Blythy’s Round 24 Rev Up

Wests Tigers vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Campbelltown Stadium, 7:50pm, Thursday August 23

Team News: Elijah Taylor is out, meaning Matt Eisenhuth moves to lock and Chris Lawrence returns to the starting pack. Alex Twal and Josh Aloiai have been added to the bench with Jacob Liddle dropping to the reserves. Jack Gosiewski replaces Frank Winterstein on the bench for Manly.

Injury Watch: Taylor misses the match with a corked thigh.

Prediction: Not often does a team score 34 points and still find a way to lose, but Manly did it last Friday night. While Wests loss to the Dragons put their season on life support, a win here will keep their dim hopes flickering, and back at Campbelltown Stadium, expect Wests to manage a win in another high scorer. Wests Tigers by 10.

New Zealand Warriors vs. Penrith Panthers

Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm, Friday August 24

Team News: Mason Lino replaces Blake Green at five-eighth while Tohu Harris returns in place of Leviaha Pulu on the bench. Tyrone Peachey shifts to five-eighth, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak at fullback, Christian Crichton returns on the wing, and Tyrone May shifts to the bench. Wayde Egan starts, with Sione Katoa dropped.

Injury Watch: Blake Green will miss 1-2 weeks with a calf strain.

Prediction: This is anyone's game. Expect some free flowing football, with both teams sure to throw the football around in a bid to make a late charge at a top four spot. Cleary looks troubled without James Maloney, which could be enough for the Warrior to sneak home, but Blake Green is another big loss. Purely based on home ground advantage, a Shaun Johnson field goal will decide this one. Warriors by 1.

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Parramatta Eels

1300SMILES Stadium, 7:55pm, Friday August 24

Team News: Matt Scott and Jason Taumalolo returns, pushing Scott Bolton and John Asiata to the bench, and Ethan Lowe and Corey Jensen to the reserves. Nathan Brown is out, with Peni Terepo named to start at lock. Kane Evans returns at prop and Tim Mannah and Cameron King return on the bench. Tepai Moeroa shifts to second row, Brad Takairangi drops to the bench and last week's two debutants, Ray Stone and Oregon Kaufusi, drop to the reserves.

Injury Watch: Nathan Brown's season is over following a knee injury.

Prediction: The battle of the spoon, here we are. North Queensland currently sit in 16th courtesy of for-and-against, but this game should decide who finishes 2018 with the dreaded cutlery. It's amazing to think one of these sides finished top four last year, and the other made the Grand Final. Parramatta have been hitting form, but JT's final home game coupled with Matt Scott's 250th match will see the Eels handed their fourth spoon in seven years. Cowboys by 8.

Canberra Raiders vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs

GIO Stadium, 3pm, Saturday August 25

Team News: Joe Tapine is out, pushing Elliot Whitehead back into the back-row, and Michael Oldfield returning at centre. Alex Johnston, Greg Inglis and Campbell Graham all return for South Sydney, with Braidon Burns benched, and Richie Kennar, Mawene Hiroti and Tyrell Fuimaono drop to the reserves.

Injury Watch: Joe Tapine's season is done with a broken thumb, while Robert Jennings will sit out one more week with a hamstring injury.

Prediction: The cavalry is back for South Sydney, and boy they're needed. Dane Gagai was the only member of South's full strength backline to line up last week against Brisbane, with the Broncos targeting the Rabbitoh's inexperienced outside backs with a lot of success. Inglis is a huge inclusion, ad rumours suggest he may line-up at fullback, with Johnston a huge chance of sitting out one more week. Canberra were good last week against the Roosters, but Souths will make a statement this week. Rabbitohs by 13

Gold Coast Titans vs. Melbourne Storm

Cbus Super Stadium, 5:30pm, Saturday August 25

Team News: Will Matthews replaces Bryce Cartwright on the bench. Justin Olam replaces centre Will Chambers and Cheyse Blair is in for winger Suliasi Vunivalu. Tui Kamikamica and Ryley Jacks replace Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Brandon Smith on the bench.

Injury Watch: Vunivalu, Smith and Asofa-Solomona will all sit out until the Finals with various injuries, while Chambers will miss the first week of the Finals through suspension.

Prediction: Gee, that AJ Brimson will be something one day. The youngster was electric at fullback for the Gold Coast last week, and if Cameron Smith was to miss this match with his back spasms, I'd be tempted to lean towards the Titans at home. But Melbourne have one hand on the minor premiership, and won't want to drop this game. They have some big losses with internationals Chambers, Asofa-Solomona and Vunivalu out, but they have the depth to handle it, and will beat the Gold Coast, but not by the huge margin most pundits are tipping. Storm by 12.

Sydney Roosters vs. Brisbane Broncos

Allianz Stadium, 7:35pm, Saturday August 25

Team News: Luke Keary returns at five-eighth, pushing Ryan Matterson to the bench and Sean O'Sullivan out. Kotoni Staggs replaces Pat Mago on the bench.

Injury Watch: Jared Warea-Hargreaves is an outside chance of returning after being named in the reserves.

Prediction: Blockbuster. Brisbane handed South Sydney their heaviest loss of the season last week, while the Roosters were upset by a green wall down in Canberra. Keary is a massive in, and will tip the scales towards the tricolours. Corey Oates vs. Blake Ferguson will be huge, as will the battle of the forward packs. The Roosters won't drop two in a row, it'll be a Latrell Mitchell try that seals this one. Roosters by 4.

Cronulla Sharks vs. Newcastle Knights

Southern Cross Group Stadium, 2pm, Sunday August 26

Team News: Jesse Ramien is out; Josh Dugan moves in from the wing and Edrick Lee returns on the flank. Jayden Brailey returns at hooker with James Segeyaro dropping to the pine. Wade Graham has been named to return in the second row pushing Scott Sorensen to the bench. Kurt Capewell and Joseph Paulo drop to the reserves. Chris Heinington replaces Luke Yates on the bench.

Injury Watch: Jesse Ramien is out with the ankle injury. Don't be surprised if Kalyn Ponga is ruled out with an ankle issue, expect Connor Watson to slot in.

Prediction: Newcastle have finally done it, their win over Penrith has ensured the club won't finish last in 2018, after three consecutive years of snaring the wooden spoon. Cronulla have been steadily doing their business, climbing the ladder and have an outside chance of snaring a top four berth if results fall their way. Matt Moylan produced six try assists in two sides clash earlier this season, and should be on song come Sunday afternoon. Ponga is expected to be ruled out, and if Newcastle are without their star youngster, the Sharks could produce a score. Sharks by 14.

St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs

Jubilee Stadium, 4:10pm, Sunday August 26

Team News: Jason Nightingale returns for his final home game, pushing Jordan Pereira to the bench and Jai Field out of the side. The Bulldogs are unchanged.

Injury Watch: A foot injury has ruled out Paul Vaughan for the remainder of 2018.

Prediction: Lachlan Lewis, a star is born. The young five-eighth celebrated his birthday in style last Sunday, scoring a try and slotting the match-winning field goal to seal an upset win over New Zealand. However, the Dragons rejoined the winners circle and need to win this  match if they want to retain their top four spot. Ben Hunt is out of form but Kurt Mann stood up, and should help the Dragons to a win. Dragons by 6.

 

Point To Prove: Nathan Cleary. A former Warriors ball boy,  Cleary will face off against Shaun Johnson in a bid to reach for the top four. The New South Wales halfback scored a hat trick in New Zealand last year, and will need to be on his game and prove he can lead this side without James Maloney by his side.

Struggle Street: Ben Hunt. The Origin halfback has been down in form ever since his Origin II performance, and the Dragons actually seemed to get better with Hunt in the sin bin. Kurt Mann was strong in the halves, and with Paul McGregor saying that 'Ben Hunt will always have a spot in our 17' guarantees he won't be dropped, but doesn't mean he won't be benched. He needs to lift in St George Illawarra are to push for the premiership.

Rookie Watch: Emre Guler. The Canberra Raiders made his debut from the bench last weekend against the Roosters, and his been named again this week to face his junior club, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Guler made 93 metres and 23 tackles in less than half an hour on the pitch, and against one of the best forward packs in the competition and without Tapine, Guler will need to have some impact if the Raiders are to upset two teams in two weeks.

Rumour of the Week: If Trent Barrett walks, so will some of Manly's high profile players. The Trbojevic brothers ain't budging, and talk of Cherry-Evans being released to Brisbane is rubbish, but their are two big names on the outer - Marty Taupau and Dylan Walker. Taupau has been trying to get out for weeks now, with Newcastle, Cronulla and the Roosters all chasing the Kiwi enforcer. As for Walker? Don't rule out a return to South Sydney. The centre has been eager to return to his junior club for a while now, and with Michael Maguire out of the picture, a return to Redfern seems on the cards again.