Round 4 Tips

BRISBANE BRONCOS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS at Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm

BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Antonio Winterstein, Steve Michaels, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer (capt), Peter Wallace, Nick Kenny, Aaron Gorrell, Joel Clinton, Sam Thaiday, Ben Te'o, Corey Parker. Interchange: Andrew McCullough, David Taylor, Lagi Setu, Alex Glenn, Ashton Sims, Josh McGuire (two to be omitted)

DRAGONS: Ben Hornby (capt), Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Darius Boyd, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Mathew Head, Jarrod Saffy, Dean Young, Michael Weyman, Matt Prior, Ben Creagh, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Dan Hunt, Neville Costigan, Luke Priddis, Trent Merrin, Nick Emmett (one to be omitted)

Referees: Shayne Hayne, Matt Cecchin

I have been waiting for this game ever since Bennett signed with the Dragons. You could not ask for a better build up with both sides the only teams in the comp to be undefeated in regular time with the Dragons only loss coming from golden point against the Storm.

Dragons have beaten the Broncos on their last seven occasions including the last four times at Suncorp. The Dragons have the best defence in the comp which will be a major trump on what is expected to be a very wet game of football.

The Dragons have been forced to shuffle their backline with Cooper out.

Broncos have Kenny & Hodges back in the side and looked sensational against the Warriors. I can’t see to many Dragons players causing to much damage in attack though Weyman is going to have to be contained.

I can’t see the Dragons scoring many points and the Broncos have to many attacking stars to tip against them, so it is the Broncos for me with the total match score not exceeding 30 points.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS v PARRAMATTA EELS at Sydney Football Stadium, 7.35pm

ROOSTERS: Sam Perrett, Sonny Tuigamala, Mitchell Aubusson, Sia Soliola, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Mark O'Meley, James Aubusson, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Shane Shackleton, Craig Fitzgibbon, Setaimata Sa. Interchange: Lopini Paea, Martin Kennedy, Ben Jones, Jake Friend, Sisa Waqa (one to be omitted)

EELS: Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Ben Smith, Krisnan Inu, Eric Grothe, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Finch, Nathan Cayless (capt), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Weller Hauraki, Feleti Mateo. Interchange: Kris Keating, Joe Galuvao, Tim Mannah, Broderick Wright, Todd Lowrie (one to be omitted)

Referees: Tony Archer, Steve Lyons

Roosters haven’t set the world on fire and are missing to international players due to having a beer in their own home while watching a footy match. The Eels have been patchy but can take confidence that they have not conceded a point in the last 20 mins of any match. The Roosters have a big advantage in that they have an extra two days to prepare for the match, but I will be tipping the Eels as I can’t see players wanting to compete for a club that stands players down for having a quiet drink in the privacy of their own homes.


SATURDAY

PENRITH PANTHERS v WESTS TIGERS at CUA Stadium, 5.30pm

PANTHERS: Lachlan Coote, Michael Gordon, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Shane Elford, Wade Graham, Jarrod Sammut, Matthew Bell, Paul Aiton, Petero Civoniceva (capt), Trent Waterhouse, Nathan Smith, Luke Lewis. Interchange: Masada Iosefa, Frank Pritchard, Frank Puletua, Gavin Cooper, Tim Grant, Adam Woolnough, Joseph Paulo, Maurice Blair (four to be omitted)

TIGERS: Tim Moltzen, Taniela Tuiaki, Dean Collis, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, John Morris, Benji Marshall, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah (capt), Keith Galloway, Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington, Todd Payten. Interchange: Rhys Hanbury, Dene Halatau, Corey Payne, Danny Galea, Rocky Trimarchi (one to be omitted)

Referees: Ben Cummins, Phil Haines

Panthers had a great win at Brookvale last week while the Tigers stormed home after a slow start against the Roosters. Panthers love playing the Tigers having beaten them six times out of the last eight starts. I am tempted to back the Panthers with the odds but considering tipping comps don’t reward tipping against the underdog and with the three extra days the Tigers have had to prepare I will be tipping the Tigers.

MELBOURNE STORM v GOLD COAST TITANS at Olympic Park, 7.30pm

STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Willie Isa, Anthony Quinn, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Jeff Lima, Cameron Smith (capt), Adam Blair, Wairangi Koopu, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Kevin Proctor, Aiden Tolman, Scott Anderson, Joseph Tomane, Matt Cross (two to be omitted)

TITANS: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Esi Tonga, Brett Delaney, Chris Walker, Mat Rogers, Preston Campbell, Luke Bailey (capt), Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matt White, Brad Meyers, Luke O'Dwyer, Josh Graham, Aaron Cannings (one to be omitted)

Referees: Ashley Klein, Brett Suttor

Another game I am really looking forward to watch. Zillman is my favourite fullback in the comp and watching him against the games best fullback is enough to make a NRL tragic dribble. Titans are with out Prince but with Preston the 2001 halfback of the year replacing Prince they look more than capable of filling the massive void left by their captain.
The Storm looked very impressive against the Cowboys in NQ, and I can not bring myself to tip against the Storm in what is sure to be a very entertaining match.

SUNDAY

WARRIORS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at Mt Smart Stadium, 12pm

WARRIORS: Wade McKinnon, Denan Kemp, Patrick Ah Van, Jerome Ropati, Aiden Kirk, Joel Moon, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Nathan Fien, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal, Ukuma Ta'ai, Lewis Brown, Daniel O'Regan (two to be omitted)

RABBITOHS: Rhys Wesser, Nathan Merritt, Colin Best, Shaune Corrigan, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (capt), Ben Lowe, Shannan McPherson, David Fa'alogo. Interchange: Craig Wing, Eddy Pettybourne, Jaiman Lowe, David Kidwell

Referees: Tony De Las Heras, Gavin Badger

Tough game to tip, the Warriors have a host of players out including the legend Steve Price. Russell Packer will be starting as prop and I have been impressed with the limited time i have seen him play. this game could go either way and for me is a flip of a coin. with the Warriors getting an extra day to prepare and the Rabbitohs having to fly across the Tasman I will tip the Warriors with no great confidence.

BULLDOGS v CRONULLA SHARKS at ANZ Stadium, 2pm

BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson, Gary Warburton, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Chris Armit, Greg Eastwood, John Kite, Yileen Gordon, Matt Utai (one to be omitted)

SHARKS: Mitch Brown, Misi Taulapapa, Ben Pomeroy, Blake Ferguson, Luke Covell, Trent Barrett, Brett Seymour, Kade Snowden, Corey Hughes, Luke Douglas, Reece Williams, Anthony Tupou, Paul Gallen (capt). Interchange: Reni Maitua, Jack Afamasaga, Bryan Norrie, Tony Caine

Referees: Jason Robinson, Gerard Sutton

This should be a very spiteful game with both clubs firing verbal taunts at one another through out the week. The Doggies have dropped several players for fighting each other and Barrett will more than likely miss this match to add to the Sharks injury woes.
It is expected to be a wet encounter so with the Doggies impressive win over Manly in wet conditions, a home ground advantage and an extra day to prepare, I will be tipping the boys from Belmore.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v MANLY SEA EAGLES at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 3pm

KNIGHTS: Kurt Gidley (capt), James McManus, Junior Sau, Adam MacDougall, Akuila Uate, Ben Rogers, Scott Dureau, Mark Taufua, Isaac De Gois, Ben Cross, Chris Houston, Zeb Taia, Matt Hilder. Interchange: George Ndaira, Marvin Karawana, Richie Fa'aoso, Danny Wicks.

SEA EAGLES: Michael Robertson, Michael Bani, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Shane Neumann, Chris Bailey, Matt Orford (capt), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Hall, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Heath L'Estrange, Jason King, Adam Cuthbertson, George Rose, Shane Rodney (one to be omitted)

Referees: Jared Maxwell, Alan Shortall

The Broncos hold the record for the worst start to the season from a premiership winning side when they lost their first five games in the 99 season. I would love for Manly to take over the mantle so will be tipping the Knights, again with no great confidence.

MONDAY

CANBERRA RAIDERS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS at Canberra Stadium, 7pm

RAIDERS: Josh Dugan, Adrian Purtell, Jarrod Croker, Joel Monaghan, Justin Carney, Terry Campese, Marc Herbert, David Shillington, Stuart Flanagan, Josh Miller, Joe Picker, Bronson Harrison, Alan Tongue (capt). Interchange: Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Trevor Thurling, Glen Turner, Nigel Plum, Travis Waddell (one to be omitted)

COWBOYS: Matt Bowen, John Williams, Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Ben Farrar, Travis Burns, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Shane Tronc, Aaron Payne, Antonio Kaufusi, Carl Webb, Ben Harris, Luke O'Donnell. Interchange: Clint Amos, Scott Bolton, Matthew Scott, Manase Manuokafoa, Steve Rapira (one to be omitted)

Referees: Tony Archer, Steve Lyons

Much has been made of Bennetts return against his old club yet with out much of a mention of Henry returning to the capital. Smart money will go on the Cowboys though I am tipping the Raiders. I watched last years Under 20’s comp and was very impressed with fullback Josh Dugan who scored something like 20 points in the decider.
The Raiders have conceded less penalties than anyone in the comp while the Cowboys is one of the worst offenders. I don’t think NQ players handle the cold or that well so will be tipping the Raiders.


FINAL SELECTIONS

BRONCOS
EELS
TIGERS
STORM
WARRIORS
BULLDOGS
KNIGHTS
RAIDERS