Rugby League: NRL Preview - Round 18

Compiled by PETER JESSUP

Parramatta Eels v Canterbury Bulldogs

Parramatta Stadium; Friday, June 02, 9.35 pm.

Eels: Clinton Schifcofske, Jason Moodie, Daniel Wagon, Stuart Kelly, Pat Richards, David Penna, PJ Marsh, Nathan Cayless (c), Dean Schifilliti, David Westley, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Luke Burt, Dallas Weston, Andrew Ryan, Ben Kusto.

Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Gavin Lester, Hazem El Masri, Glen Hughes, Daryl Halligan, Shane Perry, Brent Sherwin, Darren Britt (c), Craig Polla-Mounter, Dennis Scott, Steve Price, Bradley Clyde, Travis Norton; interchange Adam Peek, Willie Mason, Jamie Feeney, Barry Ward.

Referee: Tim Mander

* Coach Brian Smith's plan of playing everyone out of position all the time, ostensibly to give all experience across the range, might finally come home to roost - one way or the other. The Eels desperately need a win to put their top-eight ambitions back on track and there's nowhere better to do it than at home, and no one better than neighbours Canterbury as a test of how staunch they can be. The Dogs are the more Origin-weakened of the two sides, with playmakers Darren Smith and Steve Price bigger losses than usual given the injury outing of Steve Reardon and Ricky Stuart. The Eels should have the better of the forward gains and that's where matches are won and lost.

Sydney Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys

Shark Park; Saturday, June 03, 4.35 pm.

Sharks: David Peachey, Preston Campbell, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Russell Richardson, Colin Best, Adam Dykes, Blaine Stanley, Tim Maddison, Dean Treister, Andrew Pierce, Sean Ryan, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Chris Beattie, Paul McNicholas, Paul Mellor, Mitch Healey.

Cowboys: Shane Kenward, Naipolioni Kuricibi, Geoff Bell, Damien Smith, Brian Jellick, Scott Prince, Nathan Fien, Paul Pensini, Leigh McWilliams, John Buttigieg, Mark Shipway, Peter Jones, Robert Relf; interchange Ben Rauter, John Manning, Jamie McDonald, Kyle Warren.

Referee: Mark Oaten.

* Any team that can afford to sit Paul Mellor on the bench has too many stars out back, and so it is at Shark Park with the return of David Peachey, Russell Richardson and ET. The Cows have no chance of taking it to the Sharks with a running game and therefore must seek holes up the middle against an Origin-weakened pack. The trouble is, their pack isn't good enough to out-tough the Sharks, who retain a better-than-useful bunch of local juniors. The Cows maintain that new wing Kuricibi is the next Ken Nagas, despite horror errors last weekend. Kiwi Brian Jellick starts after months off with a broken ankle and will be keen to secure a World Cup spot in the remaining games.

Northern Eagles v Sydney City Roosters

NorthPower Stadium, Saturday, June 03, 9.35 pm.

Eagles: Andrew King, Brendon Reeves, Albert Torrens, Nigel Roy, Joshua Smith, Michael Buettner, Matt Orford, Paul Stringer, Jamie Goddard, Steve Trindall, Steve Menzies (c), Dragan Durdevic, Daniel Gartner; interchange Owen Cunningham, Greg Ebrill, Damien Driscoll, Jay Bandy.

Roosters: Luke Phillips, Jack Elsegood, Ryan Cross, Shannon Hegarty, Anthony Minichiello, Chris Flannery, Craig Wing, Scott Logan, Simon Bonetti, Ian Rubin, Luke Ricketson, Darren Burns, Craig Fitzgibbon; interchange David Solomona, Dallas Hood, Albert Talipeau, Julian Bailey.

Referee: Tony Archer.

* The Eagles won away last weekend and the Roosters lost, so in the way of this topsy-turvy competition the Roosters will win this. They should, with the Sydney City 13 much stronger on paper than an injury-decimated Eagles outfit who are also missing inspirational skipper Geoff Toovey. The Roosters may actually be better off without a fatigued Brad Fittler and Adrian Lam in the halves. Craig Wing had a better-than-average return the week before. The battle of the backrowers is the key here. Stand-in Eagles skipper Steve Menzies is the one to watch as he roams wide off the ruck. Aucklander David Solomona makes his grade comeback after a flying start that stalled.

Auckland Warriors v Canberra Raiders

Ericsson Stadium; Saturday, June 03, 7.35 pm.

Warriors: David Myles, Odell Manuel, Shontayne Hape, Nigel Vagana, Lee Oudenryn, Jason Bell, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson (c), Tony Tuimavave, Logan Swann, Scott Coxon; interchange Cliff Beverly, Matt Spence, Ali Lauitiiti, Jerry Seuseu.

Raiders: Brett Mullins, Greg Wolfgramm, Luke Williamson, Anthony Swann, Lesley Vainikolo, Mark McLinden, Andrew McFadden, Luke Davico, Simon Woolford, Todd Payten, Jason Croker, Alan Tongue, Laurie Daley; interchange Brandon Costin, Sean Rutgerson, Ruben Wiki, Justin Morgan.

Referee: Moghseen Jadwat.

* There will be no mikes on in the refs' dressing room, bet on that. The Warriors have to win this to maintain any hope for this season. It won't be easy without skipper John Simon. The pressure is full on for buy-in Jason Bell. If the Warriors can't maintain a good kicking game and play at the Raiders' end, they'll lose. Both sides will take in some confidence from previous encounters, the Warriors a come-from-behind win in this game last year and a pre-season victory; the Raiders the most recent victory with the 52-6 demolition in Canberra, really the beginning of the bad times for the Warriors because they wandered in the wilderness for weeks after.

Penrith Panthers v Wests Tigers

Penrith Park; Sunday, June 04, 4.35 pm.

Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, David Woods, Shane Elford, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Jody Gall, Craig Gower, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Matt Adamson, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Scott Sattler, Lee Hopkins, Frank Puletua.

Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, John Carlaw, John Hopoate, Ben Duckworth, Craig Field, John Skandalis, Darren Senter (c), Shane Walker, Mark O'Neill, Luke O'Donnell, Tyran Smith; interchange Ciriaco Mescia, Steve Georgallis, Justin Doyle, Hayes Lauder.

Referee: Steve Clark.

* The justice of the eight-week suspension given Steve Kearney looks more balanced each week Tigers skipper Jarrod McCracken stays sidelined by his neck injury. They will need strong leadership at Penrith Park, where the Panthers are rarely beaten. Barring Origin centre Ryan Girdler, the home side have a full first-choice complement - and a confident one after doing what no-one else has this season in dumping Melbourne at home last week. Look for Craig Gower to steer the Panthers through a Tigers centre that has looked shaky when pressured, the performance of temperamental half Craig Field all-important for them.

Newcastle Knights v Brisbane Broncos

Marathon Stadium, Sunday, June 04, 4.35 pm.

Knights: Daniel Abraham, Darren Albert, Timana Tahu, Mark Hughes, Lenny Beckett, Matthew Johns, Justin Holbrook, Clinton O'Brien, Danny Buderus, Anthony Butterfield (c), David Fairleigh, Steve Simpson, Bill Peden; interchange Matt Parsons, Josh Perry, Troy Fletcher, Sean Rudder.

Broncos: Justin Hodges, Michael Hancock, Danny Bampton, Michael De Vere, Chris Walker, Shaun Berrigan, Kevin Walters (c), Bradley Meyers, Luke Priddis, Harvey Howard, Ashley Harrison, Carl Webb, Kevin Campion; interchange Shane Walker, Brent Tate, Adam Warwick, Kerrod Walters.

Referee: Sean Hampstead.

* The Broncos should cop a hiding here, 15 first-graders out to Origin or injured. They have reached right to the bottom of the barrel to recall prop Harvey Howard and rake Kerrod Walters, 34. The significantly weakened pack will be no match for the Knights and the home side should have no trouble running over them before going wide to try-scorers Darren Albert and Timana Tahu, Mark Hughes and Lenny Beckett. The Knights' one problem is the internal ructions surrounding their team for 2001, with wing Adam MacDougall the latest to say he won't be staying unless the club makes a significant increase in its offer, given the $A100,000 better available elsewhere.

St George Illawarra Dragons v Melbourne Storm

Wollongong Stadium; Sunday, June 04, 4.35 pm.

Dragons: Amos Roberts, Lee Murphy, Lee Hookey, Jason Hooper, Nathan Blacklock, Trent Barrett, Luke Branighan, Craig Smith, Nathan Brown (c), Luke Bailey, Darren Treacy, Wayne Bartrim, Andrew Hart; interchange Terry Lamey, Chris Leikvoll, Jamie Fitzgerald, Matt Cooper.

Storm: Matt Geyer, Brad Watts, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Kevin Carmichael, Brett O'Farrell, Russell Bawden, Paul Marquet, Richard Swain, Ben Roarty, Matt Rua; interchange Danny Williams, Peter Robinson, Wade Fenton, Glenn Turner.

Referee:Paul Simpkins.

* The Dragons finally resolved one of the rumours fogging their future with news that second-string coach Andrew Farrar would take sole charge for 2001. David Waite is to be let go. Farrar has been the player connection, Waite the thinker and organiser. No doubt the players are happy, but should they be, losing one of the game's great strategic planners. The Storm are seriously weakened up front through Origin and suspension, while the Dragons welcome back Kiwi prop and captain Craig Smith. The home side should be way too strong up front and, if Trent Barrett plays in front of the Illawarra crowd the way he did against Auckland, another big score is on the cards.

Peter Jessup's picks:

Eels

Sharks

Roosters

Raiders

Panthers

Knights

Dragons


Success rate this season: 54%