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NRL Preview - Australian Rugby league News
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globalrugbyleague - Fri, 16 May 2008 19:32:00 GMT
State of Origin has trimmed the chances of several top teams scoring a win in round 10 of the NRL. Find out which teams they are in GRL’s weekly preview.

Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters
Parramatta Stadium, 7:45pm
Referee: Shayne Hayne
GRL Tip: Eels
Head To Head: Roosters 58, Eels 54, drawn 5

State of Origin tis the part of the season for Parramatta fans to be jolly. They go up against an undermanned Roosters outfit which has lost the likes of Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon, Nate Myles and Anthony Tupou. While the visitors will be equally competitive in the halves, the Eels will have the power up front to give their backline more opportunities. In cold conditions at home the Eels should leave their fans walking away with a warm, fuzzy feeling come full time.

Gold Coast Titans v CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Skilled Park, 7:45pm
Referee: Jason Robinson
GRL Tip: Gold Coast
Head To Head: Bulldogs 2, Titans 0

One man. Scott Prince. The Titans have the form halfback of the comp ready to unleash more skill and magic upon a team that many hope cannot play any worse then they did last weekend. Luke Bailey returns for the Titans while the Bulldogs will be waiting right up until game day to see if fullback Luke Patten is available for an important tour of duty. The Bulldogs have not beaten a top four team once this season and there is a reason why. They have averaged 28 points in five of their first 8 games. I’m tipping the Titans to win by 12. The Titans are looking for win number one over the Bulldogs and it looks like that record is certain to be broken.

CRONULLA SHARKS v Brisbane Broncos
Toyota Stadium, 5:30pm
Referee: Jared Maxwell
GRL Tip: Broncos
Head To Head: Broncos 24, Sharks 14

Two statistics concern me about this game for those preparing to put their hard earned cash on the Sharks. The Sharks have one of the worst home records in the NRL. They have lost 14 from their last 19 clashes at Toyota Park. And secondly the Broncos fly into enemy territory with far more dangerous backline which from numbers 1 through to 7 have scored a total of 20 tries compared to the Sharks backline which only has 9 tries to show for their efforts. Unless Shane Perry has a shocker with his kicking game, I really can’t see the Broncos losing.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v Melbourne Storm
ANZ Stadium, 7:30pm
Referee: Phil Haines
GRL Tip: Dragons
Head To Head: Storm 14, Dragons 4, Draw 1

When the Dragons win, they do it in style against the top flying teams of the competition. I smell an upset in the air with the Storm fielding their lightest line-up this season due to representative commitments. One headline called the Storm ‘spare-parts’ premiers but don’t underestimate the nine rookies replacing the likes of Slater, Folau, Quinn, Inglis, Smith, White, Crocker, Hoffman and Johnson. The same coach that helped the ‘Baby Broncos’ wallop the Wests Tigers 28-14 in 2002 is in charge of this mob. I just think the Dragons – who are having the season from hell – know a good opportunity when they see one and they will play with the right attitude to get the job done.
MANLY SEA EAGLES v North Queensland Cowboys
Bluetongue Stadium, 7:30PM
Referee: Ben Cummins
GRL Tip: Manly
Head To Head: Sea Eagles 7, Cowboys 5

The Cowboys have only won 3 games this season WITH Jonathon Thurston on board. It would be the biggest upset of the round if the 2005 Grand Finalists proved the moon is square and beat a Manly outfit that are only missing Brett Stewart. If you want a safe bet – if in fact there is such a thing – this would be the game.
Penrith Panthers v New Zealand Warriors
CUA Stadium, 2:00 PM
Referee: Tony De Las Heras
GRL Tip: New Zealand
Head To Head: Panthers 12, Warriors 9

A flip of the coin contest despite the potential the Panthers have been showing in recent weeks. Penrith have only won back to back once this season and they need to improve on their consistency if they want to be finals contenders in season number two under Mathew Elliot. New Zealand will provide a stern physical contest but probably will wither away towards the final 15 minutes and from there the Panthers will race in some quick tries to shut this game down. However the Panthers may struggle without Petero Civoniceva.

Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers
EnergyAustralia Stadium, 3:00 PM at
Referee: Sean Hampstead
GRL Tip: Wests Tigers
Head To Head: Knights 7, Tigers 5

Newcastle are at home without Kurt Gidley, Danny Buderus and Ben Cross while the Tigers welcome back Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall from injury. Mathew Head has really sparked some creativity in the Tigers attack. The Knights I feel will be fairly flat after going all out against the Storm last Monday night and that puts the Tigers in a position to test their attacking roar.


Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Canberra Stadium, 7:00 PM
Referee: Gavin Badger
GRL Tip: Canberra
Head To Head: Raiders 24, Rabbitohs 15

A great start to the season for the Raiders has turned into maze which they can’t seem to find their way out of. And that’s probably due to the large number of season ending injuries which have hit them harder then any other team in the competition. Canberra at home fight like hell but the Rabbitohs will be desperate to get the points and put the Cowboys and possibly the Dragons into contention for the Wooden Spoon. This will be a really close game and I wouldn’t be surprised if it went into golden-point extra time. - Read More, Here