NRL Round 19: The Preview

By Stephen Gallagher

Tipped two wrong last week. 83/134 for the season!

THURSDAY: Eels V Raiders – CBus Super Stadium – 21.50NZT

With Mitch Moses suffering a back break in Origin, he’s potentially on the sideline for another five weeks, but Brown and Arthur should do the trick in the meantime.

Parramatta are definitely showing themselves as a top four side, but with a resurgent Raiders outfit, they could have a fight on their hands.

Sam Williams has steadied the sinking Canberra ship over the last three weeks, and will look to do more than that against Parra.

The blue and gold forward pack is in form. They’re hitting their straps and causing a lot of headaches.

Canberra have to rise to the occasion and meet them head on.

TIP: Eels 1-12

 

FRIDAY: Roosters V Knights – Sunshine Coast Stadium – 20.00NZT

Another injury to Pearce drops the chances of the Knights creating an upset.

While the Roosters are still going about their work and getting wins they should, this game is another box they need to tick to continue to push for a top-four finish.

Saifiti brothers up against JWH and Liu is going to be a great match up.

Knights link man Connor Watson has been the best in a dull side this season. When he gets his hands on the ball, things happen.

This game will be tight for the first forty, but the class of Easts should show through by the final whistle.

TIP: Roosters 1-12

Cowboys V Storm – Queensland Country Bank Stadium – 21.55NZT

Who is stopping the Storm? Seriously? They’re odds on going back to back and that’s full praise to this side who keep on creating history.

The Cowboys won’t be able to match the storm in any facet of this match. It’s just that simple.

They’ve fell out of form over the last month have North Queensland, and a game against Melbourne is poor timing.

Expect nothing short of a clinical performance.

TIP: Storm 13+

 

SATURDAY: Rabbitohs V Warriors – Sunshine Coast Stadium – 17.00NZT

Mitchell, Walker, Reynolds and Cook have been the consistent spine for Souths this season, causing plenty of problems for their opposition.

Which is the opposite to the Warriors, who are struggling to score points, and have had a new spine every week for the last month.

While full credit to the boys applies to the Warriors for effort, six straight losses doesn’t give them much to write home about.

It wasn’t the strongest South Sydney performance last weekend, but they’ll do the work early and put the Warriors to the sword before showing just what they’re capable of.

TIP: Rabbitohs 13+

 

Sea Eagles V Tigers – Suncorp Stadium – 19.30NZT

I would say this is the strongest side the Sea Eagles have fielded this season, which is a great sign for the club.

With the Tigers getting a win and their new doco launching a day later, things look to be on the up for the merger side.

But coming up against a Manly side who can put points on at will, from anywhere in the park? Good luck.

Wests need to be at their best to compete. The Sea Eagles could put on plenty of points in this match.

TIP: Sea Eagles 13+

 

Panthers V Broncos – Suncorp Stadium – 21.30NZT

With Luai back for Penrith, he’ll bring some much needed energy and life to this side who sit second on the table.

I was sucked in by the Broncos winning last week, but they were outscored and outclassed in the last quarter of the game and showed little resistance when they needed to the most.

Penrith’s strength lies in getting the outside backs to do plenty of work. Keeping the forwards fresh for when they need them most.

Brisbane need to try and tame the flanks of the Panthers to stay in this game.

TIP: Panthers 13+

 

SUNDAY: Dragons V Titans – Cbus Super Stadium – 15.55NZT

The Dragons were competitive but not enough so to win last week, and the Titans were outclassed easily in the first game of the round.

A few more changes to the Red V because of the barbecue incident, but there are some young players named who get their chance to shine.

While the Titans get to play “away” but still at their home ground, they’ll be wanting to stick it to the Dragons through the middle.

If St George Illawarra continue to miss tackles, they’ll continue to lose. That’s the same story of the Titans.

Check the final score of this, it’s going to be all tries, no defence.

TIP: Dragons 1-12

 

Bulldogs V Sharks – CBus Super Stadium – 18.05NZT

Lachlan Lewis keeps his spot after his judo takedown of Walker at half time last week in the most bizarre brain snap I’ve seen.

However they come up against a Cronulla side who have dropped two in a row, and will want to make amends for that.

A couple of positional changes for Canterbury Bankstown causes a forward pack re-shuffle, but the Sharks will look to counter that.

Although low key think this game could be a good one. Hopefully I’m not wrong.

TIP: Sharks 1-12

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