Round 3 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Melbourne Storm v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
AAMI Park (Melbourne Rectangular Stadium), Melbourne
Thursday 21 March 2013, kickoff 8:05pm
Live TV: Channel 9 NSW/ACT/NT, GEM Channel WA/SA/VIC/TAS Referees: Ben Cummins and Chris James; Touch Judges: Paul Holland and Jeff Younis; Video Referees Bernard Sutton and Adam Gee

Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Matt Duffie 3. Will Chambers 4. Tafeaga Junior Sa'u 5. Mahe Fonua 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Bryan Norrie 11. Tohu Harris 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Ryan Hinchcliffe
Interchange: 14. Jason Ryles 15. Lagi Setu 16. Slade Griffin 17. Junior Moors 18. Maurice Blair

Bulldogs: 1. Drury Low 2. Mitch Brown 3. Josh Morris 4. Krisnan Inu 5. Sam Perrett 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Kris Keating 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Ennis (C) 10. Martin Taupau 11. Tony Williams 12. Josh Jackson 13. Greg Eastwood
Interchange: 14. Dene Halatau 15. Dale Finucane 16. David Klemmer 17. Tim Browne 19. Tim Lafai

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Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels
Leichhardt Oval, Lilyfield
Friday 22 March 2013, kickoff 8:05pm
Live TV: Channel 9 NSW/ACT/NT/QLD, GEM Channel WA/SA/VIC/TAS
Referees: Shayne Hayne and Alan Shortall; Touch Judges: Russell Turner and Grant Atkins; Video Referees: Steve Clark and Luke Patten

Tigers: 1. Tim Moltzen 2. Joel Reddy 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Marika Koroibete 6. Benji Marshall 7. Jacob Miller 8. Aaron Woods 9. Robbie Farah 10. Jack Buchanan 11. Braith Anasta 12. Liam Fulton 13. Adam Blair
Interchange: 14. Ben Murdoch-Masila 15. Ava Seumanufagai 16. Matt Bell 17. Eddy Pettybourne 18. Masada Iosefa 19. Suaso Sue

Eels: 1. Jarryd Hayne 2. Vai Toutai 3. Ryan Morgan 4. Jacob Loko 5. Cheyse Blair 6. Ben Roberts 7. Chris Sandow 8. Mitchell Allgood 9. Matt Keating 10. Tim Mannah 11. Ken Edwards 12. Matthew Ryan 13. Ben Smith
Interchange: 14. Joseph Paulo 15. Darcy Lussick 16. Fuifui Moimoi 17. Kelepi Tanginoa

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Gold Coast Titans v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Skilled Park, Robina
Saturday 23 March 2013, kickoff 5:30pm AEDT (4:30pm QLD time)
Live TV: FOX Sports 1
Referees: Matt Cecchin and Luke Phillips; Touch Judges: Michael Wise and Clayton Sharpe; Video Referees: Steve Chiddy and Tony Maksoud

Titans: 1. William Zillman 2. Kevin Gordon 3. Brad Takairangi 4. Jamal Idris 5. David Mead 6. Aidan Sezer 7. Albert Kelly 8. Luke Douglas 9. Matt Srama 10. Nate Myles 11. Greg Bird 12. Ben Ridge 13. Ashley Harrison
Interchange: 14. Dave Taylor 15. Luke Bailey 16. Ryan James 17. Beau Falloon 18. Luke O'Dwyer

Sea Eagles: 1. Brett Stewart 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Jamie Lyon 4. Steve Matai 5. David Williams 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Matt Ballin 10. Brent Kite 11. Anthony Watmough 12. Justin Horo 13. Jamie Buhrer
Interchange: 14. Richie Fa'aoso 15. Joe Galuvao 16. David Gower 17. Tom Symonds

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Sydney Roosters v Brisbane Broncos
Allianz Stadium (Sydney Football Stadium), Moore Park
Saturday 23 March 2013, kickoff 7:30pm
Live TV: FOX Sports 1
Referees: Gerard Sutton and Brett Suttor; Touch Judges: Steve Carrall and Matt Noyen; Video Referees: Paul Simpkins and Matt Rodwell

Roosters: 1. Anthony Minichiello 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. James Maloney 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Sam Moa 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Frank Paul Nuuausala
Interchange: 14. Daniel Mortimer 15. Martin Kennedy 16. Mitchell Aubusson 17. Luke O'Donnell 18. Dylan Napa

Broncos: 1. Corey Norman 2. Josh Hoffman 3. Jack Reed 4. Justin Hodges 5. Lachlan Maranta 6. Scott Prince 7. Peter Wallace 8. Ben Hannant 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Sam Thaiday 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt 15. Mitchell Dodds 16. David Stagg 17. Scott Anderson 18. Dunamis Lui 19. Nick Slyney

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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v New Zealand Warriors
Sharks Stadium (Endeavour Field), Woolooware
Sunday 24 March 2013, kickoff 2:00pm
Live TV: FOX Sports 1
Referees: Adam Devcich and Henry Perenara; Touch Judges: Nick Beashel and Jason Walsh; Video Referees: Shayne Hayne and Luke Patten

Sharks: 1. Michael Gordon 2. Jonathan Wright 3. Ricky Leutele 4. Matthew Wright 5. Beau Ryan 6. Todd Carney 7. Jeff Robson 8. Andrew Fifita 9. John Morris 10. Ben Ross 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen
Interchange: 14. Chris Heighington 15. Jon Green 16. Jayson Bukuya 17. Anthony Tupou 18. Sam Tagataese

Warriors: 1. Kevin Locke 2. Glen Fisiiahi 3. Dane Nielsen 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. Bill Tupou 6. Thomas Leuluai 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Sam Rapira 9. Elijah Taylor 10. Ben Matulino 11. Steve Rapira 12. Simon Mannering (C) 13. Todd Lowrie
Interchange: 14. Jacob Lillyman 15. Feleti Mateo 16. Sebastine Ikahihifo 17. Pita Godinet 18. Ben Henry

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Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Penrith Stadium (Centrebet Stadium)
Sunday 24 March 2013, kickoff 3:00pm
Delayed TV, 4:00pm: Channel 9 NSW/ACT/NT/QLD, GEM WA/SA/TAS/VIC
Referees: Ashley Klein and Phil Haines; Touch Judges: Ricky MacFarlane and Daniel Eastwood; Video Referees: Paul Mellor and Justin Morgan

Panthers: 1. Dean Whare 2. Josh Mansour 3. Wes Naiqama 4. Geoff Daniela 5. David Simmons 6. Tom Humble 7. Luke Walsh 8. Sam McKendry 9. Kevin Kingston (C) 10. Tim Grant 11. Sika Manu 12. Lewis Brown 13. Nathan Smith
Interchange: 14. Adam Docker 15. Nigel Plum 16. James Segeyaro 17. Clint Newton 20. Matt Robinson

Rabbitohs: 1. Greg Inglis 2. Nathan Merritt 3. Dylan Farrell 4. Bryson Goodwin 5. Andrew Everingham 6. John Sutton 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Sam Burgess 9. Issac Luke 10. Roy Asotasi 11. Chris McQueen 12. Ben Te’o 13. Ben Lowe
Interchange: 14. Nathan Peats 15. Michael Crocker (c) 16. Jeff Lima 17. George Burgess 18. Dave Tyrrell 19. Justin Hunt 20. Jason Clark

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Canberra Raiders v St. George Illawarra Dragons
Canberra Stadium
Sunday 24 March 2013, kickoff 6:30pm
Live TV: FOX Sports 1
Referees: Jared Maxwell and Gavin Badger; Touch Judges: Adam Reid and Adam Gee; Video Referees: Chris Ward and Gavin Reynolds

Raiders: 1. Reece Robinson 2. Sandor Earl 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Jack Wighton 5. Edrick Lee 6. Josh McCrone © 7. Sam Williams 8. David Shillington © 9. Glen Buttriss 10. Brett White 11. Josh Papalii 12. Joel Edwards 13. Shaun Fensom
Interchange: 14. Matt McIlwrick 15. Shaun Berrigan 16. Dane Tilse 17. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 18. Mark Nicholls 19. Jake Foster 20. Joe Picker

Dragons: 1. Gerard Beale 2. Brett Morris 3. Chase Stanley 4. Matt Cooper 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Jamie Soward 7. Nathan Fien 8. Dan Hunt 9. Mitch Rein 10. Michael Weyman 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Ben Creagh (c) 13. Trent Merrin
Interchange: 14. Bronson Harrison 15. Leeson Ah Mau 16. Matt Prior 17. Cameron King 18. Jack Stockwell

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Newcastle Knights v North Queensland Cowboys
Hunter Stadium (Newcastle International Sports Centre), New Lambton
Monday 25 March 2013, kickoff 7:00pm
Live TV: FOX Sports 1
Referees: Jason Robinson and Gavin Morris; Touch Judges: Paul Holland and Dave Ryan; Video Referees: Ashley Klein and Phil Haines

Knights: 1. Darius Boyd 2. James McManus 3. Anthony Quinn 4. Timana Tahu 5. Akuila Uate 6. Jarrod Mullen 7. Kurt Gidley (c) 8. Kade Snowden 9. Matt Hilder 10. David Fa’alogo 11. Beau Scott 12. Chris Houston 13. Jeremy Smith
Interchange: 14. Tyrone Roberts 15. Neville Costigan 16. Robbie Rochow 17. Alex McKinnon

Cowboys: 1. Matthew Bowen 2. Ashley Graham 3. Brent Tate 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Johnathan Thurston (c) 7. Michael Morgan 8. Matt Scott (c) 9. Scott Moore 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Glenn Hall 13. Dallas Johnson
Interchange: 14. Anthony Mitchell 15. Ashton Sims 16. Scott Bolton 17. Jason Taumalolo 18. Blake Leary

Source: http://www.leagueunlimited.com/news/show/leagueunlimited-nrl-teams-round-16/

 

[Big Pete]

Summation:
Unchanged: Bulldogs, Titans, Manly, Roosters, Sharks, Warriors, Dragons.

Storm - OUT: Justin O'Neil; IN: Junior Sa'u
Tigers - OUT: Keith Galloway; IN: Ava Seumanufagai
Broncos - OUT: Josh McGuire; IN: Ben Hunt
Panthers - OUT: Lachlan Coote; IN: Tom Humble
Rabbitohs - OUT: Dave Tyrrell; IN: Sam Burgess
Raiders - OUT: Mark Nicholls, Joe Picker; IN: Brett White, Glenn Buttriss
Knights - OUT: Dane Gagai, Willie Mason; IN: Timana Tahu, David Fa'alogo
Cowboys - OUT: Rory Kostjasyn, Tariq Sims; IN: Anthony Mitchell, Scott Bolton

 

[Big Pete]

Shaping up to be a pretty good round of footy.

Looking forward to the grand final replay. Melbourne look ominous this year, the way they disposed of St. George Illawarra & North Queensland without breaking much of a sweat was scary and I don't think a gallant Bulldogs side will be able to stop them. Will be a good test of character for the Doggies though, if they're the real deal, they'll keep this relatively close with or without Barba.

It's a shame Raiders/Dragons didn't happen a little while later in a reality where Dugan had signed with the Dragons. For the press alone, it'd be well worth watching. Still, it's going to be interesting to see who wins this. I think St. George Illawarra are much closer to a win than the Raiders but for whatever reason, no matter what, the Dragons always find a way to lose against the Green Machine. Is this the weekend where they put a stop to it?

Then on Monday night we have a game that could be an early season preview of the finals as Newcastle take on the Cowboys at Hunter stadium. Both team come in after disappointing losses and it'll be interesting to see who will stand up the stronger. Newcastle look a little weaker without Gagai & Mason but the Cowboys aren't a team that like to travel. Normally, League reporters would say they're expecting a beauty, but the way I see it, this is either going to be a grind-a-thon or a one sided contest where one team rocks up and the other falls asleep. A little pessimistic, but I just feel like that's where the teams are at.

If you were asking me to tip, well I'd go Cowboys because I'm a huge fan of front rows and the combination of Scott/Tamou excites me a lot more than Snowden/Fa'alogo. I don't know what Wayne is thinking playing Fa'alogo up-front, from memory, he was a fringe running specialist.

 

[Broncoman]

Great that the block has ended and we get to see the Thursday game live tonight.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Great that the block has ended and we get to see the Thursday game live tonight.

Is it really live??

 

[Broncoman]

I would think so

 

[Coxy]

Is it really live??

Yep. In the TV guide as 7pm.

 

[Son Edo]

Storms should win comfortably.

 

[Broncoman]

Round 3 tips

Storm
Tigers
Sea Eagles
Broncos
Sharks
Rabbitohs
Raiders
Knights

 

[Big Pete]

Based on last week Broncosman, I should probably follow your lead.

Storm
Eels
Sea Eagles
Broncos
Sharks
Rabbits
Raiders
Cowboys

 

[Porthoz]

Storm
Tigers
Manly
Broncos
Sharks
Rabbits
Raiders
Cowboys

 

[Fozz]

3 minutes, three penalties.

 

[Browny]

Surely against the storm for ruck penalties ;)

 

[Bucking Beads]

Ennius should have got 10 in the bin

 

[vertigo]

Cronk makes it look like has all the time in the world with ball in hand.

 

[ningnangnong]

That didn't look good from Billy...

 

[ningnangnong]

Fantastic try to the Doggies. Well executed.

 

[Fozz]

That was a crap call against Slater, Klemmer ran into him.