Round 13 preview

Round 13 marks the halfway point in the competition and two of the NRL?s heavyweights square off as the Olympic Torch hits town. The Bulldogs play host to the Roosters and these games have become one of the NRL?s fiercest rivalries and the matches themselves are usually explosive encounters. I expect tonight to be no different but hopefully it is for all the right reasons.

The Bulldogs are on the downward slope of a form slump whilst the Roosters are sitting atop the NRL perch alone and with good reason. Their defence has been incredible and should be able to overpower the Bulldogs with relative ease and a loss will see the Bulldogs drop to at least fifth and possibly sixth should results go against them. Putting it simply, the Bulldogs are not playing well enough to beat the Roosters. Roosters by 20.

Melbourne are travelling along quite nicely and face the rampaging Tigers at Olympic Park who have won their last three matches in convincing fashion. This will be a real dour struggle and could be a golden point affair as nothing is separating these two teams. Should the Tigers win they will have to put the house full sign up for their next match against the Roosters in a couple of weeks. The Storm are an outside chance at the top four and a win over the Tigers will move them into fourth spot assuming the Roosters beat the Bulldogs. In a close one, the home side gets the money. Storm by 2.

The Dragons are at home to the Cowboys and it?s hard to see anything but a Dragons victory, especially at fortress WIN Stadium. The Cowboys are the only side to have used both their byes and they are still outside the top eight. What does that tell you? Unless there is a miracle, the Cowboys are no chance to get anywhere near the top eight this year but I?ll be silly enough to sing their praises in the off-season and build them up as a top eight team once season 2005 rolls around. Saints will do enough to win the game and hope they don?t suffer any serious injuries in the process. Dragons by 18.

The NRL?s basket case are in town to play the Knights and the Eels have more chance of signing a decent coach than they do of winning this game. If not for Nathan Hindmarsh, the Eels would make Souths look like world-beaters and Nathan cannot carry the load all season. The Knights at home with or without Johns are a daunting prospect for any team and will be way too strong for the confidence-lacking Eels. Fans of the Blue and Gold had better pray Hindmarsh doesn?t get injured otherwise they will knock Souths off as the wooden spooners, they are that bad. Knights by 24.

The Warriors parted ways with Daniel Anderson mid-week and that spells trouble for the Raiders. History has shown a team usually bounces back well from unexpected turmoil and on paper, the Warriors look very strong although form would suggest otherwise. The Raiders almost racked up half a century last weekend against Manly and were dazzling in the process with some of the most flamboyant football seen so far this year. If the Raiders are to be a force in 2004, they need to win this game and get themselves back into the top eight. If they lose, it will be a very tough mountain to climb. I think the Raiders have too much at stake to lose this one. Raiders by 6.

Injury has hit the Panthers relatively hard for the first time in two years with Ryan Girdler, Craig Gower and Preston Campbell all sidelined with injury. Having said that, the Panthers should still have too much firepower for Manly, who simply cannot defend for eighty minutes. Manly had some good news during the week with board and members agreeing to privatise the club. The privatisation will bring a substantial windfall to the club and will enable Manly to go out into the market and buy some quality players, which will no doubt have Manly as the NRL?s most hated team again. This is something they will relish. Penrith by 10.

Brisbane to date have handled their usual Origin blues quite well and are near full strength against the Sharks who also find themselves in a precarious position on the NRL ladder. The Sharks are tenth but face an extremely tough run home and will need the luck of the Irish to make the finals this year. They are playing well enough to make the finals but their poor start to the season could cost them in the run home to the finals. It?s always a tough ask playing the Broncos at Suncorp and I don?t think the Sharks have the cattle to knock the Broncos off at home. Kimmorley will keep it competetive but I think the Broncos will win the game up the middle. Broncos by 12.