Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Sydney Sharks v Newcastle Knights
Shark Park; Friday, April 14, 9.30pm.
Sharks: David Peachey, Mat Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Paul Mellor, Colin Best, Adam Dykes, Jason Ferris, Jason Stevens, Dean Treister, Martin Lang, Nathan Long, Chris McKenna, Nick Graham; interchange Andrew Pierce, Luke Stuart, Sean Ryan, Mitch Healey.
Knights: Robbie
O'Davis, Lenny Beckett, Timana Tahu, Mark Hughes, Adam MacDougall, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, Matt Parsons, Danny Buderus, David Fairleigh, Peter Shiels, Ben Kennedy, Bill Peden (c); interchange Glenn Grief, Steve Simpson, Sean Rudder, Paul Rauhihi.
Referee: Bill Harrigan
* The Knights pulled Andrew and Matthew Johns out of the side to face the Cowboys at Marathon at the last minute last weekend, claiming they needed to rest groin and ankle injuries respectively and that they would both be fit for this. Doubtful. Centre Matt Gidley is also gone (knee), out three weeks. The Sharks have made changes in the halves to spark their backline attack. They continue to stumble at the final hurdle but should be safe at home against the weakened Knights outfit.
Penrith Panthers v Sydney City Roosters
Penrith Stadium; Saturday, April 15, 4.30pm.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, David Woods, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matt Rodwell, Carl McNamara, Craig Gower, Tony Puletua, Scott Sattler, Matt Adamson, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Jody Gall, Lee Hopkins, Shane Elford.
Roosters: Richie Barnett, Jack Elsegood, Matt Sing, Ryan Cross, Robert Miles, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Peter Cusack, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange Darren Burns, Dallas Hood, Quentin Pongia, Luke Phillips.
Referee: Paul Simpkins
* Quentin Pongia will have to make his Kiwi claims from the bench. The Roosters are the hot-and-cold side of the comp, absolutely brilliant and almost unstoppable when on form, prone to stunning attacking errors and major defensive deficiencies when not. The Panthers are the opposite - solid, dependable, nothing outrageously flashy, just hard work, hard work, hard work. They welcome back Craig Gower after a knee tear and David Woods, sternum. Those two factors should be enough to get them home.
Melbourne Storm v Northern Eagles
Olympic Park; Saturday, April 15, 9.30pm.
Storm: Robbie Ross, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Brad Watts, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Matt Rua, Steve Kearney, Scott Hill; interchange Danny Williams, Russell Bawden, Ben Roarty, Paul Marquet.
Eagles: Brandon Reeves, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Andrew King, Brett Grogan, Michael Buettner, Jason Taylor, Owen Cunningham, Geoff Toovey (c), Josh Stuart, Steve Menzies, Adam Muir, Daniel Gartner; interchange Damien Driscoll, Paul Stringer, Greg Ebrill, Jamie Goddard.
Referee: Mark Oaten
* Eagles prop Mark O'Meley is gone for several weeks (broken ankle) after a barnstorming start and Steve Trindall is suspended two weeks for a high tackle. Losing the front row is just the news they didn't need against tough-nuts the Storm in Melbourne. They're no chance. The home side are unchanged after several weeks and after just dropping out of the eight will be looking to move back. Tasesa Lavea continues to improve at a remarkable rate and appears a World Cup surety after his selection as standby for the Kiwis for the Anzac test.
North Queensland Cowboys v Auckland Warriors
Dairy Farmers Stadium; Saturday, April 15, 9.30pm.
Cowboys: Tim Brasher (c), Damien Smith, Julian O'Neill, Paul Bowman, Graham Appo, Paul Green, Noel Goldthorpe, John Buttigieg, Brett Boyd, Shaun Valentine, Mark Shipway, Robert Relf, Jeremy Schloss; interchange Geoff Bell, Peter Jones, Glenn Morrison, Greg Bourke.
Warriors: Scott Pethybridge, Lee Oudenryn, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Henry Faafili, John Simon (c), Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Talite Liavaa, Scott Coxon, Ali Lauiti'iti, Jason Death; interchange Shontayne Hape, Tony Tuimavave, Monty Betham, Jerry Seuseu.
Referee: Sean Hampsted
* The Warriors have to win this, the battle of the cellar-dwellers. Lose and they go home tail between their legs to front the Sharks on Easter Monday, three players backing up after the Anzac test; lose that and it's just about bye-bye season. All they need is resolve, since the Cowboys are a disjointed team of fading stars. Coach Sheens said he'd like to sack all bar fullback Brasher after their pitiful capitulation last weekend but despite their salary cap-stretching off-season buys he doesn't have that luxury.
Wests Tigers v Canterbury Bulldogs
Campbelltown Stadium; Sunday, April 16, 4.30pm
Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Michael Gillett, Craig Field, John Skandalis, Darren Senter, Jason Lowrie, Mark O'Neill, Jarrod McCracken, Tyran Smith; interchange Steve Georgalis, Mark Stimson, Ben Duckworth, Shane Walker.
Bulldogs: Hazem El Masri, Gavin Lester, Darren Smith, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Brent Sherwin, Ricky Stuart, Darrin Britt (c), Jason Hetherington, Dennis Scott, Steve Reardon, Brad Clyde, Travis Norton; interchange Craig Polla-Mounter, Steve Price, Nathan Sologolkin, Glen Hughes.
Referee: Mogsheen Jadwat
* The Tigers should out-power the Bulldogs at their own game. Their forward pack has been outstanding, their commitment has been 100 per cent in all bar the early-season thrashing at Newcastle. The Dogs don't have enough flash to take the Tigers on anywhere other than up the middle and will find the going too hard there. Terry Hill will be trying to reclaim his test centre position so look for a big game from him and Bulldogs Darren Britt, Darren Smith and Jason Hetherington who remain outside chances of making the Kangaroos' Anzac side.
Brisbane Broncos v St George Illawarra
ANZ Stadium; Sunday, April 16, 4.30pm.
Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuquiri, Michael Hancock, Michael Devere, Wendell Sailor, Tonie Carroll, Shane Walker, Shane Webcke, Luke Priddis, Petero Civoniceva, Gorden Tallis (c), Brad Thorn, Kevin Campion; interchange Dane Carlaw, Ashley Harrison, Danny Bampton, Darren Mapp.
Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Jamie Ainscough, Shaun Timmins, Mark Gasnier, Anthony Mundine, Trent Barrett, Luke Bailey, Nathan Brown (c), Craig Smith (c), Darren Treacey, Lance Thompson, Wayne Bartrim; interchange Cory Pearson, Chris Leikvoll, Andrew Hart, Matt Cooper.
Referee: Tim Mander
* The Broncos again have a new pairing behind the scrum, half Ben Walker sidelined by a bruised elbow and Kevin Walters (broken ribs) and Ben Ikin (shoulder) ruled out. That's their only weakness. Brad Thorn has appartently put a Broncos offer to extend his contract on hold in order to chase All Black selection; don't be surprised to see him turn up in an NPC side after the NRL season finishes in August, rugby officials wanting to see him prove his worth before offering him a Super 12 position.
Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels
Bruce Stadium; Sunday, April 16, 4.30pm.
Raiders: Brett Mullins, Mark McLinden, Luke Williamson, Brandon Costin, Lesley Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Brett Finch, Justin Morgan, Simon Woolford, Luke Davico, Anthony Colella, David Furner, Jason Croker; interchange Andrew McFadden, David Atkins, Anthony Brann, Jason Burnham.
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Luke Burt, Daniel Wagon, Stuart Kelly, Eric Grothe, Jason Smith, Ben Kusto, David Westley, Dean Schifilitti, Michael Vella, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock (c); interchange Denis Moran, Andrew Ryan, David Vaeliki, Chad Robinson.
Referee: Steve Clark
* Canberra have won five from five at home. Neither team have managed to win away from home but the Eels have come closest. They are starting to show some composure, and Jason Smith is returning to form with a vengeance in his new slot at five-eighth. Dymock takes the captaincy of a side looking as though they have lacked leadership. Junior Kiwi fullback David Vaeliki returns from a long injury layoff and will start from the bench as he works towards a full Kiwi jersey for the World Cup. The positives for the Eels could outweigh anything the Raiders show.
Peter Jessup's picks:
Sharks
Panthers
Storm
Warriors
Tigers
Broncos
Raiders
Success rate this season: 56%
Rugby League: NRL preview - Round 11
Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Sydney Sharks v Newcastle Knights
Shark Park; Friday, April 14, 9.30pm.
Sharks: David Peachey, Mat Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Paul Mellor, Colin Best, Adam Dykes, Jason Ferris, Jason Stevens, Dean Treister, Martin Lang, Nathan Long, Chris McKenna, Nick Graham; interchange Andrew Pierce, Luke Stuart, Sean Ryan, Mitch Healey.
Knights: Robbie
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