Who's Playing Who?

Well worth the wait – the team lists are here! Head on in to read the best analysis around.

FRIDAY

PARRAMATTA EELS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at Parramatta Stadium, 7.35pm

EELS: Luke Burt, Ryan Morgan, Justin Horo, Ben Smith, Chris Hicks, Jarryd Hayne, Casey McGuire, Tim Mannah, Matt Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (capt), Taniela Lasalo, Reni Maitua. Interchange: Shane Shackleton, Mitchell Allgood, Pat O’Hanlon, Justin Poore.

Ins: None

Outs: None

ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello, Sam Perrett, Justin Carney, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Phil Graham, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Jason Ryles, Jake Friend, Lama Tasi, Brad Takairangi, Aidan Guerra, Boyd Cordner. Interchange: Anthony Mitchell, Mose Masoe, Tinirau Arona, Frank Paul Nuuausala.

Ins: Tinirau Arona

Outs: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension, round 26)

Adrian Considers: No changes for the Eels, despite the fact they keep losing, which is unfortunate. JWH is out for the Roosters, replaced by Tinirau Arona. Looks like we won’t be seeing Carney or Myles again this year…

 

MANLY SEA EAGLES v MELBOURNE STORM at Brookvale Oval, 7.35pm

SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Jamie Lyon (capt), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, George Rose, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Joe Galuvao, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Darcy Lussick, Jamie Buhrer, Shane Rodney, Tony Williams, Tim Robinson (one to be omitted).

Ins: Jamie Buhrer

Outs: None

STORM: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Dane Nielsen, Beau Champion, Anthony Quinn, Rory Kostjasyn, Gareth Widdop, Bryan Norrie, Cameron Smith (capt), Jesse Bromwich, Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Kevin Proctor. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Sisa Waqa, Todd Lowrie, Jaiman Lowe.

Ins: None

Outs: None

Matt Considers: Match of the round, so big that David Gallop is actually making a trip across the Spit to go! Neither side make any changes to the starting line-ups, only Jamie Buhrer added to the Manly bench. The Sea Eagles are in some patchy form, but are undefeated at Brookie so far this year, while the Storm couldn’t put the Dragons away last week despite having countless chances. There has been some speculation that Cooper Cronk will make his return, but I wouldn’t be counting on it, mainly as the Storm need him for the finals more than this game.

 

SATURDAY

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS at ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm

BULLDOGS: Ben Barba, Steve Turner, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Jonathon Wright, Joel Romelo, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Josh Reynolds, Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Greg Eastwood, Mickey Paea, Gary Warburton, Kris Keating.

Ins: None

Outs: None

KNIGHTS: Kurt Gidley (capt), James McManus, Keith Lulia, Adam MacDougall, Akuila Uate, Ryan Stig, Jarrod Mullen, Evarn Tuimavave, Isaac De Gois, Antonio Kaufusi, Zane Tetevano, Neville Costigan, Chris Houston. Interchange: Marvin Karawana, Richie Fa’aoso, Joel Edwards, Mark Taufua, Cameron Ciraldo (one to be omitted).

Ins: Zane Tetevano, Marvin Karawana, Mark Taufua

Outs: Junior Sa’u (ankle, indefinite), Matt Hilder (head cut, indefinite)

Adrian Considers: Dene Halatau is gone for the rest of the season, which will really let down more than few Dream Teams out there. Interestingly, Hodkinson has been named despite missing around half of the game against Manly. The Knights will be without Sa’u and Hilder on their quest to retain their top eight spot. Coming in are Tetevano, Karawana and Taufua, with a five man bench needing to be dropped to four before kick off.

 

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v CRONULLA SHARKS at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7.30pm

COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Willie Tonga, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Ray Thompson, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Matthew Scott (capt), Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Ashton Sims, Scott Bolton (one to be omitted).

Ins: Scott Bolton

Outs: None

SHARKS: Isaac Gordon, Stewart Mills, Dean Collis, Colin Best, John Williams, Albert Kelly, Wade Graham, Kade Snowden, John Morris, Luke Douglas, Jeremy Smith, Anthony Tupou, Paul Gallen (capt). Interchange: Sam Tagataese, Johnny Mannah, Paul Aiton, Josh Cordoba.

Ins: Isaac Gordon, Stewart Mills, Colin Best, Albert Kelly, Johnny Mannah

Outs: Tyson Frizell, Chad Townsend (both Toyota Cup), Nathan Stapleton, Ben Pomeroy, Nathan Gardner (all NSW Cup)

Matt Considers: The Sharks ring in the changes this week (I’m not going through them all – too many). The big ones are that Chad Townsend has been allowed to return to NYC to qualify for their finals, while Nathan Gardner’s shocker in conceding a try last week sees him dropped to State Cup. Albert Kelly is back in first grade, and Stewart Mills gets another start after….wait for it…”the best debut in 10 years”. Sorry Shane Flanagan, can’t exactly agree with that, but good luck to the kid. The Cowboys have one change, with Scott Bolton joining the bench, and the DT coaches everywhere rejoice. Now hopefully he will get a game! In saying that, the Cowboys have a very impressive forward pack, with the Sims brothers, Scott Bolton and James Segeyaro on the bench, so I expect them to dominate.

 

CANBERRA RAIDERS v PENRITH PANTHERS at Canberra Stadium, 7.30pm

RAIDERS: David Milne, Blake Ferguson, Jarrod Croker, Joel Thompson, Reece Robinson, Josh McCrone, Sam Williams, Brett White, Alan Tongue (capt), David Shillington, Danny Galea, Bronson Harrison, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Michael Picker, Joe Picker, Josh Papalii, Sam Mataora, Jarrad Kennedy (one to be omitted).

Ins: Jarrad Kennedy

Outs: None

PANTHERS: Lachlan Coote, David Simmons, Junior Vaivai, Brad Tighe, Adrian Purtell, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Nafe Seluini, Petero Civoniceva (capt), Trent Waterhouse, Nigel Plum, Nathan Smith. Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Dayne Weston, Tim Grant, Blake Austin, Mathew Bell (one to be omitted).

Ins: Lachlan Coote, Blake Austin

Outs: Michael Jennings (shoulder, indefinite)

Adrian Considers: Only one inclusion for the Raiders, as Jarrad Kennedy earns himself a spot on an extended bench. He may just be the man to miss out. The Panthers will be without Jennings, but Lachlan Coote is a welcome return to the run on side, slotting back in at fullback. Blake Austin has been named as part of a five man bench, and all things going to plan, should make his debut in Canberra

 

SUNDAY

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v NZ WARRIORS at WIN Stadium, 2.00pm

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

Ins: Brett Morris, Mark Gasnier, Adam Cuthbertson

Outs: Bronx Goodwin (knee, season)

WARRIORS: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Joel Moon, Shaun Berrigan, Krisnan Inu, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Aaron Heremaia, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (capt), Micheal Luck. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor (one to be omitted).

Ins: Krisnan Inu, Lewis Brown

Outs: Manu Vatuvei (wrist, finals week one)

Matt Considers: If not for the first versus second clash on Friday night, this would probably be the match of the round. Alas, the Sea Eagles and Storm have that honour, but the Dragons could break their losing streak with some big inclusions here. Gasnier and Morris are both back, along with Adam Cuthbertson, who is a vastly important part of their bench rotation. The Warriors welcome back the hot-and-cold Kristian Inu in place of The Beast, who is out until the finals. Lewis Brown is also in the side, but one player will have to drop off the bench, and he will probably be the prime candidate. Will be a VERY interesting clash, and has major ramifications for the top four.

 

BRISBANE BRONCOS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at Suncorp Stadium, 3.00pm

BRONCOS: Anthony Griffin, Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Ben Te’o, Jharal Yow Yeh, Darren Lockyer (capt), Peter Wallace, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Scott Anderson, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Matt Gillett, Ben Hunt, Ben Hannant, David Hala.

Ins: Ben Hannant

Outs: Justin Hodges (hamstring, round 26)

RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Dylan Farrell, Shaune Corrigan, Greg Inglis, Chris McQueen, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Ben Ross, Issac Luke, Shannan McPherson, Eddy Pettybourne, David Taylor, Michael Crocker (capt). Interchange: Luke Burgess, Dave Tyrrell, Jason Clark, Nathan Peats.

Ins: Nathan Merritt, Greg Inglis

Outs: James Roberts, Fetuli Talanoa (both NSW Cup)

Adrian Considers: As one rep player is forced out of the side, another returns. Justin Hodges will miss this game, but returning to the side is none other than Ben Hannant. Ben Te’o moves to the centres to cover for Hodges, while The Polar Bear takes his spot on the bench. The Rabbitohs welcome back two champions, as Nathan Merritt and Greg Inglis have both been  named. James Roberts and Fetuli Talanoa both performed well in the golden point win over the Cowboys, but it’s time for these gentlemen to return in a big way. The Rabbitohs control their own finals destiny… Let’s see if they can grab yet another win!

 

MONDAY

WESTS TIGERS V GOLD COAST TITANS at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 7.00pm

TIGERS: Tim Moltzen, Beau Ryan, Blake Ayshford, Matt Utai, Lote Tuqiri, Benji Marshall, Rob Lui, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah (capt), Keith Galloway, Liam Fulton, Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington. Interchange: Mitch Brown, Todd Payten, Matt Groat, Aaron Woods.

Ins: Gareth Ellis, Lote Tuqiri

Outs: Wade McKinnon (NSW Cup), Mark Flanagan (NSW Cup)

TITANS: Jordan Rankin, Steve Michaels, Esi Tonga, Clinton Toopi, David Mead, William Zillman, Preston Campbell (capt), Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Greg Bird. Interchange: Brenton Lawrence, Will Matthews, Bodene Thompson, Luke O’Dwyer.

Ins: Clinton Toopi, Luke Bailey

Outs: Dominique Peyroux (broken hand, season)

Matt Considers: These two sides produced a bludger of a game back in round six, but looking back if you said it would be the Tigers gunning for a top four place then, you would probably have got a few funny looks. Alas, the Tigers are in this position, and are playing solid, if not spectacular, football in the process. They are paying tribute to departing players this week, but welcome back two internationals in Lote Tuqiri and Gareth Ellis. Wade McKinnon is dropped for the first time since arriving at the Tigers, while Mark Flanagan returns to State Cup after perfectly fulfilling his role in the absence of Ellis last week. For the Titans, a big in with Luke Bailey back in the side, while Clinton Toopi moves to the centres in place of young Dominique Peyroux after missing last week, pulling out late with a case of vertigo.