Round 14 NRL Teams & Quick Predictions
[NRL] Round 14 NRL Teams & Quick Predictions
Teams for Round 14 of the NRL Telstra Premiership have been named but with State of Origin II still to be played out - changes could be coming if injury or suspension strike any of the 34 combatants on Wednesday night.
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: MANLY-WARRINGAH v SOUTH SYDNEY @ BROOKVALE
SEA EAGLES
1-13: B Stewart, Robertson, Bell, Matai, Hicks, Lyon, Orford (c), King, Monaghan, Kite, Watmough, G Stewart, Williamson.
Bench: Halden, Hall, Bryant, Menzies, Neumann, Dunley, Cuthbertson.
RABBITOHS
1-13: Peachey, Merritt, Vagana, Talanoa, Mellor, Rogers, Smith, Cusack (c), Webb, Asotasi (c), Stuart, Fa'alogo, Widders.
Bench: Luke, Rigon, Manuokafoa, Geddes, McPherson.
Wednesday Tip: Sea Eagles
Why? Manly have had a week off to rest any niggling injuries thanks to the bye and although they may have upwards of 4 players backing up from Origin (Kite, Bell, Lyon and possibly Brett Stewart) they should have too much firepower for a South Sydney side that played to its strengths in the wet against Penrith last Friday. I just can't see Souths being able to match Manly offensively.
FRIDAY: BULLDOGS v BRISBANE @ TELSTRA
BULLDOGS
1-13: Patten, El Masri, Millard, Wintana+, Phelps, Holdsworth, Sherwin, O'Meley, Hughes, Mason, Williams, Ryan (c), Maitua.
Bench: Perry, Kouparitsas, Cleal, Hickey.
BRONCOS
1-13: Hunt, Michaels, Boyd, Hodges, Tate, Lockyer (c), Ennis, Hannant, Berrigan, Civoniceva, Parker, Carlaw, Carroll.
Bench: Moon, Eastwood, Thorn, Taylor, Kenny, Te Reo.
Wednesday Tip: Bulldogs
Why? Both teams need to win this to bring themselves back into the thick of the Top 8 race but the Dogs seem to have weakened themselves by dropping Ben Roberts and Willie Tonga for disciplinary reasons. Quite frankly I expect at least Tonga to play as Phelps could be ruled out with post-concussion syndrome and if he does the Bulldogs might just be too tenacious for what will hopefully be a Lockyer-lead Broncos outfit. By no means do the Broncos lack hope in this game but the Dogs pack looks fit and that's why I'm picking them.
SATURDAY: CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND v WARRIORS @ TOYOTA PARK
SHARKS
1-13: Simmons, Brown, Pomeroy, Williams, Covell, Dykes, Kimmorley (c), Douglas, Kingston, Stapleton, Gallen, Weston, Bird.
Bench: Selmes, Leuluai, Perenara, De Gois, Taulapapa.
WARRIORS
1-13: McKinnon, Ah Van, Martin, Hohaia, Vatuvei, Witt, Rovelli, Wiki (c), Gatis, Price, Mannering, Swann, Luck.
Bench: Fien, Koopu, Lauaki, Rapira, Tuimavave.
Wednesday Tip: Sharks
Why? A Sharks side that did just enough to beat the Dragons - despite missing a number of key players - should in theory have plenty in the bank with those players returning and hand the Warriors yet another loss in succession. I tipped the Warriors to overcome a no-name Storm outfit and they simply played themselves out of the game with a lack of urgency and I cannot tip them away from home.
SATURDAY: NORTH QUEENSLAND v MELBOURNE @ DAIRY FARMERS
COWBOYS
1-13: M Bowen, B Bowen, Minto, Graham, Williams, Jason Smith, Thurston (c), Tronc, Payne, Webb, Southern, Lillyman, Bartlett.
Bench: Faiumu, Justin Smith, Scott, Cashmere.
STORM
1-13: Turner, Geyer, King, Quinn, Folau, Inglis, Cronk, Cross, C Smith, White, Newton, Hoffman, Johnson.
Bench: Lima, Crossman, J Smith, Aubusson.
Wednesday Tip: Storm
Why? Thurston or no Thurston - the Cowboys looked incredibly soft in the middle of the ruck against the Roosters, not to mention the edges and just about everywhere on the field. Sure Thurston can inspire his teammates and bring a significant boost to the team's attacking weaponary but the Storm have a host of stars back and a very determined look about them this season.
SATURDAY: PENRITH v SYDNEY @ CUA
PANTHERS
1-13: Wesser, Gordon, Jennings, Lewis, Youngquest, Wallace, Gower (c), Clinton, Priddis, Grant, Pritchard, T Puletua, Smith.
Bench: Worth, F Puletua, Moors, Aiton, Rodney.
ROOSTERS
1-13: Minichiello, Roberts, Monaghan, Soliola, Perrett, Sa, Pearce, Myles, Wing, Nutely, Tupou, Fitzgibbon (c), Anasta.
Bench: Shackleton, L Paea, Aubusson, Harrison, D Williams, Kenny-Dowall.
Wednesday Tip: Panthers
Why? Strictly the home ground factor has me behind the Panthers at this stage. Sure they couldn't score a single try against the Bunnies but realistically a lot of 2007 teams would not have crossed the stripe in those conditions and against South Sydney's disciplined defence. The Roosters scored 64 amazing points and welcome back Minichiello and Anasta to that attacking unit but I simply can't see them getting half as many points this week - even against a team with form as fickle as the Panthers.
SUNDAY: PARRAMATTA v ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA @ PARRAMATTA
EELS
1-13: Burt, Hayne, B Smith, Inu, Grothe, Finch, T Smith, Cayless (c), Marsh, MoiMoi, N Hindmarsh, Mateo, Wagon.
Bench: Robinson, Cordoba, Cannings, Riddell, I Hindmarsh.
DRAGONS
1-13: J Morris, Nightingale, Stanley, Cooper, Hewitt, Williams, Soward, Poore, Woolford, Ryles (c), Scott, Houston, Creagh.
Bench: Hunt, Thorby, Setu, Ellis, Payne.
Wednesday Tip: Eels
Why? The Dragons are making big strides on the terrible football they were playing a month ago but the Eels will have plenty to prove after being humbled by the Raiders on the weekend. Saints named their best lineup for some weeks but the Eels have both the home ground advantage and their stars returning.
SUNDAY: WESTS TIGERS v GOLD COAST @ CAMPBELLTOWN
TIGERS
1-13: McDonnell, Fitzhenry, Collis, Whatuira, Tuiaki, Lawrence, Morris, Payten (c), Farah, Gibbs, Galea, Heighington, Halatau.
Bench: Fulton, Te'o, Harrison, Galloway.
TITANS
1-13: Mathers, Petersen, Rogers, Delaney, Webster, Lewis, Prince (c), Bailey (c), Friend, Stosic, Laffranchi, Minichiello, Swain.
Bench: Hilder, Donnelly, Cooper, Amos.
Wednesday Tip: Titans
Why? The Tigers made it 7 wins in 8 games by overcoming the Knights on Sunday but they really weren't up against an opponent with any firepower and that will change when they face the Titans. Preston Campbell may yet return and if the Titans' pack holds its own then the magic of Prince, Rogers and Presto looks capable of conjuring a victory at Campbelltown.
MONDAY: NEWCASTLE v CANBERRA @ ENERGYAUSTRALIA
KNIGHTS
1-13: Gidley, McManus, L MacDougall, Tighe, A MacDougall, Mullen, Walsh, Perry, Buderus (c), Woolnough, Simpson, Paterson, Tanner.
Bench: Young, Bailey, Tolar, Sargent.
RAIDERS
1-13: Zillman, Milne, Chalk, Best, Goodwin, Campese, Dobson, Tilse, Withers, Logan, Costigan, Turner, Tongue (c).
Bench: Miller, Thompson, Jones, Plum, Cross, Thurling.
Wednesday Tip: Knights
Why? Canberra certainly blew the Eels away on Saturday night but if you saw them struggle mightily against the Titans a week earlier - you will be hesitant to confidently predict which Canberra side will turn up. The Knights welcome Gidley, Mullen, Buderus, Simpson and Woolnough back this week and realistically these additions turn the Knights into a Top 8 calibre side with the way the competition is travelling this year. But the Raiders can certainly win this game but home ground advantage and key players back for the Knights have me tipping the Novocastrians.
What are your tips?
