2012 NRL Match Previews - Round 18

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Wests Tigers v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Allianz Stadium, Friday 7:45pm - live update

The Tigers' struggles over the past fortnight do not fill their faithful supporters with a heap of confidence going into this match against the Bulldogs on Friday night at Allianz Stadium. But all is not lost for the boys in black and gold. The injury to Tim Moltzen against the Knights in round 16 turned the tables on what was an impressive 14-0 lead in that match and the Tigers defence never recovered from the ensuing positional change.

This week, there will be no excuses accepted by a rampant Canterbury outfit coming off a huge victory against the Storm in Mackay. The 'Dogs are rolling on a 5 game winning streak, including what most punters are saying are the two best games of the year against the Rabbitohs and Melbourne. Des Hasler will have them ready again and the visitors win an engrossing forward battle in your match of the round.

My tip:
Bulldogs 30-14


Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders
AAMI Park, Saturday 5:30pm - live update


Whilst horribly unlucky with injuries since that famous semi-final against the Tigers two years ago, the Raiders still have a good look about them on paper. Reece Robinson wrote himself into Green Machine folklore last week with a masterful performance against the Dragons; they have a monstrous left side attack in Blake Ferguson and Edrick Lee and the Canberra forwards can dominate any opposition pack on their day.

This Saturday will not be their day. The clinical approach to football adopted by the Storm will confuse the hell out of this young Canberra squad and make Robinson forget about his hat-trick, Ferguson and Lee look like midgets and leave the visitors forwards in a squirming, squealing, out-wrestled heap in the middle of AAMI Park. The grind proves too much for the boys from our nation
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