Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels
Penrith Stadium; Friday, May 19, 7.30 pm.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, David Woods, Shane Elford, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Carl Macnamara, Craig Gower, Craig Greenhill, Matt Adamson, Tony Puletua, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Frank Puletua, Scott Sattler, Lee Hopkins.
Eels:
Brett Hodgson, Clinton Schifcoscke, Daniel Wagon, Stuart Kelly, Jason Moodie, Ben Kusto, PJ Marsh, Michael Vella, Dean Schifilliti, David Westley, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock (c); interchange Dennis Moran, Andrew Ryan, David Vaeliki, Gary Larson.
Referee: Steve Clark.
* The Panthers are coming out the other side of their injury fog and have a strong and settled line-up for this match. Kiwi Tony Puletua has been in devastating form and his little bro gets a run this weekend, which should fire both up. The home side lose only Ryan Girdler to Origin. David Woods is back after a sternum injury. The visitors have Michael Vella back after an ordinary performance for the Blues and lose Jason Smith. Smith's vision and direction will be missed at standoff and that may be the weak link in the Eels' game plan. Their captain, Nathan Cayless, should be ready for a return next weekend.
Auckland Warriors v Canterbury Bulldogs
Ericsson Stadium, Saturday, May 20, 4.30 pm.
Warriors: Scott Pethybridge, Odell Manuel, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Lee Oudenryn, John Simon (c), Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson, Logan Swann, Tony Tuimavave, Monty Betham; interchange Jason Bell Shontayne Hape, Ali Lauiti'iti, Jerry Seuseu.
Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Hazem El Masri, Glen Hughes, Shane Marteene, Daryl Halligan, Brent Sherwin, Ricky Stuart, Dennis Scott, Adam Perry, Darren Britt (c), Steve Reardon, Brad Clyde, Travis Norton; interchange Craig Polla-Mounter, Jamie Feeney, Barry Ward, Willie Mason.
Referee: Mark Oaten.
* You have to hesitate before picking the Warriors, given the infrequency with which they win two on the trot. But the adversary of the past few weeks might finally begin to pay off. They have the measure of the Dogs, evidence the 18-all draw in Sydney. All they need to do is to shut down Ricky Stuart, remove his thinking time and cut off the long pass and the well-directed bomb or grubber. Stuart was charged with punching Andrew Johns but escaped suspension because of his clean record after pleading guilty. The Lauiti'iti fiasco provided a rare Warriors win in the judiciary and the momentum should carry over.
Sydney Sharks v Canberra Raiders
Shark Park; Saturday, May 20, 9.30 pm.
Sharks: Preston Campbell, Ronald Prince, Paul Mellor, Paul Donaghy, Colin Best, Adam Dykes, Blaine Stanley, Tim Maddison, Dean Treister, Andrew Pierce, Chris McKenna, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Chris Beattie, Paul McNicholas, Sean Ryan, Mitch Healey.
Raiders: Brett Mullins, Mark McLinden, Luke Williamson, Anthony Swann, Lesley Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Brett Finch, Luke Davico, Lincoln Withers, Todd Payten, Justin Morgan, Alan Tongue, Jason Croker; interchange Brandon Costin, Terry Martin, Ruben Wiki, Mark Corvo.
Referee: Tim Mander.
* The Raiders don't win away from Bruce. The Sharks have a better than 70 per cent average at home. So this should be an easy bet. The Sharks are still strong enough up front - despite the loss of both props, Martin Lang and Jason Stevens, to Origin - to take on a depleted Raiders' front row. Kiwi Ruben Wiki comes back after his broken arm. The Raiders are still struggling with Brett Mullins' teenage behaviour. Skipper Laurie Daley raised his retirement with ceo Kevin Neil this week, betting a dollar each way but setting a deadline decision of two weeks. That's more reason they'll be shaky. Captaincy is an issue for the Sharks, ET still a week away and David Peachey out of this and the Origin with a hamstring tear.
Sydney City Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons
Sydney Football Stadium;Saturday, May 20, 9.30 pm.
Roosters: Luke Phillips, Shannon Hegarty, Ryan Cross, Matt Sing, Robert Miles, Craig Wing, Nat Wood, Scott Logan, Simon Bonetti, Ian Rubin, Luke Ricketson (c), Craig Fitzgibbon, Darren Burns; interchange Andrew Lomu, Dallas Hood, David Solomona, Julian Bailey.
Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Lee Hookey, Jason Hooper, Amos Roberts, Trent Barrett, Luke Branighan, Luke Bailey, Nathan Brown (c), Corey Pearson, Andrew Hart, Darren Treacey, Wayne Bartrim; interchange Terry Lamey, Chris Leikvoll, Jamie Fitzgerald, Lee Murphy.
Referee: Sean Hampstead.
* The Dragons lose plenty of strike power in the centres without Shaun Timmins and Jamie Ainscough. For the Roosters its the halves that count, Fittler and Lam gone. The latter will be more telling, the Roosters like headless chooks without their two star organisers. Trent Barrett has been in top form since the shift to his favoured standoff spot and he and Nathan Brown will look to kick in behind the Roosters' defensive line and work the inexperience in the inside backs. Wayne Bartrim is back after suspension and will aid that cause.
Wests Tigers v Northern Eagles
Leichhardt Oval; Sunday, May 21, 4.30 pm.
Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, John Carlaw, Michael Gillett, Ben Duckworth, Craig Field, Mark Stimson, Darren Senter (c), Shane Walker, Mark O'Neill, John Hopoate, Tyran Smith; interchange Ciriaco Mescia, Luke O'Donnell, Steve Georgalis, Mark Stimson.
Eagles: Andrew King, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Nigel Roy, Joshua Smith, Michael Bugatti, Matt Orford, Paul Stringer, Jamie Goddard, Josh Stuart, Daniel Gartner, Owen Cunningham (c), Steve Menzies; interchange Jay Bandie, Steve Trindall, Alex Chan, Dragon Durdevic.
Referee: Tony Archer.
* The Tigers will be without skipper Jarrod McCracken after the spear tackle that fellow-Kiwi Steve Kearney and Storm wing Marcus Bai put on him last weekend. McCracken had scans that revealed strained ligaments both sides of his neck and was wearing a brace this week, but is expected to come right within a fortnight. Terry Hill has a foot injury. Eagles coach Peter Sharp has dropped Jason Taylor back to first grade to rediscover his confidence. Manly junior Matt Orford at half in a big gamble. That's where the Tigers will apply pressure, with Craig Field certain to work over his young opponent.
North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Sunday, May 21, 4.30 pm.
Cowboys: Chad Halliday, Adam Connelly, Geoff Bell, Graham Appo, Naipolioni Kuricibi, Scott Prince, Paul Green, Shaun Valentine, Leigh McWilliams, Robert Relf, Mark Shipway, Glenn Morrison, Jeremy Schloss; interchange Shane Kenward, Nathan Fien, Peter Jones, John Buttigieg.
Knights: Daniel Abraham, Justin Ryder, Timana Tahu, Mark Hughes, Lenny Beckett, Matthew Johns, Justin Holbrook, Clinton O'Brien, Danny Buderus, Tony Butterfield (c), Steve Simpson, Bill Peden; interchange Matt Parsons, Troy Fletcher, Glenn Grief, Sean Rudder.
Referee: Paul Simpkins.
* Tim Brasher and Julian O'Neill are whistled back from the representative wilderness and with Bowman gone, too, there are big holes out back for the Cows. Prop Martin Locke is gone, too, probably for the season, after popping a recurring shoulder injury. Kyle Warren has a thigh cork. The Knights have internal problems after announcing Matthew Johns would be let go, his bro and the team not impressed. Given that angst, the ongoing injury cloud over both Johns boys, Ben Kennedy and Adam MacDougall's inclusion in the Blues, and Andrew Johns' omission because of his groin and they're as vulnerable as they'll be all year, but still far too good for the Cows.
Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos
Olympic Park; Sunday, May 21, 4.30 pm.
Storm: Matt Geyer, Fifita Maola, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Brad Watts, Tasesa Lavea, Glen Carmichael, John Lomax, Richard Swain (c), Brett O'Farrell, Paul Marquet, Ben Roarty, Matt Rua; interchange Danny Williams, Wade Fenton, Peter Robinson, Glen Turner.
Broncos: Lote Tuqiri, Michael Hancock, Danny Bampton, Michael De Vere, Chris Walker, Shaun Berrigan,Kevin Walters (c), Petero Civoniceva, Luke Priddis, Dane Carlaw, Bradley Myers, Ashley Harrison, Kevin Campion; interchange; Shane Walker, Darren Mapp, Carl Webb, Harvey Howard.
Referee: Mogsheen Jadwat.
* Two Origin-depleted line-ups, the Broncos without Gorden Tallis, Darren Lockyer, Wendell Sailor, Ben Ikin and Brad Thorn, and the Storm minus Brett Kimmorley, Rodney Howe, Robbie Kearns, Scott Hill, with Stephen Kearney out suspended again. Not considered were forwards Wayne Evans, fused disc and gone for the season, but John Lomax is to try a second comeback from a long-term achilles injury. The Storm have an enviable record at their home base. The extra experience carried by their Kiwi pairing, Swain, elevated to captain, and Rua is crucial and they must step up and show leadership.
Peter Jessup picks:
Panthers
Warriors
Sharks
Dragons
Storm
Tigers
Knights
Success rate this season: 52%
Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels
Penrith Stadium; Friday, May 19, 7.30 pm.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, David Woods, Shane Elford, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Carl Macnamara, Craig Gower, Craig Greenhill, Matt Adamson, Tony Puletua, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Frank Puletua, Scott Sattler, Lee Hopkins.
Eels:
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