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globalrugbyleague - Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:46:00 GMT
The GRL Phantom believes that some teams who’ve been written off will kick-start their campaign resurgence in round 14.
Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels
Sunday 15 June 2008 15:00 - ANZ Stadium
Referee: Tony Archer
Touch Judges: Russell Turner, Jeff Younis
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
The Tigers have been hit hard by injuries with Taniela Tuiaki and Keith Galloway the latest to join the casualty list.
Parramatta have found form in the past two weeks, suffering a narrow loss to Brisbane before they pulverised Canberra in round 13 at home.
I like the Eels in this one.
And the reason for my selection is I cast my mind back to a Monday night game in June last year at the same venue.
The Tigers don't handle second phase play and their losses this year have been against teams who promote second phase play and play a multiple off-load type of game.
Parramatta's halves Brett Finch and Feleti Mateo have been blending nicely.
The pair are the smartest ball players in the Eels' line up and I believe if they stay fit and healthy will mount a second half of the Eels revival.
The forwards are the Eels problems, they rarely offload the ball and play a predictable yardage game.
This has been the problem for Michael Hagan as coach in 2008.
Not getting power and good advantage line running from the pack.
If their pack can make the necessary yards the genuine flyers in the Eels team like Jarryd Hayne, when he returns from suspension, Luke Burt and co will benefit.
The Wests Tigers are a unique team in a day and age when the majority of the teams are carbon copies of each other.
Mathew Head, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and Brett Hodgson are the quartet on which their attack is based upon.
Sheens builds the set plays and attack around these players and the runners and centres fit into the jigsaw puzzle.
Expect flash, lateral ball movement in this game.
An up tempo style of game, lots of breaks, plenty of balls hitting the ground as players attempt to get away the near impossible pass and a high scoring encounter.
Parramatta's second phase play and the size of their team will wear down the Tigers.


Verdict: Eels by 8.
North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights
Monday 16 June 2008 19:00 - Dairy Farmers Stadium
Referee: Shayne Hayne
Touch Judges: Tony De Las Heras, Bernard Sutton
Video Referee: Tim Mander

Newcastle make the long trip to Townsville to tackle the Cowboys on Monday night.
The Cowboys have played like branded steers this year due to poor defence, inconsistent form along with their fair share of injuries.
Graham Murray got the shove and next year Neil Henry takes over, but in the meantime Ian Millward is looking after the coaching.
Newcastle are a work in progress with a stack of exciting and talented players.
I like what Smith has done. He wore the brunt of public criticism last year and cleaned out the place.
The Knights have some exciting talent and their skill level has improved.
They hit a rough patch after their super effort against Melbourne and lost three straight because the young players didn't handle the physical and mental exhaustion after a bruising and fast paced encounter with the Storm.
Brian Smith is building a team which will make the finals next year and may or may not this year.
Chris Bailey is a loss to Manly for the next season.
The brother of former Manly and Cronulla utility player Phil Bailey, this boy can play and Manly will at last get a specialist, ball playing footballer who can play five-eighth and lock with genuine skill.
Newcastle's defence and lower error rate will prevail and Jarrod Mullen will be pressing to play for NSW in Origin three on July 2.
His kicking game is among the best in the game and his clash with the game's equal best player, Jonathan Thurston (Darren Lockyer, is the other game's equal best, I can't split the pair), will be fascinating.
Watch for Corey Paterson, the Knights' second rower.
He has super skills and can do things with a ball in his hands, we haven't seen since the league immortal, Arthur Beetson, the greatest forward the game has seen.
Paterson will play for NSW next year and don't be surprised to see him in the Australian World Cup squad later this year.
Verdict: Knights by 13. - Read More, Here