NRL Preview Round 11
The Form Guide
Just as we thought we had some dependable form to count on, Round 10 went and threw it all up in the air again! The Dragons faltered against the Rabbitohs, and Paul McGregor now claims that Souths are the competition’s benchmark. That might be a bridge too far, but there’s no doubting that on their day the Rabbits can trouble the best teams. Whether they have the consistency to keep it up remains to be seen, but they will feeling satisfied ensconced in the top 8 after 10 weeks. The Cowboys proved that their return to form against the Panthers was just a mirage, crashing to a Wests Tigers team that has now been played back into form. Paul Green has some serious problems on his hands. His team looks slow, clunky and obviously low on confidence. He has resisted the urge this week to wield the axe, but it might not be far away.
The Panthers got back on track with an impressive win over the plucky Knights, and James Maloney is one of the form players in the competition. The Roosters clicked into gear to destroy the Warriors on their home patch, and that must have come as a huge relief to Trent Robinson and Cooper Cronk. Anyone writing the Chooks off based on their early season struggles will be nervous they are about to make a charge. The Broncos did the unthinkable, losing to a Manly side best described as a rabble. The Trbojevic brothers were outstanding, both making cases to be in calculations for NSW. Jake is a certainty, but Tom will need a couple more big games to get the call up. The Sharks have quietly gone about their business, notching up their fourth win in a row without creating too much fuss. They have got themselves into the top 8 with a number of stars still on the sideline, and they will potentially get through the Origin period without too many players missing. They are well placed to make a run up the ladder in the next few weeks.
The Big Games
Round 11 kicks off with the Panthers hosting the Tigers, both last start winners but a clear favourite in Penrith. Mahe Fonua was outstanding for the Tigers last week, but finds himself on the outer for missing training. The real story here, though, is the return from injury of Nathan Cleary, just in time to face his dad’s team. Cleary has just a couple of games to get himself back on Brad Fittler’s radar, but his real focus will be getting back in form with Penrith. It will be a fascinating match up. The Broncos and Roosters invariably produce a cracking contest, but if Brisbane aren’t careful this one could get ugly. They will need to scrap and fight all game to make up for their lack of attacking prowess, as the Anthony Milford-Kodi Nikorima partnership continues to struggle. Milford needs to take control this week to give them some kind of potency. The most interesting facet of this game might just be the battle of the hookers, with Andrew McCullough and Jake Friend effectively trialling for the Queensland number 9 jersey. If one has a blinder over the other, expect them to get the call up from Kevin Walters.
The Cowboys host the Rabbitohs in Townsville, and this is another one that could blow out if the North Queenslanders don’t aim up early. A number of Cowboys should be very nervous about their place in the team, and perhaps this is Paul Green’s motivation for giving them one last shot this week. His extended bench includes a number of young guns, keen for their opportunity if given the chance. The Storm, Dragons and Sharks will all start strong favourites against the Sea Eagles, Raiders and Bulldogs respectively, but none of these are certain results. Cameron Smith will miss the match against Manly through suspension, giving Billy Slater a rare opportunity to lead the Storm out. Smith’s announcement on Tuesday shocked the rugby league world, and Craig Bellamy will be working to ensure his players’ minds are on the job against the Sea Eagles, who found some form last week. This one might be closer than the odds suggest.
Predictions
They might be missing Peter Wallace, but young Nathan will win bragging rights over his father when the Panthers get over the Tigers on Thursday night. The Eels host the Warriors, and backing Parramatta this year has been akin to burning money. With Shaun Johnson will out, though, and the inevitable feeling that this Eels team just has to produce something soon, we’ll take the underdog Eels at home to grab the upset. The Roosters will continue their improvement by knocking over the Broncos at Suncorp, and the Knights will bounce back by beating the Titans at Robina. The Rabbitohs will grab a rare win in Townsville over the Cowboys, and a number of players will feel the heat in selections for next week. The Storm will be too good for Manly, The Dragons will bounce back to beat the up and down Raiders, and the Sharks will sit solid in the top 8 by knocking off the uninspiring Bulldogs.
Best Bet
While the Dragons are deserved favourites this weekend, the Raiders are a team that can bounce back from a loss to look like world beaters the next week. This one could go close, so the Raiders with +7.5 start at $2.03 is our best bet of the week.
For the latest NRL odds, click here.
