Blythy’s Round 18 Rev Up

Brisbane Broncos vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Suncorp Stadium, 7:50pm, Thursday July 18

Team News: Corey Oates replaces Xavier Coates on the wing. Aiden Tolman and Sauaso Sue are out, which means Ofahiki Ogden starts at prop, Adam Elliot starts at lock and Chris Smith is back on the bench alongside Danny Fualalo.

Prediction: Despite a draw, Brisbane seems to really be lifting in hopes of making a late dash for the finals. The Bulldogs have managed to string back-to-back wins together as they do all they can to dodge the dreaded wooden spoon. Canterbury is in form, but without middlemen Tolman and Sue, they look vulnerable. Payne Haas and Tevita Pangai Jnr will tear them to shreds up the middle, and Darius and Milford will do the rest. Brisbane by 14.

 
New Zealand Warriors vs. Cronulla Sharks
Westpac Stadium, 6:00pm, Friday July 19

Team News: The Warriors are unchanged. Matt Moylan returns at fullback, with Aaron Gray on the wing in place of Josh Morris. Josh Dugan is also out, replaced by Kurt Capewell in the centres. Capewell's back-row spot is taken by Scott Sorensen, while Paul Gallen's return sees Matt Prior drop to the bench and Jason Bukuya out.

Prediction: Four losses in a row, Cronulla are due. The Warriors were valiant at Suncorp Stadium, but a 90-minute draw won't do them an awful heap of good. They're in trouble tomorrow night. RTS and Tevaga both had humungous games last week, expect some tiredness and a flat display from the duo as the Sharks snap their losing streak. Cronulla by 8.

 
Penrith Panthers vs. St George Illawarra Dragons
Panthers Stadium, 7:55pm, Friday July 19

Team News: Nathan Cleary returns at halfback, pushing Jarome Luai to the bench and Jed Cartwright out. Ben Hunt has been rested, with Darren Nichols starting in the seven jersey. James Graham returns at lock, with Blake Lawrie at prop and Jeremy Latimore out. Reece Robson and Jacob Host are replaced on the bench by Patrick Kaufusi and Josh Kerr.

Prediction: Fans must be questioning McGregor's decision to rest Hunt in an absolute must win for both teams. With Widdop just a week or two ago, surely it would have been wiser to rest Hunt when Gareth returns to slot into the halves. Penrith are looking for their seventh straight win and against a Red V side without their most highly paid player, they'll get it. Penrith by 10.

 
Sydney Roosters vs. Newcastle Knights
SCG, 3:00pm, Saturday July 20

Team News: James Tedesco's return sees Joey Manu shift to the centres and Brett Morris drop to the bench. Boyd Cordner's return sees Nat Butcher drop to the bench. Kalyn Ponga returns for the Knights, meaning Kurt Mann moves to five-eighth and Connor Watson to the bench. Mitch Barnett returns in the back-row, which sees Jamie Buhrer drop to the bench and Josh King out.

Prediction: The big guns are back. Tedesco and Ponga. Arguably the two best Australian fullbacks going around, with Tom Trbojevic not far off. Newcastle got the win over the Chooks last start, though they were missing Cronk and lost Keary minutes in. Both teams will be eager to win after shock losses last weekend, but at home, and their full spine on the park together for the first time in nearly four months, the Roosters will get a good win at home. Roosters by 16.

 
Canberra Raiders vs. Wests Tigers
GIO Stadium, 5:30pm, Saturday July 20

Team News: Michael Oldfield replaces Nick Cotric in the centres. Robert Jennings has been replaced by Paul Momirovski on the wing.

Prediction: This game could be a points fest. The Raiders have been great defensively, and so have the Tigers, but there's a sense that both teams could crack and let their attack do the work. They've lost Cotric but still have the likes of Rapana and Croker in the backline, while the likes of Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks could have a big game. Canberra will snag the wing, but expect something like a 32-20 scoreline. Raiders by 12.

 
North Queensland Cowboys vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs
1300SMILES Stadium, 7:35pm, Saturday July 20

Team News: Jordan Kahu is out, with Javid Bowen shifting to the centres and Murray Taulagi set to debut on the wing. Liam Knight is suspended, which sees Dean Britt shift to the front-row and Ethan Lowe recalled in the back-row. Mark Nicholls replaces Bayley Sironen on the bench.

Prediction: This is the match of the round. Injuries really level the game. South Sydney look a lot better in the spine and the backs, while the Cowboys look much stronger in the forwards, with the Bunnies missing the Burgess trio, Kyle Turner and Liam Knight. The Cowboys pack will get their team down the field, but it's a matter of whether they can convert field position into points. South Sydney still have enough firepower through the likes of Tatola, Amone, Sutton, Lowe and Murray, and with Adam Reynolds in great form, he'll get his side home. Rabbitohs by 2.

 
Gold Coast Titans vs. Melbourne Storm
Cbus Super Stadium, 2:00pm, Sunday July 21

Team News: Anthony Don has been omitted and his place on the wing is taken by Dale Copley. Brenko Lee comes into the centres. Jarrod Wallace moves from lock to prop and Jai Whitbread is the new lock. Moeaki Fotuaika goes back to the bench. Leilani Latu and Sam Stone are the new faces on the bench. Shannon Boyd is out, with Michael Gordon on the bench. Melbourne have decided to rest their Origin stars except for Dale Finucane. Marion Seve replaces Chambers, Sandor Earl replaces Addo-Carr, Joe Stimson has been named in place of Munster, and Tui Kamikamica starts for Felise Kaufusi. Tom Eisenhuth and Tino Faasumaleaui join the bench.

Prediction: If Melbourne didn't rest their stars, I'd be tipping the Storm by 50. Now that they've decided to rest five players, and name Joe Stimson in the halves, it won't be 50 points, but it'll still be a blowout. Ignore the 'teams win the majority of their first games under an interim coach' stat, it'll be raining points in Queensland. Storm by 20.

 
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Parramatta Eels
Lottoland, 4:05pm, Sunday July 21

Team News: Tom Trbojevic comes in for Brendan Elliot. Parramatta are unchanged.

Prediction: This will be an absolute cracker. Gutherson v T. Trbojevic. Des Hasler against former assistant, Brad Arthur. Sunday afternoon at Lottoland. It's a great lead-up. Curtis Sironen is in career-best form, and Cherry-Evans will be filthy to lose two games in the dying moments at ANZ Stadium, both games locked at 20-20, both within a few days of each other. He'll be stoked to return to Brookvale, and turn one on. It'll be a Manly clinic. Sea Eagles by 16.