NRL Round 16 Preview

While the Brisbane Broncos hold a comfortable lead over the rest of the competition on the NRL ladder, Round 16 provides the opportunity for many other clubs to begin their charge towards the semi-finals. Starting with the Roosters-Eels on Friday night and finishing up at Brookvale for Manly verses the Bulldogs, it promises to be a great round of rugby league.

While the on-field action is heating up, the race to sign up players after the June 30 deadline is about to begin. While Preston Campbell surprised nobody with his decision to join the new Gold Coast franchise, will we see some major signings and shock departures announced after next week?

Friday Night, June 24
Sydney Roosters vs Parramatta
Aussie Stadium, Sydney - 7:30pm.

Channel 9 Replay from 8:30pm (NSW/QLD).
Check local guides for other areas.

The Roosters fell short at Shark Park last Friday night and with a multitude of teams sitting mid-table, need to return to the winners list to hold onto their spot in the eight. Parramatta will be a tough task but the Roosters will welcome the return of skipper Luke Ricketson from suspension.

The high-flying Eels returned hope from NZ with the four competition points, a sixth straight win and second spot on the ladder. Young half Tim Smith will need another big game for the Eels to rack up seven in a row but will be heavily targeted. ROOSTERS by 8.

ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello, Amos Roberts, Ryan Cross, Iosia Soliola, Joel Monaghan, Craig Wing, Brett Finch, Jason Cayless, Stuart Webb, Adrian Morley, Chris Flannery, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson (c). Interchange: Michael Crocker, Mickey Paea, Richard Fa'aoso, Anthony Tupou, Adam Schubert, Michael Lett (two to be omitted).

EELS: Wade McKinnon, Matt Peterson, Ben Smith, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, John Morris, Tim Smith, Nathan Cayless (c), Mark Riddell, Paul Stringer, Nathan Hindmarsh, Glenn Morrison, Chad Robinson. Interchange: PJ Marsh, Dean Widders, Michael Vella, Adam Peek, Luke Burt, Aaron Cannings (two to be omitted).

Referee: Paul Simpkins.

FootyTAB: Eels 1.5   Sporting Bet: Roosters - $1.87, Eels - $1.95

Saturday Night, June 25
Canberra vs North Queensland
Canberra Stadium - 5:30pm, Live on Fox Sports One.

After such a promising start to the year, Canberra have lost their last five matches and plummeted out of the top eight. Canberra Stadium has not been a happy home of late either, Round 5 being the last time they won there. For the Raiders to play a part in the finals action, the slide must end now.

The Cowboys enjoyed the bye last week but will be seething at the hiding they copped the week before against the Dragons. North Queensland will be aiming for a top-four finish at season’s end and to winning games like this will take them a long way. COWBOYS by 14.

RAIDERS: Clinton Schifcofske, Jermaine Ale, David Howell, Craig Frawley, Michael Robertson, Matt Gafa, Lincoln Withers, Josh Miller, Simon Woolford (c), Troy Thompson, Kris Kahler, Ian Hindmarsh, Jason Croker. Interchange: Alan Tongue, Andrew Lomu, Jason Williams, Ben Cross.

COWBOYS: Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Ty Williams, Paul Bowman, Matt Sing, Justin Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Paul Rauhihi, Aaron Payne, Shane Tronc, Steve Southern, Luke O'Donnell, Travis Norton (c). Interchange: Rod Jensen, David Faiumu, Jaiman Lowe, Mitchell Sargent.

Referee: Steve Clark.

FootyTAB: Raiders 5.5   Sporting Bet: Raiders - $2.65, Cowboys - $1.48

Saturday Night
Penrith vs Newcastle
Penrith Stadium - 7:30pm, Live on Fox Sports One.

The Panthers secured a valuable away win in Melbourne last Saturday night, their first victory since May 1st, to keep their slim finals hopes alive. A home game against the hapless Knights should be a breeze but the Penrith of 2005 have rarely put things together in consecutive games.

Andrew Johns will lead the Knights into battle having recovered from his latest injury, a neck problem stemming from Origin 2. Yet to register a victory and missing both Gidleys, it would take a greater performance than the one Joey produced for NSW if he could drag Newcastle over the line. PANTHERS by 10.

PANTHERS: Rhys Wesser, Brett Howland, Danny Galea, Paul Franze, Luke Rooney, Preston Campbell, Craig Gower (c), Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Ben Ross, Shane Rodney, Frank Pritchard, Trent Waterhouse. Interchange: Garret Crossman, Frank Puletua, Ben Rogers, Luke Swain, David McLean (one to be omitted).

KNIGHTS: Milton Thaiday, Trent Salkeld, Brad Tighe, George Carmont, Anthony Quinn, Jarrod Mullen, Andrew Johns (c), Craig Smith, Luke Quigley, Steve Simpson, Reegan Tanner, Clint Newton, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Adam Woolnough, Brendan Worth, Daniel Tolar, Riley Brown.

Referee: Russell Smith.

FootyTAB: Knights 10.5   Sporting Bet: Panthers - $1.20, Knights - $4.65

Saturday Night
Melbourne vs South Sydney
Olympic Park, Melbourne - 7:30pm, Replay on Fox Sports One @ 9:20pm.

Melbourne’s woes at home would be frustrating to coach Craig Bellamy and could prove to be quite damaging to their finals hopes. It may cost them a home final but with an appalling record at Olympic Park this season, they might be better off on the road.

The Rabbitohs midseason revival may just have ran out of steam after two and a half games worth of good form, the Dragons running away with the match last Sunday. The Bunnies play the Eels, Sharks and Cowboys after the trip to Melbourne so unless they land Braith Anasta or Matt Orford, it looks like three weeks of bad news to come. STORM by 20.

STORM: Billy Slater, Matt Geyer, Steve Bell, Matt King, Jake Webster, Cooper Cronk, Matt Orford, Robbie Kearns (c), Cameron Smith, Ian Donnelly, Glen Turner, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Dennis Scott, David Kidwell, Jamie Feeney, Brett White, Tevita Metuisela, Antonio Kaufusi (two to be omitted).

RABBITOHS: Todd Polglase, Brad Watts, Shannon Hegarty, Adam MacDougall, Luke MacDougall, John Sutton, Joe Williams, Peter Cusack, Trent Young, Scott Logan, David Fa'alogo, Luke Stuart, Ashley Harrison (c). Interchange: Mark Minichiello, Scott Geddes, Shane Rigon, Manase Manuokafoa.

Referee: Tony Archer.

FootyTAB: Rabbitohs 15.5   Sporting Bet: Storm - $1.18, Rabbitohs - $5.00

Sunday Afternoon, June 26
New Zealand vs Brisbane
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland - 2:00pm Local (12:00pm AEDT)
Live on Fox Sports One.

The Warriors would be disappointed with last weeks ‘away’ loss in Hamilton, leaving them in eleventh spot on the ladder. With a healthy points differential, victory would place them on the cusp of the eight though they will miss the try-scoring exploits of Todd Byrne.

Brisbane remain well clear on top of the ladder and with only one more Origin left, they almost appear certain to take the minor premiership. That 50-4 flogging in Melbourne back in Round 4 certainly stung the Broncos into action – they have won every game since. BRONCOS by 4.

WARRIORS: Brent Webb, Francis Meli, Clinton Toopi, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Nathan Fien, Stacey Jones (c), Ruben Wiki, Lance Hohaia, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu, Sione Faumuina. Interchange: Richard Villasanti, Karl Temata, Monty Betham, Simon Mannering.

BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Justin Hodges, Shaun Berrigan, Leon Bott, Darren Lockyer (c), Brett Seymour, Shane Webcke, Barry Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, David Stagg, Brad Thorn, Darren Smith. Interchange: Corey Parker, Casey McGuire, Dane Carlaw, Sam Thaiday, Darren Mapp, Tom Leroyd-Lahrs (two to be omitted).

Referee: Sean Hampstead.

FootyTAB: Warriors 6.5   Sporting Bet: Warriors - $2.65, Broncos - $1.48

Sunday Afternoon
St George-Illawarra vs Wests Tigers
Oki Jubilee Stadium, Sydney - 3:00pm, Live on Fox Sports One.

The rise of the Dragons continues after knocking off an in-form Souths and now the opportunity for what would be a ninth win in ten matches. Ben Hornby again deputises for Trent Barret on top of filling the halfback role in the long-term absence of Matthew Head.

The Wests Tigers could not match it with Brisbane last week, though they did manage to rack up 22 points at Suncorp Stadium. With the next three matches at home, including two at Leichhardt Oval, victory could provide the spark for a run at the finals. But the Tigers are rank outsiders and look unlikely to cause the upset of the round. DRAGONS by 16.

DRAGONS: Clint Greenshields, Colin Best, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Wes Naiqama, Michael Ennis, Ben Hornby (c), Luke Bailey, Dean Young, Jason Ryles, Ben Creagh, Lance Thompson, Albert Torrens. Interchange: Justin Poore, Willie Manu, Corey Payne, Aaron Gorrell, Michael Henderson, Ashton Sims (two to be omitted).

TIGERS: Brett Hodgson, Daniel Fitzhenry, Shane Elford, Paul Whatuira, Pat Richards, Benji Marshall, Scott Prince (c), Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah, John Skandalis, Anthony Laffranchi, Chris Heighington, Ben Galea. Interchange: Dean Collis, Liam Fulton, Matt Jobson, Todd Payten.

Referee: Shayne Hayne.

FootyTAB: Tigers 10.5   Sporting Bet: Dragons - $1.26, Tigers - $4.00

Sunday Afternoon
Manly vs Bulldogs
Brookvale Oval, Sydney - 3:00pm, Replay on Fox Sports Two @ 6:00pm.

Channel 9 Replay from 4:00pm (NSW/QLD).
Check local guides for other areas.

The Sea Eagles recovered quickly from that thrashing at the hands of South Sydney with yet another win at home. They remain unbeaten at Brookvale this season and would like to maintain that record, though they still have to host the Dragons, Cowboys and Broncos.

The Bulldogs are closing in on the eight and with Mark O’Meley back, will be a dangerous proposition in this second half of the season. Braith Anasta, the current NSW five eighth, has been named at lock – those people who voted him as the ‘most over-rated’ player obviously have not watched a lot of Bulldogs games. SEA EAGLES by 6.

SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Scott Donald, Terry Hill, Ashley Alberts, Chris Hicks, Michael Witt, Michael Monaghan (c), Mark Bryant, Chad Randall, Brent Kite, Steve Menzies, Anthony Watmough, Ben Kennedy. Interchange: Kane Cleal, Shane Dunley, Phil Morwood, Sam Harris, Glenn Stewart. (one to be omitted).

BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Jamaal Lolesi, Cameron Phelps, Matt Utai, Corey Hughes, Brent Sherwin, Mark O'Meley, Adam Brideson, Roy Asotasi, Tony Grimaldi, Andrew Ryan (c), Braith Anasta. Interchange: Chris Armit, Nate Myles, Charlie Tonga, Dallas McIlwain.

Referee: Tim Mander.

FootyTAB: Bulldogs 1.5   Sporting Bet: Sea Eagles - $1.92, Bulldogs - $1.90

Bye: Cronulla Sharks.

Note: All kick-off times Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) unless stated.

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