Round 8 key match-ups

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Rick Edgerton has a look at the key match-ups from some of this weekend's coming NRL matches.

CODY WALKER (Rabbitohs) v ANTHONY MILFORD (Broncos)

KEY STATS

• Try assists Walker 6 Milford 4
• Line break assists Walker 5 Milford 2
• Line breaks Walker 6 Milford 2
• Tries Walker 7 Milford 0
• Average Kick Metres Milford 438 Walker 75

Walker holds advantage in every attacking stat here, but it's the last two that really highlights the level of freedom in each player's game right now.

MATT SCOTT (Cowboys) v JARROD WALLACE (Titans)

Expect this bookend battle to be made personal with a Queensland Origin jersey a big motivator for both men.

After missing the last two Origin series through injury, Scott has been quietly going about his work up North looking to help his struggling club whilst keeping the flame of a recall to state level burning underneath the surface. Always renowned for his toughness, the 22 Origin game veteran has shown tremendous determination to still be playing after serious knee and neck injuries over the past two seasons.

Wallace meanwhile, returns for the Titans this week after a two game suspension halted his season. The Titans prop will also have Origin in the back of his mind this week after a self-confessed below par series wearing the Maroon jersey last year. He will know a points victory over his opposite man will go a long way to determining the outcome of this game and retaining his spot in Kevin Walters' Queensland team.

KEY STATS

• Average tackles Scott 25 Wallace 24
• Average metres Scott 120 Wallace 118
• Offloads Scott 8 Wallace 8
• Tackle Busts Wallace 13 Scott 1

Little more than a struck match between the two, but Wallace's tackle busts perhaps show that he's running with a little more venom.

ANDREW FIFITA (Sharks) v JESSE BROMWICH (Storm)

These two have had some classic encounters over the years. None more so than the 2016 Grand Final when Bromwich scored not long after halftime to put the Storm in front, only for Fifita to reply by carrying multiple defenders and the entire Sutherland Shire on his back to plant the ball down for that famous match winner next to the posts.

Both men have been at their dominant best again this season with Fifita showing his heart and toughness playing injured at times to help his already depleted team whilst still remaining a strong attacking threat. Bromwich meanwhile has again been a key cog in Melbourne's ability to continually silence the doubters and remain at the top of the premiership race.

KEY STATS

• Average minutes Fifita 62 Bromwich 47
• Average tackles Fifita 35 Bromwich 21
• Average metres Fifita 133 Bromwich 126
• Tackle busts Fifita 25 Bromwich 16
• Offloads Fifita 23 Bromwich 5

Fifita holds the advantage in all the stats here, but it's worth noting the 15 extra minutes per game he plays. Still, you can't ignore the overall influence on the game he has. Will need to be enormous to get his team home on Friday night.

JOHN BATEMAN (Raiders) v VILIAME KIKAU (Panthers)

The good people of Wagga Wagga are in for a real treat witnessing these two dynamos go about their business.

With a 10cm height advantage and 23kg weight advantage for Kikau, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a mismatch of serious proportions if you hadn't seen Bateman play.

The Englishman has taken the competition by storm in the opening seven weeks with his ability to play well above his weight a testament to his toughness. Plays the game like your typical hard-nosed English import whilst also possessing good footwork and the ability to offload in traffic. You could make a serious case for him being one of the toughest pound for pound players in the game.

That theory will be no doubt put to test this Saturday when the imposing sight of Kikau is coming at him with the sole purpose of trampling over the top of him. After a breakout 2018 season, Kikau has indeed kicked on since returning from an early season injury setback to make the Panthers a far more imposing force and very nearly got his team over the line last week when scoring a late try which left a path of destruction in his wake which included another Englishman in Sam Burgess no less.

KEY STATS

• Average tackles Bateman 34 Kikau 23
• Average metres Kikau 122 Bateman 121
• Average tackle busts Bateman 5 Kikau 5
• Line breaks Kikau 4 Bateman 3
• Try assists Bateman 3 Kikau 0

Bateman gets through more work in defence and a few try assists show he's capable of a bit of ball playing as well, but Kikau is only ever one big charge from turning a game on its head. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

JAKE TRBOJEVIC (Sea Eagles) v JOSH JACKSON (Bulldogs)

With the loss of Daly Cherry-Evans to a syndesmosis injury adding to the absence of Brother Tom at the back, a large degree of responsibility will fall on Jake Trbojevic to carry the hopes of his team's chances in this one. His work ethic and tackle technique through the middle are hallmarks of his game, but he can also be quite crafty with the ball in hand when called upon and will need every bit of that come Saturday evening.

The move of Jackson from his customary right edge to the middle of the park has further enhanced his renowned toughness in the game and his him in the mix for a potential Origin recall. Always possessed an ability to ball-play a touch on the edge and will be looking to bring that more into his game through the middle. Has the footwork and ability to offload that could really trouble Manly's big men as they start to tire.

KEY STATS

• Average minutes Trbojevic 80 Jackson 62
• Average tackles Trbojevic 41 Jackson 35
• Average metres Trbojevic 139 Jackson 100
• Try assists Trbojevic 2 Jackson 0
• Penalties Trbojevic 8 Jackson 1

Trbojevic holds the advantage here, but it's again worth noting he plays the full 80 whilst Jackson has a spell mid-game. Will definitely be looking to add to his try assists tally this week but will want to get that penalty on a weekly basis out of his game.

LATRELL MITCHELL (Roosters) v ESAN MARSTERS (Tigers)

It's really quite scary to think that the most gifted attacking player in the game today has only been ‘going through the motions' so far in 2019. Well, that was the thought process of Mitchell following another strong Anzac day game from the New South Wales and Australian centre. Arguably possesses as much raw ability as anyone to have laced a boot in this great game with his speed, strength, step, fend, shimmy and offload, not to mention his new found skill of being able to snap a match winning field goal from beyond the 40m line. Look out, if this Ferrari gets anywhere near top gear.

Marsters meanwhile has developed into one of the real gun centres of the competition over the last 18 months and will be looking forward to testing his talents against the best centre going round. With tremendous strength, Marsters has great footwork and an uncanny knack of creating two on one situations when nothing seems doing initially.

KEY STATS

• Tries Mitchell 3 Marsters 1
• Try assists Mitchell 5 Marsters 2
• Tackle Busts Marsters 41 Mitchell 19
• Offloads Marsters 20 Mitchell 8
• Average metres Marsters 145 Mitchell 82
• Penalties Mitchell 12 Marsters 1

These stats give a fair insight into what Latrell was saying last week with Marsters game involvement a lot higher. The fact he said it out loud probably spells alarm bells for the Tigers considering he still holds advantage in tries and try assists.

ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (Warriors) v KALYN PONGA (Knights)

If you find yourself at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday afternoon, grab yourself a hot dog and beer, sit back and enjoy the spectacle of the four fastest feet in the NRL right now.

Named to return from a minor hamstring strain this week, the Warriors skipper will be looking to inspire his team to a much needed victory and will have his personal duel with one of the rising stars in the game at the front of his mind. The reigning Dally M winner has been in fine form again in 2019 with his strong running game and dazzling footwork causing plenty of headaches for opposition defenders.

It's now been a month since the Ponga to five-eighth experiment was shelved and the young dynamo returned to the number one jersey he made famous last year. Whilst immediately looking much more at home at the back, he still seemed to be caught in two minds at times in the ensuing weeks, but last week's drought breaking victory over Parramatta should give him an extra shot of confidence as he heads across the ditch to play in his native country. With halfback and captain Mitchell Pearce firmly taking the reins last week, look for the ‘Ponga pogo' to be on display in this one.

KEY STATS

• Tries Tuivasa-Sheck 4 Ponga 2
• Try assists Ponga 4 Tuivasa-Sheck 2
• Line breaks Tuivasa-Sheck 8 Ponga 4
• Tackle busts Tuivasa-Sheck 41 Ponga 31
• Offloads Tuivasa-Sheck 11 Ponga 3
• Average metres Tuivasa-Sheck 194 Ponga (since moving to fullback) 190

RTS holds the advantage in most areas here, but it's worth noting Ponga only moved to fullback in round 4 and would possibly have higher numbers in some areas if he started the year there. Still, Roger appears to be the stronger ball runner whilst Kalyn has the edge in ball-playing.

MITCHELL MOSES (Eels) v BEN HUNT (Dragons)

Often viewed as a hot and cold player at times, Moses has enjoyed his most consistent start to a season in his young career after a meaningful chat with Coach Brad Arthur over the offseason. Has all the attributes in his game to become one of the premier number sevens in the league with his accurate passing and kicking games, speed and willingness to take the line on and an ability to straighten his team's attack. The Parramatta faithful are again hopeful that the post Peter Sterling curse has finally been broken.

Hunt has also enjoyed a strong and consistent start to the year after coming under attention last year for failing in crucial situations of big games at both club and state level. Seems to be feeding off the confidence that new halves partner Corey Norman has brought to the playing group and will be looking to continue his strong run of form with another Origin jersey within his reach.

KEY STATS

• Tries Hunt 2 Moses 1
• Try assists Moses 5 Hunt 5
• Line break assists Moses 4 Hunt 2
• Tackle Busts Hunt 18 Moses 16
• Average metres Hunt 73 Moses 62
• Average kick metres Moses 316 Hunt 316
• Forced drop outs Moses 6 Hunt 4

Looks to be a struck match in every department here. Whichever half steps up in the clutch moment could well get their team across the line.