NRL Telstra Premiership Round Eight Preview:
Round 7 our picks went out the window, calling 2 of 7. Round 8 is ANZAC round which means uniforms that pay tribute to the troops and mouth watering fixtures.
Canterbury Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Bulldogs – $1.65
Tigers – $2.15
Round eight opens at ANZ stadium hosting the Bulldogs and Tigers. The Bulldogs come off a win after finally getting on top of Manly late in the game and the Tigers come off an embarrasing loss after going 22-0 up then leaking 30 unanswered points to the Raiders. For the Dogs Josh Morris, Kasiano and Tim Browne return and for the Tigers big red Keith Galloway couldn’t recover from his shoulder injury. The Tigers look the more dangerous out of the two sides especially with the likes of Tedesco and Brooks running hot but the Bulldogs bring a more ruggered approach to the game and will play for close to 80 minutes with more depth on the bench. Expect a high scoring game but the Doggies will walk away with the spoils, Bulldogs 13+
Bulldogs
1 Sam Perrett 2 Curtis Rona 3 Josh Morris 4 Chase Stanley 5 Corey Thompson 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Trent Hodkinson 8 Aiden Tolman (c) 9 Michael Lichaa 10 Tim Browne 11 Josh Jackson 12 Tony Williams 13 Greg Eastwood
Interchange
14 Sam Kasiano 15 Lloyd Perrett 16 Frank Pritchard 17 Moses Mbye 19 Danny Fualalo 20 Antonio Kaufusi 22 Herman Ese’ese
1 James Tedesco 2 Kevin Naiqama 3 Tim Simona 4 Chris Lawrence 5 Pat Richards 6 Mitchell Moses 7 Luke Brooks 8 Aaron Woods 9 Robbie Farah (c)
10 Ava Seumanufagai 11 Curtis Sironen 12 Kyle Lovett 13 Martin Taupau
Interchange
14 Dene Halatau 15 Matthew Lodge 16 Jack Buchanan 17 Sauaso Sue 18 Delouise Hoeter
New Zealand Warriors v Gold Coast Titans
Warriors – $1.33
Titans – $3.10
Mt Smart plays host to the Warriors and Titans. Both teams sitting just outside the top 8, equal on competition points but their for / against record lets them down. For the Warriors Konrad Hurrell is dropped, David Fusitu’a replaces him whilst Sam Rapira returns along with debutant Raymond Faitala-Mariner. The Titans lose Dave Taylor to suspension, Agnatius Paasi and Ryan Simpkins to injury but gain Nate Myles. The Warriors were guilty last round of poor ruck defense and were made to pay. They also made too many errors which the Cowboys were able to capitalise on, tidying these areas up is essential. The Titans, slow starters but put the Panthers away well. The Warriors at home are tough to beat and will be notice so expect the Warriors to come out firing, they need to look after Falloon or we’ll see the Titans replicate the Cowboys display. It’ll be a good battle, expect the Warriors to get an early lead and hold on, Warriors 1-12.
1 Tuimoala Lolohea 2 Jonathan Wright 3 David Fusitu’a 4 Solomone Kata 5 Manu Vatuvei 6 Chad Townsend 7 Shaun Johnson 8 Jacob Lillyman
9 Thomas Leuluai 10 Ben Matulino 11 Bodene Thompson 12 Ryan Hoffman 13 Simon Mannering (c)
Interchange
14 Nathan Friend 15 Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16 Sam Lisone 17 Sam Rapira 18 Dominique Peyroux
1 Josh Hoffman 2 Anthony Don 3 James Roberts 4 William Zillman 5 David Mead 6 Aidan Sezer 7 Kane Elgey 8 Luke Douglas 9 Beau Falloon 10 Nate Myles
11 Ryan James 12 Lachlan Burr 13 Greg Bird
Interchange
14 Matt White 15 Edward Pettybourne 16 Matt Robinson 17 Kierran Moseley 18 Mark Ioane
Newcastle Knights v Queensland Cowboys
Knights – $2.30
Cowboys – $1.57
Hunter stadium plays host to a mouth watering fixture between the Knights and Cowboys. The Knights have already but the Cowboys to the sword in round 2, both teams unchanged from last round. Expect to see some fire works here the Cowboys will certainly be out for revenge for the loss earlier in the season. The Knights will need to do a better job around the ruck than the Warriors if they want to keep Granville quiet who will be confident around some big men. Both packs boast size and the Cowboys pack is seen as the form pack right now so expect to see the likes the Snowden, Jeremy Smith, Tariq and Korbin Sims going hammer and tonge to try and upset the Cowboys pack. The Knights will get up, Knights 1-12.
1 Kurt Gidley (c) 2 James McManus 3 Dane Gagai 4 Joseph Leilua 5 Akuila Uate 6 Jarrod Mullen 7 Tyrone Roberts 8 Kade Snowden 9 Adam Clydsdale
10 Korbin Sims 11 Chris Houston 12 Tariq Sims 13 Jeremy Smith
Interchange
14 Tyler Randell 15 David Fa’alogo 16 Joseph Tapine 17 Jack Stockwell 18 Sione Mata’utia
1 Lachlan Coote 2 Justin O’Neill 3 Tautau Moga 4 Kane Linnett 5 Antonio Winterstein 6 Michael Morgan 7 Johnathan Thurston (c) 8 Matthew Scott (c)
9 Jake Granville 10 James Tamou 11 Gavin Cooper 12 Ethan Lowe 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange
14 Rory Kostjasyn 15 John Asiata 16 Scott Bolton 17 Ben Hannant 19 Ray Thompson
Sydney City Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons
Roosters – $1.45
Dragons – $2.60
The Roosters host the Dragons at Allianz. The Roosters are in trouble, 3 losses in a row and potentially a 4th against a Dragons side who is on a run of 5 wins. For the Roosters Waerea-Hargreave’s is out and Sam Moa replaces him, the Dragons are unchanged. The Dragons defense has been the difference in their run on wins, big hits around the ground and grinding goal line heroics. The halves match up between Mitchell Pearce and Benji Marshall should provide some spark in the game with both playing good footy. The Roosters will throw everything they have at Dragons and the Dragons will hold, expect some big hits and a expansive game from both. Dragons defense will win the day, Dragons by 1-12.
Roosters
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 Daniel Tupou 3 Michael Jennings 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 5 Nene Macdonald 6 James Maloney 7 Mitchell Pearce (c)
8 Dylan Napa 9 Jake Friend (c) 10 Sam Moa 11 Boyd Cordner 12 Mitchell Aubusson 13 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Interchange
14 Willie Manu 15 Isaac Liu 16 Kane Evans 17 Lagi Setu 19 Matt McIlwrick
1 Josh Dugan 2 Etonia Nabuli 3 Euan Aitken 4 Dylan Farrell 5 Peter Mata’utia 6 Gareth Widdop 7 Benji Marshall 8 Leeson Ah Mau 9 Mitch Rein 10 Mike Cooper
11 Will Matthews 12 Joel Thompson 13 Trent Merrin
Interchange
14 Ben Creagh (c) 15 Jack de Belin 16 Jake Marketo 17 Heath L’Estrange 18 George Rose 19 Drew Hutchinson 20 Kiti Glymin
Melbourne Storm v Manly Sea Eagles
Storm – $1.25
Sea Eagles – $3.70
AAMI hosts the Storm and Sea Eagles. The Storm sit pretty on top of the table as a proud Manly outfit continue to camp at the very bottom. It doens’t get any better for Manly, losing Jamie Lyon once again to injury however Keiran Foran is back. The Storm running hot are unchanged. There isn’t much to say about this game other than Manly are in for a drubbing, expect to see the regulars like Cronk and Smith running the ship behind the big boys. Storm 13+
Storm
1 Cameron Munster 2 Mahe Fonua 3 Will Chambers 4 Kurt Mann 5 Marika Koroibete 6 Blake Green 7 Cooper Cronk 8 Jesse Bromwich 9 Cameron Smith (c) 10 Jordan McLean 11 Kevin Proctor 12 Tohu Harris 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange
14 Ryan Hinchcliffe 15 Tim Glasby 16 Dayne Weston 17 Felise Kaufusi 18 Ben Hampton 19 Kenneath Bromwich 21 Hymel Hunt 22 Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
1 Peta Hiku 2 Cheyse Blair 3 Brayden Wiliame 4 Steve Matai 5 David Williams 6 Kieran Foran 7 Daly Cherry-Evans 8 Jake Trbojevic 9 Matt Ballin (c)
10 Willie Mason 11 Jamie Buhrer 12 Justin Horo 13 Tom Symonds
Interchange
14 James Hasson 15 Luke Burgess 16 Dunamis Lui 17 Ligi Sao 20 Jayden Hodges
Brisbane Broncos v Parramatta Eels
Broncos – $1.33
Eels – $3.10
The Broncos host the Eels at Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos licking their wounds after a physical loss to the Dragons last round seeing Hodges out with injury again, Alex Glenn has not recovered from his facial injuries which puts Thaiday back into the 2nd row and Adam Blair starting at prop. For the Eels who are still blowing hot and cold this season but managed to put away the Knight last round make a few changes with Reece Robinson to fullback, Hopoate to centre and Folau to the wing. On top of good defense the Broncos were their own worst enemy against the Dragons and will be looking to make amends, expect to see Hunt, Milford and Marantra make a lot of metres and breaks behind the big runs from the pack. The Eels will be up for a scrap but their form is too inconsistent and if they want to stand a chance it they better be blowing hot. The Broncos will play the 80 minutes and win easy, Broncos by 13+
1 Lachlan Maranta 2 Corey Oates 3 Jack Reed 3 Dale Copley 5 Daniel Vidot 6 Anthony Milford 7 Ben Hunt 8 Josh McGuire 9 Andrew McCullough
10 Adam Blair 11 Matt Gillett 12 Sam Thaiday 13 Corey Parker
Interchange
14 Jarrod Wallace 15 Francis Molo 16 Mitchell Dodds 17 Kodi Nikorima
1 Reece Robinson 2 Bureta Faraimo 3 Will Hopoate 4 Brad Takairangi 5 John Folau 6 Corey Norman 7 Chris Sandow 8 Darcy Lussick 9 Nathan Peats
10 Tim Mannah (c) 11 Manu Ma’u 12 David Gower 13 Anthony Watmough
Interchange
14 Isaac De Gois 15 Joseph Paulo 16 Danny Wicks 17 Peni Terepo 18 Richie Fa’aoso
Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks
Panthers – $2.15
Sharks – $1.65
The Panthers play host to the Sharks at Pepper Stadium. The Panthers were on the end of a 30 point drubbing round 7 courtesy of the Titans and the Sharks bullied the Rabbitohs to take a hard grind win. For the Panthers injuries have struck with Josh Mansour and Brent Kit out, repacing them is George Jennings and Sam Anderson. The Sharks get back Gallen. The Sharks really stepped up last weekend round against the Rabbitohs and will look to continue that form, the Panthers will provide the Sharks with a good battle but there isn’t much to seperate the teams man for man. Going off form the Sharks will win this arm wrestle by 1-12.
1 Matt Moylan 2 George Jennings 3 Dean Whare 4 Waqa Blake 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6 Apisai Koroisau 7 Isaac John 8 Sam McKendry 9 James Segeyaro (c)
10 Jeremy Latimore 11 Sika Manu 12 Isaah Yeo 13 Nigel Plum
Interchange
14 Tyrone Peachey 15 Sam Anderson 16 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 17 Bryce Cartwright 18 Tupou Sopoaga 19 Will Smith 22 Robert Jennings
1 Valentine Holmes 2 Sosaia Feki 3 Gerard Beale 4 Ricky Leutele 5 Michael Gordon 6 Jack Bird 7 Jeff Robson 8 Matt Prior 9 Michael Ennis 10 Chris Heighington
11 Luke Lewis 12 Wade Graham 13 Paul Gallen
Interchange
14 Jayson Bukuya 15 Anthony Tupou 16 Ben Barba 17 Tinirau Arona 21 Sam Tagataese
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canberra Raiders
Rabbitohs – $1.27
Raiders – $3.50
The Rabbitohs and Raiders close the ANZAC round clashes at Barlow park. The Rabbitohs will be keen to get their season back on track after losing 2 game on the trot and the Raiders will look to continue their attacking form after putting 30 unanswered points on the Tigers but leaking 22 early. The Rabbitohs are unchanged but the Raiders say goodbye to Dane Tilse who has signed on with Hull KR in the UK. Paul Vaughan shifts to the front row and Fensom is back at lock. The Raiders will hold their own up front but can’t afford to leak points early against a desperate Rabbitohs side. The Rabbitohs are vulnerable in the halves with Reynolds and Sutton still missing so expect to see the Raiders put pressure on the youngsters McInnes and Keary. Its a tough game for the Rabbitohs to get back on track but we think this will be the game they return. Rabbitohs to take it at the death, 1-12.
Rabbitohs
1 Greg Inglis (c) 2 Alex Johnston 3 Dylan Walker 4 Bryson Goodwin 5 Joel Reddy 6 Cameron McInnes 7 Luke Keary 8 George Burgess 9 Issac Luke
10 Dave Tyrrell 11 Glenn Stewart 12 Chris McQueen 13 Jason Clark
Interchange
14 Chris Grevsmuhl 15 Nathan Brown 16 Tim Grant 17 Thomas Burgess
1 Jack Wighton 2 Edrick Lee 3 Jarrod Croker (c) 4 Sisa Waqa 5 Jordan Rapana 6 Blake Austin 7 Sam Williams 8 Paul Vaughan 9 Josh Hodgson
10 Frank-Paul Nuuausala 11 Josh Papalii 12 Iosia Soliola 13 Shaun Fensom
Interchange
14 Kurt Baptiste 15 Jarrad Kennedy 16 Mark Nicholls 17 Shannon Boyd 18 Kyle O’Donnell 19 Jeremy Hawkins
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
