Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Parramatta v Sydney City Roosters
Parramatta Stadium; Friday, June 16, 9.35 pm.
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Daniel Wagon, Stuart Kelly, Jason Moodie, Ben Kusto, P J Marsh, Nathan Cayless (c), Daniel Irvine, David Westley, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Luke Burt, Dallas Weston, Gary Larson.
Roosters: Luke
Phillips, Matt Sing, Ryan Cross, Shannon Hegarty, Anthony Minichiello, Brad Fittler, Adrian Lam, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Dallas Hood, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange David Solomona, Darren Burns, Craig Wing, Julian Bailey.
Referee: Bill Harrigan
* Two sides looking to consolidate top-eight positions in the run down to the playoffs, two who have trouble winning back-to-back and both winners last week. PJ Marsh gets another go at half for the home team, David Penna out with a knee strain, while stand-in stand-off Jason Smith is out four weeks with a foot injury. Wing Eric Groethe (knee) is expected back next week. The Roosters have released Quentin Pongia. Jack Elsegood is gone two weeks with an ankle strain. They'll take it to the Eels around the ruck with Fittler and Lam working the backrowers. The Eels should have more staunch up front, the game perhaps coming down to how their defence holds in the middle.
Newcastle Knights v Northern Eagles
Marathon Stadium; Saturday, June 17, 4.35 pm.
Knights: Adam MacDougall, Timana Tahu, Matthew Gidley, Mark Hughes, Lenny Beckett, Sean Rudder, Andrew Johns, Tony Butterfield, Danny Buderus, Clinton O'Brien, David Fairleigh, Steve Simpson, Bill Peden; interchange Paul Rauhihi, Troy Fletcher, Josh Perry, Ben Donaldson.
Eagles: Andrew King, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Nigel Roy, Brendon Reeves, Matt Orford, Jason Taylor, Paul Stringer, Geoff Toovey, Steve Trindall, Dragan Durdevic, Adam Muir, Steve Menzies; interchange Owen Cunningham, Alex Chan, Jamie Goddard, Greg Ebrill.
Referee: Tony Archer
* The Knights don't lose much at Marathon. They'll also be out to avenge their first-round loss to their neighbours at Gosford. Interesting match-ups in the halves, where Jason Taylor has been struggling for form for the Eagles but is in because Michael Buettner has a blood clot in his thigh, Matt Orford in Taylor's usual spot at standoff; the Knights have converted secondrower Sean Rudder there in Mattie Johns' absence (foot). The home side have a more powerful forward pack, more speed and power out wide, and are playing with confidence. The Eagles have no playoff hopes and it's hard to see them lifting to even keep the score down in this, let alone win it, especially given the repeated statements by Joey Johns about winning the last-chance title with his brother.
Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders
Stadium Australia; Saturday, June 17, 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, Willie Mason, Jamie Feeney, Nathan Sologinkin.
Raiders: Brett Mullins, Jamaal Lolesi, Luke Williamson, Anthony Swann, Greg Wolfgramm, Mark McLinden, Andrew McFadden, Todd Payten, Simon Woolford, Luke Davico, Jason Crocker, David Furner, Laurie Daley (c); interchange Brandon Costin, Justin Morgan, Ruben Wiki, Alan Tongue.
Referee: Tim Mander
* Daryl Halligan should pass Mick Cronin's all-time points-scoring record this weekend, three to go to equal Cronin's 1971. That alone might be enough to lift the home team to a win over a Raiders side that has struggled to win away. The Bulldogs should have the edge up front and if their defence works as it is trained to the Raiders won't have the time to set the Mac Attack alight. The Raiders have two advantages, the class in the backrow with Furner, Crocker and Daley and the ability to score from anywhere from broken play. The Dogs can shut both avenues down by controlling the game via their defence. Rumour has Brad Clyde off to Wigan, boss Maurice Lindsay refusing to confirm or deny.
North Queensland Cowboys v Penrith Panthers
Dairy Farmers; Saturday, June 17, 9.35 pm.
Cowboys: Tim Brasher, Adam Connelly, Julian O'Neill, Paul Bowman, Brian Jellick, Scott Prince, Nathan Fien, John Buttigieg, Leigh McWilliams, Robert Relf, Glen Morrison, Peter Jones, Kyle Warren; interchange Jeremy Schloss, Shaun Valentine, Mark Shipway, Ben Rauter.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, Shane Elford, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Craig Greenhill, Craig Gower, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Matt Adamson, Scott Sattler; interchange Mark Geyer, Jody Gall, Lee Hopkins, David Woods.
Referee: Sean Hampstead
* Coach Tim Sheens is again apparently under threat given the Cows' poor run, despite the club signing him for five years after similar disgruntlement last season. That won't help the cause. They're still well down on experience due to injury but for once have something close to a first-choice back five. The Cows might be dangerous from broken play given the ability of Brasher and Co. But they'll be lucky to see anything other than broken play given the lack of pack-power. Penrith are riding high after six wins, victory here to secure a club and Aussie premiership all-time wins-on-the-trot record of seven, that itself an incredible measure of how tough this comp has always been.
Sydney Sharks v St George Illawarra Dragons
Toyota Park; Sunday, June 18, 4.35 pm.
Sharks: David Peachey, Mat Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Russell Richardson, Colin Best, Adam Dykes, Blaine Stanley, Jason Stevens, Dean Treister, Martin Lang, Chris McKenna, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Andrew Pierce, Sean Ryan, Paul Mellor, Mitch Healey.
Dragons: Amos Roberts, Nathan Blacklock, Jamie Ainscough, Lee Murphy, Lee Hookey, Trent Barrett, Luke Branighan, Luke Bailey, Nathan Brown (c), Craig Smith (c), Terry Lamey, Andrew Hart, Wayne Bartrim; interchange Darren Treacy, Jason Hooper, Colin Ward, Wes Patten.
Referee: Steve Clark
* The grudge match of the round, next-door neighbours who don't talk to each other, both just off the eight and desperate to turn around disappointing seasons. The Dragons have been running hot since the depaerture of Anthony Mundine, none more so than the man who has his spot, and here it could be Trent Barrett's brilliance that sways things. Both sides have good ground-making props and quick workers to take advantage of that, both have long and short-range kickers, both have class backrowers and both have pace out wide. All that should add up to the match of the round in terms of talent and intensity.
Brisbane Broncos v Wests Tigers
ANZ Stadium; Sunday, June 18, 4.35 pm.
Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Tonie Carroll, Michael De Vere, Wendell Sailor, Shaun Berrigan, Kevin Walters (c), Shane Webcke, Luke Priddis, Brad Meyers, Gorden Tallis, Brad Thorn, Kevin Campion; interchange: Ashley Harrison, Michael Hancock, Shane Walker, Harvey Howard.
Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, John Carlaw, John Hopoate, Ben Duckworth, Craig Field, John Skandalis, Darren Senter (c), Justin Doyle, Mark O'Neill, Hayes Lauder, Tyran Smith; interchange Ciriaco Mescia, Michael Gillett, Steve Georgallis, Richard Villasanti.
Referee: Paul Simpkins
* The Tigers' destructive style may be toned down this weekend after the brawl-in with the Dragons last weekend, their overly-aggressive approach not likely to please either the NRL or coach Wayne Pearce when it leads to send-offs and suspensions. This is the game where aggro was their only chance given the class the Broncos have all over the park and the difficulty of downing them in front of their home crowd. Jarrod McCracken's neck injury fails to repair. The Broncos have re-signed Fijian prop Petero Civonceva, still sidelined with a broken arm, and young wing Lote Tuquri, for a further two seasons. Brad Thorn continues to weigh options in rugby, Tonie Carroll looks likely to go to Leeds, Wigan dropping off after spending up big on Adrian Lam.
Melbourne Storm v Auckland Warriors
Olympic Park; Sunday, June 18, 4.35 pm.
Storm: Matt Geyer, Brad Watts, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Paul Marquet, Matt Rua, Scott Hill; interchange Danny Williams, Ben Roarty, Russell Bawden, Brett O'Farrell.
Warriors: David Mulhall, Henry Faafili, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Lee Oudenryn, Cliff Beverley, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Jerry Seuseu, Logan Swann, Matt Spence, Scott Coxon; interchange Shontayne Hape, Jonathon Smith, Ali Lauitiiti, Mark Tookey.
Referee: Mark Oaten
* Tony Martin remains in doubt with a pinched shoulder nerve but will play if he passes a late fitness test. Marcus Bai has re-signed for two years and the Storm have kept their international pack together, Kiwis Richard Swain, Steve Kearney and Matt Rua also signed a further two seasons. Now they're focusing on half Kimmorley but the retention of the pack may go a long way to holding him there too. Other clubs would be keen to see the salary cap examiners might do well to look at how the Storm can afford a better-than-even share of the best going around. Auckland have made changes to give youngsters Cliff Beverley, Henry Faafili and Jonathon Smith a chance to press claims for a contract and a place for 2001. They don't have the experience to win.
Peter Jessup's picks:
Eels
Knights
Bulldogs
Panthers
Dragons
Broncos
Storm
Success rate this season: 57%
Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Parramatta v Sydney City Roosters
Parramatta Stadium; Friday, June 16, 9.35 pm.
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Daniel Wagon, Stuart Kelly, Jason Moodie, Ben Kusto, P J Marsh, Nathan Cayless (c), Daniel Irvine, David Westley, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Luke Burt, Dallas Weston, Gary Larson.
Roosters: Luke
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