Compiled by PETER JESSUP
Melbourne Storm v St George Illawarra Dragons
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Friday March 03, 9.30pm.
Storm: Robbie Ross, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Marcus Bai, Tasesa Lavea, Brett Kimmorley, Robbie Kearns (c), Richard Swain, Rodney Howe, Matt Rua, Stephen Kearney, Scott Hill; interchange Danny Williams, Russell Bawden, Ben Roarty, Paul Marquet.
Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Jamie Ainscough, Matt Cooper, Lee Hookey, Anthony Mundine, Trent Barrett, Corey Pearson, Nathan Brown (c), Chris Leikvoll, Lance Thompson, Darren Treacey, Wayne Bartrim; interchange Luke Bailey, Solomon Haumono, Andrew Hart, Jason Hooper.
Referee: Bill Harrigan
* Anthony Mundine said this week that the Dragons were deserved premiership winners and would prove it by beating the Storm - which should be sufficient motivation for Steve Kearney and the boys to smash them. Wayward Solomon Haumono adds some staunch to what has looked a pussyfooting pack for the Dragons. Jamie Ainscough is back after a groin injury. The Storm are keeping Junior Kiwi Tasesa Lavea at standoff despite an ordinary kicking display last week, his feeding of the backline effective.
Brisbane Broncos v Newcastle Knights
at ANZ Stadium Saturday, March 04, 7.30pm.
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 Dane Carlaw, Shane Walker, Tonie Carroll, Lote Tuqiri.
Knights: Robbie O'Davis, Darren Albert, Matthew Gidley, Mark Hughes, Adam MacDougall, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, David Fairleigh, Danny Buderus, Tony Butterfield (c), Ben Kennedy, Peter Shiels, Bill Peden; interchange Matt Parsons, Glenn Grief, Sean Rudder, Timana Tahu
Referee: Tim Mander
* While sharp at times, Newcastle looked to have lost their way somewhat against an all-out Warriors defence last week and will face a similarly torrid confrontation in the Broncos' first home game. With the Johns boys under pressure the bomb became their only attacking option and, though it produced two tries, you can count on Brisbane putting together more than that. Their backrow of Thorn, Tallis and Campion is one of the best form-wise and, as the halves combo grows as Ben Walker finds confidence, they're going from strength to strength and will be hard to topple.
Canterbury Bulldogs v Parramatta Eels
at Stadium Australia Saturday, March 04, 10.30pm.
Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Hazem El Masri, Darren Smith, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Corey Hughes, Ricky Stuart, Troy Stone, Adam Perry, Darren Britt (c), Dennis Scott, Brad Clyde, Glenn Hughes; interchange Craig Polla-Mounter, Brent Sherwin, Barry Ward.
Eels: Brett Hodgson, Luke Burt, David Kidwell, Daniel Wagon, Eric Grothe, Stuart Kelly, Ben Kusto, Michael Vella, Dennis Moran, Nathan Cayless (c), Troy Wozniak, Nathan Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Clinton Schifcofske, David Westley, Jason Smith, Gary Larson.
Referee: Steve Clark
* Captain Nathan Cayless comes back after they clearly took the Cowboys too lightly. With half David Penna out for eight weeks with a neck vertebrae crack utility Ben Kusto starts, standoff Stuart Kelly backing up with a broken bone in his hand. The Bulldogs have yet to turn up any surprises in terms of style of play so expect another ground-out, tight defensive game that should be won by muscle. There's no real home ground advantage to the Dogs at Stadium Australia and I see the Eels, spurred by the embarassment of losing to the easybeats last week, getting home in a close one.
North Queensland Cowboys v Sydney Sharks
at Dairy Farmers Stadium. Saturday, March 04, 10.30pm.
Cowboys: Graham Appo, Damien Smith, Geoff Bell, Paul Bowman, Brian Jellick, Paul Green, Noel Goldthorpe (c), Shaun Valentine, Brett Boyd, Martin Locke, Robert Relf, Mark Shipway, Kyle Warren; interchange Scott Prince, Glenn Morrison, John Buttigieg, Jeremy Schloss.
Sharks: David Peachey, Mathew Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Colin Best, Brett Howland, Adam Dykes, Mitch Healey, Martin Lang, Dean Treister, Jason Stevens, Chris McKenna, Nathan Long, Nick Graham; interchange Andrew Pierce, Sam Isemonger, Paul Mellor, Blaine Stanley.
Referee: Mogsheen Jadwat
* The Sharks have Jason Stevens back and field their A-grade front row for the first time this year. They'll be keen to avenge the home loss to the Broncos and have the power up front and talent out back to get over the Cowboys despite what should be a big crowd for the first game in Townsville. Tim Sheens continues to play with the halves, his latest plan to start Noel Goldthorpe and bring young Scott Prince on and send Goldthorpe to hooker. Prince, though, appears to be lacking confidence and though the Cowboys strung together their first winning performance last week it was scratchy.
Wests Tigers v Penrith Panthers
at Leichhardt Oval Sunday, March 05, 8pm.
Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Steve Georgallis, Craig Field, Jason Lowrie, Darren Senter (c), Shane Walker, Luke O'Donnell, Mark O'Neill, Tyran Smith; interchange Ciriaco Mescia, John Skandalis, Mark Stimson, Ken McGuinness.
Panthers: Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, David Woods, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matthew Rodwell, Craig Greenhill, Craig Gower, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Nigel Gaffey, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Lee Hopkins, Brad Drew, Sid Domic.
Referee: Mark Oaten
* The Panthers were hard pressed by Melbourne and the bashing they took may give the Tigers an edge in the cauldron at Leichhardt. The Tigers front row is firing on all cylinders while Terry Hill and John Hopoate out back have proved a handful for all sides they've faced. Craig Field is showing his form of old and a good kicking game will be vital this week to turn around a committed and mobile Panthers pack. Is there anything in the NRL sending young Mark Oaten back to Leichhardt after he was much criticised for his reffing of the Warriors game there?
Sydney City Roosters v Northern Eagles
at Sydney Football Stadium Sunday, MArch 05, 10pm.
Roosters: Craig Wing, Shannon Hegarty, Richie Barnett, Ryan Cross, Robert Miles, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Scott Logan, Nat Wood, Ian Rubin, Craig Fitzgibbon, Bryan Fletcher, Luke Ricketson; interchange David Solomona, Andrew Lomu, Simon Bonetti, Peter Cusack
Eagles: Andrew King, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Nigel Roy, Brendan Reeves, Michael Buettner, Jason Taylor, Mark O'Meley, Geoff Toovey (c), Steve Trindall, Adam Muir, Steve Menzies, Nik Kosef; interchange Owen Cunningham, Greg Ebrill, Willie Leyshon, Josh Stuart.
Referee: Paul Simpkins
* The Roosters must be giving coach Graham Murray heart palpitations the way they run end-to-end. Their defence has been good only in patches and until it stiffens they'll keep getting upset. But the attack is so good they can't be written off. Former Warrior David Solomona was the most dangerous man on the park last week, his offloads providing all sorts of opportunities. Richie Barnett also looks in great form for the upcoming Anzac test. They should get over an Eagles outfit that will miss Daniel Gartner (torn quadriceps).
Canberra Raiders v Auckland Warriors
at Bruce Stadium. Monday, March 06, 9.30pm.
Raiders: Brett Mullins, Anthony Swann, Ken Nagas, Brandon Costin, Leslie Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Andrew McFadden, Anthony Brann, Simon Woolford, David Atkins, David Furner, Anthony Colella, Jason Crocker; interchange Mark MacLinden, Mark Corvo, Justin Morgan, Rod Jensen, Jason Burnham.
Warriors: Cliff Beverley, Lee Oudenryn, Ivan Cleary, Scott Pethybridge, Nigel Vagana, John Simon (c), Ben Lythe, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Mark Tookey, Matt Spence, Logan Swann, Scott Coxon; interchange Paul Whatuira, Tony Tuimavave, Ali Lautiiti, Talite Liavaa.
Referee: Sean Hampstead
* The Warriors have the mental backing of a big pre-season win over Canberra and that will be all-important at Bruce Stadium. They've changed their travel routine since last year, when they were well up but let the game slip, believing the extra flight takes an extra day to get over. Wests showed how to go for a second win in 2000, harrying Laurie Daley off the field last week to reduce the Raiders' options. Brett Mullins looked back to his dangerous best from broken play. With Ruben Wiki gone, broken arm, the Raiders will be short on power up front and Auckland should beat them there.
Peter Jessup's Picks:
Storm
Broncos
Eels
Sharks
Tigers
Roosters
Warriors
Success rate this season: 46%
Rugby League: NRL Preview - Round 5
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