3 minute read
A rematch of last year's grand final between the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm is also a clash of the two form teams in round six of the NRL.
PREVIEW OF NRL ROUND-SIX MATCHES (all times AEST):
THURSDAY, April 18:
Cronulla v Penrith at PointsBet Stadium, 7.50pm
Head to Head: Sharks 55 Panthers 43 drawn 5
Last clash: Round 18, 2018 - Sharks 24 bt Panthers 12 at Panthers Stadium
It may only be round six, but there is plenty at stake for two sides widely tipped to challenge for the title but have started 2-3. Penrith's poor form has been enough for coach Ivan Cleary to change his starting hooker and prop, with Tim Grant to make his season debut. The Sharks at least have an excuse with key injuries, but get Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen back for this game.
Key: Gallen (ribs) will need painkillers and Fifita (knee) is not 100 per cent. Can they be effective, and will they be healthy long-term?
Tip: Sharks
FRIDAY, April 19:
Canterbury v South Sydney at ANZ Stadium, 4.05pm
Head to Head: Bulldogs 86 Rabbitohs 79 drawn 8
Last clash: Round 18, 2018 - Rabbitohs 24 bt Bulldogs 6 at ANZ Stadium
Only suspension has forced Dean Pay to make the one change to a Bulldogs side shredded by the Dragons last week. It'll take a serious turnaround to upset an unchanged South Sydney side are humming with four wins in their opening five games and boast key players in white-hot form, including Cody Walker.
Key: How will the Rabbitohs respond emotionally to confirmation of champion Greg Inglis's retirement this week?
Tip: Rabbitohs
Melbourne v Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park, 7.55pm
Head to Head: Storm 20 Roosters 16 drawn 2
Last clash: Grand final, 2018 - Roosters 21 bt Storm 6 at ANZ Stadium
Ten of the 34 players who featured in last year's decider are gone or unavailable, but the top-of-the-table clash means it will still be a much-anticipated grand final rematch. The Roosters, winners of four straight, still don't have Jake Friend, and lost Joseph Manu at the judiciary. The undefeated Storm get Suliasi Vunivalu back but are without Curtis Scott.
Key: Is this a preview of the State of Origin five-eighths in Cameron Munster and Luke Keary? Both players are arguably the form players of the league.
Tip: Storm
SATURDAY, April 20:
Warriors v North Queensland at Mt Smart Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to Head: Warriors 20 Cowboys 19 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 15, 2018 - Warriors 23 bt Cowboys 16 at 1300SMILES Stadium
The 10th-placed Warriors have been hot and cold to start the year, while the 15th-placed Cowboys have just been outright cold with four losses on the trot. Warriors halfback Blake Green returns from injury, while Scott Bolton makes his first appearance of the year for a Cowboys side missing Nene Macdonald.
Key: The return of Green and strong form of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck make it impossible to bet against the home side.
Tip: Warriors
St George Illawarra v Manly at WIN Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to Head: Dragons 18 Sea Eagles 9 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 15, 2018 - Dragons 32 Sea Eagles 8 at WIN Stadium
Teams from the opposite ends of Sydney both bring 3-2 records into a potential hum-dinger given their form. Both opened the season with successive losses but have then won their past three, with their Queensland halfbacks Ben Hunt and Daly Cherry-Evans at the helm.
Key: Jake Trbojevic - Raises his NRL century. A big part of Manly's improved form and seems to lift when playing in the absence of his injured brother.
Tip: Dragons
SUNDAY, April 21:
Gold Coast v Newcastle at CBus Super Stadium, 2pm
Head to Head: Knights 11 Titans 9 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 19, 2018 - Knights 30 Titans 24 at McDonald Jones Stadium
Marooned with three other teams in the competition cellar boasting 1-4 records, this week presents a prime chance for both teams to start climbing out. The Titans impressed when coming from behind twice last week to down the Panthers. It's the opposite for the Knights, who have only won their season-opener and are still waiting for Kalyn Ponga to shift out of second gear.
Key: Shannon Boyd - The return to fitness of the barnstorming Titans prop is timely given Jarrod Wallace begins a two-week suspension.
Tip: Knights
Canberra v Brisbane at GIO Stadium, 4.05pm
Head to Head: Broncos 32 Raiders 19 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 16, 2018 - Broncos 26 bt Raiders 22 at Suncorp Stadium
The third-placed Raiders will be out to heap more misery on a Broncos side being scrutinised to the hilt following a third successive loss. The home side must cover for the loss of injured second-rower Joe Tapine and the Broncos for prop Matt Lodge. The pressure on Brisbane halves Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima will be ratcheted up another notch.
Key: Jack Wighton - Continues to look the goods at five-eighth in Canberra's fluent attack but will want to reduce his error rate.
Tip: Raiders
MONDAY, April 22
Parramatta v Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium, at 4pm
Head to Head: Eels 21 Tigers 15 drawn 3
Last clash: Round 8, 2018 - Eels 24 Tigers 22 at ANZ Stadium
Close to call in the battle for Sydney's inner West, between teams locked together with 3-2 records. The Tigers are coming off a confidence-boosting win over Brisbane but Parramatta have had a week to digest their 19-0 whitewash in Canberra. Michael Maguire has introduced a resilience to the Tigers defence which the hosts may find hard to break down, especially if their completion rate is as woeful as last week.
Key: Reed Mahoney - The young Eels hooker has more than held his own since a dizzying promotion this season but faces an evergreen warrior in Robbie Farah.
Tip: Eels