SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 21: Gareth Widdop of the Dragons looks on before the round two NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on March 21, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Cronulla Sharks vs. North Queensland Cowboys

PointsBet Stadium, 7:50pm, Thursday July 25

Team News: Josh Dugan returns at fullback for Matt Moylan, while Josh Morris' return in the centres sees Kurt Capewell drop to the second-row, with Scott Sorensen moving to the reserves. Andrew Fifita's suspension sees Braden Hamlin-Uele start at prop, with Billy Magoulias joining the interchange. North Queensland are 1-17.

Prediction: Two teams that both looked in the box seat to win last week until the 70th minute struck. Cronulla has slipped out of the eight while the Cowboys look a certainty to miss the finals. Jason Taumalolo will have free reign through the middle but without Michael Morgan, will fail to convert position to points. If Cronulla can balance their spine, they should re-join the winner's circle comfortably. Sharks by 12.

Newcastle Knights vs. Wests Tigers

McDonald Jones Stadium, 6:00pm, Friday July 26

Team News: The Knights are unchanged. Corey Thompson returns at fullback, pushing Moses Mbye to the centres and Michael Chee-Kam to the back-row. Chris Lawrence goes to the bench, with Luke Garner starting and Ryan Matterson moving to lock. Oliver Clark replaces Alex Twal.

Prediction: An absolute must win game for both clubs. Teetering on the edge of the eight, this is a match where you need your key players to stand tall. Robbie Farah will play his 300th at the same venue he played his 250th, but after back-to-back losses to Canterbury and the Roosters, expect Ponga, Pearce and Klemmer to take the Knights' finals chances into their own hands and win this one. Knights by 8.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons

ANZ Stadium, 7:55pm, Friday July 26

Team News: The Rabbitohs are unchanged. Gareth Widdop's return at five-eighth sees Corey Norman push to fullback with Matt Dufty dropping to the bench and Pat Kaufusi to the reserves. Ben Hunt replaces Darren Nicholls. Both wingers have been dropped, replaced by Zac Lomax and debutant Jason Saab.

Prediction: Widdop is a huge inclusion, however how he performs after missing four months is a massive question mark, as is how he handles a defensive workload in the front line. Souths have Thomas and Sam Burgess in the reserves, with the former a good chance of being a late inclusion. St George Illawarra will lift, but it won't be enough to stop a South Sydney side slowly regaining troops and putting the pieces back together after a rough Origin period. Rabbitohs by 10.

Parramatta Eels vs. New Zealand Warriors

Bankwest Stadium, 3:00pm, Saturday July 27

Team News: Waqa Blake makes his Parramatta debut with Josh Hoffman shifted to the wing and Ethan Parry dropped. Shaun Lane is injured, which sees Marata Niukore start and Oregon Kaufusi and Daniel Alvaro join the bench, with Jaeman Salmon on the reserves. Ken Maumalo returns in place of Adam Pompey.

Prediction: This will be a high scoring affair. Waqa Blake is a massive mid-year purchase, and Parramatta will be a huge threat when they have a backline of Gutherson, Sivo, Jennings, Blake and Ferguson all on the park. The Warriors are as inconsistent as usual, who knows which side will show up. Nikorima is in doubt, which could have huge ramifications on this one. The Eels love Bankwest, and will snag another home win after a poor display at Lottoland. Parramatta by 16.

Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos

Cbus Super Stadium, 5:30pm, Saturday July 27

Team News: Michael Gordon starts at fullback, shifting AJ Brimson to halfback and Ryley Jacks dropped. Tyrone Peachey returns on the bench. Kallum Watkins makes his first NRL appearance in place of Brenko Lee. Thomas Flegler's suspension is offput by the return of Matt Gillett, which means Pangai Jnr moves to lock.

Prediction: The poor old Titans. They sack their coach, then lead Melbourne 12-0, only to lose by 20. They're a basketcase. Brisbane on the other hand, are making a finals run. Darius Boyd is looking better each week he spends at five-eighth, while Kotoni Staggs has been fantastic in the centres. It might be tight early, but this is a game the Broncos will run away with. The Titans beat 'big brother' once this year, it won't happen again. Corey Oates might be a nice little tip for a hat-trick. Broncos by 22.

Melbourne Storm vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

AAMI Park, 7:35pm, Saturday July 27

Team News: Melbourne's Origin stars return in a straight swap, though Sandor Earl retains his spot with Vunivalu suspended. Manly are unchanged.

Prediction: One of the best rivalries of the modern era, and how good is it to see both so high up on the ladder? Melbourne are six points clear on top, and Tom Trbojevic is undefeated in 2019. Origin and club level, undefeated. Melbourne welcome back their Origin stars, and they'll be needed against a red-hot Manly outfit. Cherry-Evans and Munster will be a cracking battle, as will the fight between four Kiwi props in Asofa-Solomona, Bromwich, Taupau and Fonua-Blake. This will be a pearler. It's at AAMI Park, but there's something about a DCE field goal that springs to mind, an upset in one of the best games this round. Manly by 1.

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Sydney Roosters

ANZ Stadium, 2:00pm, Sunday July 28

Team News: Lachlan Lewis, Kerrod Holland and Aiden Tolman come in for Brandon Wakeham, Marcelo Montoya and Ofahiki Ogden. Joey Manu returns for the Roosters, pushing Brett Morris to the bench. Jake Friend's injury sees Victor Radley move back to hooker with Isaac Liu at lock. Zane Tetevano returns via the bench, with Nat Butcher out.

Prediction: Flogging alert. The Roosters stormed into form last week with a belting win over Newcastle, and the Dogs returned to the loser's circle in Brisbane last week. One is contending for a minor premiership, the other a wooden spoon. It's plain and simple. Roosters by 28.

Penrith Panthers vs. Canberra Raiders

Panthers Stadium, 4:05pm, Sunday July 28

Team News: Both sides are 1-17, however Viliame Kikau's failed judiciary bid will see either Jed Cartwright or Liam Martin join the side.

Prediction: Match of the round. Penrith, seven straight wins and James Maloney just announced it's his final year in the NRL. Canberra, entrenched in the top four and desperate to stay there. Suburban ground on a Sunday afternoon, sun beaming down. Canberra has had a good defensive record, but this could get high scoring. If the Panthers are to win, it'll be on the back of their forward. For the Raiders, their spine must stand up. Hodgson can be the best player on the park if he wants to, and CNK can run over defenders if he puts in a big enough effort. It'll be something along the lines of 24-22, but it'll be a Canberra victory. Canberra by 2.

Point To Prove: Josh Dugan. There were calls for Dugan to retire after his latest injury, it just seems like he goes down every week in pain. While it's not right to call him 'soft', he has to step up and show he can not only handle 80 minutes, he must show he can match it with other players. It's a crucial point in his career, if he doesn't prove himself, who knows what will happen to Dugan.

Struggle Street: Shaun Johnson. The Kiwi halfback has struggled at times this year, and he needs to learn how to play second-fiddle. For so long, the Warriors would simply pass Johnson the ball and hope something would be created, he was forced to carry the team with RTS. He doesn't need to do that at the Sharks. And he needs to stop trying to. Johnson, now a five-eighth, must let his forwards, halfback and fullback dictate play, and chime in when needed. No more, no less.

Rookie Watch: Jason Saab. The Dragons will premiere this 18-year-old gem against the Bunnies this week, and watch out. He's no slouch standing at 195cms, meaning his height could neutralise South Sydney's Campbell Graham. He'll be a target with those aerial cross-field kicks, and if he sees some open space, don't blink because you might miss him. He's scored six tries in eight games for the Dragons' Canterbury Cup side this year, certainly one to watch this Friday night.

Rumour of the Week: So impressed is Des Hasler by youngster Manaise Fainu that he's willing to let premiership-winning hooker Api Koroisau walk from the club. With Dylan Walker set to re-sign on a cut-price deal, letting Api walk would clear cap space for Manly to re-sign the Trbojevic duo. And where would the hooker end up? While Penrith has been floated, don't be surprised to see him link up with his former coach Michael Maguire at Concord, filling the boots of a freshly retired Robbie Farah.

Comments are closed.