South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Brisbane Broncos
ANZ Stadium, 7:50pm, Thursday May 2
Team News: South Sydney are unchanged, while Thomas Dearden debuts at halfback for Brisbane with Kodi Nikorima out.
Prediction: Match of the round? No, match of the year! We finally reach Bennett vs. Seibold. This has been building for months, and while both coaches are throwing the 'it's just another game' line around, it isn't. It's personal. Darius Boyd plays his 300th NRL game in his first game against Bennett, while James Roberts plays his potential last game for Brisbane before shifting to Redfern in the coming weeks. Reynolds and Walker are arguably the form halves pairing, while Milford and Nikorima bounced back last week after copping heat all season. There'll be fireworks, but it'll be the Rabbitohs that win on the back of their ability to grind a game out. Rabbitohs by 6.
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Gold Coast Titans
1300SMILES Stadium, 6:00pm, Friday May 3
Team News: Te Maire Martin is out, which sees Jordan Kahu shift to fullback and Tom Opacic come into the centres. Jarrod Wallace returns from suspension, which sees Moeaki Fotuaika drop to the bench. Phillip Sami starts on the wing, with Dale Copley injured and AJ Brimson joining the bench.
Prediction: You look at these two teams on paper, and you think it's an easy Cowboys win? Wrong. Despite their obvious star power, North Queensland are struggling big time. Taumalolo has been named on the reserves, and North Queensland need him bad. The Titans are boosted by the return of AJ Brimson, but the won't be enough to stop Michael Morgan as he put throws his name back in the Origin conversation. Cowboys by 13.
Cronulla Sharks vs. Melbourne Storm
PointsBet Stadium, 7:55pm, Friday May 3
Team News: Sione Katoa returns on the wing in place of last week's debutant Ronaldo Mulitalo. Kyle Flanagan starts at five-eighth with Shaun Johnson injured. Briton Nikora returns from suspension in the second-row. Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns to the starting side, with Christian Welch returning to the bench.
Prediction: One of the NRL's best modern rivalries, this appears lopsided. Cronulla have almost half of their salary cap on the sideline including Shaun Johnson, Aaron Woods, Matt Moylan and Wade Graham. Meanwhile, Melbourne are sitting pretty as one of three teams to be sitting 6-1 to start the season. Home ground advantage will boost the Sharks, but it'll be the Storm that come out on top. Storm by 8.
Canberra Raiders vs. Penrith Panthers
McDonalds Park, 3:00pm, Saturday May 4
Team News: Bailey Simonsson replaces Jordan Rapana on the wing, while Hudson Young and Cory Horsburgh return on the bench in place of Emre Guler and Jack Murchie. Penrith are 1-17.
Prediction: Canberra take a game to Wagga this weekend as they look to get back into the winner's circle after a loss to Manly, while Penrith slumped to their fifth loss in seven games last week, this time against South Sydney. There's a feeling Canberra may be peaking too early, but they should still bounce back to win over a lacklustre Penrith outfit. Canberra by 10.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Lottoland, 5:30pm, Saturday May 4
Team News: Kane Elgey replaces Daly Cherry-Evans (ankle) at halfback, while they'll debut winger Abbas Miski in place of Jorge Taufua. Addin Fonua-Blake also returns, with Toafofoa Sipley dropping to the bench. Fa'amanu Brown replaces Chris Smith on the bench in Canterbury's only change.
Prediction: While the Seibold vs. Bennett headlines will dominate the news all week, have we forgotten about Hasler against the Bulldogs? Des has been accused by many of leaving Canterbury in a mess, and despite their win last week, they're not wrong. The Dogs will be out for blood, and will smell it in the water against a Manly side lacking Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic. Fonua-Blake's return balances the scales, and it should go down to the wire, but Manly should sneak home at Lottoland. Manly by 2.
Sydney Roosters vs. Wests Tigers
SCG, 7:35pm, Saturday May 4
Team News: Luke Keary returns at five-eighth in place of Lachlan Lam, while Victor Radley shifts to hooker in place of Jake Friend, with Isaac Liu returning at lock. Benji Marshall returns in place of Josh Reynolds, while Luke Garner's return sees Paul Momirovski drop to the reserves.
Prediction: They copped a scare early, but the Tigers bounced back after their loss to Parramatta to beat the Titans. The Roosters are humming along, though the injury to Jake Friend is huge. Victor Radley is doing well to fill in, but can he do it for three months? Regardless, the return of Luke Keary will be too much for the Tigers. Roosters by 20.
New Zealand Warriors vs. Newcastle Knights
Mt Smart Stadium, 2:00pm, Sunday May 5
Team News: Skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns from a hamstring injury at fullback allowing Peta Hiku to move back to the centres. Winger David Fusitu'a also returns so Gerard Beale goes to the bench. Blake Green is back at halfback, allowing Tohu Harris to return to his favoured second-row position. Adam Blair goes to the bench. Jazz Tevaga is out. Newcastle are 1-17.
Prediction: The Warriors were unlucky to go down by a point despite missing three of their best against Melbourne, while Newcastle finally got a win on the board. Who knows where this clash could go, the Warriors could put 30 on Newcastle and the Knights could easily do the same. Newcastle stood up last week and will be eager to get on a roll, and will return across the ditch with two competition points. Newcastle by 4
Parramatta Eels vs. St George Illawarra Dragons
Bankwest Stadium, 4:05pm, Sunday May 5
Team News: Daniel Alvaro returns at prop, pushing Peni Terepo to the bench and Ray Stone out of the side. Mikaele Ravalawa returns to the starting side on the wing, Zac Lomax pushes into the centres with Euan Aitken on the bench.
Prediction: Both sides are coming off losses, but both are heading in the right direction. Zac Lomax is finally starting in the centres for the Dragons, but that won't be enough against a Parramatta side looking to make Bankwest Stadium their new fortress. Clint Gutherson will lead the side to a win to block out all the rumours of him leaving the Eels. Parramatta by 12.
Point To Prove: Anthony Seibold. I know, this section is usually reserved for players, but has anyone in this entire NRL season have anything to prove more than Seibold? He stabbed the club that gave him his shot at head coaching in the back, only to start his Brisbane career with a 2-5 record, the equal worst in the club's history. And now he comes up against that club and the man he stole his current job from - Wayne Bennett. Who has Souths at a 6-1 record. He's got more than a point to prove this week.
Struggle Street: Michael Morgan. He's not playing bad football by any means, but without big boppers like Jason Taumalolo, and little experience in the fullback and five-eighth role has Morgan struggling without support. He nearly dragged the Cowboys to a 2017 premiership despite Thurston being injured, but he needs help now. He needs it fast.
Rookie Watch: Thomas Dearden. The 18-year-old Broncos' halfback had 'the equal best Intrust Super Cup debut in the last 23 years' and has already earnt comparisons to Alfie Langer. He's being thrust into one of the biggest grudge matches of the year. With Nikorima as good as gone, he'll have the rest of the year to find his feet in the top grade, but he won't need that long. Late contender for rookie of the year.
Rumour of the Week: James Roberts seems set to jet out of Brisbane in the next week, but he's not the only Bronco on the move. The Warriors are doing everything they can to land Kodi Nikorima before the June 30 deadline, and it appears the grass would be greener on both sides of the fence. It forces Brisbane to break up a halves pairing that has zero per cent chance of winning a premiership together and frees up money for them to upgrade Pangai Jnr, while New Zealand would land a Test halfback. Plus, imagine Nikorima playing alongside a five-eighth with a steady hand and an organiser, Kodi would flourish.
