NRL Round 25 Preview

August 27 2018

Shark alert!!! Valentine Holmes streaks away as Cronulla send a warning to their fellow finals foes - photo: source - www.qt.com.au

With the playoff picture clearer and the finals sides decided the last round is littered with a mad scramble, teams jockeying for positions, the minor premiership and home finals. The Storm are in pole position to finish in top spot two points clear and facing a Penrith side looking like they pulled the wrong rein hooking Anthony Griffin. The way the ‘Riff are playing they’ll be exiting the finals faster than Gus booted Griffin! Joining them on the slide are the Dragons who are running out of puff, meekly ending the season. The Sharks are looking ominous, Warriors willing, Broncos resolute and Roosters and Rabbitohs rocky but as the NRL has shown all season any side can win on any given day. The only certainty I’d put money on is the Eels taking home the wooden spoon, but my wallet just contains moths and my ID card from when I turned 18 just to prove to people I used to have hair.

Dunamis Lui the meat in a Slammin' Sam Souths sandwich, Angus Crichton adds a fist garnish - photo: source - www.zimbio.com

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers

Souths have now lost three games on the trot and must stop the rot as though a top four spot looks safe with a good points differential they do not want to enter the finals on the back of four defeats. Luckily, they meet a Tigers side now out of finals contention, so motivation may be a down a tad for a plucky Wests side who gave a very good account of themselves in 2018. The Rabbitohs started very well against the Raiders but fell away badly, a major concern, and the forwards failed to fire which muted the dynamic Damien Cook that needs to be addressed this week. Souths make no secret their game plan revolves around the Burgess boys gaining dominance, momentum, and field position for Cook then Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker to tee up their well-timed set plays. A far easier task with Russell Packer ruled out for the Tigers. Greg Inglis will be better for last week’s great gallop after nearly two months off the paddock and GI’s battle against Esan Marsters should be a ripper. With Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall’s futures now decided, staying at their beloved Tigers for 2019, they’ll want to prove to fans there are lots more magic memories to manufacture, Farah would love to get one over Cook, the man whose form sent Robbie on the Reject Express first stop Tiger Town. Luke Brooks needs to run the ball more and if he can light up the Wests back line they can cause an upset but with the finals on the horizon it is the Bunnies who will bounce back to form and winning ways.

Rabbitohs by 14

Nic Cotric burrows over against the Bunnies - photo: source - www.wwos.nine.com.au

New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders

A massive game for the Warriors as victory here could vault them into a home elimination final but it is far from a forgone conclusion as they welcome to Mt Smart the in-form Raiders who have claimed two top three scalps in consecutive weeks sending the Roosters and Rabbitohs back up the Hume Highway with the echoes of the Green Machine song running through their heads and Ricky Stuart’s joyous jumping sideline auditions for a Toyota commercial burned into their retinas. The Warriors walloped a woeful Panthers last week and are building momentum heading into the new comp which is the finals. Tohu Harris made a timely return and though Blake Green is still another week away with a calf complaint, Mason Lino is a brilliant back up assisting the magic man Shaun Johnson, Lino is class. While the Fus, David Fusitu’a looks to sew up the leading try scorer, his battle with Nic Cotric will be electric while on the other wing Jordan Rapana will try turn Ken Maumalo inside out, it’ll be like a water buffalo trying to catch a mosquito. The Raiders have turned a corner with their defence, their Achilles Heel all season, giving up only four tries in the past two weeks unfortunately 22 games too late but they’ll have their work cut out trying to nobble the razzle dazzle of the Warriors. With a home final in the offing and club stalwart Simon Mannering chalking up game 300 adding inspiration it’s the Warriors to nab this one.

Warriors by 7

Curtis Scott possesses power and panache - photo: source - www.wwos.nine.com.au

Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers

The Storm survived an injury crisis and dodged a cranky Craig Bellamy on the flight home from the Gold Coast as Melbourne scraped home, apparently the players guess how many coins are in the Bellyache swear jar, the biggest loser must sit to next to him sans ear buds. At the end of the season the players divvy up the swear jar and have enough coin to buy a large Big Mac value meal and a Lamborghini each. The Panthers somehow jumped up a spot despite their pathetic performance in Auckland, and the coach Gus Gould, sorry Cameron Ciraldo will want a big improvement in effort and attitude. These are worrying times for the Panthers but in a major boost James Maloney makes his return, fans hope wearing a cape, to partner boy wonder, Nathan Cleary but it’s the forwards who need to aim up and go full steam at the might of the Storm or the score line and the season will get uglier than the mirror you look into after stumbling out of Panthers Leagues as the sun rises. If I was the ‘Riff I’d think about puttin’ on the biff, apologies ‘controlled aggression’, as the Storm can be put off their game if the mercury rises in the middle. Victory will bring the Storm the minor premiership and most probably a week one finals meeting with the Sharks, so Bellamy will want his men firing on all cylinders and making statements. Amazingly the Storm still are unsure of their best halfback, this week it’s Ryley Jacks with both Brodie Croft and Cameron Munster ruled out late and Jahrome Hughes covering Billy Slater another withdrawal. Not knowing your number one 7 is strange for such an influential position but Melbourne, being Melbourne just motor onwards and upwards. This is the time to get your A game into action and off the back of a solid forward pack, it's the usual suspects who will get the job done led by Smith and Bellamy, sounds like a pop act maybe they’ll form an 80s covers band post-footy, Gus could book them their debut gig at Panthers Leagues playing his favourite Queen song “Another One Bites The Dust”.

Storm by 10

Mary things are desperate, unleash the Ginger Ninja!!! - photo: source - www.dragons.com.au

Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons

Puff the magic dragon is attached to an oxygen tank battling for breath as the Bulldogs belting sucked whatever life is left in the Saints. The boos ringing around Kogarah Jubilee Oval from Red V members said it all, another promising season by the early season firing Dragons is going up in flames. Never recovering from Origin, the energy and sting in the Dragons defence hasn’t been seen since Game 3, and consequently sapped Ben Hunt’s confidence. It’s on a couple of Englishmen to flip the Saints season on its head. Gareth Widdop is being rested saving him for their elimination finals fling, resting the Dragons fatigued Origin forwards about two months ago mighta been a good idea too, Mary, just sayin’… in Widdop’s stead James Graham will come out raging trying to resurrect the Red V. Fullback Matt Dufty is just thankful to be picked in first grade after being schooled by Reimis Smith last week whose pace made Dufty look superglued to a treadmill. In bad news for the Dragons it is Old Boys day in Newcastle which normally pumps the Knights tyres up like a monster truck, unfortunately, Kalyn Ponga is missing again, which will take some air out of the attack. The Knights will stick it to the Dragons with Daniel Saifiti leading the charge and Mitchell Pearce polishing the sets hoping to end Newcastle’s year on a high, giving hope for 2019 to a club on the improve. The Knights are a footnote to the main headline as this game is all about the Dragons and whether their title hopes are terminal. They’ll grind out two points here but unless the pinball wizard Gareth Widdop weaves his wand in two weeks the Dragons are on full tilt and the silver ball with season 2018 written on it is going down the chute.

Dragons by 4

JT thanks for the memories, true rugby league royalty - photo: source - www.foxsports.com.au

Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys

What a tough game for the Titans as they play second fiddle, to the future immortal Jonathan Thurston. The Titans Cbus Stadium is sold out for JT’s final match as 99 percent of the crowd are there to farewell a champion not cheer the home team, maybe the sides should just settle for a nil-all draw, bugger kicking off and just get the party started taking it in turns to chair Thurston around the ground. The Cowboys were awesome in spanking the Eels in the supercharged atmosphere in Townsville last week and while it will be hard to get up again, you know they will and JT the ultimate pro will want to go out a winner setting up a few tries including one for his right hand man Gavin Cooper striving for a record nine matches in a row for a forward. The Titans gave the Storm one helluva fright last week with ripper rookie AJ Brimson starring and his game is blossoming, too young for nerves or respecting order, Brimson will look to stick a pin in Thurston’s balloons and deflate the Cowboys carnival. Another young gun, wild man Keegan Hipgrave will just look to treat JT like a party pinata. Good luck Keegan as Thurston is made of granite, he’s been pummelled from pillar to post his whole career and just bounces back up like the champion he is. The Titans are hard to predict but may be a bit flat after the huge effort trying to stem the Storm, with Taumalolo, Scott and McLean inspired it’s the Cowboys to give JT a fond farewell. My tip, a final show and go from the great man over the stripe for a classic four pointer, shake n bake baby! JT it’s been a pleasure.

Cowboys by 8

Joe Manu battles with the Big Horse Corey Oates - photo: source - www.zimbio.com

Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters

A massive mismatch on paper but potentially a banana skin for the out of sorts Roosters. With Dylan Napa suspended for three weeks for a tackle which sent Andrew McCullough on a one-way trip to Disneyland, and out of this game due to concussion protocols, the Chooks are lucky Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returns in a straight swap in a pack which still hasn’t produced enough for a heavyweight team. I love Napa’s aggression as does his coach, but his technique needs adjusting as his launch has no margin for error and for what it’s worth deserved the penalty and was fortunate not to be sent off. The Roosters attack has misfired the past two weeks, Latrell Mitchell looks disinterested on the left so expect him to get a rocket up his hoo-ha and show some intensity. On the other side Joseph Manu is in sensational form and his twinkle toes is reminiscent of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck when he wore the tricolour jersey. Luke Keary was quiet on his return last week, but the Broncos dominated, hard to shine when you’re behind the 8-ball. James Tedesco looks the man most likely to tear Parra apart, he was brilliant, if only he could stop colliding with his own players, he’s so fast and unpredictable his brain is going one way, his feet the other! Eels fans only have 80 more minutes to get through before moving on, 2018 cannot end fast enough. They were woeful last week as the appetiser to the main course of JTs party and they may be dangerous here as they obviously have nothing to lose. Corey Norman, Jarryd Hayne and Mitchell Moses will play hot potato but with the wooden spoon being gift wrapped and tied with a bow about to be express posted and a Roosters outfit revved up for a premiership push it all points to a red, white and blue belting.

Roosters by 26

The Klemminator shows Kurt who the man really is - photo: source - www.wwos.nine.com.au

Canterbury Bulldogs v Cronulla Sharks

Suddenly the sleeping Sharks are into the Top Four, and genuine premiership contenders, while all the talk has been of the Storm, Roosters and Bunnies the tough hombres from the Shire have gone about their business steadily climbing and appear ready to rumble timing their run seemingly to perfection. The Bulldogs won’t roll over and want their tummies rubbed, they are in stupendous form and don’t want the season to end, they demolished the Dragons making it five wins from their past six! Bulldogs fans should be proud of the spirit displayed, there is plenty of bark and bite and this is no gimme for Cronulla. Both have very strong engine rooms so expect plenty of big contact up front and Aaron Woods will want a huge game opposite the side he joined at the start of the season on big money then punted because he was top dollar due to the salary cap squeeze. Woods may not have delivered for the Dogs, but man is he value adding off the pine for the Sharks. There is lots to like out wide for both teams too, the Dogs have the Morris twins looking fresh and fleet of foot while Reimis Smith just gets better and better, he zoomed past Dragons speedster Matt Dufty like Usain Bolt, what an athlete Smith is and what a prospect. But the Sharks hold the man at the back who is probably the form player of the NRL in Valentine Holmes, he burned the Knights last week when the Sharks looked to be floundering injecting himself and it was game over. With a Top Four spot to secure you can’t go past the Sharks to salute, keep an eye out for their No1 ticket-holder new PM Scott Morrison in the stands. After surviving the scathing past week in the Liberal Party Room at Parliament House, taking on the Klemminator and Co would seem like a doddle compared to staring down Abbott and Dutton. Scomo is obviously good at doing the numbers maybe he should take control of the Sharkies salary cap too.

Sharks by 6

Jamayne Isaako continued his dynamic debut season rocking the Roosters - photo: source - www.wwos.nine.com.au

Brisbane Broncos v Manly Sea Eagles

The Broncos need a decent win and results to go their way to grab a home elimination final next week, if not and Big Sammy Thaiday farewells the home crowd this Sunday arvo. A great player and club man you’d expect a man of Thaiday’s character to pull out a whopping match and being such a lovable player’s player the Broncos will want to smash the Sea Eagles so the party can continue in the dressing room: cue Sam twerking in his budgie smuggler’s rubbing up against the wily old super coach’s bottom if he can find it! Old Clint has a body like a red-bellied black snake. Bennett had his Broncos at their belligerent best in beating up the much-fancied Roosters last week and now craving consistency from his team who at their best can win this competition but at their worst lose to anyone. The gap between the two is too big for Bennett and the bookmakers liking. Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr are setting a gold standard week in week out that is bringing along the youngsters, like the exceptional David Fifita. At just 18 years of age, Fifita has been a revelation and could be anything, his bullocking runs a highlight and if these three bring finals intensity it’s the Broncos by how many, especially if Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima continue where they left off in Sydney, masterfully controlling play… I know who’da thunk it?!? Suncorp Stadium is where the sun sets on Trent Barrett’s miserable reign as Manly coach, worried about a lack of resources I’d hate to have seen Barrett coach in the 80s where the only assistance you had was a bucket of water with a magic sponge and a vat of Deep Heat! Feel the burn Baz!! After an annus horribilis surely there’ll be relief at fulltime when the Sea Eagles circus draws its curtains. Manly have the weapons to cause chaos in the Trbojevic Brothers, Marty Taupau and DCE but not the will to battle for the full 80. Brisbane to send the Sea Eagles sorry season to a sad close and send a message to the other playoff bound magnificent seven, watch over your shoulder, the Broncos are bolting home.

Broncos by 18

Twitter: @stick_beetle

Marty 'Kapow' Taupau has had enough and is taking his ball home - photo: source - www.nrl.com