Saturday, August 8
Melbourne Storm vs. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, Sunshine Coast, 3:00pm (AEST)
Storm: 1. Nicholas Hynes 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Tom Eisenhuth 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane
Reserves: 14. Ryley Jacks 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 16. Albert Vete 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Darryn Schonig 19. Chris Lewis 20. Cooper Johns 21. Sandor Earl
Bulldogs: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Tim Lafai 4. Jake Averillo 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Kieran Foran 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Sione Katoa 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Luke Thompson
Reserves: 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Aiden Tolman 16. Sauaso Sue 17. Reimis Smith 19. Kerrod Holland 20. Renouf To'omaga 21. Chris Smith 22. Matt Doorey
Verdict: The Storm have continued on their way, knocking over the Knights last week, while the Bulldogs did everything but beat the Eels. The Bulldogs have been a different side since Dean Pay was sacked, but the Storm are a different opponent. The Bulldogs always lift for their clashes with Melbourne, but they won't be able to lift enough to win this one.
Score: Storm 41 - 10 Bulldogs
Read the match report here.
Newcastle Knights vs. Wests Tigers, McDonald Jones Stadium, 5:30pm (AEST)
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Starford To'a 3. Enari Tuala 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Blake Green 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Kurt Mann 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Mitchell Barnett
Reserves: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Josh King 16. Herman Ese'ese 17. Brodie Jones 18. Chris Randall 19. Tex Hoy 20. Mason Lino 21. Jirah Momoisea
Tigers: 1. Adam Doueihi 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Joseph Leilua 4. Tommy Talau 5. Asu Kepaoa 6. Luke Brooks 7. Benji Marshall 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Moses Mbye 10. Russell Packer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Matt Eisenhuth
Reserves: 14. Thomas Mikaele 15. Shawn Blore 16. Chris Lawrence 17. Billy Walters 18. Alex Seyfarth 19. Luke Garner 20. Josh Reynolds 21. Elijah Taylor
Verdict: The Knights struggled to match the Storm last week after losing to the Bulldogs the week before. Injuries have not been kind, but they welcome Warriors play-maker Blake Green to the club this week. The Tigers have been very inconsistent and lost last week to the Warriors. The Knights will be desperate to break out of their rut at home.
Score: Knights 44 - 4 Tigers
Read the match report here.
Penrith Panthers vs. Canberra Raiders, Panthers Stadium, 7:35pm (AEST)
Panthers: 1. Caleb Aekins 2. Josh Mansour 3. Brent Naden 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak 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. Spencer Leniu 16. Moses Leota 17. Zane Tetevano 18. Mitch Kenny 19. Matt Burton 20. Billy Burns 21. Daine Laurie
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Curtis Scott 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Siliva Havili 10. Dunamis Lui 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Hudson Young
Reserves: 14. Tom Starling 15. Joseph Tapine 16. Ryan Sutton 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Sam Williams 19. Michael Oldfield 20. Kai O'Donnell 21. Matt Frawley
Verdict: The Panthers continued their impressive season last week taking care of the Sea Eagles, while the Raiders struggled to beat the Cowboys. This should be a great preview of the big games we'll see at the end of the season. The Panthers, led by a supremely confident Nathan Cleary, should continue their winning ways at the top of the ladder.
Score: Panthers 28 - 12 Raiders
Read the match report here.
Sunday, August 9
Gold Coast Titans vs. North Queensland Cowboys, Cbus Super Stadium, 2:00pm (AEST)
Titans: 1. Alexander Brimson 2. Anthony Don 3. Brian Kelly 4. Dale Copley 5. Phillip Sami 6. Ashley Taylor 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Nathan Peats 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Keegan Hipgrave 13. Jai Arrow
Reserves: 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Jarrod Wallace 16. Tyrone Peachey 17. Sam Lisone 18. Corey Thompson 19. Jai Whitbread 20. Erin Clark 21. Beau Fermor
Cowboys: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Tom Opacic 4. Connelly Lemuelu 5. Justin O'Neill 6. Ben Hampton 7. Michael Morgan 8. Josh Mcguire 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Mitchell Dunn 12. Coen Hess 13. Jason Taumalolo
Reserves: 14. Jake Granville 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Emry Pere 17. Francis Molo 18. Shane Wright 19. Jake Clifford 20. Esan Marsters 21. Corey Jensen
Verdict: The Titans gave a good account of themselves on the way to losing to the Roosters last week, while the Cowboys were similarly impressive against the Raiders. One thing is guaranteed out of this game, a win to a Queensland club side. The Cowboys led by Jason Taumalolo should have enough class to take the much-needed points.
Score: Titans 30 - 10 Cowboys
Read the match report here.
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Parramatta Eels, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 4:05pm (AEST)
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Siosifa Talakai 12. Wade Graham 13. Toby Rudolf
Reserves: 14. Connor Tracey 15. Jack Williams 16. Teig Wilton 17. Royce Hunt 18. Scott Sorensen 19. Briton Nikora 20. Braydon Trindall 21. Bryson Goodwin
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Marata Niukore 13. Nathan Brown
Reserves: 14. Andrew Davey 15. Ray Stone 16. Kane Evans 17. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Brad Takairangi 19. Stefano Utoikamanu 20. David Gower 21. Jai Field
Verdict: The Sharks stormed home late to beat the Broncos last week, but will have to improve if they want to win this one. The Eels were ordinary last week against the determined Bulldogs and face an upset at the hands of the Sharks if they repeat that performance. I think the Sharks might just catch them out here.
Score: Sharks 10 - 12 Eels
Read the match report here.