The NRL Round 12 Thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

State of Origin time and weakened sides making tipping difficult, so good luck!

Canterbury Bulldogs v The Dolphins

Despite Gus Gould releasing a list of absentees, the halves combination of Matt Burton and Toby Knight is intact and Villame Kikau plays and it is at Doggie central at Acor stadium. The Dogs still have good squad depth and despite everything it’s a reasonable starting XIII they can field though you have to wonder if the unsigned Toby Knight will be unsettled by the media beat up regarding Lachlan Galvin.

The Dolphins are only without two players but one of which is Hamison Tabuiai-Fidow (AKA the Hammer) who is more significant to them than any other player and the reason through his last-ditch tackle on Dylan Brown that the ‘Phin’s beat Paramatta at Comms Bank.

As always, this game hangs on which Dolphins side turns up on the day and when as in last week wen the Wahs were there for the taking the Dolphins only turned up for the last 20 minutes. With Jake Averillo taking the hammers place at full back will the fina attacking structure be a case of show me the way to Averillo….

It should not be a tough one to call but can anyone trust the Dolphin’s?

Paramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles

The loss of Mitchell Moses and Zak Lomax to Origin duty changes the nature of the whole Eels side. Origin has come at the wrong time for Parra just when they were building up a head of steam with the Moses-Lomax- FOXX combination.

By contrast, while Manly lose DCE and putting out a strong starting XIII with Lachlan Croker returning and Jake Arthur subbing for DCE. The Silvertails may be without Jurbo but have Burbo and Turbo playing of the Trbojevic Triumvirate and that should be enough to seal victory.

Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights – Bathurst NSW - SKY

Five selections for State of Origin for the Penny Panthers, some of whom might be fortunate to be picked leaving the underwhelming Panther Cubs plus Alamoti, Kenny and Eisenhuth against a Newcastle side shorn of Kaylin Ponga to origin and Bradman Best and Greg Marzhew to Injury. Jackson Hastings named in the initial 22-man squad but unlikely to be picked with Jake Cogger moving to halfback.

Bathurst has witnessds some strange results in the past notably a couple of years ago when the then all conquering Penny Panthers lost to cellar dewelling West Tigers who were at that time winless IIRC in the rain

The real issue in this game is how much of a basket case is Newcastle for as with the first game in this round it should not be a tough one to call but is

Given the state of both sides, in the Australian vernacular this could be a bludger of a game to watch.

Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks – Gosford NSW – SKY

Roosters on their travels minus five origin selections go to Gosford where there will be an open training session for members at 2.00pm on Friday.

Sharkies on the other hand have the enormous psychological boost of finally beating one of the big premiership contenders and stunningly no Origin call ups. Will KL Iro maintain his scoring record?. Only Sam Stonestreet is missing replaced by Mawene Hiroti.

The only way the Roosters win this one is if the Sharks suddenly take their foot of the gas after putting in a lot of effort to defeat the Storm and if Teddy plays a blinder, Dom Young, returning to the side, makes a case for retention by the club and Mark N learns to catch the high ball and that’s a lot of ifs…

Otherwise, I expect AFB to have a field day going up and down the park and a Victor Radley injury.

New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders - SKY

Game of the round with Rick’s Roving Raiders crossing the ditch to take on the Wahs at Mount Smart. Warriors only lose Mitch Barrnett to Origin, Raiders Huson Young to Origin so both have near their strongest starting XIII.

Despite their start to the season, I am not sold on the Warriors. When was the last time a team with 8 wins and 2 defeats sitting in second place in the ladder have a points differential of + 5 ?. That tells you a lot about the Wahs who when they are beat lose big time and squeaked home in many of their wins.

Canberra as we know can score of repeat sets and concede off repeat sets. They are fun to watch as a more consistent version of The Dolphins coached by the laconic larrikin that is Ricky Stuart.

I happen to think that Canberra, who beat the Wahs in Vegas, match up quite well against the Warriors so not again a straightforward pick here

[Anita Bath]

A touch unkind on the dolphins…..a very poor refs call led to. 12 point turnaround.

But I dont see them upsetting the Bulldogs. Averillo switched to full back because of Queensland call up. Has he ever played FB previously?

[Farmduck]

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Dolphins at Accor Stadium, 7.50pm AEST

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Blake Taaffe 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 10. Josh Curran 9. Reed Mahoney 15. Kurtis Morrin 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Harry Hayes 13. Bailey Hayward

8. Lipoi Hopoi 14. Jake Turpin 16. Samuel Hughes 17. Luke Smith 

18th Man: 21. Jack Underhill

Players cut: 19. Drew Hutchison 20. Jonathan Sua 22. Zyon Maiu’u 23. Mitchell Woods

Late Mail: Cameron Ciraldo has made a late change to his pack with Kurtis Morrin coming into the starting side for Lipoi Hopoi.

 

Dolphins team: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Oryn Keeley 13. Ray Stone

12. Connelly Lemuelu 14. Harrison Graham 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Josh Kerr 

18th Man: 18. Sean O’Sullivan

 

Late Mail: Kristian Woolf has shifted Connelly Lemuelu with Oryn Keeley earning his second start this season.

[Farmduck]

Might be a game of water polo tonight, possibly worst game of the year. Over 100mm rain in last 24 hours at my place.

[Irish Saint]

Good morning Farmduck yes can see it is absolutely chucking it down.

Dolphins kick -off

[Graham]

Donoghoe nose broken there with a clash of heads.

Edited May 22, 2025 by Graham

[Graham]

HIA

[Irish Saint]

Head clash Sexton and Donoghoe the latter's nose left as a mess.

[Irish Saint]

Pen to Dogs Burton makes it 2-0 10 minutes gone.

[Graham]

Isaako in at the corner for a flying winger’s try.

[Irish Saint]

Dolphins take the lead left to right ends with Isaako try in the corner.

[Graham]

4-2 Dolphins ktc 

[Irish Saint]

Burton appears to have jaw problem.

Isaako adds the extras 6-2 Dolphins

[Irish Saint]

Morning Graham.

[Irish Saint]

Burton now off for HIA

[Graham]

Matt Burton ha in his jaw looked at. Meantime a great conversion kick.

6-2 Phins

[Graham]

Taff over but knock on rules out the try

[Farmduck]

Pity that, nice move by Taafe

[Irish Saint]

Taaffe try denied by his own knock on.

[Futtocks]

14 minutes ago, Irish Saint said:

Head clash Sexton and Donoghoe the latter's nose left as a mess.

They seem to have pushed it back into place.

[Irish Saint]

Unbelievably  Donoghoe returns with a brand new nose.

[Graham]

Kikau looking dangerous 

[Irish Saint]

Taaffe kick forces drop out. Dolphins punt long.

[Graham]

Weather for ducks. It’s a watersplash game.

[Irish Saint]

Mahomey now forces drop out. Dolphins this time go short and retain possession after Bulldogs error.