Fox Sports commentator Laurie Daley offers his thoughts and predictions for round 26 of the NRL premiership, expecting Canberra to officially end Brisbane Broncos' season.
St George Illawarra v South Sydney, WIN Jubilee Oval, Sunday 7pm (EST)
Difficult one to pick because you just don’t know what the mindset will be from the Rabbitohs. South Sydney have to rely on other results and there is every chance they will have nothing to play for come Sunday night. They will be highly-motivated if both the Raiders and Sea Eagles get knocked off, and they’ve got a team capable of challenging the Dragons. But St George Illawarra should be too clinical either way with their defence to be the deciding factor. I think the Dragons can do enough to notch up the win and take some momentum into the first week of the finals.
Brisbane Broncos v Canberra, Suncorp Stadium, Friday 7.35pm (EST)
No Darren Lockyer and now no Peter Wallace will certainly help the Raiders’ cause. The past fortnight has been a poor one for the Broncos, but they are back at home and are sure to fire up with a possible finals berth on the line. But Canberra have been playing some really good football on the back of their dominant pack and should be too good in this one. Terry Campese and Josh Dugan have been on fire and I just can’t see the Broncos stopping the Green Machine. Canberra don’t have a very good record up there, but I feel they can overcome that statistic and take some big momentum into the finals.
Gold Coast Titans v Wests Tigers, Skilled Park, Friday 7.35pm (EST)
The Tigers have won three straight but will be hurt by a couple of key injuries striking at the wrong time of year. Playing the Titans on the Gold Coast is no easy task and that is sure to test a Tigers’ outfit in good form. The Titans were caught out against the Sharks last week, but I think that might come back to a tough return trip to Sydney following a short turnaround. This will be a tight game, but I feel the Titans have enough points in them to win at home. When you can bring two internationals like Brad Myers and Greg Bird off your bench you’re travelling pretty well and I think the Titans are good enough to get the job done.
Parramatta v Warriors, Parramatta Stadium, Saturday 5.30pm (EST)
Every time I tip the Eels to win they lose and every time I tip the Eels to lose they win. They will be emotionally in this game given Nathan Cayless is playing his final match and a couple of their stars will be facing off against their soon-to-be club. The Warriors will be desperate to finish as high up as they can on the table and make their path to the premiership a little-less bumpy. The Warriors may be flat after that big win against the Broncos and I think the Eels can capitalise. Parramatta will be desperate to send Cayless out a winner and I feel that will be enough incentive to get the Eels over the line in a tight one.
Penrith v Cronulla, CUA Stadium, Saturday 7.30pm (EST)
Penrith would have taken a lot out of that come-from-behind win against the Bulldogs. To trail by 16 points, have your captain sent off and still come out on top is something that will give the Panthers plenty of heart. The Sharks put a lot of effort into that upset win over the Titans and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers catch Cronulla on the back foot. The Panthers have a terrific back-row, lose nothing with Wade Graham coming into the No.7 jumper and will have too many answers for the Sharks at CUA Stadium.
North Queensland Cowboys v Sydney Roosters, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday 7:30pm (EST)
This clash pretty much shapes as a forgone conclusion. This is probably the easiest game of the weekend to pick a winner. The Roosters showed us last week against Manly what they’re capable of doing and I expect much of the same against the Cowboys. North Queensland have been ordinary this season and they won’t come within 16 points of the Roosters on Saturday night.
Melbourne Storm v Newcastle Knights, AAMI Park, Sunday 2pm (EST)
Melbourne Storm will be determined to give their departing stars the best possible send off following on from what has been a tumultuous year. Emotionally the home side will be in the game and they’ve got plenty of talent. Newcastle are without a host of stars and I don’t think the Knights will have much left in the gas tank after putting it all on the line against the Dragons. The Storm actually have something to play for this time around and that spells big trouble for the weakened Knights.
Manly v Canterbury-Bankstown, Brookvale Oval, Sunday 3pm (EST)
The result of this match depends a lot on how the Bulldogs pull up from their last-gasp defeat to Penrith. Manly, as they have been all season, were very good in the first half and faded badly in the second against the Roosters. The Sea Eagles still line up on paper very well and playing at Brookvale should be enough of an incentive to secure the win. The Dogs season is all over and Manly have too much on the line to drop consecutive matches. Sea Eagles to win and win well.
