The NRL Round 20 Thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Round 20 and the season reaches its conclusion some sides will be dropping out of contention. At this late stage it would be unwise to faire a coach before the season end unless a board really wanted to deflect blame for a poor season to the fanbase or the coaches themselves fall upon their sword s to speak.

The Dolphins V North Queensland Cowboys

The Dolphins bring back the hammer, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to full back and add Connelly Lemuelu. The Cowboys drop Robert Derby to reserve grade and remain without the injured John Bateman and Jake Clifford while the Jaxson Purdue experiment in the halves continues.

The Dolphins in 10^th Spot need a win to close the gap on the top 8 whereas the Cows in 12^th spot with 17 points just need to win to keep the season alive.

It’s always difficult to predict which Dolphins side turns up but on paper this is a potent attack at home against a side that leaks points. The Cows will score points but will also concede. Another Nail in Todd Payten’s coaching coffin?

Verdict – Dolphins

Cronulla Sharks v Sydney Roosters

Sharkies unchanged from last week battle of the aquarium against the fins. The Roosters by contrast recall Chad Townsend to replace the injured Hugo Savala instead of Sandon Smith in the halves to partner Sam Walker

Match of the round with both Roosters in 8^th and Sharks in 9^th on 22 points separated only by points difference.

A close game in prospect between two evenly matched sides it may boil down to how well the Rosters halves combine and home advantage with both sides desperate for the win. I am therefore tilting towards the Sharks here.

Verdict – Sharks

Penrith Panthers v South Sydney

Panthers rest Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo with Liam Martin still out injured and Izack Tago suspended. Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o return after being rested last week. Souths have n Cody Walker, Campbell Graham or Brandon Smith but Latrell Mitchell returns although Lewis Dodd still does not make the starting XIII.

Penny Panthers on a bit of a roll at present and have sneaked into 6^th spot on the ladder with 23 points. The Bunnies are 16^th only ahead of the Titans and must be looking at the Titans results.

The Panthers rest and rotate taking a gamble that no Nathan Cleary will not be a factor against a Rabbitohs side ravaged by injury. That said, Benny’s Bunnies have not been lying down even in defeat and the have the mercurial Latrell Mitchell who will always give you a punchers chance of an upset. Another win for the Panthers and looking ahead to their next four fixtures might have the mountain men’s fans posting “we’re back baby!”  

Verdict – Panthers

Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels

Rickys Rested Raiders, welcome back Josh Papalii and Hudson Young from origin duty. Parramatta exclude the departing Dylan Brown dropped to the 18^th man and have Joash Papalii in the halves instead.

A game of contrast with table topping Canberra hosting a rebuilding Paramatta Eels in 15^th Spot with just 16 points. With Jason Ryles probably writing the season off and using the remaining games to sift through the Eels of the future. which is a sound coaching move unless the titans start winning in which case the pressure will be on to avoid the spoon.

No such problem for the Capital club that will want to maintain momentum and win the minor premiership. The only issue may be over confidence.

Verdict -Raiders                                                                  

Canterbury Bulldogs v St George-Illawarra

Canterbury drop Toby Sexton for Lachlan Galvin Bronson Xerri is out injured and Stephen Crichton and Kurt Mann return from Origin. SGI remain unchanged from their defeat to the Roosters last week at Kogarah.

After being the table topping league leaders for so long the Galvin effect sees the Dogs in third. The dragons who we are told view themselves as a top 8 side are in 11^th Spot with 18 points and need to start winning now.

Galvin disruption aside, the return of Stephen Crichton is key for providing the on-field leadership the Doggies need right now, and they are up against a Dragons outfit that is definitely up for the contest but leaky in defence. The postmortem on the Dragons season needs to focus on off-field issues such as why the club continues to lose promising juniors and why the club is not seen as a desirable team to go to meaning the club has to pay “overs” to secure signings.

Verdict –Bulldogs

Melbourne Storm v Manly Sea Eagles

Melbourne see Xavier Coates and Cameron muster return post origin though no Ryan Papenhuyzen with the more than capable Nick Meany covering. The Silvertails remain unchanged from the team that beat the Rabbits prior to their bye week.

Melbourne sits comfortably in second spot Manly in 7^th Sport with 22 points and need to put a run together.

The Manly season is schizoid and to be honest if they play to their potential do have the ability to ride out the Storm in Melbourne but who can predict how they will react. You can guarantee a certain level of performance from a Craig Bellamy coached side and if they get an early lead Manly could fall apart.

Verdict – Storm

West Tigers v Gold Coast Titans

Wests bring in new recruit Taylan May to the side. Gold Coast see the return of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui from Origin and Sam Veralls from Injury

Tigers would be cruelled for this to be called the “Spoon Bowl”. Wests sit in 14^th Spot on 16 points. Titans dead last on 14 points. A Titans win would probably not move them off the bottom simply on the points differential but would open up “the spoon race” to Souths, Eels, Tigers and Knights.

Wests are an improved side this year, and “woody” should be moving out of concord. This game is at Leichardt Oval a ground that is a bit of a fortress for the joint venture. In contrast, the Titans get it together very now and then but not enough to prevent the fin de siècle to Des Haesler’s coaching career.  I do remember being at Leichardt a couple of years back early season when the Titans pulled off a win against Tigers but maybe not this time.

Verdict – West Tigers

Newcastle Knights v New Zealand Warriors

The troubled Knights are without Kaylin Ponga for the season and if media reports are accurate possibly for good. The Wahs see Rocco Berry sidelined and Kurt Capewell’s return.

Knights have 16 points and are 13^th due to the points differential in the favour caused by the functioning defence. The Wahs too are more a defensive side sitting in fourth on 28 points with a points differential of only + 31. The team most heavily tipped to drop out of the top four and minus their key playmaker.

Not straightforward as the Knights are a better side than their position would suggest and the Jackson Hastings and Jack Cogger half back paring may begin to click. The wahs who are without their main playmaker will rely on their physical dominance to get home in this gamer but do not have a great record at Marathon stadium.

Verdict – Too close to call

[Spotty Herbert]

I thoroughly enjoy reading The Red Rooster's preview every week and find it very helpful, even when my thoughts are a little different. This week I agree with just about every comment and would only add that for Chad Townsend to be picked over Sandon Smith means that either Trent is in need of a stay in a sanitorium, or Sandon is on his way out of the Roosters. Perhaps to play alongside Dylan Brown as an upgrade to Cogger at Newcastle?

[Graham]

The Red Rooster's weekly thread is a much appreciated and well used one that is always started with a well reasoned opener by TRR.

I agree with all the above assessments and have made a call on the 'too close to call' match.

Thanks TRR

[Anita Bath]

Dolphins struggling with injuries…11 players out for cowboys game. Same thing happened last year …injuries piled up in the run in and they just missed out on the play offs.

[Irish Saint]

Although I have gone for the Dolphins, this fixture is an anomaly as whichever team is the away team wins. Although I guess one could say the Dolphins are also playing away at Suncorp.

 

 

 

[Anita Bath]

2 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

Dolphins struggling with injuries…11 players out for cowboys game. Same thing happened last year …injuries piled up in the run in and they just missed out on the play offs.

make that 12. OSullivan now added to injured list….Averillo moving to stand off.

[Irish Saint]

Good morning all.  Warren Smith and Michael Ennis on commentary for this one.

[Irish Saint]

Cowboys start the proceedings.

[Irish Saint]

Dolphins open the scoring with try from Keeley final pass by Katoa. Keeley easily wwnt through Drinkwater's attempted tackle.

Isaako adds 2 

Dolphins 6-0 5 minutes gone

 

[Irish Saint]

Chance for Cowboys scrum 10m out

[Irish Saint]

On the 4th Drinkwater with cut out pass to Taulagi who crosses for try.

Drinkwater levels the score off the upright.

[Irish Saint]

TouchLine reporter Eloise Soher stating  Farnworth will be offered 1mAustralian dollars a year for a new contract

 

[Irish Saint]

Tawha spills ball20 out another chance for Cowboys 

[Irish Saint]

Scrum now to Cowboys 10m out

[Irish Saint]

This time Dolphins defence hold out and now a relieving penalty.

[Irish Saint]

Penalty to Dolphins after Lemuelu taken out during kick chase.

Isaako takes the two.

Dolphins 8-6 19 minutes played.

[Irish Saint]

Dolphins penalised for ptb Cowboys start 15m out.

Strange play ends with Averillo going length of the field after ball comes off Cowboys player's foot.

Isaako misses the extras

Dolphins 12-6  22ninutes played.

[Irish Saint]

Dolphins at their best with their backing. Averillo to The Hammer to Herbie and back to Harmiso Tabuai-Fidow 

Isaako adds the two

Dolphins 18-6

[Irish Saint]

Dolphins bomb one Herbie to Harmisi who drops the ball.

[Irish Saint]

Drinkwater kick forces line drop out

[Irish Saint]

Dolphins go short and Averillo recovers and next play a relieving penalty.

[Irish Saint]

Two set restarts  for Cowboys ends with Cotter spilling ball.

[Irish Saint]

This time no mistake Lemuelu to the Hammer qho this time holds on and goes over.

Isaako adds the two Dolphins 24-6 

Inside the last two minutes .Cowboys right hand side has been ripped apart.

[Irish Saint]

Half time Dolphins 24-6

Interesting stat Dolphins have been tackled twice in the Cowboys twenty.

[Irish Saint]

Dolphins open the scoring in second half Harrison Gramam over from dummy half

Isaako with goal

Dolphins 30-6 34 minutes left.