NRL Round 17: The Preview
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By Stephen Gallagher
6/8 picks last week and 84/124 for the year.
THURSDAY: Sea Eagles V Raiders – 4 Pines Park, Sydney – 21.50NZT
Manly are on fire, and even without their Origin stars, they’ll still be favourites to take down Canberra.
Keep a keen eye on Xavier Savage for the Raiders, who has blistering pace and will wear the fullback jersey against the Sea Eagles.
One underrated asset of the team from the Northern Beaches is that their forward pack has been delivering every week. They don’t necessarily have the stand out names, but they’re in form as a pack and have been doing a great job.
The Raiders were exposed last week majorly, and their lack of point scoring ability will hurt them in this round too.
TIP: Sea Eagles 13+
FRIDAY: Rabbitohs V Cowboys – Stadium Australia – 21.55NZT
The Cowboys coach is still in isolation for another week, and it’s probably a good thing otherwise he’d be tearing strips off his players in person after their abysmal performance last week.
The Rabbitohs barely got out of third gear last week, and didn’t really try in the second half and still got the result.
They’ll also be sure to get the result this week too. Still plenty of quality players despite Origin, and North Queensland look very fragile right now.
TIP: Rabbitohs 13+
SATURDAY: Bulldogs V Roosters – Bankwest Stadium – 21.30NZT
One person I wouldn’t want to be right now is Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett.
He’s had a headache for sixteen weeks, and might just have a migraine after this fixture.
Both of these sides failed to score a point last weekend, suffering massive losses. You’d think both should be able to get on the scoreboard in this one.
The Roosters are definitely better than their loss last week, and coach Trent Robinson will want to get this done convincingly.
Plenty of attacking options to utilise.
TIP: Roosters 13+
Sharks V Warriors – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium – 18.00NZT
It’s been four losses in a row for the Warriors who are struggling for any type of consistency in results and players every week.
Cronulla seemed to have turned the corner of their season, but an upset loss last week would definitely hurt.
New Zealand are happy to get Reece Walsh back from injury who will add some much needed venom into their attack.
Cronulla’s forward pack could cause a few issues for their opposition who have battled at times with the physical battle in the middle of the field.
The Sharks will want to come out and make a statement early after last week, but the Warriors just need to make a statement. Something they haven’t done in awhile.
TIP: Warriors 1-12
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