NRL Round 21 Preview

By Stephen Gallagher

FRIDAY: • Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs – Allianz Stadium 21.45NZT
Finally a good Friday night game!  Two teams who are going to be chomping at the bit to go up against each other.  The massive forward packs, the back packed with skills – the Roosters look like they’re going to be tough to beat, the Bulldogs are going to up for it too.
Roosters 1-12

• Wests Tigers V Melbourne Storm – Leichhardt Oval 21.45NZT
The Tigers are desperate. Sitting ugly in last, the Storm making a move for the top four – so this looks like it’ll be a one sided affair. Are the Tigers a chance?  They’ve offered bugger all this season but do they have a surprise in their tank?
Tigers 1-12

SATURDAY: • New Zealand Warriors V Cronulla Sharks – Mount Smart Stadium 17.00NZT
The Johnsonless Warriors start their late run towards the finals. The Sharks look like they are going to be really tough to beat as they’re starting to find their feet at last. The Warriors have lacked energy in recent weeks, so all eyes on how Lolohea and Townsend partner up and steer the side around.
Warriors 1-12

• North Queensland Cowboys V Canberra Raiders – 1300 SMILES Stadium 19.30NZT
The Cowboys despite their sloppy performance last week still managed to beat their opposition by 42.  The Raiders need to start beating tough opposition.  They went close last time these two teams went head to head – and they will want to do one better. The Cowboys will be really up for it – they’re just oh so good.
Cowboys 1-12

• Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles V Brisbane Broncos – Central Coast Stadium 21.30NZT
The Sea Eagles want some more scalps of top eight sides on their belt.  They’ll be eyeing up the Broncos too. Brisbane won’t want to be embarrassed by Manly, who through the week lost coach Toovey for next season. Brisbane are slick in all aspects of their game.  This is a banana peel match.
Sea Eagles 1-12

SUNDAY: • Saint George Illawarra Dragons V Newcastle Knights – Jubilee Oval 16.00NZT
The Dragons need a win! The Knights need a win!  The Dragons have lost seven in the row!  The Knights sacked their coach earlier this week after his second unsuccessful tenure as coach! Anyone surprised?  The Dragons at home will be the clincher.  This is a perfect game to get back in the winners column and fight for the top eight.

Dragons 13+

• South Sydney Rabbitohs V Penrith Panthers – ANZ Stadium 18.00NZT
The Rabbitohs are in absolute devastating form, and the Panthers need to gain some confidence somehow. They’re not looking very good, and the Rabbitohs could punish them if they catch a sniff of their weakness. It could all be one way traffic, but the Panthers are better than that – it’ll be competitive for 60 minutes but the clinicalness of Souths is too good.
Rabbitohs 13+

MONDAY: • Gold Coast Titans V Parramatta Eels – Cbus Super Stadium 21.00NZT
Two of the worst teams in 2015 square off for ‘The Shit Bowl’ or ‘Battle Of The Spoon’ so it’s a little disappointing the worst teams are saved for the last game of the round. The Titans should get in, the Parramatta Eels are just HORRIBLE at the moment. It could be a flogging, actually.

Titans 13+

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