Rugby League: NRL Preview - Round 24

Compiled by PETER JESSUP

Newcastle Knights v Sydney Sharks

Marathon Stadium; Friday, July 14, 9.30pm.

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

Sharks: David Peachey (c), Mat Rogers, Colin Best, Russell Richardson, Brett Howland, Adam Dykes, Blaine Stanley, Jason Stevens, Shannon Donato, Martin Lang, Sean Ryan, Andrew Pierce, Nick Graham; interchange Chris Beattie, Luke Stuart, Paul Mellor, Mitch Healey.

Referee: Steve Clark

* Flying, tryscoring wing Darren Albert comes back after a foot injury but the Knights are otherwise unchanged after grinding out a win at Parramatta. The Sharks have lost captain Andrew Ettingshausen after he suffered a pinched nerve in his lower back minutes into the game against Auckland. He plans to be back next week for their last home game, against the Eels. But without the leadership this may be the Sharks' stumbling block, their tentative points-gap hold on eighth place unlikely to survive a single loss and their games after this, Eels then Penrith away, no easy tasks. The Knights have an easier run in with the Tigers away and the Bulldogs at home.

Parramatta v Canberra

Parramatta Stadium; Saturday, July 15, 4.35 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.

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.

Referee: Bill Harrigan

* Both sides are unchanged. The Raiders are running hot at the right time, the Eels continue to be sporadic, brilliance mixed with some ordinary play. They had Jason Smith and Daniel Wagon before the judiciary this week, both denying high shots on Knight Adam MacDougall, . Canberra were hoping to re-sign Vainikolo this week after completing a deal to keep Lolesi. They have the Storm and Cowboys away after this, the Eels have the Sharks and Dragons away. The home ground should sway things in what promises to be a close game, the Eels only just in the eight and keen to avenge the home loss to the Knights last week.

Auckland Warriors v North Queensland

Ericsson Stadium; Saturday, July 15, 5.35 pm.

Warriors: Clinton Toopi, Odell Manuel, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Henry Faafili, 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, Matt Spence.

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

Referee: Moghseen Jadwat

* Uncertainty over the coaching positions at both clubs is certain to be preying on the minds of all 34 players. That's the sort of pressure that the home team should cope best with and a supportive crowd could well carry the Warriors home as the Cows fall to an anxiety attack. They were way better last week with John Simon back and if he can keep the visitors camped in their own territory with his kicking game they will eventually crumble. What the Warriors have to watch is chasing the kicks to kill the broken play attack from the Cows' backline, because that looks the visitors' best line of attack given that their forwards are not good enough to get over the Warriors.

Northern Eagles v Melbourne Storm

Gosford Stadium; Saturday, July 15, 9.35 pm.

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

Storm: Brad Watts, Fifita Moala, Aaron Moule, Matt Geyer, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Stephen Kearney, Matt Rua, Paul Marquet, Scott Hill; interchange Danny Williams, Peter Robinson, Russell Bawden, Ben Roarty.

Referee: Sean Hampstead

* The Eagles have lost Daniel Gartner but are otherwise unchanged and will be out to confirm their ability for next season, to confirm to the Gosford doubters that it's worth buying tickets for 2001. This promises to fire given the Eagles purchase of Storm half Brett Kimmorley, the ruckus over the test star cited by Storm coach Chris Anderson as one of the reasons they fell to the Bulldogs in the upset of the round last weekend. Fullback Robbie Ross is refusing to re-sign until they sign a halfback. The visitors have lost centre Tony Martin, pinched nerve in the neck. Steve Kearney returns after a two-month suspension for his spear tackle on Jarrod McCracken and goes to prop to replace Rodney Howe, shoulder arthroscope.

St George Illawarra v Brisbane Broncos

Wollongong Stadium; Sunday, July 16, 4.35 pm.

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.

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, Michael Hancock, Bradley Meyers.

Referee: Mark Oaten

* The Dragons are unchanged despite their ordinary performance last weekend at Canberra. The Broncos have Hancock back to the bench after suspension. Speculation continues that Brad Thorn is going to rugby but the big second-rower has remained silent, probably because he fears confirmation of a deal to play in the NPC with Canterbury might mean he's dropped from the team as it runs through the semis - unlikely, given his ability. The Dragons have to win this if they are to keep any playoff hopes alive, the Broncos already have the minor premiership wrapped up and that difference in desire to win may carry the home side to victory over the comp leaders, whose losses have all been away from their home at ANZ.

Sydney City Roosters v Penrith Panthers

Sydney Football Stadium; Sunday, July 16, 4.35 pm.

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, Dean Widders; interchange David Solomona, Darren Burns, Dallas Hood, Julian Bailey.

Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, Shane Elford, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Craig Greenhill, Brad Drew, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Matt Adamson, John Cross; interchange Ned Catic, Jody Gall, David Woods, Scott Sattler.

Referee: Tim Mander

* This may be one of the most important games of the season for both sides as they scrap for playoff places, the loser likely to drop out of the top four positions that ensure a second life. The Panthers have lost Craig Gower, the Roosters will miss Luke Ricketson just as much. Otherwise both sides are largely unchanged but the Panthers should have a good deal more confidence given the home ground, a win last week, and the fact the Roosters have conceded 86 points in their last two games. The halves pairing of Wing and Fittler isn't near as effective of that of Lam and Fittler and, given that, the Roosters backline has been struggling to break the line.

Canterbury Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Stadium Australia; Sunday, July 16, 4.35 pm.

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.

Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Ben Duckworth, Craig Field, John Skandalis, Darren Senter (c), Shane Walker, Mark O'Neill, Luke O'Donnell, Tyran Smith; interchange Steve Georgallis, Ben Galea, Michael Gillett, Richard Villasanti.

Referee: Paul Simpkins

* The Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes put last weekends' upset win over the Storm down to the feeling generated by the death of club stalwart Peter Moore. They don't have that inspiration this week and the Tigers will be desperate given their placing one out of the eight. The sides are unchanged. Kiwi Tyran Smith has an offer to go to the London Broncos, big buyers in the NRL this season. Villasanti's form led to his being named in the Kiwi World Cup train-on squad. Canterbury remain in hot pursuit of outside backs including Warrior Nigel Vagana, their management apparently making thrice-daily calls to Vagana's agent and twice increasing their offer to Auckland's top try-scorer.

Peter Jessup's picks:

Knights

Eels

Warriors

Eagles

Dragons

Panthers

Tigers


Success rate this season: 61%