What a round of rugby league we have coming up this weekend, with the Roosters vs. Cowboys, Rabbitohs vs. Tigers and Sharks vs. Panthers games all whetting the appetite for the major clashes between the Storm and Raiders and the Knights and Eels.
Add to those games the hard-to-pick match-ups between the Broncos and Bulldogs, Titans and Warriors and Dragons and Sea Eagles and tipsters are in for a torrid time this week.
Good luck with your tips.
Jump ahead to a particular game.
Cowboys vs. Roosters
Titans vs. Warriors
Rabbitohs vs. Tigers
Sharks vs. Panthers
Broncos vs. Bulldogs
Raiders vs. Storm
Knights vs. Eels
Dragons vs. Sea Eagles
Thursday, July 9
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Sydney Roosters, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 7:50pm (AEST)
Cowboys: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Connelly Lemuelu 4. Esan Marsters 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Jake Clifford 8. Josh Mcguire 9. Reece Robson 10. Francis Molo 11. Shane Wright 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo
Reserves: 14. Ben Hampton 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Peter Hola 17. Gavin Cooper 18. Murray Taulagi 19. Reuben Cotter 20. Corey Jensen 21. Jake Granville
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Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Ryan Hall 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Nat Butcher
Reserves: 14. Lachlan Lam 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Poasa Faamausili 17. Lindsay Collins 18. Daniel Fifita 19. Drew Hutchison 20. Freddy Lussick 21. Matt Ikuvalu
Result: A five-try haul to Matt Ikuvalu has boosted the Roosters to a 42-16 routing over the Cowboys in Queensland. A late inclusion, Ikucalu hadn't played since round 2, but more than made up for his absence producing a performance for the ages. The Cowboys took the lead early but wouldn't score again until the closing minutes, meanwhile Ikuvalu ran riot opening his account in the 32nd minute and didn't close his account until the end of the evening.
Score: Cowboys 16-42 Roosters
Tries
Cowboys 3: Reece Robson 22' Coen Hess 72' Reece Robson 76'
Roosters 8: Matt Ikuvalu 31' Sitili Tupouniua 36' Matt Ikuvalu 41' Matt Ikuvalu 44' Luke Keary 49' Luke Keary 52' Matt Ikuvalu 59' Matt Ikuvalu 64'
Conversions
Cowboys: Kyle Feldt 2/3
Roosters: Kyle Flanagan 5/8
Friday, July 10
Gold Coast Titans vs. New Zealand Warriors, Cbus Super Stadium, 6:00pm (AEST)
Titans: 1. Corey Thompson 2. Anthony Don 3. Beau Fermor 4. Bryce Cartwright 5. Treymain Spry 6. Ashley Taylor 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Sam Stone 12. Keegan Hipgrave 13. Jai Arrow
Reserves: 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Sam Lisone 16. Tyrone Peachey 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Jai Whitbread 19. Nathan Peats 20. Greg Lelesiuao 21. Tyrone Roberts
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. David Fusitu'a 3. Patrick Herbert 4. Peta Hiku 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Blake Green 8. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 9. Wayde Egan 10. Adam Blair 11. Jack Murchie 12. Tohu Harris 13. Karl Lawton
Reserves: 14. Agnatius Paasi 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Isaiah Papali'i 17. Jazz Tevaga 18. Lachlan Burr 20. Gerard Beale 21. King Vuniyayawa 22. Adam Pompey
Result: The Titans emerged victorious after a tight arm-wrestle on the Gold Coast. A pair of tries inside seven minutes had the Warriors on top early but the visitors struggled to add points after the initial burst. Meanwhile, the Titans worked into the contest and eventually hit the front late in the second half to secure the two points.
Score: Titans 16 - 12 Warriors
Tries
Titans 3: Anthony Don 19' Sam Stone 47' Beau Fermor 74'
Warriors 2: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2' Ken Maumalo 7'
Conversions
Titans: Ashley Taylor 1/2, Jamal Fogarty 1/1
Warriors: Chanel Harris-Tavita 2/2
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Wests Tigers, Bankwest Stadium, 7:55pm (AEST)
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Dane Gagai 3. Campbell Graham 4. James Roberts 5. Alex Johnston 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn Su'A 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Cameron Murray
Reserves: 14. Liam Knight 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Patrick Mago 17. Hame Sele 18. Mark Nicholls 19. Steven Marsters 20. Troy Dargan 21. Corey Allan
Tigers: 1. Adam Doueihi 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Michael Chee-Kam 4. Moses Mbye 5. Tommy Talau 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Luke Brooks 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Harry Grant 10. Oliver Clark 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Matt Eisenhuth
Reserves: 14. Elijah Taylor 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Chris Lawrence 18. Benji Marshall 19. Reece Hoffman 20. Billy Walters 21. Russell Packer
Result: The Rabbitohs had a comfortable win over the Tigers and as a result moved inside the top eight, but it was far from a routine night for Adam Reynolds. The Souths star had a horrid night in front of the posts, missing all four conversion attempts. The star of the night was Dane Gagai who notched up a spectacular hatrick, to go along with a James Roberts try just after the break.
Score: Rabbitohs 18-10 Tigers
Tries
Rabbitohs 4: Dane Gagai 31' Dane Gagai 37' James Roberts 46' Dane Gagai 56'
Tigers 2: Josh Aloiai 63' Reece Hoffman 68'
Conversions
Rabbitohs: Adam Reybolds 0/4
Tigers: Moses Mbye 1/2
Penalty goals
Rabbitohs: Adam Reynolds 1/1
Saturday, July 11
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Penrith Panthers, Bankwest Stadium, 3:00pm (AEST)
Sharks: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Sione Katoa 3. Bryson Goodwin 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Jack Williams
Reserves: 14. Toby Rudolf 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Royce Hunt 18. Scott Sorensen 19. Connor Tracey 20. Will Kennedy 21. Nene Macdonald
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brent Naden 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Reserves: 14. Tyrone May 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Moses Leota 17. Billy Burns 18. Mitch Kenny 19. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 20. Spencer Leniu 21. Charlie Staines
Result: We were all expecting a close contest given the Sharks had one three straight and the Panthers are sitting in second on the ladder, but Penrith quickly put that theory to rest after jumping out of the blocks to take an early lead. The Panthers scored the first five tries of the game, including one from debutant Charlie Staines, before the Sharks hit back with two quick tries before halftime. Penrith went on to score another five tries in the second half, however, with Staines scoring another three to cap off a brilliant debut game.
Score: Sharks 24-56 Panthers
Tries
Sharks 4: Briton Nikora 35' Blayke Brailey 39' Jesse Ramien 58' Nene Macdonald 68'
Panthers 10: Brent Naden 3' Liam Martin 11' Stephen Crichton 19' Charlie Staines 23' Dylan Edwards 25' Charlie Staines 44' Billy Burns 55' Stephen Crichton 66' Charlie Staines 73' Charlie Staines 78'
Conversions
Sharks: Shaun Johnson 4/4
Panthers: Nathan Cleary 6/9, Stephen Crichton 1/1
Penalty goals
Panthers: Nathan Cleary 1/1
Brisbane Broncos vs. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm (AEST)
Broncos: 1. Tesi Niu 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Herbie Farnworth 4. Darius Boyd 5. Xavier Coates 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Tevita Pangai Junior 9. Issac Luke 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn 12. Corey Oates 13. Patrick Carrigan
Reserves: 14. Tom Dearden 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Rhys Kennedy 17. Ben Te'o 18. Cory Paix 19. Jamil Hopoate 20. Kotoni Staggs 21. Matthew Lodge
Bulldogs: 1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Nick Meaney 3. Reimis Smith 4. Marcelo Montoya 5. Christian Crichton 6. Kieran Foran 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Luke Thompson
Reserves: 14. Kerrod Holland 15. Dean Britt 16. Renouf To'omaga 17. Sauaso Sue 19. Ofahiki Ogden 20. Jack Cogger 21. Sione Katoa 22. Lachlan Lewis
Result: The Broncos have secured their first win since the season restart after scrapping their way against the Bulldogs at Suncorp. It was turnovers galore early in the contest but the Broncos kept finding ways to score through Jamayne Isaako. It was a win that eases the pressure on coach Anthony Seibold at least momentarily, leap frogging St George and Gold Coast as a result.
Score: Broncos 26-8 Bulldogs
Tries
Broncos 5: Corey Oates 6' Tevita Pangai Junior 15' Jamayne Isaako 43' Xavier Coates 60' Jamayne Isaako 75'
Bulldogs 2: Nick Meaney 28' Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 68'
Conversions
Broncos: Jamayne Isaako 2/5
Bulldogs: Nick Meaney 0/2
Penalty goals
Broncos: Jamayne Isaako 1/1
Canberra Raiders vs. Melbourne Storm, GIO Stadium, 7:35pm (AEST)
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Michael Oldfield 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine
Reserves: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Kai O'Donnell 16. Ryan Sutton 17. Jordan Rapana 18. Tom Starling 19. Matt Frawley 20. Darby Medlyn 21. Curtis Scott
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Marion Seve 3. Justin Olam 4. Paul Momirovski 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ryley Jacks 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane
Reserves: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Darryn Schonig 19. Cameron Munster 20. Brenko Lee 21. Nicholas Hynes
Result: Another chapter in the Storm-Raiders rivalry has been written and this time only six points could separate them. Cam Smith rallied his troops in the second half, with the Storm holding on for a tough victory in an intense, drama-filled contest which saw the boys in purple consolidate their place in the top four.
Score: Raiders 10-20 Storm
Tries
Raiders 3: Josh Papalii 22' Nick Cotric 67' Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 79'
Storm 3: Brenko Lee 9' Josh Addo-Carr 28' Ryan Papenhuyzen 58'
Conversions
Raiders: Jarrod Croker 1/3
Storm: Cameron Smith 3/3
Penalty goals
Storm: Cameron Smith 1/1
Sunday, July 12
Newcastle Knights vs. Parramatta Eels, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm (AEST)
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Tex Hoy 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Kurt Mann 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Herman Ese'ese
Reserves: 14. Starford To'a 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Brodie Jones 18. Tautau Moga 19. Josh King 20. Phoenix Crossland 21. Connor Watson
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Jai Field 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown
Reserves: 14. David Gower 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Marata Niukore 17. Brad Takairangi 18. Daniel Alvaro 19. George Jennings 20. Will Smith 21. Andrew Davey
Result: The Eels have won a hard-fought, often ugly victory over the Knights in Newcastle, with the almost 8,000 scattered fans treated to a disappointing spectacle really. The Eels scored one try through a clever Reed Maloney pass, while the second came through Clint Gutherson taking a quick tap. The Knights try was equally uninspiring with Andrew McCullough diving over from dummy-half.
Score: Knights 4-10 Eels
Tries
Knights 1: Andrew McCullough 34'
Eels 2: Ryan Matterson 16' Maika Sivo 64'
Conversions
Knights: Ponga 0/1
Eels: Clinton Gutherson 0/2
Penalty goals
Eels: Clinton Gutherson 1/1
St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 6:30pm (AEST)
Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Euan Aitken 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Adam Clune 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Ben Hunt 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Cameron McInnes
Reserves: 14. Trent Merrin 15. Josh Kerr 16. Tyrell Fuimaono 17. Jackson Ford 18. Tim Lafai 19. Tristan Sailor 20. Jason Saab 21. Korbin Sims
Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Brad Parker 4. Moses Suli 5. Tevita Funa 6. Lachlan Croker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Joel Thompson 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic
Reserves: 14. Cade Cust 15. Jack Gosiewski 16. Sean Keppie 17. Morgan Boyle 18. Corey Waddell 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Abbas Miski 21. Haumole Olakau'atu
Results: The Dragons have continued their revival, hammering the undermanned Sea Eagles at Netstrata Jubilee Stdaium. With Ben Hunt starting the game at hooker, the Dragons looked a more balanced team and his kicking game had the Sea Eagles on the back foot all night. Daly Cherry-Evans had a forgettable night as the Dragons inched closer to the Top 8.
Score: Dragons 34-4 Sea Eagles
Tries
Dragons 6: Josh Kerr 27' Matthew Dufty 31' Mikaele Ravalawa 59' Zac Lomax 72' Corey Norman 76' Euan Aitken 79'
Sea Eagles 1: Joel Thompson 8'
Conversions
Dragons: Zac Lomax 4/6
Sea Eagles: Reuben Garrick 0/1
Penalty goals
Dragons: Zac Lomax 1/1