Round 14 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders
Suncorp Stadium, Thursday 9 July 2016
Kick Off 7:50pm

1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 5. Jordan Kahu 4. James Roberts 18. Greg Eden 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Josh McGuire 9. Travis Waddell 14. Jarrod Wallace 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 10. Sam Thaiday 15. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Adam Blair 17. Kodi Nikorima

1. Zac Santo 2. Brenko Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 18. Iosia Soliola
Interchange: 13. Luke Bateman 14. Kurt Baptiste 16. Clay Priest 17. Joseph Tapine

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Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
ANZ Stadium, Friday 10 July 2016
Kick Off 7:50pm

1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tim Simona 4. Kevin Naiqama 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 15. Dene Halatau 14. Sauaso Sue 11. Josh Aloiai 12. Chris Lawrence 13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 9. Robbie Farah 10. Ava Seumanufagai 16. Tim Grant 17. Kyle Lovett

1. Cody Walker 2. Alex Johnston 3. Kirisome Auva'a 19. Aaron Gray 5. Dane Nielsen 6. Greg Inglis 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Cameron McInnes 17. David Tyrell 11. Paul Carter 4. Bryson Goodwin 13. Sam Burgess
Interchange: 10. Nathan Brown 12. Kyle Turner 15. Jason Clark 16. Siosifa Talakai

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Newcastle Knights vs Warriors
Hunter Stadium, Saturday 11 June 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm

1. Dane Gagai 2. Cory Denniss 3. Sione Mata'utia 18. Brendan Elliott 5. Jake Mamo 6. Jack Cogger 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Sam Mataora 14. Tyler Randell 15. Korbin Sims 21. Mitchell Barnett 16. Jacob Saifiti 13. Jeremy Smith
Interchange: 9. Danny Levi 10. Daniel Saifiti 12. Pauli Pauli 17. Mickey Paea

1. Tuimoala Lolohea 2. David Fusitua 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Solomone Kata 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Thomas Leuluai 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Jacob Lillyman 9. Issac Luke 16. Albert Vete 11. Bodene Thompson 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Simon Mannering
Interchange: 10. Ben Matulino14. Nathaniel Roache 15. Sam Lisone 17. Charlie Gubb

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Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans
Pirtek Stadium, Saturday 11 June 2016
Kick Off 5:30pm

1. Michael Gordon 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Clinton Gutherson 5. Bevan French 6. Ken Edwards 7. Corey Norman 8. Daniel Alvaro 9. Isaac De Gois 10. Danny Wicks 11. Manu Ma'u 12. Beau Scott 13. Tepai Moeroa
Interchange: 14. Kaysa Pritchard 15. Peni Terepo 16. David Gower 17. Rory O'Brien

1. William Zillman 2. Anthony Don 3. Josh Hoffman 18. Konrad Hurrell 5. Nene Macdonald 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Luke Douglas 9. Nathan Friend 10. Ryan James 11. Zeb Taia 12. Chris McQueen 13. Greg Bird
Interchange: 14. Nathan Peats 15. Leivaha Pulu 16. Agnatius Paasi 17. Eddy Pettybourne 18. Konrad Hurrell 19. Cameron Cullen

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Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm
Allianz Stadium, Saturday 11 June 2016
Kick Off 7:30pm

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mitchell Aubusson 4. Dale Copley 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Ryan Matterson 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Dylan Napa 11. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Kane Evans
Interchange: 14. Sam Moa 15. Eloni Vunakece 16. Mitchell Frei 17. Connor Watson

1. Cameron Munster 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Cheyse Blair 4. Ryan Morgan 5. Marika Koroibete 6. Blake Green 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Jordan McLean 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14. Kenneath Bromwich 15. Tim Glasby 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

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Manly Sea Eagles vs Penrith Panthers
Brookvale Oval, Sunday 12 June 2016
Kick Off 4:00pm

1. Brett Stewart 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Tom Trbojevic 4. Brayden Wiliame 5. Matthew Wright 6. Dylan Walker 7. Apisai Koroisau 8. Darcy Lussick 9. Matt Parcell 10. Nate Myles 11. Lewis Brown 12. Jamie Buhrer 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Blake Leary 15. Josh Starling 16. Addin Fonua-blake 17. Siosaia Vave 18. Liam Knight

1. Matt Moylan 2. Josh Mansour 3. Waqa Blake 4. Tyrone Peachey 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 6. Bryce Cartwright 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Leilani Latu 9. Peter Wallace 10. Regan Campbell-Gillard 11. Isaah Yeo 12. Trent Merrin 13. Suaia Matagi
Interchange: 14. Sitaleki Akauola 15. Jeremy Latimore 16. Chris Grevsmuhl 17. Moses Leota

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St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
ANZ Stadium, Monday 13 June 2016
Kick Off 4:00pm

1. Jason Nightingale 2. Kalifa Faifai Loa 3. Euan Aitken 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Kurt Mann 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Benji Marshall 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Mitch Rein 10. Russell Packer 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Joel Thompson 13. Michael Cooper
Interchange: 14. Dunamis Lui 15. Will Matthews 16. Siliva Havili 17. Jake Marketo

1. William Hopoate 2. Curtis Rona 3. Josh Morris 4. Kerrod Holland 5. Sam Perrett 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Moses Mbye 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. James Graham 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. David Klemmer
Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano 15. Adam Elliot 16. Tim Browne 17. Craig Garvey

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Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys
Southern Cross Stadium, Monday 13 June 2016
Kick Off 7:00pm

1. Ben Barba 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Jack Bird 4. Gerard Beale 5. Valentine Holmes 6. James Maloney 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Michael Ennis 10. Sam Tagataese 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Ricky Leutele 15. Chris Heighington 16. Jayson Bukuya 17. Joseph Paulo

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. John Asiata 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ben Hannant

 

[Big Pete]

The rest of the round kicks off on Friday when Wests hosts Souths at ANZ Stadium. If you're getting an acute sense of deja vu, that's because these two played at the exact same venue in Round 9, April 28th to be exact) where Wests went over 30-22. The key to the result was the Tigers performance in the opening twenty when they raced in four tries (Tedesco, Rankin, Brooks & Naiqama). With both sides backing up from losses and sitting on 5 wins a piece (Souths 5-7; Wests 5-8) it's an important game in the context of both seasons.

The Warriors produced their best performance of the season when they defeated the Brisbane Broncos 36-18. They have another opportunity to improve their 5-7 record when they play the bottom of the ladder Newcastle Knights. A win will put them in the running for a finals berth after their season looked over after a horrid performance against the Canberra Raiders at Plymouth. These two sides met earlier this year in Round 4 where the Warriors put aside a rough start and raced away to a 40-18 victory. I expect to see more of the same here which will give the Warriors fans some hope heading into the second half of the season.

That's followed by the Parramatta Eels playing host to the Gold Coast Titans. The Gold Coast are beginning to turn heads, especially after their dramatic 29-28 victory over the Bunnies in OT. They're currently 6-6 and will come up against a Parramatta Eels side that is struggling to deal with the fall-out from the salary cap scandal. They're 1-2 since the news broke, with the one win coming against the last placed Knights who they only beat by 2 points. If the Titans are going to make a finals bid, they'll need to beat a weakened Eels outfit. In a boost for the Titans, Konrad Hurrell is expected to make his debut in place of Nathan Davis at right centre. Even though Hurrell fell out of favour at the Warriors, you can expect him to be an instant hit at the Gold Coast Titans. If I could liken the signing to a past Gold Coast player, it would be Clinton Toopi who proved a handy addition in 2010.

The 7:30 game sees Sydney take on Melbourne at Allianz Stadium. Melbourne haven't lost since Round 6 (18-12 to Canterbury) and have named the 17 that defeated Penrith 24-6 in a comfortable victory. Sydney have named Latrell Mitchell despite suffering an ankle injury in the shadows of half-time. His selection appears to be a case of cloak and daggers from Trent Robinson with word that Ferguson will go to fullback for the Roosters. The Roosters have to win 9 of their remaining 12 games to be in with a shot but on the surface the hill appears to be too high against the Melbourne Storm. Never the less, expect a fierce forward battle between Bromwich and Warea-Hargreaves. The two have a competitive rivalry with JWH making it a mission to step up whenever he comes across the New Zealand captain.

On Sunday, the wounded Manly Sea Eagles play host to the new-look Penrith Panthers outfit. The Panthers struggled down in Melbourne, with their sole try coming off a Vunivalu mistake. Coach Griffin has had enough, backing Australian Schoolboy Nathan Cleary to get the job done. Cleary had a trial by fire down in Melbourne where he was asked to make 30+ tackles. The talented half survived and appears to have a big future infront of him. He comes up against a Manly Sea Eagles outfit that hasn't won a match since Round 8 (against Newcastle 26-10) and will go into the game without their chief playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans and skipper Jamie Lyon. It's tough to get a read on either side, my only confident prediction is that it will be close. Penrith's biggest win so far was their 30-18 victory against the Warriors. Even so, the Panthers only extended their lead in the final seven minutes. With Koroisau doing an admirable job as a fill-in I expect another nail-biter.

Then on Monday we have the 6-6 Dragons taking on the 7-6 Bulldogs. St George have been very streaky since their horrible Round 6 performance against the Broncos. Since then they've had wins against the Gold Coast Titans (19-14), Sydney Roosters (20-18), Canberra Raiders (16-12) and North Queensland Cowboys (14-10) but they haven't been without their share of controversy and they suffered some ugly losses to the Warriors (26-10) and Rabbitohs (34-24). Canterbury are beginning to show signs of exhaustion and while they've had their moments against the Raiders (led until the 65th minute) and the Sharks (led until the 79th minute) they just haven't come up with the big play at the right time. These type of losing streaks aren't too uncommon for the Dogs or Des Hasler. Since Des has been apart of the Bulldogs, they've at least suffered one 3-game losing each season. Whether 2016 will be added to the pile will be anyone's guess. Last year these two teams traded wins (Dragons 31-6; Bulldogs 29-16) during the regular season before Canterbury produced a dramatic 11-10 Golden Point victory in the Qualifying Final. With both teams employing the same brand of rugged Rugby League I expect another ugly game between the two.

The final game of the round may just be the best game. The Cronulla Sharks defend their impressive nine game winning streak against the defending premiers in North Queensland Cowboys. The two teams met in Townsville in the opening round of the season in a game where North Queensland managed to squeak out a 20-14 win. Since then, it's fair to say the Sharks have made the most improvement with the combinations really coming together. It sets up a gripping contest that may just inform us where both teams are at. At home the North Queensland Cowboys have been unstoppable winning 7/7 so far in 2016. On the road it's been a different story with losses to Parramatta (20-16), Brisbane (21-20) and Melbourne (15-14). They also lost to the Dragons in Round 12 at WIN Stadium (14-10) but it's worth mentioning that they were without six Origin players while the Dragons were close to full strength (with only Dugan missing). At this point in time, I expect that trend to continue and for the Sharks to reach double digits but wouldn't be overly surprised to see a team as good as North Queensland end the streak. Either way it's a big game at this point of the year. While a lot of people expected the Sharks to be amongst it, I don't think anyone expected them to be so dominant and go on this run. They've got to be careful and ensure that there is more to this season than a winning streak and with Barba, Townsend, Fifita and Ennis I must admit I'm not totally convinced.

 

[Bucking Beads]

What's doing with Shaun Fensom?

 

[Big Pete]

Fensom suffered a shoulder injury in Round 10 (vs St. George Illawarra). Normally Fensom would play through the injury but since the Raiders acquired Tapine and Paulo they've opted to rest him and get it right. On top of that, Luke Bateman is one of the best backrow prospects in the game, so the Raiders are well served in that department.

Long term will be interesting. Currently Fensom is signed until 2017 on a contract in the ball-park of 500K. By the time he comes off contract, he'll be 30 while Bateman will be 23 and entering his prime. Vaughan (27) is another contender for the lock position and if he could improve his defence would almost be ideal. If Shaun wants to stay, he'll have to re-negotiate or hit the market. I'm sure it wouldn't be long before he's picked up by a club. Clubs like the Warriors, Knights, Rabbitohs, Titans, Sea Eagles etc. could do with his services.

 

[Fozz]

I had to LOL at show pony Addo-Carr bombing a try. Dickhead.

 

[Fozz]

This game is a cripple fight.

 

[Big Pete]

Souths off to another slow start.

Neither team appears to be on tonight.

 

[Fozz]

Addo-Carr again. Bwahahaha

 

[Big Pete]

Addo-Carr's head seems to be on Melbourne.

Two game-changing errors so far and we're only 13 minutes in.

Where have all the quality backs gone?

 

[Nashy]

100m Try. That's ridiculous.

 

[Fozz]

That was actually good. Up until the Simona try the dribble about telepathy was the highlight of the game. And it was excruciating.

 

[Fozz]

Sam Burgess should've stayed in Yawnion.

 

[Fozz]

Tigers haven't scored a point since Farah came on and now Souths score. Gettimorf.

 

[Fozz]

Brooks misses the conversion. Clearly Farah's fault. Get him off.

 

[tommy]

Last time I saw a team score from the kickoff was us vs Souths.

 

[Unbreakable]

Easiest tip of my life, Souths are woeful.

 

[Sproj]

Boy that was the latest and dirtiest hit I've seen a long time.

 

[Broncoman]

I was going to tip the Tigers but i decided to go with Souths at the last minute. That was a disgraceful performance by Souths only Moses' kicking prevented a more humiliating score. Love watching Moses, I rate him very highly he was in everything tonight.