NRL 80 words in 80 minutes: Round 16
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By Stephen Gallagher
THURSDAY: St George Illawarra Dragons V Melbourns Storm, 21.50NZT – WIN Stadium
With every game here on out a crucial one for the Red V, who go up against the league leaders.
Both sides are decimated through Origin, but there’s still plenty of key players left to get the job done.
The Storm are a class side, and I think they’re good enough to get the job done in this one. They still have the expert in Cam Smith to help them out.
Should be a very close match. Storm by 4.
TIP: Storm 1-12
FRIDAY: Wests Tigers V Sydney Roosters, 21.55NZT – Bankwest Stadium
The Tigers only lose one player through Origin, but it’s still a big ask to come up against the Sydney Roosters regardless whose on their roster.
Roosters didn’t produce quite enough to get a win over the Storm last week, where the Tigers got the chocolates against Souths in a tight one.
I’ve been impressed by how composed the Tigers have been recently, and they’ll need to front up big time to get the job done.
Roosters should still get it done, however.
TIP: Roosters 1-12
SATURDAY: Newcastle Knights V New Zealand Warriors, 21.35NZT – McDonald Jones Stadium
The Knights were lucky enough to play the Broncos last week, and come up against another bumbling foe this week.
The Warriors have been thoroughly disappointing in 2019 – they haven’t gelled at all, and their best is a long way off.
Newcastle are missing some key players – but the men they have left will no doubt get the job done for them.
Too strong all over the park.
TIP: Knights 1-12
SUNDAY: Cronulla Sharks V Brisbane Broncos, 16.00NZT – Pointsbet Stadium
I think we will see a fired up Sharks side after they produced their worst performance of the year last Sunday.
That won’t help Brisbane, who have been woeful this season.
A trip to Sydney makes things a lot harder too. Cronulla will be training the house down to impress this week.
Should be a big scoreline, that’s what I’d be expecting. Brisbane have too many injuries and representative players out.
TIP: Sharks 13+
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