Round 9 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Discuss

 

[Big Pete]

Gold Coast Titans
1. David Mead
2. Kevin Gordon
3. William Zillman
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Anthony Don
6. Aiden Sezer
7. Albert Kelly
8. Luke Douglas
9. Beau Falloon
10. Nate Myles (c)
11. Greg Bird (c)
12. Dave Taylor
13. Ash Harrison

14. Mark Ioane
15. Ryan James
16. Mark Minichiello
17. Matt Srama

18. Cody Nelson

Big talking point here is the return of Zillman & Srama. Interesting to see Cartwright name Zillman in the centres, I definitely think keeping Mead at fullback was the right call but the decision to move Will to the centres may backfire. In my opinion, it's that idea of making your own bed and having to sleep in it, Cartwright has a huge wrap on Zillman and while he has talent, I just don't know if he'll make a real fist of the centres - but we'll see.

South Sydney
1. Greg Inglis
2. Alex Johnston
3. Dylan Walker
4. Kirisome Auva'a
5. Bryson Goodwin
6. John Sutton (c)
7. Adam Reynolds
8. George Burgess
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Dave Tyrell
11. Kyle Turner
12. Ben Te'o
13. Sam Burgess

14. Cameron McInnes
15. Jason Clark
16. Chris McQueen
17. Luke Burgess

18. Joel Reddy 19. Ben Lowe 20. Joe Picker

Copy paste side from Round 8. This should be a nice test for them against the Titans. They started fairly well against the Broncos but were a bit fortunate to walk out of Suncorp with the two points and against an in-form Titans side, it'll be interesting to see if they make it 2/2 against Queensland teams.

Warriors
1. Sam Tomkins
2. Ngani Laumapi
3. Konrad Hurrell
4. Ben Henry
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Chad Townsend
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Sam Rapira
9. Nathan Friend
10. Jacob Lillyman
11. Jayson Bukuya
12. Simon Mannering (c)
13. Sebastine Ikahihifo

14. Feleti Mateo
15. Suaia Matagi
16. Sione Lousi
17. Ben Matulino

18. Kevin Locke

Well, I'd be surprised if this is the final side given the uproar over the Hurrell video. While I believe it's a big non-issue, it is probably grounds for a disciplinary suspension. Otherwise, Lousi & Matulino come in while Fusitua and Kiwi Test player Sivila Havili drop out.

 

[Big Pete]

Manly Sea Eagles
1. Brett Stewart
2. Jorge Taufua
3. Peta Hiku
4. Steve Matai
5. David Williams
6. Jack Littlejohn
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Josh Starling
9. Matt Ballin
10. Brenton Lawrence
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Justin Horo
13. Jamie Buhrer

14. James Hasson
15. Dunamis Lui
16. Jesse Sene-Lafeo
17. Jason King (c)

A lot of injuries and injury clouds for Manly to contend with when they face off against bitter rivals at AAMI Park. Lyon, Foran & G. Stewart will definitely miss the game while Cherry-Evans and Watmough have niggling injuries to contend with. No Word on their potential replacements. James Hasson & David Williams are the new faces after Manly's last start demolition against Canberra.

Penrith Panthers
1. Matt Moylan
2. David Simmons
3. Dean Whare
4. Jamal Idris
5. Josh Mansour
6. Jamie Soward
7. Peter Wallace (c)
8. Nigel Plum
9. Kevin Kingston (c)
10. Brent Kite
11. Tyrone Peachey
12. Sika Manu
13. Adam Docker

14. James Segeyaro
15. Sam McKendry
16. Matt Robinson
17. Jeremy Latimore

Robinson and McKendry come in for Elijah Taylor & Tim Grant. Taylor has an injury, not entirely sure what's going on with Grant, I'm sure reports will emerge in the coming moments but those losses certainly hurt the quality of the Panthers pack going in against the Knights who have their own concerns up front.

EDIT: Confirmation that Grant is out with a calf strain.

Canberra Raiders
1. Anthony Milford
2. Reece Robinson
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Matt Allwood
5. Bill Tupou
6. Jack Wighton
7. Terry Campese
8. Dane Tilse
9. Glenn Buttriss
10. Brett White
11. Paul Vaughan
12. Joel Edwards
13. Shaun Fensom

14. Josh McCrone
15. Kyle O'Donnell
16. David Shillington
17. Josh Papalii

18. Jarrad Kennedy

Shillington & Papalii have been demoted to the bench after last round's demolition while Kyle O'Donnell comes in for Boyd. Surprised by the lack of changes but I suppose Ricky is betting on these boys being embarrassed after that performance and willing to make ammends.

 

[Big Pete]

Newcastle Knights
1. Darius Boyd
2. James McManus
3. Dane Gagai
4. Joey Leilua
5. Akuila Uate
6. Jarrod Mullen
7. Tyrone Roberts
8. David Fa'alogo
9. Kurt Gidley
10. Kade Snowden
11. Beau Scott
12. Robbie Rochow
13. Adam Cuthbertson

14. Adam Clydsdale
15. Korbin Sims
16. Chris Houston
17. Matt Hilder

Fijian Flyer Akuila Uate returns from injury, displacing promising NYC star Jake Mamo on the wing. Tetevano has been stood down for disciplinary reasons, enabling Fa'alogo to be promoted with veteran utility Hilder taking his spot on the bench. There might be a late change with Sims facing a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle charge which he's set to contest later this week.

North Queensland Cowboys
1. Michael Morgan
2. Matt Wright
3. Brent Tate
4. Kane Linnett
5. Curtis Rona
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Ray Thompson
8. Mat Scott
9. Rory Kostjasyn
10. James Tamou
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Jason Taumalolo
13. Tariq Sims

14. Cameron King
15. Glenn Hall
16. Ashton Sims
17. Scott Bolton

The big news is that highly rated youngster Cameron King will finally make his club debut for North Queensland off the bench in their big clash against the Broncos. Cooper returns in favour of Riethmuller while Tariq Sims has been named despite suffering an ankle injury during the City v Country clash.

 

[Big Pete]

West Tigers
1. Kurtis Rowe
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Keith Leilua
4. Chris Lawrence
5. Pat Richards
6. Blake Austin
7. Luke Brooks
8. Aaron Woods
9. Joel Luani
10. Keith Galloway
11. Liam Fulton
12. Bodene Thompson
13. Adam Blair

14. Martin Taupau
15. Ava Semanufagai
16. Cory Paterson
17. Sitaleki Akauola

Paterson & Leilua come in for Anasta & Simona, with Austin being promoted to the vacant five eigth role. Tigers still looking very frail minus Tedesco, Farah among others, will be a big ask against the defending premiers.

Sydney 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 Warea-Hargreaves
9. Jake Friend
10. Sam Moa
11. Boyd Cordner
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Aidan Guerra

14. Frank-Paul Nuuausala
15. Mitchell Aubusson
16. Issac Liu
17. Remi Casty

18. Daniel Mortimer 19. Dylan Napa

French international Casty coming in for Napa is the only change. Both Jennings and Maloney suffered injuries in their ANZAC derby against the Dragons so it'll be interesting to see if they'll keep their place by Friday.

Melbourne Storm
1. Billy Slater
2. Sisa Waqa
3. Will Chambers
4. Mahe Fonua
5. Young Tonumaipea
6. Ben Hampton
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cam Smith
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Ryan Hinchcliffe

14. Kenny Bromwich
15. Tohu Harris
16. Mitch Garbutt
17. George Rose

Only one change to the side that went down to the Warriors last round and that's Will Chambers coming in for Justin O'Neil. Unsure if it's injury related but would suspect so after Fonua was named in the centres.

St. George Illawarra Dragons
1. Josh Dugan
2. Brett Morris
3. Joel Thompson
4. Gerard Beale
5. Nathan Green
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Sam Williams
8. Tyson Frizzell
9. Mitch Rein
10. Dan Hunt
11. Bronson Harrison
12. Ben Creagh
13. Trent Merrin

14. Jack Stockwell
15. Mike Cooper
16. Jack de Belin
17. Leeson Ah Mau

18. Will Matthews

Couple of interesting selections here. With Nightingale ruled out due to that leg injury he picked up in the Test, Price has opted to move centre Green to the wing with Thompson slotting into the centres. Leeson Ah Mau has been recalled into the side as the man replacing Nightingale. The other interesting change is Williams being peferred over Witt. I believe this is the right call and may explain why Thompson has been preferred in the centres over say Runciman. Still, I think the Green selection on the wing is perculiar and may have a negative impact on the Dragons if it isn't a smokescreen when they take on the Bulldogs.

Canterbury Bulldogs
1. Sam Perrett
2. Corey Thompson
3. Josh Morris
4. Tim Lafai
5. Mitch Brown
6. Josh Reynolds
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Aiden Tolman
9. Michael Ennis (c)
10. James Graham
11. Josh Jackson
12. Tony Williams
13. Greg Eastwood

14. Dale Finucane
15. Tim Browne
16. David Klemmer
17. Sam Kasiano

Lafai returns in place of debutant Mybe. That's the only change.

 

[Big Pete]

Parramatta Eels
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Semi Redradra
3. Will Hopoate
4. Willie Tonga
5. Ken Sio
6. Corey Norman
7. Chris Sandow
8. Tim Mannah
9. Nathan Peats
10. Darcy Lussick
11. Pauli Pauli
12. Manu Ma'u
13. Joseph Paulo

14. David Gower
15. Peni Terepo
16. Fuifui Moimoi
17. Mitchell Allgood

Allgood comes in for Lasalo.

Cronulla Sharks
1. Michael Gordon
2. Sosaia Feki
3. Blake Ayshford
4. Ricky Leutele
5. Beau Ryan
6. Luke Lewis
7. Jeff Robson
8. Andrew Fifita
9. John Morris
10. Bryce Gibbs
11. Anthony Tupou
12. Wade Graham
13. Paul Gallen

14. Isaac De Gois
15. Chris Heighinton
16. Tinirau Arona
17. Siosaia Vave

18. Michael Lichaa

Big news with confirmation that Carney will spend sometime on the sideline. He's replaced by the returning Luke Lewis who will play his first game in 2014 after that unfortunate shoulder injury in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. Bryce Gibbs and Issac De Gois return in place of Sam Tagataese & Michael Lichaa respectively.

Brisbane Broncos
1. Ben Barba
2. Daniel Vidot
3. Jack Reed
4. Justin Hodges
5. Dale Copley
6. Josh Hoffman
7. Ben Hunt
8. Josh McGuire
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Martin Kennedy
11. Alex Glenn
12. Corey Parker
13. Matt Gillett

14. David Hala
15. Jarrod Wallace
16. Jake Granville
17. Corey Oates

18. Todd Lowrie

Thaiday misses another week but the big news is the shock omission of Ben Hannant in favour of impact forward Hala.

 

[Ari Gold]

Pete, Justin O'Neill went down in the Warriors game. It looked pretty serious at the time and I suspect that's why he's out.

 

[Super Freak]

O'Neill fractured his left ankle. Out for a month.

I was a bit surprised to see Hayne named to play. I guess the injury wasn't as bad as they thought.

 

[Super Freak]

Korbin Sims is out. He was unsuccessful at the judiciary.

 

[Broncoman]

Broncos
Roosters
Warriors
Souths
Storm
Knights
Bulldogs
Eels

 

[Kimlo]

Warriors destroying Canberra. Hurrell must be one of the most powerful runners in the game, he never seems to get tackled by the first opposition player.

 

[Kimlo]

It's always pleasing seeing a Ricky Stuart coached team playing so awful.

 

[Porthoz]

At least will hopefully help Milford's decision to leave Australia's arse...

 

[Kimlo]

I don't think there's anyone in the game who can match Johnson for speed, picks up a loose ball, runs 100 for a try. 30-6 for the Warriors 35 to go.

 

[Kimlo]

At least will hopefully help Milford's decision to leave Australia's arse...

Exactly what I was thinking mate, as bad as we've been, the Raiders do it worse.

 

[Kimlo]

Tomkins score after some Johnson magic once again, 36-6 coming up.

Gee Shaun Johnson is one hell of a player.

 

[Ari Gold]

I don't think there's anyone in the game who can match Johnson for speed, picks up a loose ball, runs 100 for a try. 30-6 for the Warriors 35 to go.

James Roberts is the only one who would even go close.

Seriously, how great is it to just watch SJ run! I reckon he could run 100m before any of our players could run 50m.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Debacle.