Compiled by PETER JESSUP
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11
Parramatta Eels v Brisbane Broncos
Parramatta Stadium 9.30pm.
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Clinton Schifcofske, David Kidwell, Luke Burt, Jason Moodie, Stuart Kelly (c), David Penna, Gary Larson, Dennis Moran, David Westley, Daniel Wagon, Nathan Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Ben Kusto, Michael Hodgson, Andrew Ryan, Jason Smith, Wade L'Estrange, Troy Wozniak, Dallas Weston (one to be omitted).
Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Michael Hancock, Ben Ikin, Michael Devere, Wendell Sailor, Kevin Walters (c), Ben Walker, Petero Civoniceva, Luke Priddis, Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn, Gorden Tallis, Kevin Campion; interchange Phil Lee, Shane Walker, Tonie Carroll, Lote Tuqiri, Harvey Howard, Shaun Berrigan.
Referee: Steve Clark
* Bronco halves Ben Walker and Kevin Walters are listed to play despite injuries. The Eels lost their way somewhat after losing captain Nathan Cayless (ankle ligament tear) at halftime last week after he had an inspirational start against the Roosters. Cayless is gone for a fortnight, Stuart Kelly taking over. They'll be that much more determined this week, and with Jason Smith back should have the edge missing at the end of last week's game when they took their foot off the Roosters' throat. Home advantage will help, too, over a Brisbane outfit still finding combinations.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12
Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm
Marathon Stadium 8.30pm.
Knights: Adam MacDougall, Darren Albert, Matthew Gidley, Mark Hughes, Timana Tahu, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, David Fairleigh, Danny Buderus, Tony Butterfield (c), Ben Kennedy, Peter Shiels, Bill Peden; interchange Matt Parsons, Steve Simpson, Sean Rudder, Glenn Grief, Troy Fletcher, Lenny Beckett.
Storm: Robbie Ross, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Scott Hill, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Stephen Kearney, Paul Marquet, Matt Rua; interchange Danny Williams, Wayne Evans, Russell Bawden, Tasesa Lavea, Ben Roarty.
Referee: Bill Harrigan
* Newcastle won't lose many at home this season and, with a fully fit side carried by the parochial Marathon Stadium crowd, look a cert for the two points. They'll catch the Storm on the back foot after the hammering they took in Auckland. Melbourne will still be feeling the loss of football manager Michael Moore and no amount of "win it for Mike" motivation is likely to see them home after such a shattering incident.
Sydney Sharks v Sydney City Roosters
Shark Stadium 10.30pm.
Sharks: David Peachey, Mathew Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Russell Richardson, Brett Howland, Adam Dykes, Mitch Healey, Martin Lang, Dean Treister, Andrew Pierce, Chris McKenna, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Tim Maddison, Sam Isemonger, Paul Mellor, Shannon Donato, Blaine Stanley, Colin Best, Luke Stuart (one to be omitted).
Roosters: Craig Wing, Shannon Hegarty, Richie Barnett, Ryan Cross, Robert Miles, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Scott Logan, Simon Bonetti, Quentin Pongia, Craig Fitzgibbon, Bryan Fletcher, Luke Ricketson; interchange Peter Cusack, Nathan Wood, Brendan Hurst, David Solomona (two to be added).
Referee: Sean Hampstead
* Match of the round for the form guide. Centrebet has installed the Roosters as premiership favourites, Sharks second, after their gutsy wins last week. Both sides have big props, off-loading secondrowers and speed out back, promising an enthralling encounter. Kiwi prop Quentin Pongia apologised to the team for the try he let Nathan Cayless score while he was trading punches with Nathan Hindmarsh. Aucklander David Solomona showed plenty of class -- it'll be interesting to see if he can maintain a standard the Warriors couldn't get from him.
St George Illawarra Dragons v North Queensland Cowboys
Wollongong Stadium, 10.30pm.
Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Jamie Ainscough, Shaun Timmins, Lee Hookey, Anthony Mundine, Trent Barrett, Wayne Bartrim, Craig Smith (c), Nathan Brown (c), Chris Leikvoll, Darren Treacey, Lance Thompson; interchange Corey Pearson, Luke Bailey, Andrew Hart, Jason Hooper, Lee Murphy, Matt Cooper.
Cowboys: Tim Brasher (c), Adam Connelly, Julian O'Neill, Paul Bowman, Brian Jellick, Scott Prince, Paul Green, John Buttigieg, Brett Boyd, Shaun Valentine, Mark Shipway, Josh Hannay, John Doyle; interchange Robert Relf, Jason Nicol, Glenn Morrison, Darrien Doherty, Chad Halliday, Noel Goldthorpe.
Referee: Matt Hewitt
* The Dragons will be set on securing two points after their disappointing loss to the Sharks last week, and won't need a home crowd to lift them to a win over a Cowboys unit still struggling for unity. Wayward son Solomon Haumono, who turned up begging for another chance, has been accepted on a match payments only basis, but won't be in top grade this week. Cowboys coach Tim Sheens said his side were so bad last week they deserved a 40-point flogging - hard to see him having arrested their shocking error rate within one week.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13
Canterbury Bulldogs v Penrith Panthers
Stadium Australia 8pm.
Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Hazem El Masri, Shane Marteene, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Corey Hughes, Ricky Stuart (c), Steve Price, Adam Perry, Troy Stone, Bradley Clyde, Darren Smith, Travis Norton; interchange Barry Ward, Steve Reardon, David Thompson, Dennis Scott, Craig Polla-Mounter, Glenn Hughes.
Panthers: Shane Elford, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, David Woods, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Craig Greenhill, Craig Gower, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Scott Sattler, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Nigel Gaffey, Sid Domic, Rhys Wesser (two to be added).
Referee: Paul Simpkins
* Canterbury brought out their solid, unspectacular game last week but couldn't cope with Canberra's flair. Penrith will be likewise dangerous via Gower and Girdler, the latter worth seven points with his boot last week. The Hughes brothers are both back after leaving the field injured last week. The doggies will have to smarten their defensive line, and coach Steve Folkes has been flogging them on the tackle bags this week with that in mind, but should get home in a close one.
Canberra Raiders v Northern Eagles
Bruce Stadium, 10pm.
Raiders: Brett Mullins, Nathan Barnes, Ken Nagas, Brandon Costin, Anthony Swann, Laurie Daley (c), Andrew McFadden, Ruben Wiki, Simon Woolford, Luke Davico, David Furner, Anthony Colella, Jason Crocker; interchange Mark McLinden, Mark Corvo, Anthony Brann, David Atkins, Lesley Vainikolo (one to be added).
Northern Eagles: Andrew King, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Brett Grogan, Brendan Reeves, Michael Buettner, Jason Taylor, Mark O'Meley, Geoff Toovey (c), Steve Trindall, Adam Muir, Steve Menzies, Nik Kosef; interchange Owen Cunningham, Daniel Gartner, Steve Ebril, Willie Leyshon, Jamie Goddard, Adam Hayden.
Referee: Tim Mander.
* The Eagles provided the upset of round one, downing Newcastle at home, but will be lucky to repeat that away. The Raiders smartened up their act after a lacklustre show against Auckland in pre-season, Brett Mullins in particular looking sharp last week. Wiki goes back to prop, the position where the Raiders again look short on depth. The Eagles will try to go up the middle with their skillful backrowers running off half Toovey - if Canberra halt them, they've won.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 14
Wests Tigers v Auckland Warriors
Leichhardt Oval 9.30pm
Tigers: Joel Caine, John Carlaw, Owen Craigie, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Kevin McGuinness, Craig Field, Tyran Smith, Mark Stimson, Jarrod McCracken (c), Shane Walker, Darren Senter, Jason Lowrie; interchange Adam Nable, Steve Georgallis, Mark O'Neill, John Skandalis, Ken McGuinness, Luke O'Donnell.
Warriors: Lee Oudenryn, Odell Manuel, Ivan Cleary, Nigel Vagana, Scott Pethybridge, John Simon (c), Robert Mears, Jerry Seu Seu, Jason Death, Joe Vagana, Tony Tuimavave, Logan Swann, Scott Coxon; interchange Monty Betham, Cliff Beverly, Matt Spence, Mark Tookey, David Myles, Talite Liava'a.
Referee: Mark Oaten
* The Tigers are lucky to have McCracken, who escaped suspension this week. The Warriors were hammered by a crowd-heckled ref at Leichhardt last year and this should be no different, even without Laurie Nicols boxing on. But Auckland should have the power in the forwards to drive the Tigers back both in the tackle and on attack. The confidence of a season-opening win over defending champs the Storm can't be underestimated, it was obvious there was plenty of "playing for each other" in last Sunday's epic, and that spirit should carry them to another victory.
Peter Jessup's Picks:
Eels, Knights, Sharks, Dragons, Bulldogs, Raiders, Warriors.
Correct so far this season: 43%
