NRL Record: Round Three

By Stephen Gallagher

THURSDAY:

North Queensland Cowboys V Sydney Roosters – 1300 SMILES Stadium – 22.05NZT

I’m not really a big ‘Thursday Night Football’ fan – but this game has got my mouth watering!

The thought of the desperate Roosters, winless through two – up against the reigning Premiers up at their home ground means you already know these two sides are going to lay it all on the line.

KEY MATCH UP:

Latrell Mitchell and Lachlan Coote at fullback. Coote has plenty to prove after an average start to the season – and the last thing he wants is to be upstaged by a two game rookie wonderkid.

Lachlan Coote needs to get his hands on the ball early and set up his side for some quality running football.

TIP: Pick the Cowboys to get up in this one – The Roosters are getting ever closer to a win though. Take the Cowboys by 1-12.

FRIDAY:

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs V Parramatta Eels – ANZ Stadium – 22.05NZT

The Bulldogs are looking to set their seasons benchmark even higher with a third consecutive win. Parramatta got the biggest scalp of the Premiers as they got their season underway with a win,

I’m thoroughly interested to see these two big bopper forward packs to head to head. The Bulldogs never step down from a challenge.

KEY MATCH UP:

Aiden Tolman and Junior Paulo. Tolman is a solid player and always gives his best. Paulo is playing some good football but needs to stay consistent this season to make a difference.

Paulo will lead with ball in hand, and you know Aidan Tolman will be there to tackle him.

TIP: The Bulldogs’ flyer Curtis Rona to score the first try to help them on their way to win 1-12.

SATURDAY:

Newcastle Knights V Canberra Raiders – Hunter Stadium – 19.00NZT

This game has the Newcastle Knights staring down the battle of a long season. These two are polar opposites with how their seasons have started, but this game is going to be closer than most would expect.

Despite being on the end of a 42 point drubbing – the Knights will have learnt some lessons.

I do think this could be an upset – but I don’t dare put the money on the Knights to win this.

Overall the Raiders are just too good – but the young Knights side will give them a fright and somewhat bring some dignity back to the club.

KEY MATCH UP:

Jacob Safiti and Josh Papalii. Jacob has been a shining light so far in a dull Newcastle season and gets to match up against one of the biggest players the game has.

Papalii is a wrecking ball with and without the ball. If Safiti rises to the challenge this battle will be worth admission alone.

TIP: The Knights to score first – but the Raiders will get them in the end. Canberra 1-12.

Penrith Panthers V Brisbane Broncos – Pepper Stadium – 21.30NZT

Be ready for an upset! It was only a conversion after time that was the difference between the Panthers getting the chance to win in Golden Point and losing in 80.

The Broncos are yet to put on a stellar performance – but they are undefeated and that’s the only stat that counts.

The Panthers are a good side – and they will be good enough to get on the board finally on this Saturday night match.

The Broncos won’t go down easily, and this will be a match that takes 80 minutes to get a certain result.

KEY MATCH UP:

Jamie Soward and Ben Hunt. Both having good seasons, but Soward really needs to be the one to take control and lead his team around with confidence.

Ben Hunt will be supporting his forwards all over the park and will try take aim with his solid kicking game.

TIP: Penrith will go for a penalty goal first, and will win 1-12.

Gold Coast Titans V Wests Tigers – CBUS Super Stadium – 23.30NZT

The Titans will be ready to bounce back after a big loss, and will need to be as they come up against the team who has exceeded everyone’s expectations the Wests Tigers.

The Tigers are an absolute joy to watch through the first two rounds – their support game is absolutely the best in the league this season. The Titans will have to be wary that anything is possible on the fifth tackle – and can’t over commit on defence when the Tigers are lurking.

KEY MATCH UP:

Ash Taylor and Luke Brooks. Both young guns who could be the face of their club for the next ten years but right now they’re just two kids under pressure trying to be the best halfbacks they can possibly be.

Taylor has had the better of the seasons so far, but Luke Brooks is never far from the action.

TIP: The Titans will get up, but not by much. 1-12.

SUNDAY:

New Zealand Warriors V Melbourne Storm – Mount Smart Stadium – 16.00NZT

It’s a sigh of relief at the Warriors get back to their home soil for the first time since last season against a foe they love to play against and have a fantastic record against.

The Melbourne Storm won’t be taking this one lightly, especially with their perfect record intact.

A wounded Warriors outfit back at home is dangerous – don’t let the media suck you in to thinking the Warriors will win this one because they have to be able to prove they’re good enough on the field first.

KEY MATCH UP:

Shaun Johnson and Blake Green. When the Warriors win – it’s on Johnson, when they lose – it’s on Johnson. Blake Green is not the super star for the Storm, but he is a player that has plenty of aces up his sleeve when it comes to creating space and points.

TIP: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gets over the line first, and the Warriors hold on in a tense ten minute finale. Warriors 1-12.

Saint George Illawarra Dragons V South Sydney Rabbitohs – Sydney Cricket Ground – 18.00NZT

I love seeing the use of the historic Sydney Cricket Ground as a NRL venue. This game has two teams with much heritage go up against each other at a remarkable venue.

The Dragons need to bounce back after a horrible performance last week, and the Rabbitohs are the most impressive side this season sitting first with a massive points differential helping their cause already.

The Dragons forwards will have to lay a platform first. Easier said than done. The Rabbitohs have been a force up front, which is where all their success has derived from.

KEY MATCH UP:

Mike Cooper up against Sam Burgess. The two Pommy team mates will love running in to each other in this big clash. I think Sam Burgess has been great in his anticipated return to league, but his good mate Mike Cooper would love to get one over the big man.

TIP: The Dragons to lead at half time but the Rabbitohs will be too strong in the end to go 3-0. Rabbitohs 1-12.

MONDAY:

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles V Cronulla Sutherland Sharks – Brookvale Oval – 21.00NZT

Put your hand up if you though the Sea Eagles would have won one of their first two matches…. *raises hand*

That’s not the case, and Trent Barrett’s era has started very poorly by Manly standards.

The Sharks are going to go far this season – and a judgement of that would be a good win here.

It’s the same 17 for Manly as last week, who will be persisting and working hard to try get their first win of the season.

KEY MATCH UP:

Daly Cherry-Evans and Chad Townsend. Most NRL viewers have been very critical of DCE’s performance so far this season. And rightfully so – he’s been pretty average for the big price tag that comes along with his name. He needs to deliver. Needs to.

Chad Townsend looks to be back to his best alongside James Maloney – last week was the best performance of his career and he’ll be looking to build on that this week in a big match.

TIP:

Sorry Sea Eagles fans…. The Sharks will win this one 1-12.

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