NRL Round 14. The Preview

By Stephen Gallagher

FRIDAY: Cowboys V Dragons  – Queensland Country Bank Stadium – 21.55NZT

Just the one Friday game this week due to Origin, but it’s going to be a doozy.

The Cowboys are flying high, and are expecting all their stars to back up for this one. They’ve started strongly this season, with a lot of games in Queensland to help them on this run.

While the Dragons have also somewhat exceeded expectations, they have their backs against the wall to get a result in this one.

The way North Queensland combinations have been played this year, they’ll be looking to keep piling on some first-half points and end the Dragons chances.

Cowboys have only conceded four points in their last seven second-halves of footy. UNREAL!

TIP: Cowboys 13+

 

SATURDAY: Titans V Rabbitohs  – Cbus Super Stadium – 17.00NZT

It feels like it’s now or never for the woeful Titans to turn their season around. They’ve blown leads, faded out of games, and have barely scraped 80 minutes of footy together at times. Frustrating for them.

While Souths are in a similar situation, they’re more accomplished than the Gold Coast, and have more fight in them to turn tough games into wins.

The way both these sides play, you can expect it to be a high scoring match. Defence is optional.

TIP: Rabbitohs 1-12

 

Roosters V Storm  – SCG – 19.30NZT

A ripper of a match up, this one. The Storm will be thankful for a number of key inclusions returning from injury and Origin to help catapult their season back into form.

While the Roosters didn’t get the win last weekend and that will frustrate them, they often rise to the occasion of these crucial matches.

I think the first forty minutes will be war. A real challenge for both sides.

Storm will be good enough to pull away and claim the victory in the end.

TIP: Storm 1-12

 

Broncos V Raiders – Suncorp Stadium – 21.30NZT

Adam Reynolds back from injury is a massive in, but it’s not as if they’ve needed him the way they’ve been playing.

Plenty of Origin players return, and a week off for everyone else may just help Brisbane even more.

This Raiders side is showing more consistency every week, which leads me to believe that they are really going to put up a tough fight against the Broncos.

Brisbane are the better side, and they have better finishers to score their points. Will be a good watch.

TIP: Broncos 1-12

 

SUNDAY: Wests Tigers V Sea Eagles  – Campbelltown Sports Stadium – 16.00NZT

Their first game without Michael Maguire in charge, and it’ll be a tough ask coming up against a Sea Eagles side who put 40 points on the board easily last week.

It’s tough to know how the Tigers players will respond. By all accounts, they respected Madge and liked him as a coach.

They are already a tough side to watch at times, and the uncertainty around this doesn’t give me much to work with.

Manly are putting in the work and getting it done. They’ve got a great fullback replacement in Reuben Garrick who is throwing up some great numbers.

If they give themselves the same opportunities to go forward as they did last week, they will run all over the Tigers.

TIP: Sea Eagles 13+

 

Knights V Panthers  – McDonald Jones Stadium – 18.00NZT

Yeah, it’s not the Knights season – but surely they have to dig deep and try to dethrone these premium Panthers.

Kurt Mann returns for them which is great news.

They met earlier in the season, and it ended with the Knights playing short for 45 minutes after ‘that elbow’ from Mitch Barnett.

I just don’t think there’s enough venom in this Knights side to beat Penrith, but they must have something in the tank to at least stick with them.

Penrith are such a formidable opponent. A joy to watch when they’re on.

TIP: Panthers 13+

MONDAY: Warriors V Sharks – Moreton Daily Stadium – 20.15

Another coach is gone, this Warriors side still looks the same on paper which is incredibly frustrating for the fans.

They’ve shown no guts, had no glory, and this would be the worst time in the franchise’s history.

It doesn’t make things any easier playing against Cronulla. They’re a good side against good opposition and a great side against poor ones.

I reckon this is going to be a carve up. Warriors players haven’t responded to anything this season. Can’t see them responding to this.

TIP: Sharks 13+

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