Round 13 NRL Teams & Quick Predictions

Round 13 NRL Teams & Quick Predictions

[NRL] Round 13 NRL Teams & Quick Predictions

Teams for Round 13 of the NRL Telstra Premiership have been named with a few surprises here and there for the weekend's action. EIUOO SPORTS gives a quick spin on who we'd pick right now if it was 5:30pm on Friday afternoon.

(Note: + = player debut)

FRIDAY: SOUTH SYDNEY v PENRITH @ TELSTRA

RABBITOHS

1-13: Peachey, Merritt, Vagana, Talanoa, Mellor, Rogers, Smith, Cusack (c), Webb, Asotasi (c), Stuart, Fa'alogo, Widders.

Bench: Rigon, Luke, Manuokafoa, Geddes, Galuvao.

PANTHERS

1-13: Wesser, Gordon, Jennings, Lewis, Youngquest, Wallace, Gower (c), Clinton, Priddis, F Puletua, Pritchard, T Puletua, Smith.

Bench: Worth, Moors, Grant, Aiton.

Wednesday Tip: Panthers

Why? Because despite a very solid forward pack the Rabbitohs have real problems getting out of their 'go-forward' gear and changing into an attacking one. Jeremy Smith isn't the answer at halfback but Joe Williams had gone missing in recent weeks so maybe a Premier League stint will do him good. The Panthers are a very hot and cold team so they could play terribly this week after overcoming Manly but they are untouched by the representative season and only injuries rob them of their top 17. Panthers to win.

SATURDAY: CANBERRA v PARRAMATTA @ CANBERRA

RAIDERS
1-13: Zillman, Milne, Chalk, Cross +, Goodwin, Campese, Dobson, Tilse, Withers, Logan, Jones, Turner, Tongue (c).

Bench: Miller, Thompson, Hinchcliffe, Weyman.

EELS
1-13: Burt, Reddy, B Smith, Inu, Grothe, Finch, T Smith, Cayless (c), Marsh, Cannings, Robinson, Mateo, Wagon.
Bench: Riddell, Cordoba, I Hindmarsh, MoiMoi, Harauki

Wednesday Tip: Eels

Why? Saturday evenings in the nation's capital can be a massive advantage to the Raiders and teams who are running hot can cool down very quickly once the reality of the conditions set in. Parramatta were nothing short of outstanding on Monday night and if you sat through the shambles that was Canberra's attacking efforts in the second half of their game with the Titans - there is no way no how you can pick the home team. Eels comfortably at this stage.

SATURDAY: SYDNEY v NORTH QUEENSLAND @ AUSSIE

ROOSTERS
1-13: Roberts, Kenny-Dowall, Perrett, Monaghan, J Williams, Sa, Pearce, Shillington, Wing, Nutely, Tupou, Fitzgibbon (c), Harrison.
Bench: Shackleton, L Paea, Aubusson, D Williams+.

COWBOYS
1-13: M Bowen, B Bowen, Minto, Graham, Williams, Justin Smith, Jason Smith, Tronc, Payne (c), Cashmere, Southern, Faust, Bartlett.
Bench: Faiumu, Bolton, Scott, Vaeau

Wednesday Tip: Roosters

Why? This is a potentially average football game in the making with two sides devoid of all but one genuine star in the Cowboys' fullback Matt Bowen. Mitchell Pearce was great against the Knights but his side lost so his confidence may not have been boosted as significantly as it might have been with a Roosters victory. When you look at the sides the Roosters have the forwards to probably gain some ascendancy which they will need to reduce the impact of the Cowboys outside backs. If Pearce builds on last week's performance I'll lean towards the Roosters but a bolder prediction says that the crowd will struggle to get past seven or eight thousand (especially considering the ticket prices at Aussie Stadium these days).

SUNDAY: WARRIORS v MELBOURNE @ MT SMART

WARRIORS
1-13: McKinnon, Ah Van, Martin, Hohaia, Vatuvei, Witt, Rovelli, Wiki (c), Fien, Rapira, Mannering, Swann, Luck.
Bench: Gatis, Tuimavave, Lauaki, Koopu.

STORM
1-13: Turner, Chambers, Manu, Quinn, Folau, Geyer, Cronk, Cross, Aubusson, Crossman, Newton, Tagataese, Smith.
Bench: Lima, Donnelly, Blair, Rua, Perkins +.

Wednesday Tip: Warriors

Why? Finally Ivan Cleary saw the light and brought his #1 halfback up from Premier League in Grant Rovelli - and it is a move that will see the home side end their 5 match losing streak. With Rovelli back in control the Warriors will get back to the style of controlled football they trained for in the pre-season and the Storm field their weakest lineup for some years as they travel across the ditch. Warriors to win well.

SUNDAY: NEWCASTLE v WESTS TIGERS @ ENERGYAUSTRALIA

KNIGHTS
1-13: Hinton, McManus, L MacDougall, Tighe, A MacDougall, Bailey, Walsh, Perry, Brown, Woolnough (c), Reynoldson (c), Paterson, Tolar.
Bench: Young, Tanner, Sargent, Snowden.

TIGERS
1-13: McDonnell, Fitzhenry, Collis, Moodie, Tuiaki, Lawrence, Morris, Payten, Farah, Gibbs, Galea, Heighington, Halatau.
Bench: Fulton, Te'o, Harrison, Galloway.

Wednesday Tip: Tigers
Why? Having seen the Eels walk all over this Tigers pack on Monday night this is a respect pick for what the Tigers have been doing the past two months rather than a reflection of their most recent game. Newcastle beat the Roosters thanks to Steve Simpson and Danny Buderus and without them again this week they will really struggle to replicate the forward domination Parramatta used to nullify the Tigers attacking game. Tigers comfortably if Farah gets time from dummy half.

MONDAY: ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA v CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND @ OKI JUBILEE

DRAGONS

1-13: J Morris, Nightingale, Scott, Luila, Stanley, Chase, Soward, Poore, Woolford, Ryles (c), Wicks, Houston, Creagh.

Bench: Peek, Ellis, Setu, Thorby, Hunt.

SHARKS

1-13: Taulapapa, Brown, Pomeroy, Williams, Covell, Watts +, Dykes, Douglas, Kingston, Stapleton, Weston, Leuluai, Gallen.

Bench: Selmes, Perenara, Stephenson, De Gois

Wednesday Tip: Dragons

Why? Sharks don't have Kimmorley, Bird, Thompson and either of their first choice fullbacks (Kearney/Simmons) and the Dragons although they struggle to score points have Ryles, Creagh and the early favourite for Rookie of the Year in Josh Morris in great form. The Sharks strength is their backrow and they are missing two thirds of it and their main playmaker... and are away so at the moment I'm tipping the Dragons without any confidence.

BRONCOS, BULLDOGS, SEA EAGLES & TITANS have the bye.

What are your tips?