this is likely to be the proof of the completion rate theory - that it's not how many times you keep the football but what you do with it when you've got it.

Penrith Panthers v Canberra Raiders

Penrith Stadium; Saturday, June 24, 9.35 pm.

Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, Shane Elford, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Carl MacNamara, Craig Gower, Mark Geyer, Tony Puletua, Matt Adamson, John Cross; interchange Scott Sattler, Frank Puletua, David Woods, Lee Hopkins.

Raiders: Brett Mullins, Jamaal Lolesi, Luke Williamson, Anthony Swann, Greg Wolfgramm, Mark McLinden, Andrew McFadden, Todd Payten, Brandon Costin, Luke Davico, Jason Crocker, David Furner, Laurie Daley (c); interchange Ken Nagas, Justin Morgan, Ruben Wiki, Alan Tongue.

Referee: Paul Simpkins

* The Raiders' injury worries about Wolfgramm (concussion) and Costin (back) are over, but hooker Simon Woolford is out (shoulder). Prop Davico has given a strong indication he is off at season's end and Daley will retire then. Furner has signed for Wigan and rumour has Mullins going to Leeds. It all adds up to instability the Raiders cannot afford, their away record bad and Penrith's home record great. The Panthers have lost skipper Craig Greenhill, suspended two weeks for knocking out the Dogs' Robert Relf, and Jody Gall, one week for a careless high tackle. Second-rower Adamson admitted a contrary conduct charge but escaped penalty because of a clean record. The Gower/Girdler show, with big forwards backing up, should be too much for the Raiders.

Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers

Parramatta Stadium; Sunday, June 25, 4.35 pm.

Eels: Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Jamie Lyon, David Vaealiki, Clinton Schifcofske, Stuart Kelly, David Penna, Nathan Cayless (c), Daniel Irvine, David Westley, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon; interchange Ben Kusto, Jason Cayless, Jim Dymock, Gary Larson.

Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, John Carlaw, Steve Georgallis, Craig Field, John Skandalis, Darren Senter (c), Richard Villasanti, Mark O'Neill, Ben Duckworth, Tyran Smith; interchange Michael Gillett, Steve Crouch, Justin Doyle, Ben Galea.

Referee: Steve Clark

* The Tigers continue to miss skipper Jarrod McCracken, who remains in a soft neck brace after the spear tackle put on him by Steve Kearney and Marcus Bai five weeks ago. They have lost all four games since and dropped from second to ninth on the ladder. Hard to see them picking up for this, the Eels anxious to make amends for last week's hiding at the hands of the Roosters. Terry Hill comes back after injury, while Tyran Smith (foot) and Craig Field (knee) are expected to be cleared to play. Field's work will be critical and perhaps there is room for the Tigers to exploit the inexperience of the Eels' back three. The Eels have a seven-win, three-loss record at home. The Tigers have conceded 26 tries in their last three games.

St George Illawarra v Newcastle

Sydney Football Stadium; Sunday, June 25, 4.35 pm.

Dragons: Amos Roberts, Nathan Blacklock, Jamie Ainscough, Lee Murphy, Lee Hookey, Trent Barrett, Luke Branighan, Craig Smith (c), Nathan Brown (c), Luke Bailey, Terry Lamey, Andrew Hart, Wayne Bartrim; interchange Jason Ryles, Colin Ward, Jason Hooper, Wes Patten.

Knights: Adam MacDougall, Timana Tahu, Matthew Gidley, Mark Hughes, Lenny Beckett, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, Tony Butterfield (c), Danny Buderus, Clinton O'Brien, David Fairleigh, Sean Rudder, Bill Peden; interchange Steve Simpson, Paul Rauhihi, Matt Parsons, Glenn Grief.

Referee: Bill Harrigan

* Matthew Johns returns and the Knights field something close to their first-choice team since the start of the season, with Robbie O'Davis and Ben Kennedy still to return. First-grade coach Michael Hagan was this week named to replace Warren Ryan at the end of the season. The Knights were hopeful of re-signing Tahu, Simpson and Rudder this week. MacDougall continues to negotiate for a better rate given big offers from England, but the Newcastle charge for the finals has ruled out a trial with two US gridiron clubs who were interested. The Dragons made too many mistakes to win last week, and still appear to have difficulty adapting to married life. Playing home games minus the crowd passion at Kogarah isn't helping team spirit. The visitors have talked as if they're the more determined coming into this.

Northern Eagles v North Queensland

NorthPower Stadium; Sunday, June 25, 4.35 pm>

Eagles: Brendon Reeves, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Andrew King, Nigel Roy, Michael Buettner, Matt Orford, Steve Trindall, Geoff Toovey (c), Paul Stringer, Steve Menzies, Adam Muir, Daniel Gartner; interchange Owen Cunningham, Jamie Goddard, Dragan Durdevic, Joel Wilson.

Cowboys: Tim Brasher (c), Adam Connelly, Julian O'Neill, Paul Bowman, Brian Jellick, Scott Prince, Nathan Fien, John Buttigieg, Ben Rauter, Mark Shipway, Glen Morrison, Peter Jones, Kyle Warren; interchange Jeremy Schloss, Shaun Valentine, John Manning, Leigh McWilliams.

Referee: Tony Archer

* The Cows continue to suffer under the instability of suggestions that their coach Tim Sheens is a goner. He is, if the Cows' board gets its way. He has apparently been asked to fall on his sword, but replied "See you in court," insisting on the payout of his five-year contract. There's nothing to play for here but pride, both sides gone from the playoff calculations. But the Eagles want to impress a sceptical crowd at Gosford as they try to establish the second of their two homes. They are sure to run their backrowers at the Cows' young halves pairing of Fien and Prince. The only area where the Cows might have some advantage is from the back, where Brasher, Bowman, O'Neill and Jellick have pace to worry any side. The Eagles are six from 10 at home, the Cows three from 11 away.

Peter Jessup's picks:

Storm

Roosters

Broncos

Panthers

Eels

Knights

Eagles


Success rate this season: 58%