Round 16 - Preview

FRIDAY 25th June 2004:

WESTS v SYDNEY at Campbelltown Stadium at 7.35pm.

TIGERS: Brett Hodgson, Jason Moodie, Dene Halatau, Shane Elford, Pat Richards, John Wilson, Scott Prince, Todd Payten, Darren Senter (c), John Skandalis, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark O'Neill, Scott Sattler. Interchange:Robbie Mears, Liam Fulton, Bronson Harrison, Bryce Gibbs, Chris Heighington (one to be omitted)

ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello, Todd Byrne, Ryan Cross, Chris Walker, Gavin Lester, Brad Fittler (c), Brett Finch, Jason Cayless, Craig Wing, Peter Cusack, Michael Crocker, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson. Interchange: Stuart Webb, Chris Flannery, Adrian Morley, Anthony Tupou, Chad Robinson, Ned Catic (two to be omitted)

Referee: Tim Mander

Adrian Morley returns to beef up the Roosters tonight and the Tigers, despite a good run of recent form, look set to be on the receiving end of a hiding.

Key: Wests Tigers halfback Scott Prince. If the Tigers are to pull off a massive upset, it will come down to the Queensland No.7's showdown with the Roosters in-form half Brett Finch.

Taniwha's tip - Roosters by 30

NORTH QUEENSLAND v CANTERBURY at Dairy Farmers Stadium at 5.35pm.

COWBOYS: Matt Bowen, Neil Sweeney, Josh Hannay, Ty Williams, Matt Sing, David Myles, Chris Sheppard, Paul Rauhihi (c), Leigh McWilliams, Mitchell Sargent, Kevin Campion, Steve Southern, Luke O'Donnell. Interchange: Aaron Payne, David Faiumu, Jaiman Lowe, Shane Tronc.

BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Ben Harris, Willie Tonga, Jamaal Lolesi, Braith Anasta, Brent Sherwin, Mark O'Meley, Adam Perry, Steve Price (c), Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan, Tony Grimaldi. Interchange: Reni Maitua, Roy Asatasi, Corey Hughes, Dennis Scott.

Referee: Shayne Hayne My upset of the round, the Cowboys are red hot and if the home crowd give them a boost I think Folkes' team is in for a shock.

Key: Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga. Will be keen to put in a head-turning display in a bid to retain his Maroons Origin spot before the Queensland squad is named next week. Will have a cracking duel with Bowman if the Cowboy overcomes a neck complaint.

Taniwha's tip - Cowboys by 2

PENRITH v PARRAMATTA at Penrith Stadium at 7.35pm.

PANTHERS: Rhys Wesser, Brett Howland, Luke Lewis, Paul Whatuira, Luke Rooney, Amos Roberts, Craig Gower (c), Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Martin Lang, Joe Galuvao, Tony Puletua, Trent Waterhouse. Interchange: Ben Ross, Frank Pritchard, Shane Rodney, Danny Galea.

EELS: Wade McKinnon, Ashley Graham, Junior Langi, Luke Burt, Brett Anderson, Daniel Wagon (c), Michael Witt, Corey Pearson, John Morris, Michael Vella, Nathan Hindmarsh, Craig Stapleton, Chris Muckert. Interchange: Dean Widders, Lee Hopkins, Jack Afamasaga, Justin Tsoulos, Chris Thorman. (one to be omitted)

Referee: Sean Hampstead

Good game coming up here, Brian Smith has turned his team around and will be feeling a tad confident here taking on a team minus their international halfback, Craig Gower. Course Johnny Lang will have different ideas and will want the winning momentum to continue.

Key: Amos Roberts. Known more for his try scoring exploits on the wing, the Penrith livewire will have to lead the way from the halves in a bid to inspire a Panthers outfit rocked by the last minute breakdown of Gower.

Taniwha's tip - Panthers by 12

MELBOURNE v NEW ZEALAND at Olympic Park at 7.35pm.

STORM: Billy Slater, Matt Geyer, Steven Bell, Ben McDougall, Dustin Cooper, Scott Hill, Matt Orford, Robbie Kearns, Cameron Smith, Alex Chan, David Kidwell, Stephen Kearney (c), Kirk Reynoldson. Interchange: Danny Williams, Dallas Johnson, Ryan Hoffman, Rodney Howe.

WARRIORS: Brent Webb, Henry Fa'afili, Vinnie Anderson, Clinton Toopi, Tony Martin, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, Karl Temata, Monty Betham (c) Iafeta Paleaaesina, Richard Villasanti, Awen Guttenbeil, Louis Anderson. Interchange: Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Shannon Stowers, Thomas Leuluai, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati (two to be omitted).

Referee: Steve Lyons

Woohoo, plenty of bro's playing in this game. Melbourne must go into this game odds on favourites but beware of the hurt Warrior. He can (and will) come back and bite your rahou !

Key: Storm halfback Matt Orford. Will be relieved to have finally decided his future - albeit for just one season - following speculation he will link with Newcastle and will be looking to cut loose against the Kiwis.

Taniwha's tip - Storm, maybe.

BRISBANE v CANBERRA at Suncorp Stadium at 2.35pm.

BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Scott Minto, Brent Tate, Michael DeVere, Craig Frawley, Darren Lockyer (c), Casey McGuire, Shane Webcke, Michael Ryan, Petero Civoniceva, Corey Parker, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll. Interchange: Darren Mapp, Brad Meyers, Neville Costigan, Darren Smith, Ben Ikin, Stu Kelly (two to be omitted).

RAIDERS: Clinton Schifcofske, Phil Graham, Adam Mogg, Jason Bulgarelli, Michael Robertson, Matthew Gafa, Mark McLinden, Ryan O'Hara, Simon Woolford (c), Luke Davico, Terry Martin, Ian Hindmarsh, Jason Croker. Interchange: Troy Thompson, Josh Miller, Alan Rothery, Todd Carney, Kris Kahler, Darren Porter (two to be omitted).

Referee: Paul Simpkins

The Broncs wont lose. The Wikiless Raiders had best enter an early plea for mercy because they are going to get hammered up at Broncoland.

Key: As usual, Darren Lockyer. The Broncos playmaker was inspirational in their last round 34-24 win at Parramatta despite backing up from Origin II duty. His kicking is sublime and his combination with fullback Karmichael Hunt is starting to blossom.

Taniwha's tip - Broncs by more than this illiterate can count up to !

SOUTH SYDNEY v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA at SCG at 3.05pm.

RABBITOHS: Brad Watts, Shane Marteene, Lee Hookey, David Fa'alogo, Wes Tillott, Owen Craigie, Joe Williams, Scott Geddes, Shane Walker, Paul Stringer, Luke Stuart, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison (c). Interchange: Willie Manu, Glenn Hall, David Thompson, Mark Leafa.

DRAGONS: Ben Hornby, John Carlaw, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Reece Simmonds, Trent Barrett (c), Mathew Head, Brent Kite, Mark Riddell, Jason Ryles, Dean Young, Lance Thompson, Shaun Timmins. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Justin Poore, Ben Creagh, Lincoln Withers.

Referee: Tony Archer

A good game on the cards here. Will the Bunnies continue their winning form for the new coach. Will the Dragons roll over and play dead after they euthenased the Tigers by a huge amount last week ?

Key: Souths pivot Craigie. Thrown a lifeline by interim Souths coach Arthur Kitinas, he has grabbed it with both hands and will need to be at his cunning best to hold out the fearsome Dragons.

Taniwha's tip - hmmm,,, Dragons, just.

NEWCASTLE v MANLY at Energy Australia Stadium at 3.05pm.

KNIGHTS: Robbie O'Davis, Timana Tahu, Matthew Gidley, George Carmont, Anthony Quinn, Steve Witt, Kurt Gidley, Josh Perry, Danny Buderus (c), Adam Woolnough, Clint Newton, Todd Lowrie, Ben Kennedy. Interchange: Matt Parsons, Matthew Kennedy, Riley Brown, Michael Ennis.

SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Scott Donald, Chris Hicks, Albert Torrens, Nick Bradley-Qulilawa, Andrew Walker, Jeff Robson, Daniel Heckenberg, Nathan Hollingsworth, Jason King, Anthony Watmough, Ben Harris, Steve Menzies (c). Interchange: Kylie Leuluai, Luke Williamson, Shayne Dunley, Ian Donnelly, Nathan Tutt, Chad Randall (two to be omitted)

Referee: Steve Clark

Joeys back ! All is well up in Newcastle, the natives have their hero back. Poor Sea Eagles, they are in for it.

Key: Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus. The Knights need something special to finally snap a worrying losing streak and the Newcastle skipper and hooker usually delivers.

Taniwha's tip - Knights by 30+

I would like to thank my Aussie bro, The Guroo for letting me have a go.

Ka kite ano bro.