Rugby League: NRL Preview - Round 8

Compiled by PETER JESSUP

Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra

Marathon Stadium; Friday, March 24, 10.30pm.

Knights: Robbie O'Davis, Darren Albert, Matthew Gidley, Mark Hughes, Adam MacDougall, Matthew Johns, Andrew Johns, Peter Shiels, David Fairleigh, Sean Rudder, Tony Butterfield (c), Ben Kennedy, Peter Shiels, Bill Peden; interchange Matt Parsons, Glenn Grief, Steve Simpson, Timana Tahu.

Dragons: Luke Patten, Nathan Blacklock, Matt Cooper, Shaun Timmins, Jamie Ainscough, Anthony Mundine, Trent Barrett, Craig Smith (c), Nathan Brown, Luke Bailey, Lance Thompson, Darren Treacey, Andrew Hart; interchange Terry Larney, Wayne Bartrim, Chris Leikvoll, Jason Hooper.

Ref: Sean Hampstead.

* The Dragons have just a four-day break after Auckland and even though that game wasn't too taxing they should be sufficiently down on petrol for the Knights to get over them with the help of the Marathon crowd. Kiwi prop Craig Smith said the Dragons just have to keep aiming up and were set to play their best football at the right end of the season but clearly difficulties remain between Trent Barrett and Anthony Mundine in the fight for halfback, the Johns boys far more organised there and Andrew in devastating form.

Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers

Bruce Stadium; Saturday, March 25, 5.30pm.

Raiders: Brett Mullins, Ken Nagas, Luke Williamson, Brandon Costin, Lesley Vainikolo, Laurie Daley (c), Andrew McFadden, Luke Davico, Simon Woolford, David Atkins, David Furner, Anthony Colella, Jason Croker; interchange Mark McLinden, Terry Martin, Justin Morgan, Rod Jensen.

Panthers: Rhys Wesser, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, David Woods, Chris Hicks, Steve Carter (c), Matt Rodwell, Craig Greenhill, Lee Hopkins, Carl MacNamara, Tony Puletua, Scott Sattler, John Cross; interchange Mark Geyer, Nigel Gaffey, Sid Domic, Chris Levy.

Ref: Paul Simpkins.

* Mission: Impossible for the Panthers given their unbelievable injury toll, eight players ruled out or doubtful starters after last week's homeground loss to Newcastle. Gone are Craig Gower (knee, 6 weeks), Brad Drew (broken jaw, 6wks), Matt Adamson (rib cartilage, 2), Jody Gall (hamstring, 1) while David Woods (sternum), Scott Sattler (shoulder), Sid Domic (broken nose) and skipper Craig Greenhill (lower disc) will carry injuries in - if they pass late fitness tests.

Sydney Sharks v Melbourne Storm

Shark Park; Saturday, March 25, 10.30pm.

Sharks: David Peachey, Mat Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen (c), Colin Best, Brett Howland, Adam Dykes, Mitch Healey, Jason Stevens, Dean Treister, Martin Lang, Nathan Long, Paul Mellor, Nick Graham; interchange Andrew Pierce, Luke Stuart, Paul Donaghy, Jason Ferris.

Storm: Robbie Ross, Matt Geyer, Aaron Moule, Tony Martin, Brad Watts, 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 18th man John Lomax.

Ref: Bill Harrigan.

* Toughest game of the round to call, the Sharks getting the edge on two counts - a stable team and home ground advantage. The Sharks take largely the same team in for the third week in a row, a luxury few other sides have had. They've taken advantage of their riches in the centres by bringing Paul Mellor into the second-row. The Storm have lost wing Marcus Bai for six weeks after he had surgery to repair a gash to his left arm received when he slid into sideline advertising hoardings at Olympic Park last week. Auckland-born Tongan Fafita Maola has been called down from feeder-club Brisbane Norths to cover and Brad Watts will start.

North Queensland Cowboys v Northern Eagles

Dairy Farmers Stadium; Saturday, March 25, 10.30pm.

Cowboys: Tim Brasher, Damien Smith, Julian O'Neill, Paul Bowman, Geoff Bell, Paul Green, Noel Goldthorpe (c), Shaun Valentine, Brett Boyd, Martin Locke, Robert Relf, Mark Shipway, Kyle Warren; interchange Jeremy Schloss, John Buttigieg, Peter Jones, Graham Appo.

Eagles: Andrew King, Andrew Frew, Albert Torrens, Joel Wilson, Brandon Reeves, Michael Buettner, Jason Taylor, Mark O'Meley, Geoff Toovey (c), Steve Trindall, Adam Muir, Steve Menzies, Greg Ebrill; interchange Owen Cunningham, Josh Stuart, Daniel Gartner, Jamie Goddard.

Ref: Mark Oaten.

* Eagles backrower Nik Kosef is gone for the year after knee reconstruction; an equally skilled player in Daniel Gartner comes back from injury. The Cowboys keep much the same start side, for once, and should take some solidity from that but the Eagles will have too much commitment for them as the ruckus surrounding coach Tim Sheens and his 23% winning record retains focus in Townsville. The Eagles forwards are too strong and mobile and they'll take it up both sides of the ruck.

Auckland Warriors v Sydney City Roosters

Ericsson Stadium; Sunday, March 26, 2.30pm.

Warriors: Cliff Beverley, Shontayne Hape, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Lee Oudenryn, John Simon (c), Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Logan Swann, Ali Lauiti'iti, Jason Death; interchange Henry Faafili, Monty Betham, Tony Tuimavave, Jerry Seuseu.

Roosters: Luke Phillips, Jack Elsegood, Shannon Hegarty, Matt Sing, Anthony Minichiello, Brad Fittler (c), Adrian Lam, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Nelson Lomi, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange Shane Rigon, David Solomona, Craig Wing, Dallas Hood.

Ref: Tony Archer.

* Roosters centre Shane Rigon pleaded guilty to a high tackle on Terry Hill but escaped suspension given his clean record and will play. But they are without first-choice props Quentin Pongia (suspended) and Scott Logan (knee) and SHOULD struggle against a superior Warriors front row. Of course the key component for the home side is playmaker Stacey Jones' return from a four month lay-off, his ability to beat any defence crucial. He can't win it alone, the rest need a big wake-up, but he should be prod for a close win.

Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels

Leichhardt Oval, Sunday, MArch 26, 4.30pm.

Tigers: Matt Seers, Joel Caine, Kevin McGuinness, Terry Hill, John Hopoate, Michael Gillett, Craig Field, Jason Lowrie, Darren Senter, Shane Walker, Jarrod McCracken, Luke O'Donnell, Tyran Smith; interchange Ciriaco Mescia, John Skandalis, Mark O'Neill, Ben Duckworth.

Eels: Brett Hodgson, Clinton Schifcofske, Daniel Wagon, Stuart Kelly, Eric Grothe, Jason Smith, Ben Kusto, Michael Vella, Denis Moran, Nathan Cayless (c), Troy Wozniak, Nathan Hindmarsh, Jim Dymock; interchange Michael Hodgson, Andrew Ryan, Luke Burt, David Westley, David Vaeliki (one to be omitted).

Ref: Tim Mander.

* The Eels were desperately unlucky not to beat Melbourne down south, ref Kelvin Jeffes dropped this week after running two sets of seven tackles and allowing a late and crucial Storm try from a forward pass. They start Jason Smith at standoff this week; they have Junior Kiwi fullback David Vaeliki as an option. The Tigers are always going to be extra-hard at Leichhardt, smashing captain Jarrod McCracken comes back after a five week layoff with a foot injury. But the Eels have depth, organisation, belief in themselves and should win.

Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury Bulldogs

ANZ Stadium, Sunday, March 26, 4.30pm.

Broncos: Darren Lockyer, Lote Tuquiri, Tonie Carroll, Michael Devere, Wendell Sailor, Ben Ikin, Ben Walker, Petero Civoniceva, Luke Priddis, Shane Webcke, Brad Thorn, Gorden Tallis (c), Kevin Campion; interchange Dane Carlaw, Shaun Berrigan, Michael Hancock, Ashley Harrison.

Bulldogs: Rod Silva, Hazem El Masri, Darren Smith, Willie Talau, Daryl Halligan, Craig Polla-Mounter, Ricky Stuart, Barry Ward, Jason Hetherington, Darren Britt (c), Brad Clyde, Steve Reardon, Glenn Hughes; interchange Adam Perry, Brent Sherwin, Steve Price, Travis Norton.

Ref: Steve Clark.

* Anyone who saw the Cowboys deal to the Bulldogs saw how to do it - get the ball wide early and run them around to break up the formidable defensive line. The Broncos shouldn't have a problem there, Darren Lockyer leading the average metres gained with Lote Tuquiri and Wendell Sailor close on his bootprints. The Bulldogs start former test hooker Jason Hetherington and a juggle puts Darren Smith back to the centres but the Broncos know how to blunt their former star, the team is unchanged, confident, winning and will win again.

Peter Jessup Picks:

Knights

Raiders

Sharks

Eagles

Broncos

Warriors

Eels

Success this season: 57%