Who's Playing Who?

The Glory Bound Rounds continue this week, and after the great round of back-from-the-dead performances we had last week, this should be an interesting week. We also have some big players hurt, and plenty of big name returns.

 

FRIDAY, August 5

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium, 7:35pm

Bulldogs: Ben Barba, Steve Turner, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Jonathan Wright, Ben Roberts, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Joel Romelo, Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard, Andrew Ryan (c), Dene Halatau. Interchange: Greg Eastwood, Chris Armit, Corey Payne, Josh Reynolds

Ins: Josh Morris

Outs: Tim Lafai (Toyota Cup)

Cowboys: Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Ben Jones, Matthew Scott (c), Aaron Payne, Ashton Sims, Gavin Cooper, Tariq Sims, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Glenn Hall, Cory Paterson, James Tamou

Ins: None

Outs: None

Adrian Considers: Just the one change for the Bulldogs, with Josh Morris returning to the top grade at the expense of Tim Lafai. Morris is a fairly handy inclusion, and should be applauded for his attitude during his short stint in the NSW Cup. He didn’t make a fuss, but instead went out and carved up, and is rewarded with his spot back in FG. No changes to the Cowboys side which got the win over Penrith, with the expected return of JT only 2 weeks away. He’s doing a pretty good job on the sideline though… Perhaps a coaching career post-footy is the go?

 

Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra Dragons at Sydney Football Stadium, 7:35pm

Tigers: Tim Moltzen, Beau Ryan, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Matt Utai, Benji Marshall, Robert Lui, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah (c), Keith Galloway, Liam Fulton, Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington. Interchange (from): Wade McKinnon, Todd Payten, Mitch Brown, Aaron Woods, Matt Groat

Ins: Wade McKinnon

Outs: None

Dragons: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Mark  Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (c), Dan Hunt, Nathan Fien, Michael Weyman, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh, Matt Prior, Interchange (from): Jon Green, Trent Merrin, Adam Cuthbertson, Dean Young, Kyle Stanley, Mitch Rein

Ins: Dean Young, Mitch Rein

Outs: None

Matt Considers: The Tigers have made only one change from the side which beat Manly last week, with Wade McKinnon coming into the side on an extended bench, but expect either him or Mitch Brown to drop off. The Dragons have also lost nobody, but have a big in with Dean Young joining the bench, and Mitch Rein also onto the bench. This again rekindles the rivalry dating back to 2005 when the Tigers defeated the Dragons in the classic preliminary final. There was also the controversial game in last year’s preliminary final, and a very good clash earlier this year. The Tigers enter the game winning three in a row, while the Dragons have been run down twice in two weeks, leaving them questioning the desire in the club. A very interesting game in the context of the top eight.

 

SATURDAY, August 6

Melbourne Storm v Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park, 5:30pm

Storm: Billy Slater, Justin O’Neill, Dane Nielsen, Beau Champion, Sisa Waqa, Maurice Blair, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Bryan Norrie, Adam Blair, Kevin Proctor, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Robbie Rochow, Atelea Vea, Adam Woolnough, Jaiman Lowe

Ins: None

Outs: None

Panthers: David Simmons, Ryan Walker, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Adrian Purtell, Harry Seijka, Luke Walsh, Tim Grant, Kevin Kingston, Petero Civoniceva (c), Trent Waterhouse, Nigel Plum, Luke Lewis. Interchange (from): Nafe Seluini, Nathan Smith, Matthew Bell, Sam McKendry, Masada Iosefa

Ins: Nafe Seluini, Masada Iosefa

Outs: Dayne Weston (NSW Cup)

Adrian Considers: No changes for the Storm, which means the late scratchings from last week have not been named. Gareth Widdop, Sika Manu, Matt Duffie and Rory Kostjasyn will all be missing again. Unless of course this is simply smoke and mirrors, as there is always the possibility of some sneaky late inclusions. Maurice Blair has been solid while playing in the centres, and is taking on the five-eighth role in the absence of Widdop. If Blair isn’t in your DT, get on him, as he’s proving to be a handy scorer for a CTW. The Panthers have added Nafe Seluini and Masada Iosefa to a five-man bench, with Dayne Weston relegated to the NSW Cup. Harry Seijka was solid on debut, and is rewarded with a second crack at FG.

 

Cronulla Sharks v Gold Coast Titans at Toyota Stadium, 7:30pm

Sharks: Isaac  Gordon, Matthew Wright, Ben Pomeroy, Ricky Leutele, Nathan  Stapleton, Wade Graham, Chad Townsend, Josh Cordoba, John Morris, Luke  Douglas, Jeremy  Smith, Taulima Tautai, Paul Gallen (c). Interchange (from): Kade Snowden, Sam Tagataese, Paul Aiton, Anthony Tupou, Johnny Mannah, Nathan Gardner, Tyson Frizell

Ins: Isaac Gordon, Ricky Leutele, Paul Gallen, Paul Aiton, Johnny Mannah

Outs: John Williams (NSW Cup), Colin Best (knee)

Titans: Jordan Rankin, Steve Michaels, William Zillman, Dominique Peyroux, David Mead, Beau Henry, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Matt White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Luke O’Dwyer, Interchange: Brenton Lawrence, Will Matthews, Bodene Thompson, Preston Campbell

Ins: Steve Michaels, Will Matthews

Outs: Clinton Toopi (dropped), Greg Bird (hamstring)

Matt Considers: A game between two struggling sides, but with probably the biggest changes in the round. Former bash brothers, and best mates, Paul Gallen and Greg Bird go the opposite way this week. Gallen returns to the Sharks line-up after a hamstring injury, joined by Isaac Gordon and debutante Ricky Leutele in the starting line-up, while Paul Aiton and Johnny Mannah join a MEGABENCH, with Nathan Gardner, who was dropped from the starting line-up. Greg Bird, on the other hand, is out injured, also with a hamstring injury, while Clinton Toopi was dropped. Steve Michaels comes back into the side on the wing, with Dominique Peyroux moving into the centers and Will Matthews joining the bench.

 

Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors at Suncorp Stadium, 7:30pm

Broncos: Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (c), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Matt Gillett, Ben Hunt, Ben Te’o, Josh McGuire, Dunamis Lui

Ins: Ben Te’o, Dunamis Lui

Outs: David Hala (Queensland Cup)

Warriors: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Joel Moon, Shaun Berrigan, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Aaron Heremaia, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (C), Micheal Luck. Interchange (from): Pita Godinet, Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Lewis Brown

Ins: Lewis Brown

Outs: None

Adrian Considers: Hey, the Broncos have a Saturday night game! This is… unusual. Time slots aside, the home side welcome back Ben Te’o and also add Dunamis Lui to an extended bench. David Hala has been dropped to reserve grade. This is getting even more bizarre… Ivan Cleary has named another unchanged line up! Well, Lewis Brown has been included on yet another extended bench, but I’m not sure where he’d slot into the side. The Warriors seem to be playing fine without him, but it’d be a shame to see a player of his talent left out of the 17.

 

SUNDAY, August 7

Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders at Ausgrid Stadium, 2:00pm

Knights: Kurt Gidley (c), James McManus, Junior Sa’u, Adam MacDougall, Akuila Uate, Ryan Stig, Jarrod Mullen, Evarn Tuimavave, Isaac De Gois, Antonio Kaufusi, Chris Houston, Neville Costigan, Joel Edwards. Interchange (from): Matt Hilder, Richie Fa’aoso, Cameron Ciraldo, Zane Tetevano, Keith Lulia

Ins: Evarn Tuimavave, Richie Fa’aoso

Outs: Mark Taufua (NSW Cup)

Raiders: Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson, Jarrod Croker, Joel Thompson, Daniel Vidot, Josh McCrone, Sam Williams, Brett White, Alan Tongue (c), David Shillington, Josh Papalii , Bronson Harrison , Shaun Fensom. Interchange (from): Glen Buttriss, Josh Miller, Danny Galea, Dane Tilse, Joe Picker, Sam Mataora

Ins: Josh Miller, Joe Picker

Outs: None

Adrian Considers: The Raiders travel to Newcastle, hoping that they wont have 50 points put on them. Evarn Tuimavave and Richie Fa’aoso have been named for the Knights, at the expense of Mark Taufua. The former has been named to start in the front row, while the later is on (another!) five-man bench. The Raiders had some concerns over the fitness Dugan, Croker and Harrison, but all should be ready to play. Josh Miller (when is this man going to get a game?) and Joe Picker have been added to an extended bench.

 

Manly Sea Eagles v Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval, 3:00pm

Sea Eagles: Brett Stewart, Michael Oldfield, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, Will Hopoate, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jason King (c), Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Joe Galuvao, Glenn Stewart. Interchange (from): Tony Williams, Jamie Buhrer, Shane Rodney, George Rose, Vic Mauro, Darcy Lussick

Ins: Tony Williams, Darcy Lussick

Outs: None

Roosters: Anthony Minichiello, Sam Perrett, Joseph ‘BJ’ Leilua, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Phil Graham, Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce, Jason  Ryles, Jake Friend, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Braith  Anasta (c), Aidan Guerra, Nate Myles. Interchange: Anthony Mitchell, Mose Masoe, Brad Takairangi, Lama Tasi

Ins: None

Outs: None

Matt Considers: Another match of the round candidate from Brookvale Oval, with the Roosters looking to continue some impressive form which they’ve shown over the past few weeks and the Sea Eagles wanting to get back on track after their first home loss of the year to the Tigers last week. They have a couple of changes, with Tony Williams expected to make his return from the bench, while Darcy Lussick covers possible injuries in the back-row. Michael Oldfield also gets another start after Michael Robertson was again ruled out with concussion. The Roosters are unchanged from last week’s win over the Bulldogs, and with Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce starting to turn it on, the Eagles will be in for a tough test.

 

MONDAY, August 8

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium, 7:00pm

Rabbitohs: Rhys Wesser, Nathan Merritt, Dylan Farrell, Chris McQueen, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Ben Ross, Issac Luke, Shannan McPherson, Eddy Pettybourne, David Taylor, Michael Crocker (c). Interchange (from): Luke Burgess, Dave Tyrrell, Jason Clark, Nathan Peats, Shaune Corrigan

Ins: Shannon McPherson, David Taylor

Outs: Ben Lowe (foot)

Eels: Luke Burt, Etu Uaisele, Justin Horo, Ben Smith, Jordan Atkins, Jarryd Hayne, Casey McGuire, Tim Mannah, Matt Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (C), Taniela Lasalo, Reni Maitua. Interchange: Shane Shackleton, Mitchell Allgood, Pat O’Hanlon, Manase Manuokafoa

Ins: Jordan Atkins, Manase Manuokafoa

Outs: Chris Hicks (NSW Cup), Jeff Robson (fractured cheekbone)

Adrian Considers: Well, who would’ve thought that the Rabbitohs would be heading into this game off the back of a win against the premiers? Things are looking up for the foundation club, with Dave Taylor returning from his five match ban, and Shannon McPherson also returning from injury. Ben Lowe is out again with that reoccurring foot injury, which is disappointing given he was starting to find his good form from the previous season. The Eels lose Robson for the season, so McGuire and Hayne are set to be the halves pairing for the remainder of the year. Chris Hicks has been dropped for Jordan Atkins, and Manase Manuokafoa has been selected as part of a regulation four-man bench.