Rugby League: NRL Preview - Round 23

Compiled by PETER JESSUP

Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights

Parramatta Stadium; Friday, July 06, 9.30 pm.

Eels: Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Jamie Lyon, David Vaealiki, Jason Moodie, Jason Smith, David Penna, Nathan Cayless (c), Daniel Irvine, David Westley, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon; interchange Stuart Kelly, Dallas Westen, Jim Dymock, Chad Robinson.

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

Referee: Tim Mander

* The Eels have lost prop Michael Vella (ankle) until, and if, they make the playoffs, David Westley makes a timely return from suspension, Jason Smith comes back from an ankle problem to take the five-eighths role and Dymock strengthens the bench. All that and a home crowd probably won't be enough to stall a Knights side set for the grand final and already playing that type of football. They have Tahu back from suspension and Shiels in after a long injury break. Flying wing Darren Albert (foot) and fullback Robbie O'Davis (knee) are expected to come back to first division next week after long-term injuries to boost the run at the playoffs.

Melbourne Storm v Canterbury Bulldogs

Olympic Park; Saturday, July 08, 4.30 pm.

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

Bulldogs: Hazem El Masri, Gavin Lester, Darren Smith, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Brent Sherwin, Corey Hughes, Darren Britt (c), Jason Hetherington, Steve Price, Steve Reardon, Jamie Feeney, Glen Hughes; interchange Craig Polla-Mounter, Willie Mason, Adam Peek, Dennis Scott.

Referee: Steve Clark

* The Storm have lost prop Howe for two weeks after surgery to scrape cartilage from his shoulder. O'Farrell, from Brisbane Norths, is the replacement. new-buy Pomery, formerly at Wests, is on the bench. Centre Tony Martin returns after a neck injury. The Dogs have shuffled the backline again. That will be no comfort against the Storm as they seek the wins that need to be secured to ensure a second life in the playoffs. The loss of Ricky Stuart looms large as the factor in their undoing. Canterbury remain in the hunt for Warrior Nigel Vagana. His agent was in Auckland this week to table offers from there and England.

Sydney Sharks v Auckland Warriors

Toyota Park; Saturday, July 08, 9.30 pm.

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

Warriors: Clinton Toopi, Odell Manuel, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Francis Meli, John Simon (c), Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson, Logan Swann, Monty Betham, Jason Death; interchange Cliff Beverley, Scott Coxon, Ali Lauiti'iti, Mark Tookey.

Referee: Moghseen Jadwat

* The Warriors will certainly be better all round for having Simon back to gain territory and direct the game, and Death to gee up the pack. The Sharks are certain to attack the back given the trial of Toopi and the shakiness of the flank cover. Toopi, though, is a strong and gutsy player, talented enough to worry them with kick returns. Let's hope he can catch the high ball. Sharks second-row Origin player Chris McKenna is out with a rib cartilage tear, but they are otherwise at full strength. The Warriors can't afford to give the home team any room in broken play, an intense kick chase and unified defensive line critical.

Penrith Panthers v St George Illawarra Dragons

Penrith Park; Saturday, July 08, 9.30 pm.

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, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Jody Gall, David Woods, Scott Sattler.

Dragons: Amos Roberts, Nathan Blacklock, Jason Hooper, 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, Jason Ryles, Ben Hornby, Wes Patten.

Referee: Bill Harrigan

* The home side have prop Greenhill back from suspension and will be out to impress home fans, resurrect their finals run and rub out memories of the thrashing in Brisbane. It's a hard ask, though, against a Dragons unit starting to fire its own premiership run. The Dragons will be without accomplished centre Jamie Ainscough for the rest of the season after he suffered ruptured tendons in his bicep, requiring surgery, and their young backline is sure to be tested by Carter and Girdler. Darren Treacey had to pass a fitness test (foot). The Panthers have won six from nine at home, the Dragons four from 11 away.

Canberra Raiders v Sydney City Roosters

Bruce Stadium; Sunday, July 09, 4.30 pm.

Raiders: Brett Mullins, Jamaal Lolesi, Luke Williamson, Ken Nagas, Lesley Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Andrew McFadden, Todd Payten, Simon Woolford, Luke Davico, Ruben Wiki, David Furner, Jason Crocker; interchange Mark McLinden, Alan Tongue, Adam Peters, Justin Morgan.

Roosters: Luke Phillips, Robert Miles, 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, Shane Rigon.

Referee: Paul Simpkins

* The Raiders have a stronger side than that which lost to the Dragons at Bruce last week. Daley stays at five-eighth. Though he played little of the game there last week, that's when they looked most dangerous, his vision giving space to "The Hats" in McFadden and McLinden. Wiki will boost the attack power in plays three and four. But all that might not be enough to contain a Roosters side out to restore pride and confidence after a demolition in Newcastle. In doubt for the Roosters are Rubin (calf) and Logan (corked thigh), their pack seriously weakened should they lose them. Wing Jack Elsegood is back to first grade after an ankle sprain and should return next week.

Brisbane Broncos v Northern Eagles

ANZ Stadium, Sunday, July 09, 4.30 pm.

Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Tonie Carroll, Michael De Vere, Wendell Sailor, Ben Ikin, Kevin Walters (c), Shane Webcke, Luke Priddis, Dane Carlaw, Gorden Tallis, Brad Thorn, Kevin Campion; interchange Shane Walker, Ashley Harrison, Danny Bampton, Bradley Meyers.

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

Referee: Mark Oaten

* Broncos wing Michael Hancock is suspended for a week following a dangerous throw. They have Ikin back at five-eighth and were suggesting dumped Cowboy Paul Green might come on to the bench after he played well in Townsville for the Ipswich feeder club last weekend. Coach Wayne Bennett, asked this week if they were good enough to go all the way, said the backs were and the pack was yet to prove it was. The Broncos, averaging 40-odd points in recent games, should have far too much flair for the visitors in the backline. The Eagles' hopes again lie in playing their talented backrowers off the ruck, that game-plan sure to get vastly more dangerous when Brett Kimmorley joins them next season.

North Queensland v Wests Tigers

Dairy Farmers Stadium; Sunday, July 09, 4.30 pm.

Cowboys: Damien Smith, Graham Appo, Julian O'Neill (c), Paul Bowman, Brian Jellick, Scott Prince, Nathan Fien, John Buttigieg, Leigh Williams, Robert Relf, Glen Morrison, Peter Jones, Kyle Warren; interchange Jeremy Schloss, Mark Shipway, John Manning, Daniel Strickland.

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.

Referee: Sean Hampstead

* The Cows are going to win one soon and everyone's picking this as it. They've looked more settled, pushing Melbourne all the way in Townsville last week. They will miss captain Brasher at the back but still have speed and agility there, the question being whether their forwards will foot it with a Tigers pack that likes to crash, smash and bash. The Tigers are unchanged from last week. They are keen to settle critics' calls that they can't push on through to the finals, and playing confident football via Craig Field's direction. This is the closest call of the round, kicks maybe the decider, and O'Neill the better at that.

Peter Jessup's picks:

Knights

Storm

Sharks

Dragons

Roosters

Broncos

Cowboys

Success rate this season: 61%