Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Sydney City Roosters v Brisbane Broncos
Sydney Football Stadium; Friday, July 28, 9.30 pm.
Roosters: Luke Phillips, Matt Sing, Ryan Cross, Shannon Hegarty, Anthony Minichiello, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Quentin Pongia, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange Darren Burns, Dallas Hood, Craig Wing,
Julian Bailey.
Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuqiri, Tonie Carroll, Michael De Vere, Wendell Sailor, Ben Ikin, Kevin Walters (c), Harvey Howard, Luke Priddis, Dane Carlaw, Gorden Tallis, Brad Thorn, Kevin Campion; interchange Shane Walker, Ashley Harrison, Michael Hancock, Bradley Meyers.
Referee: Mark Oaten
* The Roosters are a good bet here, the odds swayed by Brisbane's run of form, but they're away from home, got bashed by the Warriors last weekend and have nothing to play for given the minor premiership is in the bag. The Roosters have lost props Scott Logan and David Solomona for two weeks each through suspension. Kiwi captain Quentin Pongia is set to make a return after a long-term arm injury. The Lam-Fittler combo is gearing up for the finals and, with Ricketson back at lock defence, will improve. The Broncos this week re-signed prop Carl Webb, who was then suspended for a high tackle on Warrior Robert Mears. Bench prop Meyers had an ankle turn, Brad Thorn a hamstring strain and both missed training this week, but are expected to be okay.
Wests Tigers v Melbourne Storm
Campbelltown Stadium; Saturday, July 29, 4.35 pm.
Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Steve Georgalis, Craig Field, John Skandalis, Darren Senter (c), Richard Villasanti, Mark O'Neill, Luke O'Donnell, Tyran Smith; interchange Ciriaco Mescia, Ben Galea, Steve Crouch, Kyle Leuleuai.
Storm: Matt Geyer, Brad Watts, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Stephen Kearney, Paul Marquet, Scott Hill; interchange Danny Williams, Brenton Pomery, Russell Bawden, Ben Roarty.
Referee: Steve Clark
* Steve Georgalis goes to five-eighth for the home team - the fourth tried this season by the Tigers - after Ben Duckworth announced he was off to Parramatta and was dropped, while Lavea comes back for the Storm. The performance of those two looks to be critical, Lavea with the talent edge, Georgalis the experience. The Storm looked out of sorts last week, the transfer of Kimmorley blamed for distracting them to let Canberra in. They've lost Matt Rua to suspension for this game for a careless high tackle, Marquet moving up and Pomery coming on to the bench. The Storm have more to play for, wanting to take winning form into the finals and the outside chance they could move to a two-life, home advantage top four spot if they win and others above them fall.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Parramatta Eels
Sydney Football Stadium: Saturday, July 29, 9.30 pm.
Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Jason Hooper, Lee Hookey, Amos Roberts, Trent Barrett, Luke Branighan, Craig Smith (c), Nathan Brown (c), Luke Bailey, Terry Lamey, Darren Treacey, Justin Smith; interchange Robbie Simpson, Jason Ryles, Daniel Heckenberg, Wes Patten.
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Pat Richards, Jamie Lyon, David Vaealiki, Jason Moodie, Stuart Kelly, PJ Marsh, Nathan Cayless (c), Dean Schiffiliti, Michael Vella, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon; interchange Jim Dymock, Andrew Ryan, Gary Larson, Clinton Schifcoske.
Referee: Tim Mander
* PJ Marsh goes to half for the home team after David Penna's season and possibly his career was ended when his neck was broken by the Sharks' Andrew Pierce, whose penalty of a one-week suspension seems incredibly light. If the Eels win and other results go their way they could move up to the top four. The Dragons can draw level with the eighth-placed Sharks but can't get in because of inferior points differential. They'll be playing for pride and at St George that means plenty, so the even-odds betting is a fair reflection. Andrew Hart is out after a confrontation with Lance Thompson which apparently arose as an argument over who would take Darren Treacey's jersey when he retires at the end of the season. The pair apparently brawled for 10 minutes, Hart winning the fight and losing his starting place.
North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders
Townsville Stadium; Saturday, July 29, 9.30 pm.
Cowboys: Damien Smith, Naipolioni Kuricibi, Julian O'Neill (c), Paul Bowman, Brian Jellick, Scott Prince, Nathan Fien, John Buttigieg, Paul Dezolt, Robert Relf, Glenn Morrison, John Manning, Peter Jones; interchange Graham Appo, Mark Shipway, Daniel Strickland, Shaun Valentine.
Raiders: Ken Nagas, Mark McLinden, Jamaal Lolesi, Luke Williamson, Lesley Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Brett Finch, Ruben Wiki, Andrew McFadden, Luke Davico, Brett Finch, David Furner, Jason Crocker; interchange Terry Martin, Todd Payten, Adam Peters, Brad Kelly.
Referee: Moghseen Jadwat
* The home team lose Kyle Warren, suspended a week for a high tackle. Their frontrow powers up with Buttigieg's return and meets a makeshift Raiders' frontrow with Wiki again sent forward and McFadden at hooker, which is bound to take some of the sting out of his usual attacking buzzabout. Canberra have lost Brandon Costin for three weeks after a high tackle on Richard Swain. Their skipper Daley was relieved to find the hamstring problem that took him off the field last week against the Sharks was revealed by MRI scan as being a strain rather than a tear and he hopes to play out the season with that and his bad knee. What odds on Mark Graham ending up back at Townsville after Tim Sheens is sacked? The Cowboys board has declared its interest by making inquiries in Auckland about what has gone wrong at the Warriors.
Auckland Warriors v Northern Eagles
Ericsson Stadium; Sunday, July 30, 4.30 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 Henry Perenara, Matt Spence, Scott Coxon, Ali Lauiti'iti.
Eagles: Brandon Reeves, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Andrew King, Joel Penny, Michael Buettner, Matt Orford, Mark O'Meley, Geoff Toovey (c), Paul Stringer, Adam Muir, Steve Menzies, Owen Cunningham: interchange Daniel Gartner, Steve Trindall, Josh Stuart, Jamie Goddard.
Referee: Tony Archer
* The Warriors will go out to take this one as a mark of respect for workhorse Terry Hermansson. When playing on emotion they can be very good, as Stacey Jones can recall for his 100th against Newcastle last season. They'll take some confidence from the 10-all halftime result against Brisbane and the way they came back to score two tries at the death, and should go out to prove their worth. Some have extra to prove, playing for new contracts. Eagles' backrower Gartner has been told he's not wanted next year and responded by saying he'd go to England because he doesn't want to play against his old club. There's been a refereeing change, Paul Simpkins named but then dropped by boss Peter Louis after his poor performance last week in the Eels-Sharks game. Replacement Tony Archer has not found favour with the Warriors in earlier engagements.
Penrith Panthers v Sydney Sharks
Penrith Stadium; Sunday, July 30, 4.30 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, Scott Sattler, Brad Drew.
Sharks: David Peachey (c), Mat Rogers, Colin Best, Russell Richardson, Brett Howland, Adam Dykes, Jason Ferris, Jason Stevens, Shannon Donato, Martin Lang, Sean Ryan, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Chris Beattie, Luke Stuart, Paul Mellor, Sam Isemonger.
Referee: Bill Harrigan
* Sharks skipper ET is rested ahead of the finals with back strain. Half Mitch Healey is suspended, after a high shot with the elbow and, with Blaine Stanley injured, they go back to third-choice Jason Ferris and their finals run may stand or fall on his returns. Jason Stevens suffered a back strain last week and was ordinary, but is said to be okay for this. Andrew Pierce is suspended a week for his high shot on David Penna. They'll struggle at the Panthers' lair, the home side fizzing on team spirit. Hooker Gower was unbelievable last week, his backing-up producing four tries. Coach Royce Simmons has a full squad to choose from after a season's start where half were out, that alone sending confidence sky-high. They should have too much in and around the ruck provided they can cut down the Sharks props as the Eels did.
Newcastle Knights v Canterbury Bulldogs
Marathon Stadium; Sunday, July 30, 4.35 pm.
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.
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
* MacDougall has signed for four more years at Newcastle. They're playing with confidence and scoring plenty of tries. Andrew Johns was voted best player in the game by his peers in the annual Rugby League Week poll last week, the Knights voted second most likely grand finalists after Brisbane and were predicted as grand final losers to the Broncos. That should be enough to fire them, given the passion they have for a match-up between the winners of the respective competitions in 1997, the split-game win Newcastle's only premiership. The Dogs have re-signed Polla-Mounter, aged 30, for a year as they seek a play-making half to replace Ricky Stuart. Brad Clyde is out with a hamstring strain, and won't play again in Aussie.
Peter Jessup's picks:
Roosters
Storm
Eels
Raiders
Warriors
Panthers
Knights
Success rate this season: 62%
Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Sydney City Roosters v Brisbane Broncos
Sydney Football Stadium; Friday, July 28, 9.30 pm.
Roosters: Luke Phillips, Matt Sing, Ryan Cross, Shannon Hegarty, Anthony Minichiello, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Quentin Pongia, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange Darren Burns, Dallas Hood, Craig Wing,
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