Round 15 Preview - Post Origin
sharks circling?

What a week of footy it?s been! After last week?s round of uncertainty the premiership table is slowing taking shape amongst the mid-season grind. Brisbane are looking fantastic and have created a 4-point buffer to second position during what is traditionally their most difficult time. Last week was a men sorting the boys out exercise, with Manly getting smashed by Souths and Parra belting Newcastle. The Eels are now firming as contenders while the Cowboys took some stick from the Dragons, who look to be the roughie of the comp. And in a dramatic twist, Cronulla appear to be spiralling out of contention with three straight losses and another suspension to Stevens.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Andrew Johns pulled on the boots for NSW and showed everyone that he is the Alpha Male of Rugby League. It not only showed that he still has all the class in the world with some added determination, but his personal performance sought to highlight how poor Newcastle has been this year. But, not as bad as my tipping, after notching up only 3/6 last week, I?m sitting on a lacklustre 54 from 90 overall and it?s time I began the march into the semi?s.

Sharks v Roosters

What can you say here? It is at Shark Park in the dark, so Cronulla have something in their corner, but not much else. Their team on paper is pretty good, but that might be a symptom of the fact that the likes of Covell, Simmons and co have been playing above themselves so far this season. However, confidence is low and they?ve been pulled apart in recent weeks against teams they should be competing against if not defeating.

The Roosters had the bye last week and have five players backing up from Origin on Wednesday. The bye has been difficult to back-up against so far this season and one wonders what it might do to the Roosters. They haven?t had much footy in the past six weeks with two byes, a draining loss to Manly and three wins over unconvincing opposition in Newcastle, Canberra and the Warriors.

So we have two teams that really need to put in a good show tonight and it could be pivotal in their respective seasons. Dykes is back for the Sharkies, but the Roosters forward pack is very big and powerful and I think they have too much for them coming off the bench. Chooks in a tight one.

Eels v Warriors

Boy haven?t the Eels really stepped up in recent weeks? But I?m not sure that everyone has sat up and taken notice. After a lethargic start to the year brought on partly by their recruitment needing time to gel, Parra have really turned up and are now on five straight wins with a bye from the past six weeks. They have been beating the teams they should be beating and last week?s blowtorch-job on Newcastle put them in the frame of contention for this year.

The Warriors, on the other hand, well they?ve had to fight tooth and nail for every victory they?ve had in the past couple of weeks and whenever they?ve lost along the way it wasn?t through lack of effort. Although I like them as a team, I?m not sure they have enough explosive skill or match winners in their team. Stace is there, but there?s only so much he can do and every week it seems like he has a new partner in the halves.

I?m going to stick with Parra, even with the game being played in Waikato, but it might be a case of them winning ugly. They do have a pack to match the Warriors so it could be fiery out there in the middle. Good to see Iafeta get a start, he?s been doing well recently.

Storm v Panthers

Next we travel across the Tasman to our southern capital of Rugby League which sees Melbourne return home for the first time in a fortnight. Their last start down here was a 24-16 victory over the Dragons and in recent times they have missed their Origin Stars dearly. Smith, Slater and King are back in town and this should give rise to an improvement in the game of Orford who misses his trusted rake more than anyone else. Scott Hill is still out and the relatively untested Cooper Cronk slips on his jersey.

The Panthers still have the nucleus of a premiership winning team from two seasons ago but have been the disappointment of the season. They lack flair in the backs and punch in the forwards so it?s hard to see them winning this game.

Like most games at Olympic Park, this will be won in the middle of the paddock, with this field being the smallest in the NRL. When the Storm got the Dragons down there a few weeks back they kept it simple and struck hard close to the line. I?d imagine it will be a similar routine for them this week and depending on how the Panthers go in dewy conditions will also bear a weight on the game and the loss of Luke Rooney.

Broncos v Tigers

The Broncos are back at home following their successful road trip to Canberra last week minus their Origin stars. That victory will give them a huge confidence boost going into this game but they need to be wary of the Tigers enthusiasm.

Tim Sheens lamented last week after beating Cronulla that he couldn?t assure the fans that consistency would be a feature in the team until they all became a little more experienced. They also had a meeting midweek to discuss the fact they don?t have a big pack and often get overcome through the forwards.

It?s a refreshingly honest attitude, but unfortunately not one that will help them win this week. They are up against a big, strong, mobile pack whose egos are a bit damaged from Wednesday and they?re looking to take it out on someone. With the added bonus of a fresh Shane Webcke, the Broncos will take the points here, but the clash in the halves will be very interesting to watch.

Rabbitohs v Dragons

It?s great to see two traditional rivals head back to the SCG and with both in fine touch this match shapes to be an entertaining one in front of what should be a bumper crowd.

It would seem the Dragons have the upper hand and are entitled to favouritism, but they won?t want to take the Bunnies too lightly. I?ve been looking at them over the past few weeks and they are playing well. They are over-achieving in the forwards and the backs are taking it to the opposition. Their strength at the moment is in the halves though, with John Sutton looking like a world beater. He?s playing awesome footy and Mick Moran is doing pretty well beside his also.

Unfortunately, the halves are the weakest link for the Dragons right now, with Barrett out for a week or two more and the shattering loss of Mat Head for the year last week has made way for the makeshift combo of Ennis and Hornby. Whilst both are playing well individually it remains to be seen how they will go together. Hornby in particular is in scintillating touch and easily the most valuable player for the Dragons right now.

In the backs and the forwards it?s hard to see the Bunnies matching with Saints, who have class and skill oozing from the seams. Gasnier should take his place and the red and whites will take the points.

Bulldogs v Raiders

Both last start losers and will be looking to get back in the winners circle. Canterbury have named a pretty good side with O?Meley making his much anticipated return. I?ve got a lot of respect for Folkesy, but it?s interesting to see him play his hand so early, or perhaps there will be a late change in there somewhere. It?s obvious that by naming Anasta at lock and then Hughes at five-eighth that they?ll replace either Perry or Hughes at around the 20min mark, brining a backrower off the bench and shift Braith into playmaker.

He?s a smart bloke though, so I?m tipping he?s got a few surprises in store. Matt Elliot probably wishes he had options like that right now?the Raiders are well and truly struggling after a dazzling start to the year. Smith is still out and a demoralising loss to an understrength Bronco outfit at home last week will see them struggle.

The Bulldogs will win out at the Showground and it could start a bit of a surge up the ladder with a favourable run over the coming weeks.

Sea Eagles v Knights

Another pair of last start losers and interestingly they both got smashed out of the park. One wonders how their confidence will be going into this clash, but with Fortress Brooky swirling about in the winds of speculation, the Knights might be in for a tough day.

Johns, Buderus and Simpson are all backing up for Newcastle, with BK and Beaver doing the same for the home side. I saw how buggered Joey and Bedsy were on Wednesday night, so it?s just as well this one is on Sunday. BK will probably be a little tender as well but the Ironman Menzies backs up better than anyone on Earth.

With these two back and the match at home, Manly should be too strong for the Knights. I do think Newcastle are getting closer to a victory, but it?s always tough at Brookie and the Sea Eagles should exorcise the demons from their disgraceful performance last week.

The North Queensland Cowboys have the bye this week and will and they?ll need it. There will be a few sore heads up there and the recovery of Carl Webb will be of keen interest on the streets of Townsville. They face the Bunnies up there in round 16 and will be keen to get a win up there following the massacre at Kogarah.