Round 18 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights
GIO Stadium, Friday July 10 2015
Kick Off 7:45pm

1. Jack Wighton 2. Edrick Lee 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Sisa Waqa 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Sam Williams 8. Paul Vaughan 9. Josh Hodgson 10. David Shillington 11. Josh Papalii 12. Iosia Soliola 13. Shaun Fensom
Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Jarrad Kennedy 16. Frank Paul Nuuausala 17. Shannon Boyd

1. Kurt Gidley 2. James McManus 3. Sione Mata'utia 4. Dane Gagai 5. Akuila Uate 6. Jarrod Mullen 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Kade Snowden 9. Tyler Randell 10. Korbin Sims 11. Beau Scott 12. Tariq Sims 13. Jeremy Smith
Interchange: 14. Danny Levi 15. David Fa'alogo 16. Joseph Tapine 17. Sam Mataora 18. Paterika Vaivai 19. Chanel Mata'utia

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Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters
Pepper Stadium, Saturday July 11 2015
Kick Off 5:30pm

1. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 2. Waqa Blake 3. Dean Whare 4. Isaah Yeo 5. David Simmons 6. Jamie Soward 7. Peter Wallace 8. Nigel Plum 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Regan Campbell-Gillard 11. Sika Manu 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown 15. Jeremy Latimore 16. Sam McKendry 17. Tyrone Peachey

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Blake Ferguson 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. James Maloney 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Dylan Napa 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Isaac Liu
Interchange: 14. Sam Moa 15. Aidan Guerra 16. Kane Evans 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Jackson Hastings

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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos
ANZ Stadium, Saturday July 11 2015
Kick Off 7:30pm

1. Brett Morris 2. Curtis Rona 3. Josh Morris 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Sam Perrett 6. Moses Mbye 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. David Klemmer 11. Josh Jackson 12. Frank Pritchard 13. Greg Eastwood
Interchange: 14. Sam Kasiano 15. Lloyd Perrett 16. Tim Browne 17. Josh Reynolds 23. Shaun Lane

1. Darius Boyd 2. Lachlan Maranta 3. Jack Reed 4. Jordan Kahu 5. Daniel Vidot 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Sam Thaiday 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mitchell Dodds 16. Corey Oates 17. Matt Parcell

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Warriors vs Melbourne Storm
Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday July 12 2015
Kick Off 2:00pm

1. Sam Tomkins 2. Tuimoala Lolohea 3. Konrad Hurrell 4. Solomone Kata 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Chad Townsend 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Jacob Lillyman 9. Nathan Friend 10. Ben Matulino 11. Bodene Thompson 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Simon Mannering
Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Charlie Gubb 17. Albert Vete 18. David Fusitua

1. Cameron Munster 2. Marika Koroibete 3. Will Chambers 4. Hymel Hunt 5. Richard Kennar 6. Blake Green 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Tim Glasby 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14. Ryan Hinchcliffe 15. Kenneath Bromwich 16. Ben Hampton 17. Felise Kaufusi

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Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Remondis Stadium, Sunday July 12 2015
Kick Off 4:00pm

1. Michael Gordon 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Gerard Beale 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Jack Bird 7. Jeff Robson 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Michael Ennis 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Jayson Bukuya 15. Ben Barba 16. David Fifita 17. Sam Tagataese 20. Chris Heighington

1. Josh Dugan 2. Justin Hunt 3. Euan Aitken 4. Peter Mata'utia 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Benji Marshall 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Mitch Rein 10. Ben Creagh 11. Will Matthews 12. Joel Thompson 13. Mike Cooper
Interchange: 14. George Rose 15. Trent Merrin 16. Jake Marketo 17. Heath L'Estrange 24. Mark Ioane

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Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles
Cbus Super Stadium, Monday July 13 2015
Kick Off 7:00pm

1. David Mead 2. Anthony Don 3. James Roberts 4. Nene Macdonald 5. Kevin Gordon 6. Josh Hoffman 7. Daniel Mortimer 8. Luke Douglas 9. Chad Redman 10. Nate Myles 11. Ryan James 12. Agnatius Paasi 13. Eddy Pettybourne
Interchange: 14. Dave Taylor 15. Matt White 16. Lachlan Burr 17. Matt Robinson 18. Ben Ridge

1. Brett Stewart 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Jamie Lyon 4. Steve Matai 5. Tom Trbojevic 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Jake Trbojevic 9. Matt Ballin 10. Willie Mason 11. Feleti Mateo 12. Tom Symonds 13. Dunamis Lui
Interchange: 14. Luke Burgess 15. Josh Starling 16. Justin Horo 17. Ligi Sao 19. Jayden Hodges

 

[Big Pete]

The last Origin affected round before everybody's attention turns towards the finals, or in the Sea Eagles, Tigers and Knights case - the quest to avoid the spoon. As neat as it will be to spend time in Canberra on a Friday, the round doesn't kick off until the Roosters take on the Panthers. This will be the big test for Penrith and if they can win here, they should be able to make the 8. That would be a terrific feat after all the injuries they've had to contend with and given their style, I wouldn't be surprised to see them go on some Bulldogs type run. They've got plenty of experience, a spine that can control a game and have the capacity to frustrate teams in defence. Whether they can maintain that intensity and find that groove will be the challenge.

Plenty of other games to look forward to as well. Bulldogs/Broncos will give us a good look at where the Bulldogs are at heading to the finals. I think they'll be too strong for the Broncos on this occasion, but the Broncos will make them fight for it until the final whistle.

Warriors have an opportunity to push their claims when they take on a weary Storm outfit. I don't think we've seen the best of New Zealand just yet and if the likes of Tomkins & Hurrell can find their feet they could assume the dark horse role they're renown for.

Finally on the main Sunday game, we've got Cronulla taking on St George Illawarra. I thought the Sharks were a lamb to the slaughter on Sunday. It was one thing to lose Gallen, to lose Ennis really hurt them and Manly went into that game a shade stronger than expected with DCE overlooked for Game III. It was the recipe for a walk-over and that's what it was. However if there's one thing we've learned about Cronulla, it's that they're not the type of team to dwell on those games and when they're in the mood they can frustrate their opposition into losses. Enter St George who have been out of sorts the past month or so and we've got ourselves a game that could very well decide which team will make the 8. It shouldn't be a pretty game, but it will be an important game as we prepare for the finals.

 

[Super Freak]

Brought out the coin this week. Hopefully I get a perfect round and win $350.

Raiders
Roosters
Broncos
Storm
Dragons
Manly

 

[Super Freak]

Late mail for Knights.

Tapine comes into the starting side for the suspended Scott and Smith is put on the bench with Vaivai to take his place.

Raiders are 1-17.

I'm predicting a win by the Raiders. 24 points.

 

[Alec]

It'll be interesting to see if Mullen being back lifts Newcastle. Hoping for big games from the two QLDers, Gagai and Big Papa.

 

[Big Pete]

Canberra's home record concerns me.

They should win...

but how many times have we said that over the years, only for them to fail?

Should be an entertaining game regardless. Both teams know how to score points and neither are great defensively, so it should be open footy.

 

[Super Freak]

Jeez.

Raiders in already. That was easy.

 

[Big Pete]

Seemed like the Raiders had a two player overlap there.

Got to hand it to the Raiders deciding to run it there. As we saw on Wednesday, players don't take advantage of the numbers all the time.

 

[Big Pete]

That's two calls against the Raiders there.

 

[Kaz]

You have to love the commentators, saying a great start by the Knights, about 1 min later the Raiders score. :laugh:

 

[Kaz]

Raiders under the sticks.

 

[Alec]

Vaughan, what a gun. Nice step from Austin too.

 

[Unbreakable]

Halves combination I wouldn't want NSW to pick next year:

6. Austin
7. A.Reynolds

 

[Big Pete]

Dumb pass from Snowden, leads to a poor kick on the last and the Raiders score off a 7 tackle set.

Canberra are playing their part, Austin in particular is tearing them apart but the Knights defence is not putting in.

 

[Kaz]

Halves combination I wouldn't want NSW to pick next year:

6. Austin
7. A.Reynolds

Don't give the Blues selectors any help.

 

[Cult]

Halves combination I wouldn't want NSW to pick next year:

6. Austin
7. A.Reynolds

They better name Tonie Carroll to protect them then because they can't tackle.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Their benchmark at 6 is Pearce so the bar's not real high.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Blake Austin - wow.