Our picks for winners and losers in Round 16.
New Zealand Warriors vs Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs @Mt Smart Stadium
Friday 23rd of June, 6:00pm
The New Zealanders in their last game came away with a relatively easy 34-12 win against the Gold Coast up at CBUS. As for the Bulldogs they kept St George scoreless on their way to a 16 points to two win. Both sides currently have the same six wins and eight loses record, this match as a result represents a vital chance for them to push into the Top Eight.
Solomone Kata is out for the Warriors while the Bulldogs have named all of their Origin players to back up from Wednesday nights encounter.
Canterbury halves Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye will be the players to watch out for this game. If the Bulldogs want to win then their star players will have to do a lot better than their poor form so far this season (a combined four tries and four try assists). Expect them to be able to arise to the occasion in such an important match.
Why Canterbury will win: Last round they put on a very good display against the Dragons. But the round before they were humiliated by Penrith, prior to that their form was good despite them losing. They went down to the Roosters by six and Sharks by one. In what should be a close game they should finally be able to close this one out.
Our Tip: Bulldogs by six.
Wests Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans @Campbelltown Stadium
Friday 23rd of June, 7:50pm
The Tigers continued their disappointing season when they lost 40-18 against the Roosters last round. The Titans meanwhile highlighted how they are diamonds one day and rocks the next coming up all rocks in their 22 point loss to the Warriors. If Newcastle loses their game against the Dragons as expected and the Tigers beat the Titans, those three teams will be locked on equal points (10) and in a desperate battle to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
Both James Tedesco and Aaron Woods have been named to backup for the Tigers while Tim Grant is out. For the Titans their Origin men are also backing up whilst Tyrone Roberts has also been named to start. Out for the Gold Coast are Eddy Pettybourne and Leivaha Pulu.
Fullback James Tedesco will be a critical factor to the Tigers winning this game. For the season he has seven tries and or try assists. Combined with his averages of 172m per game and 7.9 average tackle busts per game and its easy to see how he could dominate this game, especially against a weak Warriors defence.
Why Wests will win: Their pride to avoid being last is one thing but another is the attacking ability they possess over the Titans. With the likes of the previously mentioned James Tedesco, Kevin Naiqama (five tries this season), Luke Brooks (3 try assists this season) and Elijah Taylor (four tries this season) should be too much for the Gold Coast to handle.
Our Tip: Tigers by 10
North Queensland Cowboys vs Penrith Panthers @1300SMILES Stadium
Saturday 24th of June, 3:00pm
Brodie Croft was the only reason the Cowboys didn’t get a win on Saturday night as they went down to the Storm 23-22. As for the Panthers they completed a miracle comeback against the Raiders scoring and converting two tries in the final two minutes of play to win 24-20. The Panthers now reside in eighth spot after this poor start to the season and will want to continue their surge up the ladder but in what is Johnathan Thurston’s 300th NRL game North Queensland will have other ideas.
All of the Cowboys Origin players have been named to play while Te Maire Martin could make his debut for the Cowboys against his old club. Out for North Queensland are Ben Spina and Ray Thompson. For the Panthers there are no ins or outs to their starting side.
Who else to watch out for this game than the ever magical Johnathan Thurston in his 300th career game. Despite only playing in seven games this year he has still racked up two tries and seven try assists.
Why North Queensland will win: The Cowboys are in hot form at the moment having won three of their past five. Their two losses coming against the Sharks and Storm by a combined five points. The Panthers on the other hand in recent weeks have more so escaped with close wins courtesy of ridiculous comebacks, see Warriors and Raiders. Against the Cowboys it’s a lot tougher and a lot more real.
Our Tip: Cowboys by one
Canberra Raiders vs Brisbane Broncos @GIO Stadium
Saturday 24th of June, 5:30pm
Canberra became another one of Penrith’s victims as they led 20-12 heading into the 78th minute, fulltime score Penrith: 24 Canberra: 20. As for the Broncos they beat an inconsistent Souths side 24-18. A win for the Raiders helps them keep the heat on those in the lower spots of the Top Eight while a win for Brisbane helps them keep the push up for second spot.
Josh Papalii is in for the Raiders after playing in Origin on Wednesday night while Shannon Boyd has been named to return from injury. For the Broncos previously dropped half Ben Hunt returns to the bench whilst every one of Brisbane’s Origin players have been named to play. Anthony Milford is out.
Benji Marshall is a player to look out for in this clash. Taking the place of Anthony Milford he has not looked out of place in this top class Brisbane side. He already has a try to his name in only four appearances and is averaging 67m per game along with 10 kicks and an 80% tackle success rate. He is performing well above his bargain bin price tag suggests he should.
Why Brisbane will win: As many would expect given that it’s in Canberra it should be a close encounter. Brisbane wins here because of all the close games they have won this year. W vs Sharks by eight, W vs Canberra by one, W vs Gold Coast by two, W vs South Sydney by one and W vs South Sydney by six. In addition to this its also because of all the close games Canberra have lost this year as they are ice-cold in the clutch. L vs North Queensland by four, L vs Brisbane by one, L vs Manly by two, L vs Canterbury by six, L vs Manly by one and L vs Penrith by four.
Our Tip: Broncos by four
Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm @Adelaide Oval
Saturday 24th of June, 7:30pm
Sydney continued their dominance this season as they beat Wests by ease 40-22. As for Melbourne they were made to work a lot harder for their victory as rookie Brodie Croft was the hero in a 23-22 win against rivals the Cowboys. This could turn out to be one of the matches of the season as the Storm are currently in first place and the Roosters second, this is a must watch.
Both teams have their large groups of Origin players backing up for this clash whilst returning to Sydney’s starting line-up is Daniel Tupou and out is Kane Evans. Out for the Storm is Riley Jacks.
Billy the Kid, the magician or his actual name Billy Slater. However you want to say it there’s no doubt from either side of the border that he has reached another level for Melbourne this year. As if being one of the competitions highest every try scorers wasn’t enough (he also has five this season) he’s now decided that this year he’ll be more of a creator and he has 11 try assits this season which is good for equal second in the league ahead of the likes of Kieran Foran, his Storm team mate Cooper Cronk and Mitchell Pearce. He should be able to come up big in this game as he has done all season.
Why Melbourne will win: It’s a coin toss here really. Melbourne do get the nod because they are rightfully in first place and the ridiculous talent they have all across the park. Winger Suliasi Vunivalu and Centre Josh Addo-Carr have combined this season for 20 tries and three try assists. Will Chambers meanwhile (another member of the Melbourne backline) has four try assists. In the halves Cameron Munster and Cooper Cronk have combined for five tries and 13 try assists. Up front Tim Glasby, Felise Kaufusi and Dale Finucane have combined to make 1,282 tackles
Our Tip: Melbourne by two
St George Dragons vs Newcastle Knights @ UOW Jubilee Oval
Sunday 25th of June, 2:00pm
The Dragons were more like unicorns in their loss to the Eels. They barely made a whimper as they went down in a 24-10 loss. The Knights on the other hand were controversially denied a win against Manly as Akula Uate clearly dropped the ball before putting it down in a four point loss at Lottoland. Both teams have been in poor form as of late and will be looking to turn that around in this game.
All of Josh Dugan, Tyson Frizell and Dane Gagai are backing up after Origin.
Timoteo Lafai is a name not many knew before the start of this season. But now that has changed as he has cemented himself as a very good player in a surprisingly good Dragons outfit this year. From just 13 games he has five tries and seven try assists. He is also averaging just under 145m per game. He is one player you should watch out for this game.
Why St George will win: The Dragons have only won two of their last seven games but against a struggling Knights side that should change. St George know that with each loss further and further they lose touch with the Top Four spot that once seemed theirs. They are bound to break out of the slump in this game.
Our Tip: Dragons by 12
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles @Southern Cross Group Stadium
Sunday 25th of June, 4:00pm
Jason Bukuya is the only reason the Sharks didn’t suffer a humiliating loss against wooden spoon battlers the Tigers last round. The Sea Eagles also escaped with a close win over the Knights winning 18-14. A win for Manly would keep up their fight for a spot in the Top Four while for the Sharks it would help them keep the heat on Melbourne for first place.
All of the State of Origin players from either side have been named to back up after Wednesdays close encounter. For the Sea Eagles Darcy Lussick has been named on the bench.
Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic has been a major reason behind their great form this season and with NSW losing on Wednesday night he’ll be looking to push his case to make the side. He has five tries, seven try assists and is averaging 181m per game. Look out for a big game from him.
Why Manly will win: The Sea Eagles have won seven of their past eight against the Sharks. Combined with the Sharks recent close wins against teams they should have been putting away in Canterbury and Wests, it looks like Manly will be gaining an important two points.
Our Tip: Sea Eagles by eight
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