Round 14 preview

A shortened round this weekend with the Bulldogs, Roosters and Broncos all enjoying the bye as they are providing the bulk of the players to the second Origin match at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday.

All that aside, the matches this round will again prove to be a tipsters nightmare because of the non-selection of Origin players.

The first match of the round is between the Panthers and the Dragons, two teams hit hard by injuries and rep duty but the Dragons welcome back Trent Barrett from injury and Ben Hornby is back as custodian after being dropped for the second game. The Panthers are virtually missing their entire backline through injury and rep duty but they still have that monstrous forward pack but I don?t think that will be enough tonight because with the forwards can only do so much and the Dragons with Head and Barrett should have enough in the backs to outsmart the Panthers. This will be a great game either way but I am leaning towards the Dragons tonight. Dragons by 6.

The Raiders have had a nightmare season and against the Sharks, they have an opportunity to turn it all around. It?s anyone's guess what has gone wrong with this team but the Raiders still find themselves just outside the top eight. The Sharks are missing Kimmorley and Stevens and there is still concerns over the fitness of David Peachey, Nigel Vagana and Phil Bailey and if all three fail to take the paddock, the Sharks will be left fielding a virtual Premier League side. Having said that, the Sharks can still win because as we have seen before, the Raiders know how to lose a game like few others. Being a Raiders fan, I have to have faith in the team to put it all together. This is their last chance. Raiders by 10.

The Cowboys and Knights are both affected by Origin and the Knights with Buderus, M Gidley and Tahu out may feel the pinch and Ben Kennedy has also been ruled out with injury. Again, it?s a toss of the coin match and the Cowboys have only won one game at home all year against the Warriors but regardless of who the Knights put on the paddock, the enthusiasm of Kurt Gidley will go a long way to ensuring the Knights are competitive. The Cowboys have a knack of blowing it when they are on the cusp of the top eight and with Matt Bowen, Matt Sing, Paul Bowman and Glenn Morrison all missing, I?m going to tip the Knights on he back of Kurt Gidley to get the points and continue the Cowboys frustrating season. Knights by 12.

Melbourne will be far too strong for Souths and with Matt Orford and Scott Hill still on deck, they will have a field day running behind their big pack, Souths welcome in a new coach this weekend but I don?t think he will have the same success as Tony Kemp did with the Warriors last weekend. There is no doubt Souths will lift but they still lack the class players to finish the job. Melbourne could sneak into the top four if Penrith lose so there is plenty to play for as far as Melbourne are concerned. Too big, too strong and too professional to let this one slip away. Storm by 20.

The Eels put out one of the best wins in recent memory by any team with a try on the bell to Luke Burt to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Knights at Energy Australia Stadium. And when you consider the amount of pressure this side was under, it was a truly remarkable achievement for this team and coach Brian Smith. Whether or not the Eels can make it two on the trot remains to be seen because Manly will be no pushover and with Nathan Hindmarsh and Michael Witt both unavailable, the pendulum has swung in Manly?s favour. Manly have confirmed during the week the signing of Ben Kennedy, and they will be buoyed by what lies ahead. The Eels joy will be short lived and the knives will again be out for Brian Smith. Manly by 4.

The Tigers moved their game against the Warriors to Christchurch and the Warriors have come back from the dead with a bruising win over the Raiders last weekend. Stacey Jones was moved back to halfback and the signs were obvious that Daniel Anderson was the cause of the rot that had set in and his monumentally stupid decision to play Stacey Jones out of position. This game against the Tigers will let everyone know if a sleeping giant has awoken. However, the Warriors efforts have been hampered by the lengthy suspensions dealt to Francis Meli, Sione Faumuina and Jerry Seu Seu. The Warriors should have enough grunt to see off the Tigers who are without Marshall and Prince in the halves and their creativity or lack thereof will be the difference between the two sides. Warriors by 8.