Compiled by Peter Jessup
Melbourne Storm v Sydney City Roosters
Olympic Park; Friday, March 10, 9.30pm.
Storm: Robbie Ross, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Scott Hill, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Stephen Kearney, Matt Rua; interchange Danny Williams, Russell Bawden, Ben Roarty, Paul Marquet.
Roosters:
Craig Wing, Jack Elsegood, Shannon Hegarty, Ryan Cross, Robert Miles, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Scott Logan, Nat Wood, Ian Rubin, Craig Fitzgibbon, Bryan Fletcher, Luke Ricketson; interchange Andrew Lomu, David Solomona, Simon Bonetti, Dallas Hood.
Ref: Tim Mander.
* The Storm will be on a mega-high after the demolition of the Dragons and came through that game without injury - they probably got out without bruising. That should give them heaps of confidence and a good sized crowd back at Olympic Park should lift them to another win, though it won't be so easy. Former NZ schoolboy rugby rep Tasesa Lavea keeps the standoff spot after a 24-point haul, coach Anderson lauding him as one of the most gifted players he's seen. The Roosters are without Kiwi skipper Richie Barnett for four weeks, medial ligament damage.
Parramatta Eels v Northern Eagles
Parramatta Stadium; Saturday, March 11, 8.40pm.
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Clinton Schifcofske, David Kidwell, Daniel Wagon, Eric Grothe, Stuart Kelly, Ben Kusto, Michael Vella, Wade L'Estrange, Nathan Cayless (c), Troy Wozniak, Nathan Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Dennis Moran, Michael Hodgson, Jason Smith, Andrew Ryan.
Eagles: Andrew King, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Nigel Roy, Brendan Reeves, Michael Buettner, Jason Taylor, Mark O'Meley, Geoff Toovey (c), Steve Trindall, Adam Muir, Steve Menzies, Nik Kosef; interchange Owen Cunningham, Greg Ebrill, Willie Leyshon, Brett Grogan.
Ref: Sean Hampstead.
* The Eels have lacked the toughness to put opponents away. They've gone down in close ones and will have coach Brian Smith searching for some staunch up front and defence to protect a lead. Captain Nathan Cayless returns after a false start last week, and with Nathan Hindmarsh also back from injury they should have the better of the Eagles pack. Wing Luke Burt is dropped for Eric Groethe jnr so Schifcofske will do the kicking. Best match-ups are around the ruck with Jason Smith and Jim Dymock versus Steve Menzies and Nik Kosef.
North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos
Dairy Farmers Stadium; Saturday, March 11, 9.30pm.
Cowboys: Julian O'Neill, Damien Smith, Geoff Bell, Paul Bowman, Josh Hannay, Paul Green, Noel Goldthorpe (c), Brett Boyd, Martin Locke, Robert Relf, Mark Shipway, Shaun Valentine; interchange Greg Bourke, Glenn Morrison, John Buttigieg, Shane Muspratt.
Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Michael Hancock, Ben Ikin, Michael Devere, Wendell Sailor, Shane Walker, Ben Walker, Petero Civoniceva, Luke Priddis, Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn, Gorden Tallis (c), Kevin Campion; interchange Dane Carlaw, Shaun Berrigan, Tonie Carroll, Lote Tuqiri.
Ref: Bill Harrigan
* The Cowboys should get another caning from their top-of-the-table neighbours. Kiwi wing Brian Jellick is out for six weeks after having a pin inserted in a broken ankle. Their halves continue to struggle to get the ball out that far anyway and try yet another combo this week with both the out-of-favour Paul Green and Noel Goldthorpe. Brisbane, meanwhile, go from strength to strength with half Ben Walker maturing with each game, although he has brother Shane at standoff this week in the absence of Kevin Walters, that area offering the Cowboys their only attacking hope.
Penrith Panthers v Auckland Warriors
Penrith Stadium; Saturday, March 11, 10.30pm.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, David Woods, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Craig Gower, Craig Greenhill, Brad Drew, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Nigel Gaffey, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Lee Hopkins, Shane Elford, Sid Domic.
Warriors: Cliff Beverley, Odell Manuel, Ivan Cleary, Scott Pethybridge, Nigel Vagana, John Simon (c), Ben Lythe, Terry Hermansson, Robert Mears, Talite Liavaa, Tony Tuimavave, Logan Swann, Jason Death; interchange Monty Betham, Ali Lauiti'iti, Joe Vagana, Paul Whatuira.
Ref: Mogsheen Jagwat
* Panthers coach Royce Simmons described his side as "the dumbest mob of poor simple fools I've ever met in my life" after the amount of ball they dropped to hand the Wests Tigers victory last week. Don't expect a repeat on their home turf. Dangermen are Craig Gower from dummy half, Matt Rodwell and Steve Carter in the halves and centre Ryan Girlder. The Warriors have only had four days off, have a crisis in confidence, have dumped four players and brought in replacements who were ordinary in second grade and so can't be favoured.
Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders
Marathon Stadium; Sunday, March 12, 4.30pm.
Knights: Robbie O'Davis, Darren Albert, Matthew Gidley, Mark Hughes, Timana Tahu, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, David Fairleigh, Danny Buderus, Tony Butterfield (c), Ben Kennedy, Peter Shiels, Bill Peden; interchange Matt Parsons, Glenn Grief, Steve Simpson, Sean Rudder.
Raiders:Brett Mullins, Anthony Swann, Ken Nagas, Brandon Costin, Leslie Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Andrew McFadden, Anthony Brann, Simon Woolford, David Atkins, David Furner, Anthony Colella, Jason Crocker; interchange Mark McLinden, Mark Corvo, Justin Morgan, Rod Jensen.
Ref: Steve Clark.
* The Raiders have one more day than Auckland before they back up after the massacre in Canberra but their forwards still won't have enough petrol in the tank to get over the tough Knights outfit at Marathon, a graveyard for most visitors. The game plan enacted against Auckland, running their quick small men at Auckland's monsters and using the high kick, won't work here. Adam MacDougall's suspension means no match-up against Kiwi wing Lesley Vainikolo, in devastating form. The Raiders hopes lie with returns from broken play.
St George Ilawarra Dragons v Wests Tigers
WIN Stadium Wollongong; Sunday, March 12, 6.30pm.
Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Matt Cooper, Shaun Timmins, Jamie Ainscough, Anthony Mundine, Trent Barrett, Craig Smith (c), Jason Hooper, Chris Leikvoll, Lance Thompson, Darren Treacey, Andrew Hart; interchange Luke Bailey, Daniel Heckenberg, Wayne Bartrim, Nathan Brown.
Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, John Carlaw, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Steve Georgallis, Craig Field, Tyran Smith, Jarrod McCracken (c), Mark O'Neill, Jason Lowrie, Darren Senter, John Skandalis. Res: Ciriaco Mescia, Ken McGuinness, Mark Stimson, Shane Walker.
Ref: Paul Simpkins
* The Dragons were embarrassed by the scoreline in Melbourne last week and, at their South Coast home, will want to prove they're worth following. Last week's captain Nathan Brown is dropped to the bench with Wayne Bartrim. A media gag is on Tony "The Mouth" Mundine after his taunt that the Storm weren't premiership material backfired bigtime. Both sides have captains returning, Jarrod McCraken back after injury and Craig Smith from a two-week suspension. The Tigers have lost Terry Hill. Former Kiwi Tyran Smith is in form, pressing claims for another black jersey.
Sydney Sharks v Canterbury Bulldogs
Shark Park; Sunday, March 12, 9.30pm.
Sharks: David Peachey, Mat Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Colin Best, Brett Howland, Adam Dykes, Mitch Healey, Martin Lang, Dean Treister, Jason Stevens, Chris McKenna, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Andrew Pierce, Sean Ryan, Paul Mellor, Jason Ferris.
Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Hazem El Masri, Darren Smith, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Corey Hughes, Ricky Stuart, Troy Stone, Adam Perry, Darren Britt (c), Brad Clyde, Steve Price, Glenn Hughes; interchange Craig Polla-Mounter, Brent Sherwin, Dennis Scott, Barry Ward.
Ref: Mark Oaten.
* A Shark pack with Jason Stevens and Martin Lang on song and egged on by a home crowd should have too much grunt for the Doggies' up-and-at-'em style. Canterbury are playing with plenty of enthusiasm but questions remain about their ability to score against sides that cope with that and can make ground via battering-ram forward play then get it wide to skillful, speedy backs. The Sharks have plenty of those, still able to leave Paul Mellor on the bench despite Russell Richardson's absence, and will win it out wide.
Peter Jessup Picks:
Storm
Eels
Panthers
Broncos
Knights
Dragons
Sharks
* Success rate this season: 51%
Compiled by Peter Jessup
Melbourne Storm v Sydney City Roosters
Olympic Park; Friday, March 10, 9.30pm.
Storm: Robbie Ross, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Scott Hill, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Stephen Kearney, Matt Rua; interchange Danny Williams, Russell Bawden, Ben Roarty, Paul Marquet.
Roosters:
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.