With the race for the top eight heating up, Fox Sports commentator Laurie Daley predicts the winners and losers for round 16 of the NRL premiership.
Newcastle Knights v South Sydney, Monday 7pm (EST), EnergyAustralia Stadium
After peaking early in the season, both the Knights and Rabbitohs have been plagued by inconsistency though remain a part of top eight calculations. After knocking off the ladder-leading Bulldogs, Newcastle were overrun by the Eels and Warriors while South Sydney coach Jason Taylor has been forced to look for positives in three straight losses. The two met in round three when the Rabbitohs were flying high and the Knights were still finding their feet, the red-and-greens taking it out 22-12. Kurt Gidley's Origin commitments appear to have negatively impacted his club football while for the Rabbitohs John Sutton and Chris Sandow need to quickly rediscover their early-season partnership.
Laurie says: Souths have been struggling of late and I just think the Knights will be far too strong at home. Jarrod Mullen’s kicking game will play a factor with the big Knights’ forwards to find plenty of holes out wide against a struggling defence. The Rabbitohs will miss the explosive dummy half running of Craig Wing as the Knights bounce back from their shock home defeat against the Eels three weeks ago.
West Tigers v St George Illawarra, Friday 7.35pm (EST), Sydney Football Stadium
West Tigers have dropped six of their past seven starts and life doesn't get any easier against one of the premiership favourites. The fitness of Robbie Farah will be pivotal with the NSW hooker afforded just 48 hours to recover. It’s hard to see the struggling Tigers halting the St George Illawarra pack. Justin Poore, Ben Creagh and Michael Weyman will be in the same boat as Farah, but the Dragons should still have enough in the tank. The venue will also be a disadvantage for the home side with the Dragons far more comfortable at the SFS than Leichhardt Oval or Campbelltown.
Laurie says: It will be interesting to see what effect Origin has on St George Illawarra. Robbie Farah’s fitness is obviously a major factor for the Tigers, but the Dragons will have four players backing up from Wednesday night. West Tigers haven’t found their groove this season and I still think the Dragons will be far too strong. Look for St George Illawarra to grind the Tigers down on their way to another victory.
Bulldogs v North Queensland Cowboys, Saturday 7.35pm (EST), ANZ Stadium
North Queensland were cheering after the depleted Cowboys got the job done against the headless Chooks last Saturday night. The return of Johnathan Thurston can only mean good things, while the loss of Jamal Idris is a blow for the Dogs. North Queensland will also be encouraged by the fact they have won two of the last four away starts. The Cowboys hammered the Bulldogs 36-12 in the corresponding game last year, but this is not the same Belmore outfit. The Bulldogs have won eight of their last 10 starts with the halves combination of Brett Kimmorley and Ben Roberts starting to hit their straps.
Laurie says: This is going to be an intriguing contest with the Cowboys having a couple of stars backing up from Origin. Johnathan Thurston is in terrific form and I’m really looking forward to his battle with another in-form halfback in Brett Kimmorley. The Bulldogs left-edge attack of Bronson Goodwin and Josh Morris has been in superb form and I really can’t see the Bulldogs being beaten in this one. North Queensland’s defence will have to be on song and I just can’t see the Cowboys being able to do that for 80 minutes. The Bulldogs are firing and I think they will continue on their roll.
Gold Coast Titans v Warriors, Saturday 5:30pm (EST), Skilled Park
This clash is certain to be a physical affair with both teams coming off a week’s break. The Warriors rediscovered their hunger in a shutout win over the Knights a fortnight ago and must conjure up a similar performance to be any chance against a Titans’ outfit undefeated at home in 2009. The return of five-eighth Mat Rogers is a massive boost for the home side with Preston Campbell now able to move back to his preferred fullback role. The Prince v Jones halfback battle should be a beauty with the eleventh-placed Warriors desperate to stay in the race for a top eight berth.
Laurie says: The Warriors away from this season has been ordinary. They have been one of the disappointments of the season given the way they finished last year. The Titans sit equal first on the ladder and are playing a really exciting brand of football. Scott Prince’s kicking game will play a part with the Warriors having to work it back off their line all day. Campbell, Prince, Rogers and Friend are the type of nippy footballers the big Warriors forwards don’t like dealing with and I think those four will have a field day. Titans to get the points.
Sydney Roosters v Cronulla, Saturday 7:30pm (EST), Sydney Football Stadium
Can the bottom-placed Roosters stop the Sharks from making it five straight? That’s the equation facing Brad Fittler’s men who will have to do it without inspirational captain Braith Anasta. The Roosters defeated Cronulla 19-12 in round eight this year, but this is a Sharks team running on all cylinders. The ‘Lawn Mower Man’ Scott Porter has been a revelation at halfback over the past month and will be rejoined by Trent Barrett who missed last week’s thumping win over the Broncos. New Roosters five-eighth Setaimata Sa will be the man under the spotlight in the absence of Anasta while old heads Willie Mason and Craig Fitzgibbon need to stand up and be counted.
Laurie says: The loss of Braith Anasta is a massive blow for the Roosters. The Sharks have won four straight and are playing like a very confident football team at the moment. I just think Cronulla have got too much speed out wide and have enough momentum to dismantle the Roosters and make it five on the trot. Sharks to make it five on the trot.
Canberra v Melbourne Storm, Sunday 2pm (EST), Canberra Stadium
Both current form and history have the odds stacked firmly against the Raiders in this one. The Storm proved they could get the result in round 15 even without the nucleus of their championship side while the Raiders haven't earned any points since the cursed round-13 bye. The Storm may again be forced to get the job done without their Origin after they started dropping like flies mid-week. The Storm have won their past 14 matches against the Raiders going back to 2002 and the two sides' earlier meeting combined the best of the Storm with Canberra's most embarrassing capitulation of recent memory.
Laurie says: I’m tipping an upset in this one. I just think Melbourne’s Origin stars will be a little bit off their game and a desperate Canberra can capitalise. The Raiders are a very physical pack and there is a good chance the Storm players will be too emotionally drained to stand up to the test. Canberra is a tough away trip for any team and I’m tipping the Raiders to pull off the upset.
Parramatta v Brisbane Broncos, Sunday 3pm (EST), Parramatta Stadium
Record books are useless when these two clash and current form has made both sides almost unbackable if they weren't playing each other. Another impeccable Origin performance from Jarryd Hayne will have his confidence soaring against a familiar Queensland foe, while Origin man of the match Sam Thaiday will also be flying high. The Broncos are looking to arrest an Origin hangover that has seen them concede 138 points in their last three matches, meaning only the Roosters now possess a worse defensive record. Brisbane got the goods 40-8 when the sides clashed in round seven, but that was before the bubble burst.
Laurie says: Another very tough one to pick with the Broncos having so many players backing up. Parramatta is a difficult place to play and the Eels also tend to do well against the sides they are not expected to beat. This is a danger game for the Broncos and they really have to be up to the task mentally to be any chance. I will stick with Brisbane because I think the injection of a few class players will be the right tonic to turn around what has been a horror month. It won’t be easy, but the Broncos to get the job done.
