Saturday, September 26
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Penrith Panthers, ANZ Stadium, 3:00pm (AEST)
Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Reimis Smith 4. Tim Lafai 5. Jayden Okunbor 6. Jake Averillo 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Luke Thompson 11. Chris Smith 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Josh Jackson
Reserves: 14. Brandon Wakeham 15. Renouf To'omaga 16. Sione Katoa 17. Sauaso Sue 19. Dean Britt 20. Jack Cogger 21. Tuipulotu Katoa 23. Kerrod Holland
Panthers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Josh Mansour 3. Tyrone May 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Reserves: 14. Matt Burton 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Moses Leota 17. Zane Tetevano 18. Mitch Kenny 19. Dean Whare 20. Jack Hetherington 21. Billy Burns
Verdict: By the time these two teams take the field, the Bulldogs will know whether or not they have to win to avoid the wooden spoon. If the Broncos beat the Cowboys on Friday night the Bulldogs will be desperate to win this one. The Panthers have locked down the minor premiership and have nothing to play for other than keeping their incredible winning streak going as they flex their muscles ahead of a run to the Grand Final.
Tip: Panthers by 18
TAB odds: Bulldogs $6.20 (+14.5 $1.90) Panthers $1.12 (-14.5 $1.90)
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks vs. Canberra Raiders, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5:30pm (AEST)
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Wade Graham 7. Connor Tracey 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Toby Rudolf
Reserves: 14. Scott Sorensen 15. Jack Williams 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Teig Wilton 18. Billy Magoulias 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Bryson Goodwin 21. Daniel Vasquez
Raiders: 1. Adam Cook 2. Semi Valemi 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Sam Williams 8. Dunamis Lui 9. Tom Starling 10. Iosia Soliola 11. Hudson Young 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Siliva Havili
Reserves: 14. Kai O'Donnell 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Darby Medlyn 17. Jarrett Subloo 18. Ata Mariota 19. Joseph Tapine 20. Jack Wighton 21. Elliott Whitehead
Verdict: The Sharks put up a fairly good fight last week against the Roosters before falling away. The Raiders struggled with their discipline as they battled to overcome the Warriors. The Raiders could conceivably sneak into the Top 4 with a win here and an Eels loss to the Tigers, but Ricky Stuart doesn't appear too concerned by that scenario as he has rested most of his team for this one.
Tip: Raiders by 2
TAB odds: Sharks $1.67 (-2.5 $1.90) Raiders $2.25 (+2.5 $1.90)
Wests Tigers vs. Parramatta Eels, Bankwest Stadium, 7:35pm (AEST)
Tigers: 1. Adam Doueihi 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tommy Talau 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Asu Kepaoa 6. Benji Marshall 7. Luke Brooks 8. Zane Musgrove 9. Harry Grant 10. Thomas Mikaele 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal
Reserves: 14. Matt Eisenhuth 15. Elijah Taylor 16. Shawn Blore 17. Michael Chee-Kam 18. Alex Seyfarth 19. Jacob Liddle 20. Josh Reynolds 21. Joseph Leilua
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Jai Field 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown
Reserves: 14. Will Smith 15. Andrew Davey 16. Kane Evans 17. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Haze Dunster 19. Brad Takairangi 20. George Jennings 21. Daniel Alvaro
Verdict: The Tigers have had another disappointing season, but would like nothing better than to upset the Eels here and cost them a spot in the Top 4. The Eels simply must win this one if they are to be taken seriously as a premiership threat. Victory will ensure they secure fourth position and give them some much-needed momentum heading into the finals.
Tip: Eels by 16
TAB odds: Tigers $3.50 (+8.5 $1.90) Eels $1.30 (-8.5 $1.90)
Sunday, September 27
New Zealand Warriors vs. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Central Coast Stadium, 2:00pm (AEST)
Warriors: 1. Peta Hiku 2. Adam Pompey 3. Adam Keighran 4. Hayze Perham 5. Patrick Herbert 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Chanel Harris-Tavita 8. Lachlan Burr 9. Karl Lawton 10. Isaiah Papali'i 11. Eliesa Katoa 12. Tohu Harris 13. Jazz Tevaga
Reserves: 14. Wayde Egan 15. Adam Blair 16. Jack Murchie 17. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 18. Josh Curran 20. Paul Turner 21. Gerard Beale 22. Tom Ale
Sea Eagles: 1. Tevita Funa 2. Abbas Miski 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Lachlan Croker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Corey Waddell 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic
Reserves: 14. Albert Hopoate 15. Morgan Boyle 16. Sean Keppie 17. Haumole Olakau'atu 18. Ben Trbojevic 19. Luke Metcalf 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Sione Fainu
Verdict: What messed up seasons these two clubs have had with key injuries battering the Sea Eagles, while the Warriors have been stranded far from home with their own playing stock issues. The Warriors will have one foot on the plane for their trip home, but will be keen to end this journey with a victory. The Sea Eagles have very little to play for other than pride after they were hammered last week by the Titans, making this a very tough game to pick..
Tip: Warriors by 6
TAB odds: Warriors $2.60 (+2.5 $1.90) Sea Eagles $1.50 (-2.5 $1.90)
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 4:05pm (AEST)
Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Max Feagai 3. Euan Aitken 4. Zac Lomax 5. Cody Ramsey 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Adam Clune 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Jacob Host 13. Jackson Ford
Reserves: 14. Tariq Sims 15. Kaide Ellis 16. Josh Kerr 17. Eddie Blacker 18. Brayden Wiliame 19. Corey Norman 20. Jordan Pereira 21. Tyrell Fuimaono
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sandor Earl 3. Ricky Leutele 4. Paul Momirovski 5. Isaac Lumelume 6. Ryley Jacks 7. Cooper Johns 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Brandon Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Chris Lewis 13. Max King
Reserves: 14. Nicholas Hynes 15. Darryn Schonig 16. Albert Vete 17. Aaron Pene 18. Aaron Booth 19. Dean Ieremia 20. Trent Loiero 21. Judda Turahui
Verdict: The Dragons were dismal last week as they capitulated to the Knights. The Storm continued their winning ways, humiliating the Tigers in the process. The Dragons really don't like the Storm, but they seem to have lost the will to play, let alone compete. This becomes a bit tougher to pick with Storm coach Craig Bellamy resting a number of stars..
Tip: Storm by 22
TAB odds: Dragons $1.75 (-1.5 $1.85) Storm $2.10 (+1.5 $1.95)