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EELS v BULLDOGS at Allianz Stadium, 7.35pm
EELS: Corey Norman, Semi Radradra, Will Hopoate, Brad Takairangi, Ryan Morgan, Luke Kelly, Chris Sandow, Junior Paulo, Isaac De Gois, Tim Mannah (c), Manu Ma'u, Tepai Moeroa, Anthony Watmough. Interchange (from): Darcy Lussick, Pauli Pauli, Danny Wicks, David Gower, Joseph Paulo.
BULLDOGS: Brett Morris, Curtis Rona, Josh Morris, Tim Lafai, Sam Perrett, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman (c), Michael Lichaa, James Graham, Josh Jackson, Frank Pritchard, Greg Eastwood. Interchange (from): Sam Kasiano, Shaun Lane, David Klemmer, Moses Mbye, Tim Browne.
Referees: Ben Cummins, Chris James.
Adam Pengilly writes: Who would have thought most interest would be on a couple of left wingers in the normal knock'em-down-drag'em-out western Sydney derby? But so good have Parramatta's Semi Radradra and Canterbury's Curtis Rona been it will be hard to keep your eyes off the NRL's joint leading tryscorers. The recent history makes for bad reading for Eels fans - they've won only once in nine attempts against the Dogs and have a horrible ANZ Stadium record - but they're starting to sniff finals. Bulldogs to squeak home in a tight one, but a rested Parramatta to score more than 7.5 points in the first half at $2.30 looks attractive.
Tip: Bulldogs by 8.
TV: Live, Channel Nine
Ladbrokes: Eels $3.15, Bulldogs $1.38
STORM v PANTHERS at AAMI Park, 7.35pm
STORM: Cameron Munster, Marika Koroibete, Will Chambers, Hymel Hunt, Richard Kennar, Blake Green, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Tim Glasby, Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris, Dale Finucane. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Kenny Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Felise Kaufusi.
PANTHERS: Will Smith, Waqa Blake, Dean Whare, Isaah Yeo, David Simmons, Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace (c), Nigel Plum, Apisai Koroisau, R. Campbell-Gillard, Sika Manu, Bryce Cartwright, Elijah Taylor. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Jeremy Latimore, Sam McKendry, Tyrone Peachey.
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Gavin Morris.
Adam Pengilly writes: The Storm - perhaps unsurprisingly have stumbled through the Origin period - but should be ready to fire in skipper Cameron Smith's 300th NRL match. Ironically their last win was a 20-0 blanking of Penrith last month and the mountain men might just have one injury too many with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak the latest victim. And to make matters worse for Ivan Cleary's men they've traditionally struggled against the Storm with only one win in their last 14. The Storm should race out of the blocks and lead from barrier to box so take the extra value for them to be ahead at half-time at $1.53.
Tip: Storm by 12.
TV: Delayed, Channel Nine
Ladbrokes: Storm $1.40, Panthers $3.00
SATURDAY:
RAIDERS v SHARKS at GIO Stadium, 3pm
RAIDERS: Jack Wighton, Edrick Lee, Jarrod Croker (c), Sisa Waqa, Jordan Rapana, Blake Austin, Kurt Baptiste, Paul Vaughan, Josh Hodgson, David Shillington, Josh Papalii, Iosia Soliola, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Joseph Leilua, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Jarrad Kennedy, Shannon Boyd.
SHARKS: Michael Gordon, Sosaia Feki, Gerard Beale, Ricky Leutele, Valentine Holmes, Jack Bird, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, Michael Ennis, Sam Tagataese, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen (c). Interchange (from): Ben Barba, Chris Heighington, David Fifita, Jayson Bukuya, Matt Prior.
Referees: Ashley Klein, Chris Butler.
Adam Pengilly writes: Not many thought this race would have had finals repercussions a couple of months back, but it is sure to have a bearing on the lower part of the top eight. Statistically there's not a lot between the two in recent history and both will be familiar with the team bus soon enough with difficult weeks on the road looming. Sam Williams' injury might mean the shackles are a little tighter on regular halves partner Blake Austin. Tipping a very tight one and either team to win by six points or less at $2.65 might be the play.
Tip: Sharks by 2.
TV: Live, FOX Sports 1
Ladbrokes: Raiders $1.65, Sharks $2.30
KNIGHTS v TITANS at Hunter Stadium, 5.30pm
KNIGHTS: Kurt Gidley (c), James McManus, Sione Mata'utia, Dane Gagai, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Tyler Randell, Korbin Sims, Beau Scott, Tariq Simsm Jeremy Smith. Interchange (from): Danny Levi, David Fa'alogo, Joseph Tapine, Sam Mataora, Paterika Vaivai.
TITANS: David Mead, Anthony Don, James Roberts, Nene Macdonald, Kevin Gordon, Josh Hoffman, Daniel Mortimer, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles (c), Ryan James, David Taylor, Greg Bird. Interchange (from): Agnatius Paasi, Eddy Pettybourne, Nathaniel Peteru, Chad Redman, Ben Ridge.
Adam Pengilly writes: Two teams who are probably looking over their shoulder rather than who is ahead of them as they stumble towards the end of the regular season. Mathematically both can make the finals - particularly the Titans just four points adrift - but it would be a brave person to suggest either will given their horrid form. Greg Bird is back for the visitors, but they don't have fond memories of recent visits to steel city. Defence will probably be again out the window, but surely the Knights will be up for this and $1.60 in the head-to-head market looks juicy.
Referees: Gavin Badger, David Munro.
Tip: Knights by 10.
TV: Live, FOX Sports 1
Ladbrokes: Knights $1.60, Titans $2.40
DRAGONS v RABBITOHS at Sydney Cricket Ground, 7.30pm
DRAGONS: Josh Dugan, Justin Hunt, Euan Aitken, Peter Mata'utia, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Leeson Ah Mau, Mitch Rein, Ben Creagh (c), Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Mike Cooper. Interchange (from): G Rose, W Mathews, J Marketo, H L'Estrange, D Hutchinson, C Runciman, M Ioane.
RABBITOHS: Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston, Dylan Walker, Bryson Goodwin, Aaron Gray, Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Cameron McInnes, Tim Grant, Glenn Stewart, John Sutton, Chris McQueen. Interchange: Dave Tyrrell, Ben Lowe, Chris Grevsmuhl, Thomas Burgess.
Referees: Adam Devcich, Chris Sutton.
Adam Pengilly writes: The cavalry is starting to come back for the Dragons, but is it going to be too late? The one-time ladder leaders are on the verge of sliding out the back door of the top eight altogether with the premiers and Melbourne away in the next two weeks. When the Dragons were flying and Rabbitohs bumbling earlier in the year, Souths still managed to get the chocolates and the match-up between the Origin No.1s of Greg Inglis and Josh Dugan is almost the price of admission alone. Souths should make it seven out of the last eight against the Dragons and the Inglis to score/Souths win combination at $3 might be the way to go.
Tip: Rabbitohs by 12.
TV: Live, FOX Sports 1
Ladbrokes: Dragons $3.15, Rabbitohs $1.38
SUNDAY:
ROOSTERS v WARRIORS at Allianz Stadium, 2pm
ROOSTERS: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Blake Ferguson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce (c), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend (c), Dylan Napa, Boyd Cordner, Mitchell Aubusson, Aiden Guerra. Interchange (from): Sam Moa, Isaac Liu, Kane Evans, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Jackson Hastings.
WARRIORS: Sam Tomkins, Tuimoala Lolohea, David Fusitu'a, Solomone Kata, Jonathan Wright, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson, R Faitala-Mariner, Simon Mannering (c). Interchange (from):Siliva Havili, Sione Lousi, Charlie Gubb, Albert Vete, Sam Rapira.
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Grant Atkins.
Adam Pengilly writes: Clearly the match of the round and wouldn't look out of place as a grand final preview given the red-hot form of both. Set to be teammates next year, the dazzling footwork of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Shaun Johnson will have defenders from both teams on red alert. Surprisingly the Warriors have a slightly better head to head record over the past decade and most encounters are traditionally close, as evidenced by the Roosters' great escape a few weeks ago when minus their Origin stars. The Roosters will be tough at home, but the $3.60 about the Warriors off the stick looks huge odds.
Tip: Warriors by 2.
TV: Live, FOX Sports 1
Ladbrokes: Roosters $1.30, Warriors $3.60
BRONCOS v TIGERS at Suncorp Stadium, 4pm
BRONCOS: Darius Boyd, Lachlan Maranta, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges (c), Jordan Kahu, Anthony Milford, Ben Hunt, Sam Thaiday, Andrew McCullough, Adam Blair, Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker. Interchange (from): Jarrod Wallace, Mitchell Dodds, Corey Oates, Matt Parcell, Daniel Vidot.
TIGERS: James Tedesco, Kevin Naiqama, Nathan Milone, Tim Simona, Pat Richards, Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Dene Halatau (c), Sauaso Sue, Kyle Lovett, Chris Lawrence, Martin Taupau. Interchange (from): Manaia Cherrington, Ava Seumanufagai, Keith Galloway, Brenden Santi, Jack Buchanan.
Referees: Henry Perenara, Gavin Reynolds.
Adam Pengilly writes: Top v (equal) bottom. Form team v one sadly lacking it. This could have the makings of a cricket score if both sides are true to the last few weeks. The Tigers have shown glimpses of their enormous potential this year, but sadly it has been all too infrequent of late. Aaron Woods' return will help, but you can't see them halting the momentum of the Broncos in this one. Ladbrokes' promotional offer of the Broncos as Sunday Favourite at $2, with maximum bet limits applying, is stealing money.
Tip: Broncos by 22.
TV: Live, Channel Nine
Ladbrokes: Broncos $1.15, Tigers $5.75
MONDAY
SEA EAGLES v COWBOYS at Brookvale Oval, 7pm
SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, Tom Trbojevic, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic, Matt Ballin, Willie Mason, Feleti Mateo, Tom Symonds, Dunamis Lui. Interchange (from): Luke Burgess, Josh Starling, Justin Horo, Ligi Sao, Jayden Hodges.
COWBOYS: Lachlan Coote, Matthew Wright, Justin O'Neill, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Michael Morgan, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Jake Granville, Ben Hannant, Gavin Cooper, Ethan Lowe, Jason Taumalolo. Interchange (from): Rory Kostjasyn, John Asiata, Scott Bolton, Sam Hoare, Patrick Kaufusi.
Referees: Gerard Sutton, Alan Shortall.
Adam Pengilly writes: The Cowboys needed every minute of the 80 to sink a gallant Sea Eagles up in Townsville recently and this has all the makings of another Monday night cracker. North Queensland has well and truly shed their inhibition to win south of the border and Manly, for all their failings earlier in the season, now look genuine finals contenders. The big question might be how long it takes the Cowboys to click into a gear after 16 days without a match? Manly have flown out of the blocks at their last two and the $2.26 for them to cover a two-point spread in the first half might be the way to go.
Tip: Sea Eagles by 4.
TV: Live, FOX Sports 1
Ladbrokes: Sea Eagles $1.83, Cowboys $2
