Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Auckland Warriors v Parramatta Eels
Ericsson Stadium; Friday June 30, 7.30 pm.
Warriors: David Mulhall, Odell Manuel, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Francis Meli, Cliff Beverley, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson (c), Logan Swann, Matt Spence, Monty Betham; interchange Jason Bell, Scott Coxon, Ali Lauiti'iti, Jerry Seuseu.
Eels:
Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Jamie Lyon, David Vaealiki, Luke Burt, Stuart Kelly, David Penna, Nathan Cayless (c), Daniel Irvine, Gary Larson, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon; interchange Ben Kusto, Jason Cayless, Chad Robinson, Joel Wilson.
Referee: Sean Hampstead.
* The Eels really need to win this one to lift themselves into the top eight and that alone should be the decider. Auckland have nothing to play for other than pride - a situation that produced better than creditable wins at the end of the '99 season and gave hope for 2000. There's no such upbeat feeling at the club now, the board room squabble having sunk the side after round four and clearly no one still there able to lead them out of the wilderness. A disastrous season looks set to continue with those off-contract looking elsewhere for a winning chance. There's an interesting comparison in coaching styles: Mark Graham has expected his troops to throw themselves under the bulldozer, gets too high when they do, spits the dummy when they don't, ringing changes and still not achieving the desired result; Brian Smith is always cool, calm and collected, deeply analytical of losses and gracious in victory.
Newcastle Knights v Sydney City Roosters
Marathon Stadium; Friday, June 30, 9.30 pm.
Knights: Adam MacDougall, Ben MacDougall, 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.
Roosters: Luke Phillips, Matt Sing, Ryan Cross, Shannon Hegarty, Anthony Minichiello, Brad Fittler (c), Craig Wing, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Scott Logan, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange David Solomona, Darren Burns, Dallas Hood, Julian Bailey.
Referee: Paul Simpkins.
* The Knights have lost try-scoring wing Timana Tahu, suspended for a week for a careless high tackle, but skipper Tony Butterfield has side-stepped suspension on a similar charge. Adam Fairleigh has signed for a last year at St Helens. The team is unchanged from the one which scored four tries in 12 minutes against St George last weekend and the Knights have to be favoured at Marathon where they have an 80% winning record, despite the run of form from the Roosters, now five wins on the trot. The Roosters have kept Melbourne, Parramatta and Auckland scoreless in the first 40 minutes of their last three games, and notched up 103 points for in those matches while conceding only 10. The battle of the halves should decide this, both the Johns boys and Wing and Fittler the ability to take control at any level.
Canberra Raiders v St George Illawarra Dragons
Bruce Stadium; Saturday; July 1, 4.30 pm.
Raiders: Brett Mullins, Jamaal Lolesi, Luke Williamson, Ken Nagas, Lesley Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Andrew McFadden, Todd Payten, Jason Burnham, Luke Davico, Alan Tongue, David Furner, Jason Crocker; interchange Mark McLinden, Brandon Costin, Justin Morgan, Ruben Wiki.
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 Darren Treacey, Colin Ward, Jason Hooper, Wes Patten.
Referee: Steve Clark.
* Laurie Daley goes back to five-eighth to run things for Canberra in what is a 50/50 game. Lesley Vainikolo is back, pushing Greg Wolfgramm out. Prop David Atkins is suspended for five weeks for a reckless high tackle. The relegation of Ruben Wiki to the bench and the elevation of junior Alan Tongue probably indicates the Raiders want to play an expansive game, moving the ball and the big Dragons forwards around. The Dragons are desperate for points, needing four wins from five to move up to a secure playoff spot, and looking increasingly capable of that. Rookie Jason Ryles is gone, suspended for a week. Otherwise, they're unchanged. They were lucky to get away with a win over the Knights last weekend and will need to aim up to overcome Canberra's 90% record at Bruce this season.
Wests Tigers v Sydney Sharks
Leichhardt Oval; Saturday; July 1, 9.30 pm.
Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Michael Gillett, Craig Field, John Skandalis, Darren Senter (c), Shane Walker, Mark O'Neill, Luke O'Donnell, Tyran Smith; interchange Steve Georgallis, Steve Crouch, Ben Duckworth, Richard Villasanti
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.
Referee: Bill Harrigan.
* Michael Gillett starts for the Tigers after coming on to notch two tries that turned the game against the Eels. The Sharks are unchanged. The visitors really need to nail this one if they are to have any hope in a tough run home that requires wins over the Panthers and Knights away and the Warriors at home - their only "easy" one in the chase for a playoff spot. That finals desperation could be the telling factor, though the visitors certainly have more class all over the park. With what is close to their best backline and skipper ET running his last shot at a premiership, they won't be short on determination. The Tigers have an 83% success rate at the intimidating Leichhardt Oval. What they'll miss, again, is staunch in the pack given captain Jarrod McCracken's continuing struggle with a neck injury.
North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm
Dairy Farmers Stadium; Saturday, July 1, 9.30 pm.
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.
Storm: Brad Watts, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, 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.
Referee: Moghseen Jadwat.
* Both sides are unchanged, though Chris Anderson has realigned the Storm's outside backs. Tony Martin has signed for his old side, London Broncos. Matt Geyer and Aaron Moule continue to look elsewhere, rumour having it that Brett Kimmorley's shift may dictate their futures, too, given the strong friendship between his wife Sharnie and the wives of the other pair. The Northern Eagles are said to be leading the chase for Kimmorley's autograph given the proximity of their Gosford ground to his and Sharnie's home-town of Newcastle. The visitors should have too much power, aggression, experience and determination for a Cowboys outfit still bedevilled by talk that their coach is about to be sacked. Julian O'Neill should break the Cows' club points-scoring record, needing two to surpass fullback Luke Phillips' 120 in 1997.
Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers
ANZ Stadium; Sunday, July 2, 4.30 pm.
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.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, David Woods, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Carl MacNamara, Craig Gower, Mark Geyer, Tony Puletua, Matt Adamson, John Cross; interchange Jody Gall, Scott Sattler, Frank Puletua, Lee Hopkins.
Referee: Tim Mander.
* Both sides are unchanged and this could be the match-of-the-round entertainment-wise, with both having tough packs and smart halves that work the ball well to the line to give their outsides room to move. The Broncos are unbeaten in 10 games at ANZ this season and the Panthers have never beaten them there in six starts. But Penrith have beaten Brisbane at Penrith regularly, downing them 18-2 this season, and that along with a great run of form up to last weekend's loss to the Cows will give them the confidence to believe they can take this. The Panthers have the edge in the halves with Rodwell and Carter against the rookie Berrigan and the aging Walters. Brisbane are never easy, complacency looking an equally dangerous opponent as the Panthers in what should be a home team win.
Northern Eagles v Canterbury Bulldogs
Brookvale Oval; Sunday, July 2, 4.30 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, Josh Stuart, Joel Penny.
Bulldogs: Brent Sherwin, Hazem El Masri, Darren Smith, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Shane Perry, Craig Polla-Mounter, Darren Britt (c), Jason Hetherington, Steve Price, Dennis Scott, Jamie Feeney, Glen Hughes; Corey Hughes, Nathan Sologinkin, Steve Reardon, Adam Peek.
Referee: Mark Oaten.
* Home-ground advantage should be the decider between two teams out of contention for 2000. The Eagles haven't made any changes to the side who beat North Queensland, prop Paul Stringer admitting a careless high tackle charge but escaping suspension due to his clean record. The Dogs have centre Willie Talau back after a two-month break and a game in first grade. Their hooker, Jason Hetherington, has signed for the London Broncos for next season, thereby probably relinquishing the Kangaroo rake role to Penrith's Craig Gower. Skipper Darren Britt has a big offer from England too. Daryl Halligan needs 12 points to be the first to break 2000. The home team should win this off the ruck, breaking the Dogs defence with interplay off Toovey and his backrowers.
Peter Jessup's picks:
Eels
Knights
Dragons
Sharks
Storm
Broncos
Eagles
Success rate this season: 60%
Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Auckland Warriors v Parramatta Eels
Ericsson Stadium; Friday June 30, 7.30 pm.
Warriors: David Mulhall, Odell Manuel, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Francis Meli, Cliff Beverley, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson (c), Logan Swann, Matt Spence, Monty Betham; interchange Jason Bell, Scott Coxon, Ali Lauiti'iti, Jerry Seuseu.
Eels:
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