NSW CUP 2014

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 1 previews

Wentworthville Magpies v NZ Warriors
Belmore Sports Ground, Saturday, March 8, 12pm

Referee: Damian Briscoe
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au) and 2GLF FM 89.3 (www.893fm.com.au)

What better way to kick off the 2014 season than a monster card of football out at Belmore this Saturday. There will be four matches played in total which includes a couple of Junior Rep fixtures, but the first match on the day looks every bit a classic with Wenty set to take on the debuting Warriors. Warriors coach Rohan Smith will be out to make a statement to the other 12 competing teams that his Warriors side is here to play. A relatively young side on paper, the Warriors look to be one of the excitement machines of 2014 with players like Ngani Laumape, Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell and Sebastine Ikahihifo all looking to impress and force their way back into the top squad over the coming rounds. Much the same could be said about Wenty, with players like Justin Hunt, Chris Sandow, Ryan Morgan and Daniel Harrison all just a few good performances away from putting some pressure on their NRL peers. In total there will be 16 players across both teams who have tasted first grade before and this quality is sure to shine through in what promises to be a fitting way to kick off season 2014.

Keep an eye on: The Hurrell-icane – it is unlikely that Konrad Hurrell would have taken the news well that he would be playing at Belmore on Saturday as opposed to Pirtek Stadium on Sunday night… and this doesn’t bode well for the Wenty defenders. One of the game’s most destructive ball runners when given time and space, Hurrell just may take his frustration out on either Ryan Morgan or Api Pewhairangi. Regardless of who gets the job, you won’t want to take your eyes off it for a minute.

Prediction: Awfully hard to settle on a winner here but fancy the Warriors may just sneak home. Warriors by 2.

Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights

Sportingbet Stadium, Saturday, March 8, 2.10pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls
Broadcast: Live on Fox Sports 1 and also radio coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

Like the Warriors, the Panthers have taken back control of their second tier side over the off season, and will be out to make an immediate impact. The Panthers side named for round one is a vastly different one from the side that, under the banner of the Wolves, competed in the 2013 Grand Final just over five months ago. Talented players like Isaah Yeo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Eddie Aiono all got a brief taste of VB NSW Cup last year but look set to feature more prominently this season, while the club has also welcomed talented players like Kevin Naiqama (Knights), Will Smith (Knights) and Shaun Spence (Tigers) over the break. It is scary to think that players including Bryce Cartwright, George Jennings, Luke Capewell and Eto Nabuli are all currently on the sidelines because if they were not required in first grade, they would walk straight into this 17. The Knights will be out to put the disappointment of their second straight preliminary final loss behind them as they head to Sportingbet Stadium for this round one clash. Rick Stone would have been hopeful of playing a Matt Minto and Michael Dobson halves combination here, however the hamstring injury suffered by Jarrod Mullen at the Auckland Nines has scuttled that for the foreseeable future, so Tyler Randell is filling in at six. Another injury loss for the Knights is that of promising forward Joseph Tapine, meaning even more responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the likes of Hilder, Sims and Vaivai in the interim. The VB NSW Cup leading point scorer for the past two seasons, Josh Mantellato, should be ready and raring to go following his breakout performance for Italy at the Rugby League World Cup over summer, and his right-side combination with former Eel Brayden Wiliame should prove to be a fruitful one for the Novocastrians.

Not so little brother: Toka Likiliki – the ‘little’ brother of now Gold Coast Titan, Siuatonga Likiliki – had a huge year in 2013 and surprised many with his play at times. But all that will count for little if he is unable to replicate the type of form that saw him claim more than a couple of man of match titles last season. His match-up in the front row with another former Knight in Sam Anderson should be a beauty.

Prediction: Penrith will be looking to put on a show for their home fans and should make a winning start to their season. Panthers by 10.

Manly Sea Eagles v Mounties

Brookvale Oval, Saturday, March 8, 2.30pm
Referee: Jeff Hartup

Two sides that missed the finals last season clash here in what serves as the perfect opportunity for either one to start their 2014 campaign on the right note. Both of these sides have a number of new players, with Manly in particular looking a vastly different side to the one which finished 11th last season. Former Jet and Bulldog Jack Littlejohn has joined the club and will captain them this weekend while they have also signed Tony Satini (Panthers), Masada Iosefa (Tigers) and Delroy Berryman (Redcliffe Dolphins). Berryman in particular should be interesting to watch as he has come down south with huge wraps on him out of the Intrust Super Cup, so it will be interesting to monitor his progress as the season unfolds. Mounties may well feel the pinch in the personnel department this season with their NRL affiliate, the Raiders, also renewing ties with Souths Logan (secondary affiliation) in the Intrust Super Cup, meaning some handy players who may have found themselves at Brookvale Oval this Saturday will now be running around on the Sunshine Coast instead. However Stephen Antonelli and his staff will not use this as an excuse and still have plenty of ammunition at their disposal. Kyle O’Donnell will debut for the club after moving to the Raiders from the Panthers this past off season while Joe Bond has also joined Mounties from the Redcliffe Dolphins. Mitch Cornish would have had his sights set on partnering Terry Campese in the halves this year but has been overlooked for round one. Look for Cornish to be one of Mounties’ best to start the year.
Northern exposure: Berryman and Bond – as alluded to above, both Berryman and Bond have headed south with substantial wraps placed on them by our friends to the north. These two would know the other’s games inside and out having played together for some time at the Dolphins. If Berryman makes a break and gets in the clear, look for Bond to be all over him like a cheap suit.
Prediction: Another flip of the coin fixture here but Manly posted a great win against Mounties at Brookie last year and can repeat the dose here. Sea Eagles by 4.

Illawarra Cutters v Wests Tigers

WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Saturday, March 8, 3pm
Referee: Chris Treneman

The Cutters missed out on the finals by the barest of margins in 2013 while the Tigers made it through to week two after a win against the Vulcans, however you get the feeling that both of these sides will be aiming much higher in 2014. The Cutters have said goodbye to Paul McGregor this past off season, with the man known as ‘Mary’ elevated to a role with the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL side. So in steps Ian Millward, another whose name is synonymous with rugby league down south. Millward has wiped the slate clean for this season and if you take a quick glimpse at their line up for the weekend, that slate should start filling up with wins quickly one would imagine. The halves combination of Williams and Carr played several games together for Mounties last season, so they should hit the ground running, while the rest of the roster is littered with NRL experience in players like Green, Mata’utia, Groat Matthews and Mataka. The Tigers also look to have a more than serviceable roster for the upcoming season with established players such as Waters and Austin in the halves balanced with some exciting young talent in Rowe, Lovett and Naiyaravoro. Like the Panthers, the Tigers have a relatively high injury toll already. When the likes of Galloway, Nofoaluma, Simona, Sironen, Halatau and Moses all return from injury, look for this Tigers VB NSW Cup side to be good… very good.

Wrecking ball: Blessed with size, strength and speed, there are not too many defences which can contain Taqele Naiyaravoro when he is on song. Naiyaravoro looked on pace to score 30 tries last season until a leg injury sustained in the VB NSW Cup Representative match brought his amazing season to a shuddering halt. Now fully fit and itching to hit the track, look for Taqele to be one of the competition’s leading tryscorers early on in the season as he pushes for an NRL berth.

Prediction: Two very evenly matched sides on paper. Favouring the home side ever so slightly but a Tigers win would not surprise. Cutters by 6.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Cronulla Sharks

Belmore Sports Ground, Saturday, March 8, 5pm
Referee: Adam Cassidy
Broadcast: Radio coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au) and 2GLF FM 89.3 (www.893fm.com.au)

Last year’s premiers begin their title defence with a trip to Belmore to face a young and exciting Bulldogs squad. The Bulldogs are another one of those sides that are currently feeling the cost of injuries to their top squad, with four almost guaranteed NRL starters in Inu, Eastwood, Kasiano and Lafai all missing at present. While this has given players such as Corey Thompson, Pat O’Hanlon and David Klemmer a chance to impress Des Hasler in first grade, it has probably left Barry Ward and his staff a little light on at this level. There are no such worries for the visiting Sharks, who appear to have picked up where they left off last year, naming an all-star back line that includes former Blues and Kangaroos representative Eric Grothe Jr as well as Nathan Gardner, Ricky Leutele and Nathan Stapleton. A few young guys worth keeping an eye on for the Bulldogs throughout the season will be Pat Templeman, John Sila and Moses Mbye. All have already tasted a bit of footy at this level but now get the opportunity to really stamp their brand on this side. All three have wonderful attacking pedigree, and Sila in particular knows his way to the try line. Win or lose, the Bulldogs will definitely be one of the more interesting sides in this year’s competition.

Back to back attack: Much like the Roosters in the NRL, many people who know a bit about this competition are expecting the Sharks to be the team to beat once again. If you look at this week’s line up it is hard to argue against them being one of the early-season favourites. No less than eight of the Sharks named this week have NRL experience, but it will be interesting to see what effect the departure of Chad Townsend has on the side. Penani Manumalealii was a wonderful foil to Townsend in 2013 but will now have to step up and handle a lot more responsibility throughout the match. His halves partner Kurt Mann is still quite young despite having wonderful potential and even when Holdsworth likely re-joins the side upon Robson’s return from injury, it perhaps will be Penani who ultimately has the biggest say on the Sharks’ title defence.

Prediction: Hard to tip against last year’s premiers who look to have the edge on a young Dogs side. Sharks by 10.

Wyong Roos v North Sydney Bears

Morry Breen Oval, Saturday, March 8, 5pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre

The Wyong Roos gave a wonderful account of themselves in their debut season, winning five games and coming close to winning several others. And while there was great pride in many of those close losses, one gets the feeling that under Rip Taylor, losses won’t be acceptable no matter how brave they are. Last year the Roos jumped into the deep end of the pool so to speak as they didn’t formalise their entry into the competition until quite late in the piece, making recruiting and the like more difficult. Fast forward to now and the Roos have added some real quality to their list for 2014. Dale Clacherty from the Knights is a good young outside back while the signing of former Bears in Shaune Corrigan and Darren Nicholls should help bring some experience to a fairly young squad. However it has been the signing of Mark O’Meley which has justifiably caught most of the public’s attention. Despite it feeling as though O’Meley has been around forever, at just 32 years of age, the man affectionately known as ‘Ogre’ should still have plenty to offer at this level of the game. The Bears will field a vastly different side from the one they put on the park during their last match back in September. The likes of Justin Hunt (Parramatta), Nathan Peats (Parramatta), Matt King (retired), Josh Starling (Manly), Darren Nicholls (Wyong), Greg Nichols (retired), Bennett Leslie (rugby union) and Shaune Corrigan (Wyong) have all moved on, meaning that this is very much a new look Bears outfit. Former Bunny Kane Morgan is set to play fullback this round while former Raiders NYC player Jordan Worboys has replaced Nicholls at five eighth. Kirisome Auva’a will look to replicate the type of form that saw him help the Sharks to last year’s title.

Time to make his Mark: NSWRL Media caught up with Mark O’Meley earlier in the week and this article will be up on NSWRL.com.au Friday night and in this weekend’s edition of Rugby League News available at all VB NSW Cup grounds. Mark was open and honest about how he came to be playing for the Roos in 2014 instead of still plying his trade in England, or looking for an NRL contract. He also spoke about not wanting to do himself or the team a disservice by not being up to scratch. He sounded very determined to rip in and prove a point. Expect O’Meley to be one of the Roos’ best each week.

Prediction: The Roos will be in this match right up to their ears but the Bears may just get home late in the piece. Bears by 7.

Newtown Jets have the BYE
Source: http://www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 2 previews

NZ Warriors Vs Illawarra Cutters
Eden Park, Saturday, March 15, 12.40pm (NZT)
Referee: Aaron Donald
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ

Two sides meet here looking to bounce back after round one losses. The Warriors were behind the eight ball early on against Wenty last weekend and never really recovered while the Cutters started well enough against the Tigers, leading 14-6 early, but then conceded the next 28 points to go down 34-14. In team news, Sam Williams will be missing for the Cutters after he was called into the Dragons side to cover for the loss of Michael Witt, while for the Warriors, Ben Henry has been elevated into first grade this week and Carlos Tuimavave will play at six here in his place. Dominique Peyroux also makes his season debut after missing round one. Neither of these teams would have been happy with their round one defence as they conceded 13 tries between them. Look for both sides to muscle up early on in an attempt to rectify some of last week’s defensive woes.

Home Cooking: After a loss on Australian soil last weekend the Warriors will be looking forward to lacing up the boots in front of their fans in Auckland. This will be the first of a number of games this year for the Warriors at Eden Park, and the home side will be keen to make the most of their fixtures which don’t require a plane ride. It is yet to be determined if the Warriors will struggle to win in Australia like the Vulcans before them, but regardless, home wins are vital for all sides, particularly those with heavy travel requirements.

Prediction: The Warriors will be keen to impress in what will be their first ever home fixture in the VB NSW Cup and should prove too strong. Warriors by 10.

Wests Tigers Vs Cronulla Sharks
Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Saturday, March 15, 3pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (893fm.com.au)

Two of the more impressive victors from week one square off here as the Tigers play host to the Sharks at Campbelltown. The Tigers recovered from a sluggish start against the Cutters to pile on the points in an impressive 20-point win while the Sharks put 38 points on the scoreboard in quick time before coasting to an eight-point win against the Bulldogs. Blake Austin was the star of the show for the Tigers, scoring three tries and playing a leading hand in several others. Michael Lichaa also scored three tries for the Sharks - quite spectacularly, he managed to accomplish the feat in five minutes. For the Sharks, Kurt Mann will switch to fullback to cover for the loss of Nathan Gardner to injury, which means Pat Politoni will find himself partnering Penani Manumalealii in the halves. For the Tigers, Kurtis Rowe has been named to start after missing round one. The clash between opposing wingers Taqele Naiyaravoro (Tigers) and Nathan Stapleton (Sharks) should be one which entertains the crowd and keeps the scoreboard attendants on their toes.

Austin Powers: Having come within a win of leading the Windsor Wolves to a VB NSW Cup Premiership last season, Blake Austin made the move to Wests Tigers over the summer, and judging on his performance last Saturday it appears to be a good move. There is every chance that Austin will find his way into the Tigers’ NRL squad in the coming rounds, but in the interim, look for Austin to keep running hot in the VB NSW Cup.

Prediction: The Sharks appear a little banged up on paper and this young Tigers side is full of running after their first-up win. Tigers by 6.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Vs Manly Sea Eagles
Belmore Sports Ground, Saturday, March 15, 3pm
Referee: Damian Briscoe
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

The Bulldogs and the Sea Eagles will be looking for their first wins of the season when they lock horns at Belmore on Saturday afternoon. Manly will be smarting from their Round 1 display, having conceded 50 points at home, while the Bulldogs were taught a footballing lesson early on by defending premiers Cronulla, even though they managed to finish strongly, adding some respectability to the final margin. Luke Williamson has named an unchanged line up here for Manly while for the Bulldogs, Tim Lafai has been named in the centres and Tyrone Phillips has shifted back to his more favoured fullback role. Both of these sides field very young rosters in this competition but it will be perhaps the more experienced backrow of Alaalatoa, Maitua and Burr that may give the Bulldogs the edge on the weekend.

Hot Dogs: Despite their accumulative youth, there is plenty to like about this young Bulldogs backline. Players such as Sila, Phillips, Templeman and Graham have all shined at different stages of their junior development, and have shown enough in recent times to suggest that they have a future in open-age football. But like anything new, it may take time for all of the ingredients to come together and work in harmony. There will probably be weeks when this Dogs backline is electric and on song but Dogs fans will need to be patient as there may also be weeks when things just don’t click. Either way, it won’t be boring, that’s for sure.

Prediction: The Dogs showed enough late against the Sharks to suggest that they should be winning here. Bulldogs by 8.

Wyong Roos Vs Penrith Panthers
Morry Breen Oval, Saturday, March 15, 6pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM ( www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

The Wyong Roos play their second home match to start the season, hosting a Panthers side out to make amends for a first-up loss. Much was expected of the Panthers last weekend against the Knights however they struggled to get a foothold in a match that they were always chasing. The Roos started strongly enough in a scrappy encounter against the Bears however they couldn’t get their hands on the ball in the second half and found themselves racking up far too many errors. In team news, Will Smith has shifted from the halves to the centres for Penrith to accommodate Daniel Foster while the Roos will take a near unchanged line up from last week into this one. The Roos were very competitive in two losses against the then Windsor side last season and will be hopeful of giving the Panthers all they can handle once again here. If the home side is to cause an upset, they will be looking for 2013 VB NSW Cup Player of the Year Mitch Williams to lead the way.

Operation Completion: It wouldn’t have taken a rocket scientist to work out what these two sides would have been working on at training this week. Both sides only completed around 50% of their sets in round one losses, and with sides aiming to complete closer to 75-80% of their sets each week, both sides would not have been happy with their handling. Expect to see a sharp improvement in this area this weekend by both sides.

Prediction: Hard to tip against the Panthers who will be smarting after their round one home loss. Panthers by 14.

Wentworthville Magpies Vs Newtown Jets
Ringrose Park, Sunday, March 16, 3pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls
Broadcast: Radio coverage courtesy of ALIVE fm (alive905.com.au)

Our first chance to see Newtown in action after a round-one bye will be a baptism by fire as the Jets head to Ringrose Park to face a Wenty side which looked ultra-impressive first up. Chris Sandow, Lorenzo Ma’afu and Ken Sio were the stars as the Magpies posted a 38-24 win against the Warriors last weekend. Sandow in particular has been the centre of much speculation recently regarding his future, and whether it ultimately lies at Parramatta or another club, Sandow showed last week that he is more than up to the challenge. David Gower and Mitchell Allgood have been added to an extended NRL bench for the Eels but still may make an appearance here if their services are not required at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night. Justin Hunt hasn’t been named this week by Wenty but Brenden Santi and Pat Mataele will make their first appearance of the season. With the Parramatta wingers in Radradra and Toutai both bagging hat tricks last weekend, look for Sio to have another big one here to keep his name in the NRL selection frame in the coming weeks.

Some Old Some New: There are some new faces at the 2014 Newtown Jets, and a number of them are set to pull on the royal blue and white for the first time in the competition. Jonathan Reuben (Raiders), Bobbie Goulding Jr (Wakefield) and David Harris (Wests Tigers) are just a few of the new names at the club while prolific tryscorer Brett Lane (Bulldogs) is back at the club for a second stint at Henson Park. It will be interesting to see how these new names mix with some of the club’s more established players over the coming rounds.

Prediction: The Magpies were very impressive last weekend and having no real form reference for the Jets yet, it’s hard to go past the home side. Magpies by 8.

Newcastle Knights Vs Mounties
Hunter Stadium, Sunday, March 16, 4.15pm
Referee: Adam Cassidy
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre (NSWRL.com.au)

Two first up winners do battle here as the Newcastle Knights welcome Mounties to Hunter Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Mounties find themselves on top of the table courtesy of a comprehensive win over Manly last Saturday while the Knights went to Sportingbet Stadium and ground out a very nice win against the Penrith Panthers. With Ricky Stuart keeping the faith in his Raiders line up for round two, Mounties find themselves fielding a strong side once again with Lagi Setu, Mosese Pangai and Mark Nicholls all added to the squad. The Knights may or may not lose Matt Minto to first grade, but will have the services of Adam Clydesdale, who makes his first start of the season. The Knights’ goal line defence in the second half last weekend was strong and with a high-octane Mounties offence coming to town, Rick Stone will be hoping that they can once again negate the opposition’s advances.

On a Wing and a Prayer: One of the potential highlights of this fixture is the real quality that both of these sides possess out on the flanks. The Knights’ combination of Chanel Mata’utia and Josh Mantellato may well end up being the most effective in the competition by season’s end while the Mounties pairing of Sami Sauiluma and Jeremy Hawkins will undoubtedly provide plenty of highlights of their own over the course of the year. These four combined for seven tries in round one so look for at least a few of these guys to get their names on the scorer’s sheet again this Sunday.

Prediction: Possibly the closest match of the weekend on paper, with both sides a realistic chance of posting a win. Knights by 2.

North Sydney Bears have the bye

http://www.nrl.com/

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 3 previews

Penrith Panthers Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sportingbet Stadium, March 22, 2.10pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1, Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

The Penrith Panthers will be desperate to post their first win of 2014 when they host a Bulldogs outfit confident of springing an upset. Many people’s Premiership pick in the pre-season, the Panthers have looked anything but title favourites following back-to-back losses to the Knights and Wyong respectively. Completing sets has been a major cause for concern for Penrith over the opening rounds, and despite having welcomed a handful of new recruits to the club, the Panthers chemistry is certainly not where Garth Brennan would like it to be at present. The Bulldogs bounced back from a round one loss to the Sharks to post a 22 point win over the Sea Eagles last weekend. Despite the scoreboard indicating that the Dogs won comfortably, for the second week in a row they trailed at half time, so new coach Andy Patmore will be hoping for a faster start here. The inclusions of both Wes Naiqama and Isaac John should be welcomed ones for the home side while the Bulldogs will field a near unchanged line up from the one that won last week.

New Sherriff In Town: As of this match, Andy Patmore has officially replaced Barry Ward as the head coach of the Bulldogs VB NSW Cup outfit. It seems a fitting appointment when you consider how many young kids are running around in their side. A large number of these NYC graduates have spent considerable time under Patmore over the past few seasons at Belmore and his already established relationships with said players may well pay off for the Dogs over the course of the year.

Prediction: Hard one to tip but will go with the Dogs in what would be considered by most as an upset. Bulldogs by 4.

Cronulla Sharks Vs Illawarra Cutters
Remondis Stadium, March 22, 2.40pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre (NSWRL.com.au)

It may be a new year in the VB NSW Cup but for the Sharks some things haven’t changed. Two wins from as many starts to begin the season for the side from the shire sees them once again putting up their hand as the team to beat. Despite a raft of injury concerns, Coach Tony Herman has once again proven himself to be one of the best coaches in the competition by plugging in several replacement players into his system and still achieving the desired result. The Cutters gained their first point of the 2014 season last weekend when they returned from Auckland with a point following their 12-all draw with the Warriors at Eden Park. It was a match that the Cutters may well have won but having said that, if a late field goal attempt from the Warriors had been successful, they might have gone home with nothing to show for their effort, so perhaps a draw was not a bad result. Some big inclusions this week for the Sharks with Penani Manumalealii returning to the side after he made his NRL debut on Monday night. He will also be joined by Isaac De Gois and Justin O’Neill. For the Cutters, they are largely unchanged however they have lost the services of Matt Groat with his place in the starting line up to be taken by Rory O’Brien.

Justin The Nick Of Time: The Sharks are currently undergoing a significant injury crisis at present, so it must be nice to be able to call upon the services of Storm flyer, Justin O’Neill. A former Junior Kangaroo and Maroons squad member, O’Neill is returning from injury and will be looking for a solid hit out prior to raising his hand for first grade over the coming rounds.

Prediction: Almost impossible to tip against the Sharks these days but look for the Cutters to make them earn it. Sharks by 8.

Mounties Vs Newtown Jets
Aubrey Keech Reserve, March 22, 3pm
Referee: Damien Briscoe
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (893fm.com.au)

The ladder-leading Mounties side play their first home match of 2014 here as they host a Jets side looking to bounce back following a poor first up effort against Wenty. Having had the bye in round one, the Jets looked a step behind their opposition for large periods of the match last Sunday however did manage to stop the bleeding in the second half and will be hopeful they can start faster here against Mounties. Starting fast was not an issue for Mounties last weekend against the Knights as they led 24-6 at half time and could have quite easily lead by more. The likes of Bond, Sauiluma, Hawkins and Cornish have been linking up well over the opening two rounds and will be eyeing off a wounded Jets outfit here. Newtown will hand a debut to young Jake Watts here who is a former South Sydney U20s player. Watts was injured in the Jets final trial match just a couple of weeks ago but appears to have made a faster than expected recovery to take his place. Speculation also during the week that the enigmatic Arana Taumata has been thrown a lifeline by the Jets, however given that he will have only had one training run with his new side under his belt, it would be more unlikely than likely to see him out on the field Saturday, but you just never know. No Matt McIllwrick for Mounties with his place in the starting lineup taken by Reece Goldsmith who bagged a double last round.

Hot To Trot: Mounties have started the 2014 season like a house on fire and will look to continue their good form here against the Jets. After posting a 40 point win over Manly back in round one, Mounties almost repeated the dose last weekend against the Knights, with only a late Korbin Sims try denying them another 40 point win. At times last week Mounties were scoring for fun, so it will be interesting to see what type of resistance the Jets can offer come Saturday.

Prediction: Mounties are in white hot form to start the year and will be confident of a win at home. Mounties by 10.

Newcastle Knights Vs North Sydney Bears
St John Oval, Charlestown, March 22, 3pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski

The Knights, who are unaccustomed to losing at home, will be out to avoid a second straight home loss when the Bears make the trek up the M1 on Saturday. The Bears posted a professional win against Wyong back in round one and then had the luxury of the bye last weekend. The Knights had a solid win against Penrith a fortnight ago but were nowhere near their best last weekend when they went down to Mounties 46-10 at Hunter Stadium. The Knights have lost David Fa’alogo for this one but do get Zane Tetevano back from injury. The Bears will also field a new centre combination with Beau Champion and Aaron Gray named here while Cameron McInnes, Nathaniel Neale and Chris Grevsmuhl will all make their first start for the Bears. The Knights only managed to post two tries last week with one coming from a miracle around the back pass and the second coming on the full time siren. More points will be required here for Rick Stone’s men as this Bears side looks to have plenty of points in them. The clash between Curtis Johnston and Josh Mantellato out wide looks to be an exciting one with both men standing in excess of six feet tall and loving to contest the high ball.

Home Cooking: The Knights didn't lose a home fixture at all in 2013 however they have already blotted their 2014 copybook after last weekend's loss to Mounties at Hunter Stadium. This weekend sees them play another home fixture, this time at the home of Central Charlestown (Newcastle Rugby League), so it will be interesting to see if they can get back on track despite being short on troops at present.

Prediction: The Bears should be fresh off the bye and may be able to win on the road as a result. Bears by 7.

Wyong Roos Vs Wests Tigers
Morry Breen Oval, March 22, 5pm
Referee: Jeff Hartup
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

A great win for the Roos over the Panthers last round should see them ready and raring to take on the visiting Tigers this Saturday afternoon. The Tigers put in a good effort against the Sharks last round but just found them a touch too good late in the piece. Losing Blake Austin on the eve of the game certainly wouldn’t have helped their cause so they will be happy to have him back on Saturday. The Roos two starting props in Stromquist and O’Meley have been leading from the front for Wyong over the opening rounds so look for them to once again be the pillars on which Wyong build their attack around. Darren Nicholls started to look more comfortable around his new team mates last weekend and once he begins to form a partnership with Mitch Williams. The Tigers beat the Roos both times they played them last season however despite their 13 and 12 point margins, the matches were much tighter than the final score indicated. Paul Fletcher would remember this well and surely won’t allow his troops to be complacent heading into this one.

The Bash Brothers: While they aren't exactly Paul Gallen and Greg Bird, Marika Koribete and Taqele Naiyaravoro may prove to be the VB NSW Cup’s version of the ‘Bash Brothers’. Not in the same sense mind you of Bird and Gallen who primarily operate in the middle third of the park, the Fijian wingers will look to steam roll their way over the line out wide against a smaller Wyong backline. Naiyaravoro showed last year that at his best he is almost unstoppable in this grade while Koroibete returned to the fold last week and has already managed to get his name in the scorers' book. If this pair gets going early, it may make for an interesting afternoon of football up on the coast.

Prediction: Wyong will be confident after their win last week but the Tigers side looks too strong on paper. Tigers by 10.

Manly Sea Eagles Vs Wentworthville Magpies
Brookvale Oval, March 23, 12.45pm
Referee: Jon Stone
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre (NSWRL.com.au)

The Manly Sea Eagles will be in search of their first win of 2014 as they host a Wentworthville side that is yet to taste defeat. Wenty, along with Mounties have been the standout sides over the opening two rounds of the competition and their good form does not surprise when you cast your eyes across their team list. Players such as Sandow, Sio, Hunt, Lasalo and Ma'afu wouldn’t look out of place in a lot of NRL sides and young guns such as Santi and Faraimo also add some class to the roster. In an interesting twist of fate, Daniel Harrison has been granted a release from Parramatta to return to Manly, and will this week play against many men that he was only two weeks ago training and playing alongside. Luke Williamson has shifted the talented Clinton Gutherson from fullback to five eighth in search of a much needed spark in the only significant team change from the side that went down to the Dogs last week. Manly have been very competitive against both Mounties and Canterbury in the first forty minutes however have fallen away badly in the second halves. Manly will be looking for a more complete 80 minute effort against a Wenty side that will show them no mercy if they can’t.

Sio Is Streaking: Two tries in round one was quickly followed up with a classy hat-trick last weekend by Ken Sio. Both he and Wenty have started this season in fine fashion and along with Chris Sandow, Sio looks to be in great touch early doors. Brad Arthur has resisted the temptation of changing his NRL side too much despite Parramatta's heavy loss to the Roosters last weekend, however one could only imagine that Sio may find himself back in the NRL sooner rather than later should he maintain this type of form in the VB NSW Cup.

Prediction: Wenty have been ultra-impressive through two rounds and should keep their unbeaten start to the season in tact here. Magpies by 14.

NZ Warriors have the bye

http://www.nswrl.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW CUP TEAM LISTS - ROUND THREE

Here are the line ups for round three of the 2014 VB NSW Cup competition:

Penrith Panthers Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sportingbet Stadium, Saturday, March 22
Kick-off: 2.10pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (Link available via www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

PANTHERS – 1. DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK 2. EDDIE AIONO 3. TOM EISENHUTH 4. ISAAH YEO 5. WES NAIQAMA 6. WILL SMITH 7. ISAAC JOHN 8. SAM ANDERSON 9. KIERRAN MOSELEY 10. SHAUN SPENCE 11. CHRIS SMITH 12. NATHAN SMITH 13. RYAN SIMPKINS 14. REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD 15. LIAM AYOUB 16. LEILANI LATU 17. ANTHONY CHERRINGTON COACH: GARTH BRENNAN

BULLDOGS – 1. TYRONE PHILLIPS 2. DRURY LOW 3. ED MURPHY 4. TIM LAFAI 5. KAYNE BRENNAN 6. PAT TEMPLEMAN 7. JALINE GRAHAM 8. LLOYD PERRETT 9. BRAD CLARKE 10. MAKAHESI MAKATOA 11. LACHLAN BURR 12. RENI MAITUA 13. HARLAN ALAALATOA INTERCHANGE 14. NATHAN MASSEY 15. CHRIS BINGE 16. DAVID MINUTE 17. STEVE AZZI 19. JAMIE STANLEY 20. LINDON MCGRADY 21. LEVI DODD 22. PAT MAFI COACH: ANDREW PATMORE


Cronulla Sharks Vs Illawarra Cutters
Remondis Stadium, Saturday, March 22
Kick-off: 2.40pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

SHARKS – 1. KURT MANN 2. NATHAN STAPLETON 3. JUSTIN O’NEILL 4. JACOB GAGAN 5. JOSH PORTLOCK 6. BEN ROBERTS 7. PENANI MANUMALEALII 8. TIM ROBINSON 9. ISAAC DE GOIS 10. DAYNE WESTON 11. JUNIOR MOORS 12. JUNIOR ROQICA 13. SLADE GRIFFIN 14. SCOTT SORENSEN 15. MICHAEL MORRIS 16. SIONE MASIMA 17. PAT POLITONI COACH: TONY HERMAN

CUTTERS – 1. PETER MATA’UTIA 2. NATHAN SMITH 3. CHARLY RUNCIMAN 4. NATHAN GREEN 5. TYRON CRANSTON 6. SAM DUGGAN 7. RYAN CARR (C) 8. JOSH AILAOMAI 9. SHANE PUMIPI 17. RORY O’BRIEN 11. WILL MATTHEWS 12. WILLIE MATAKA 13. PENI BOTIKI 14. KYLE EATHER 15. DYLAN STRICKLAND 18. CHARLIE FAINGAA 24. SHANNON WAKEMAN COACH: IAN MILLWARD


Mounties Vs Newtown Jets
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Saturday, March 22
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Damien Briscoe
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (Link available via 893fm.com.au)

MOUNTIES – 1. JOEY BOND 2. JEREMY HAWKINS 3. BILL TUPOU 4. MOSESE PANGAI 5. SAMI SAUILUMA 6. MATT PLACE 7. MITCH CORNISH 8. KYLE O’DONNELL 9. REECE GOLDSMITH 10. LAGI SETU 11. JAKE FOSTER 12. MARK NICHOLLS 13. CLAY PRIEST 14. MITCH CAHALANE 15. KURT HORTON 16. RODNEY COATES 17. DAVE CAHALANE 19. GUS AIGA COACH: STEPHEN ANTONELLI

JETS – 1. SHANNON GALLANT 2. JONATHAN REUBEN 3. RHYSE MARTIN 4. BRETT LANE 5. CHRIS TARIPO 6. SAMISONI LANGI 7. JAKE WATTS 8. SAULALA HOUMA 9. KURT KARA 10. ANDREW PEARN 11. JACK SIEJKA 12. JACK NOBLE 13. DAVID HARRIS 15. JORDAN GALLOWAY 17. RAY MOUJALLI 18. PAUL ROKOLATI 21. RYAN VERLINDEN 26. BOBBIE GOULDING COACH: GREG MATTERSON


Newcastle Knights Vs North Sydney Bears
St John Oval, Charlestown, Saturday, March 22
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski

KNIGHTS – 1. HONETI TUHA 2. JOSH MANTELLATO 3. BRAYDEN WILIAME 4. PAT MATA’UTIA 5. CHANEL MATA’UTIA 6. TYLER RANDELL 7. DANNY KERR 30. TOKA LIKILIKI 9. CHAD REDMAN 10. PAT VAIVAI 11. KORBIN SIMS 12. ZANE TETEVANO 13. MATT HILDER © 14. ADAM CLYDSDALE 15. BRENTON HORWOOD 16. MICHAEL STEELE 17. JEREMY SIULEPA 22. JAMES ELIAS COACH: RICK STONE

BEARS – 1. KANE MORGAN 2. ALEX JOHNSTON 3. BEAU CHAMPION 4. AARON GRAY 5. CURTIS JOHNSTON 6. JORDAN WORBOYS 7. APISAI KOROISAU 8. NATHANIEL NEALE 9. CAMERON MCINNES 10. BRAD LUPI 11. JESSE ROBERTS © 12. CHRIS GREVSMUHL 13. MATT HYLAND 14. NECCROM AREAIITI 15. DUNCAN LOW 16. JACKSON WILLIAMS 17. BLAKE SOUTH 19. JOSH TOOLE COACH: WAYNE LAMBKIN


Wyong Roos Vs Wests Tigers
Morry Breen Oval, Saturday, March 22
Kick-off: 5.00pm
Referee: Jeff Hartup
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (Link available via www.steelesports.com.au)

ROOS – 1. GRANT NELSON 2. KYLE MACGREGOR 3. JAY FLORIMO 4. DALE CLACHERTY 5. SHAUNE CORRIGAN 6. ALEX LANGBRIDGE 7. DARREN NICHOLLS 8. MARK O’MELEY 9. MITCH WILLIAMS © 10. MAGNUS STROMQUIST 11. SAM BERNSTROM 12. TEKINA VAILEA 13. BROCK MOLAN 14. INOKE VUNIPOLA 15. SHAUN BOSS 16. ADAM SHAW 17. TYLA HEPI 19. TODD LEWIS COACH: RIP TAYLOR

TIGERS – 1. KURTIS ROWE 2. MARIKA KOROIBETE 3. COREY BROWN 4. SETEFANO TAUKAFA 5. TAQELE NAIYARAVORO 6. BLAKE AUSTIN 7. NATHAN WATERS 8. SAM HOLLIS 9. JOEL LUANI 10. MICHAEL BULLOCK 11. BEN MURDOCH-MASILA 12. ASIPELI FINE 13. KYLE LOVETT 14. NATHAN BROWN 15. ANDY FIAGUTUSA 16. SITALEKI AKAUOLA 17. INNO INOSESIO 18. LUKE WILLIAMS 19. JACK MADDEN COACH: PAUL FLETCHER


Manly Sea Eagles Vs Wentworthville MagpiesBrookvale Oval, Sunday, March 23
Kick-off: 12.45pm
Referee: Phil Henderson
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

SEA EAGLES – 1. MATT IKUVALU 2. DOMENIC REARDON 3. DELROY BERRYMAN 4. TONY SATINI 5. MARK O’DARE 6. CLINTON GUTHERSON 7. MASADA IOSEFA 8. LIGI SAO 9. JAYDEN HODGES 10. TYSON ANDREWS 11. DANIEL HARRISON 12. SANTANA PALMER 13. JAKE TRBOJEVIC 14. CRAIG MCMURRICH 15. LUKE BARTLEY 16. DALLAS KOEN 17. RON ALOVILI COACH: LUKE WILLIAMSON

MAGPIES – 1. HENRY RAIWALUI 2. KEN SIO 3. JAKE BUTLER-FLEMING 4. ETHAN TANGIRA 5. BURETA FARAIMO 6. SAM GORMAN 7. CHRIS SANDOW 26. TANIELA LASALO 9. JUSTIN HUNT 10. JUNIOR PAULO 11. JOSEPH UALESI 12. BRENDAN SANTI 13. LORENZO MA’AFU 14. LIAM FORAN 15. DANIEL ALVARO 16. PAT MATAELE 17. JOSEPH MATAPUKU 18. BEN JONES COACH: BRETT COOK

NZ Warriors have the bye

http://www.nswrl.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 4 previews
By NSWRL

NZ Warriors Vs Wests Tigers
Westpac Stadium, March 29, 2.45pm (NZT)
Referee: Aaron Donald
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ

Just like their NRL side, the Wests Tigers VB NSW Cup team has a whole new set of youngsters ripping and tearing each and every week. Kyle Lovett, Kurtis Rowe and Nathan Brown have provided Paul Fletcher with some extra pep in the early part of season 2014 and this week they face another young side with plenty of skilful NYC graduates in the Warriors. Rohan Smith looks to have opted for Siliva Havili instead of Michael Sio at starting hooker in a change that we think will benefit the Warriors ruck and give their big forwards some much needed direction. The Warriors ‘Mr fix it’ Steve Waetford moves into the five-eighth role this weekend and his match up with the in-form Blake Austin will be worth getting to Westpac Stadium early to watch. Some of the Warriors squad will have been involved in the boil-over in Wellington last year when the Wyong Roos ambushed the Vulcans so they will be desperate to perform for their fans in the capital. Reports from Wyong last weekend suggest that Paul Fletcher’s bench was the difference in what was a war of attrition and the battle between them and their Kiwi counterparts could decide this one.

Ticking time bomb: You just get that feeling that this Warriors team is ready to explode into contention in the VB NSW Cup. Rohan Smith would have been frustrated with some of the play-making decisions last weekend but he is an excellent coach and his influence will soon take effect. We have a sneaky feeling this could be their week.

Prediction: Both teams will trade tries all game but the Warriors will get their season started and win in a close one. Warriors by 8.

Illawarra Cutters Vs Newtown Jets
WIN Stadium, March 29, 3pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

The Illawarra Cutters put the VB NSW Cup competition on notice last weekend with an impressive 34-22 win over reigning premiers Cronulla at Remondis Stadium. The Jets went down to Mounties 38-16 after starting well at Aubrey Keech Reserve. While Jets coach Greg Matterson is a hard marker, you wouldn’t be too concerned with last weekend’s result as their halfback played his first game in the club’s colours and only participated in one training session with the side during the week. Arana Taumata has had a full week with his new teammates and will be better for the run last weekend. The Jets have plenty of talent floating around with several graduates of an impressive Roosters NYC side last year. Rhyse Martin, Samisoni Langi and Jack Siejka seem to be adjusting to the physicality of the VB NSW Cup each week and better performances won’t be far away. The main test for the Jets will be to contain Illawarra’s in-form backline. The likes of Peter Mata’utia, Charlie Runciman and Nathan Green have been in devastating form in recent weeks and if the Jets can contain these three, they will go a long way to stemming the flow of points for the Cutters.

‘Big Bopper’ at the ready: NRL coach Steve Price has been experimenting with his front-row in recent weeks and this week he has opted for Tyson Frizell in the number eight jersey. Should he want to throw someone from the Cutters a chance we think Josh Ailaomai would be more than capable of matching it with the boys up front in the NRL.

Prediction: Another tough one to split. The Jets look like they may take some time to warm to season 2014 though. Cutters by 12.

Mounties Vs North Sydney Bears
Aubrey Keech Reserve, March 29, 3pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (893fm.com.au)

Mounties have started the season like a house on fire and this weekend they will welcome former NSW VB Blues front-rower Tom Learoyd-Lahrs to what is already an imposing forward pack. Learoyd-Lahrs will line up against South Sydney’s Luke Burgess who has been sent to the VB NSW Cup to find some form along with 2013 VB NSW Cup representative player of the year Jason Clark. South Sydney Coach Michael Maguire will continue to play NYC eligible players Aaron Gray and Alex Johnston in the VB NSW Cup hoping they can blossom like Dylan Walker did for North Sydney during the early rounds of the 2013 season. For Mounties, Bill Tupou’s elevation to the Raiders NRL side brings in the experienced Gus Aiga to Steve Antonelli’s backline. While Aiga is a powerful athlete, his opposing winger, Curtis Johnston, will have a considerable height advantage and the Bears will look to exploit this as a fifth tackle option. It will be interesting to see if Mitch Cornish can continue to raise his hand for an NRL debut. Newcastle players said he carved them apart in round two and with the NRL side looking for halves options, Cornish could make his NRL debut sooner rather than later.

Foster the people: The addition of Dean Pay to Canberra’s coaching staff seems to have given Foster a new breath of life. He has been in imposing form of late both in attack and defence. Canberra has plenty of depth in the back row but if Foster can continue this early season form, he will be in the frame for Ricky Stuart’s NRL side soon.

Prediction: Hard to see Mounties being beaten at home after their good start to the season especially with the added impetus of Learoyd-Lahrs. Mounties by 10.

Newcastle Knights Vs Cronulla Sharks
Hunter Stadium, March 30, 12.45pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre (NSWRL.com.au)

The Knights recovered from a slow start against the Bears last Saturday to pile on the points and claim a runaway 50-22 win while the Sharks were always chasing the Cutters in their 34-22 loss at Remondis Stadium. Both of these sides continue to miss a number of troops due to a significant injury toll at their respective clubs, but still manage to field very classy outfits nonetheless. The Knights pack in particular looks a beauty with players such as Houston, Hilder, Waddell and Tetevano while the Sharks will field at least 10 players with first grade experience. Chanel Mata’utia continues to find the line for the home side after he scored his fourth try of the season against the Bears while his brother Pat also bagged a double to take his tally to three. The Sharks will be looking for some more fluidity in their play this week after appearing to be disjointed at times against a solid Cutters defence. Look for the Knights to be aggressive in defence and take time and space away from the likes of Manumalealii, Politoni and Mann. Mann in particular is a dangerous commodity and having spent his junior years at Newcastle, including helping the club to a SG Ball title in 2011, the club should be all too aware of what he is capable of.

The BBF: Also known as the ‘Bounce Back Factor’… The Knights certainly showed that the BBF is still well and truly alive after they bounced back from a sluggish performance against Mounties in round two to put 50 points on the Bears last weekend. Unfortunately for the Knights, the Sharks will be looking for their own BBF this weekend after they suffered a rare loss to the Cutters at Remondis Stadium last Saturday. Shapes as a really intriguing clash and one that’s not to be missed.

Prediction: Impossible to predict a winner here. A side that rarely loses at home against a side that rarely loses period. Draw.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Vs Wyong Roos
Belmore Sports Ground, March 30, 3pm
Referee: Damian Briscoe
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre (NSWRL.com.au)

Two sides who both lost by ten points last round, and that have one win to show for their efforts through three rounds of play clash here when the Bulldogs host the Roos. Canterbury were never really able to get a foothold in their match with the Panthers eventually going down 22-12 while the Roos finished strongly against the Tigers but still went down 28-18. The Bulldogs have named an exceptionally strong side here with Kiwi internationals Greg Eastwood, Sam Kasiano and Krisnan Inu all listed to play however with the Bulldogs NRL side playing in Perth, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see some late changes. For the Roos, Mark O’Meley is set to face one of his old clubs for the second time in a month after suiting up against the Bears back in round one. In other Roos news, the ever versatile Alex Langbridge has been named at fullback this week after playing in a number of other positions over the opening rounds. The Roos will have good memories of their trip to Belmore last year when they came away with the two points in a midweek fixture.

Caught on the hop: The Bulldogs will not have forgotten the fact that the Roos managed two wins against them last season. Wyong finished the season with just the five wins however managed to claim the honours at Belmore and then once again in the return fixture at Morry Breen. This is arguably a much different Dogs outfit to the ones that took to the field on those occasions, but stats are stats and Wyong supporters will be hoping that history repeats itself once again.

Prediction: If the Dogs ending up fielding a side anywhere close to the one they have named, they should be winning at home. Bulldogs by 12.

Wentworthville Magpies Vs Penrith Panthers
Ringrose Park, March 30, 3pm
Referee: Jeff Hartup

Wenty managed to pull one out of the fire last weekend when they rallied late to sneak home 30-28 against Manly while the Panthers grafted out a professional 22-12 win over the Bulldogs. The Magpies great start to the season looks to be tested here with Ken Sio and Chris Sandow both called up to Brad Arthur’s NRL side. Penrith on the other hand will arguably field their strongest side yet with the likes of Eto Nabuli, Luke Capewell and Matt Robinson all being named for this one. Garth Brennan and Brett Cook are two of the competitions better ‘thinkers’ so look for a real chess-like fixture here with both sides throwing a few curveballs at one another throughout the course of the match. Justin Hunt has been named at hooker for Wenty which is an interesting move considering he has excelled in past seasons at fullback, wing and five eight. Perhaps after losing Peats for their heavy round two loss, the Eels have highlighted the need to manufacture an effective back up number nine and have earmarked the very talented Hunt as the player to do so.

Encore performance: The Fijian flyer, Eto Nabuli swept all before him in 2013 as he bagged some 30 odd tries and almost carried his side to a VB NSW Cup Premiership. After an injury-plagued start to his 2014 campaign, Nabuli will hit the paddock this weekend and will no doubt be trying to make up for lost time. There is plenty of talent in the Panthers ranks at present, particularly in the outside backs, but it would be hard not to see Nabuli grabbing a first grade debut this year if his form is anything like that of last season.

Prediction: A few key losses for Wenty and some big inclusions for Penrith tip the scales in their favour. Panthers by 8.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have the bye

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup Team Lists - Round Four

Here are the line ups for round four of the 2014 VB NSW Cup competition:

NZ Warriors Vs Wests Tigers
Westpac Stadium, Saturday, March 29
Kick-off: 2.45pm (NZT)
Referee: Aaron Donald
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ

WARRIORS – 1. CARLOS TUIMAVAVE 2. JARRED WILSON 3. DOMINIQUE PEYROUX 4. DAVID FUSITUA 5. NGANI LAUMAPE 6. STEVE WAETFORD (c) 7. TUIMOALA LOLOHEA 8. CHARLIE GUBB 9. SILIVA HAVILI 10. UPU POCHING 11. JOHN PALAVI 12. RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER 13. SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO 14. MICHAEL SIO 15. DAVID BHANA 16. NATHANIEL PETERU 17. ABRAHAM PAPALII 18. ALBERT VETE COACH: ROHAN SMITH

TIGERS – 1. KURTIS ROWE 2. MARIKA KOROIBETE 3. COREY BROWN 4. ASIPELI FINE 5. TAQELE NAIYARAVORO 6. BLAKE AUSTIN 7. NATHAN WATERS 8. NATHAN BROWN 9. JOEL LUANI 10. MICHAEL BULLOCK 11. BEN MURDOCH-MASILA 12. JARROD FARLOW (C) 13. KYLE LOVETT 14. SAM HOLLIS 15. JACK BUCHANAN 16. SITALEKI AKAUOLA 17. INNO INOSESIO 18. ANDY FIAGUTUSA 19. SETEFANO TAUKAFA COACH: PAUL FLETCHER



Illawarra Cutters Vs Newtown Jets
WIN Stadium, Saturday, March 29
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (Link available via www.steelesports.com.au)

CUTTERS – 1. PETER MATA’UTIA 2. GEOFF DANIELA 3. CHARLY RUNCIMAN 4. NATHAN GREEN 5. NATHAN SMITH 6. SAM DUGGAN 7. RYAN CARR (C) 8. JOSH AILAOMAI 9. SHANE PUMIPI 17. RORY O’BRIEN 11. WILL MATTHEWS 12. SHANNON WAKEMAN 13. WILLIE MATAKA 14. CRAIG GARVEY 15. PENI BOTIKI 16. JUNIOR TIA-KILIFI 25. BENSON TUPOU COACH: IAN MILLWARD

JETS – 1. SHANNON GALLANT 2. JONATHON REUBEN 3. RHYSE MARTIN 4. BRETT LANE 5. CHRIS TARIPO 6. SAMISONI LANGI 7. ARANA TAUMATA 8. SAULALA HOUMA 9. KURT KARA 10. ANDREW PEARN 11. JACK SIEJKA 12. SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO 13. JACK NOBLE 15. DAVID HARRIS 17. RAY MOUJALLI 19. JORDAN GALLOWAY 21. RYAN VERLINDEN 23. PIERCE SAPSFORD COACH: GREG MATTERSON


Mounties Vs North Sydney Bears
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Saturday, March 29
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (Link available via 893fm.com.au)

MOUNTIES – 1. JOEY BOND 2. GUS AIGA 3. JEREMY HAWKINS 4. MOSESE PANGAI 5. SAMI SAUILUMA 6. MATT PLACE 7. MITCH CORNISH 8. KYLE O’DONNELL 9. MATT McILWRICK 10. TOM LEAROYD-LAHRS 11. JAKE FOSTER 12. MARK NICHOLLS 13. LAGI SETU 14. MITCH CAHALANE 15. KURT HORTON 16. RODNEY COATES 17. REECE GOLDSMITH 18. FRANCIS VAIOTU 19. THEO LEATO COACH: STEPHEN ANTONELLI

BEARS – 1. KANE MORGAN 2. ALEX JOHNSTON 3. BEAU CHAMPION 4. AARON GRAY 5. CURTIS JOHNSTON 6. MATT EVANS 7. JORDAN WORBOYS 8. LUKE BURGESS 9. BLAKE SOUTH 10. BRAD LUPI 11. JASON CLARK 12. CHRIS GREVSMUHL 13. MATT HYLAND © 14. NECCROM AREAIITI 15. DUNCAN LOW 16. JACKSON WILLIAMS 17. DANIEL VASEK 18. JESSE ROBERTS 19. JOSH TOOLE COACH: WAYNE LAMBKIN


Newcastle Knights Vs Cronulla Sharks
Hunter Stadium, Sunday, March 30
Kick-off: 12.45pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

KNIGHTS – 1. HONETI TUHA 2. JOSH MANTELLATO 3. BRAYDEN WILIAME 4. PAT MATA’UTIA 5. CHANEL MATA’UTIA 6. TYLER RANDELL 7. DANNY KERR 30. TOKA LIKILIKI 9. CHAD REDMAN 10. PAT VAIVAI 11. CHRIS HOUSTON 12. ZANE TETEVANO 13. MATT HILDER © 14. TRAVIS WADDELL 15. BRENTON HORWOOD 16. MICHAEL STEELE 17. JEREMY SIULEPA 22. JAMES ELIAS COACH: RICK STONE

SHARKS – 1. KURT MANN 2. TRAVIS ROBINSON 3. JUSTIN O’NEILL 4. JACOB GAGAN 5. JOSH PORTLOCK 6. PAT POLITONI 7. PENANI MANUMALEALII 8. TIM ROBINSON 9. MICHAEL LICHAA 10. DAYNE WESTON 11. JUNIOR MOORS 12. JUNIOR ROQICA 13. SLADE GRIFFIN 14. SCOTT SORENSEN 15. MICHAEL MORRIS 16. DAVID FIFITA 17. SIONE MASIMA COACH: TONY HERMAN


Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Vs Wyong Roos
Lidcombe Oval, Sunday, March 30
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Damian Briscoe
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

BULLDOGS – 1. TYRONE PHILLIPS 2. LEVI DODD 3. ED MURPHY 4. KRISNAN INU 5. KAYNE BRENNAN 6. MOSES MBYE 7. JALINE GRAHAM 8. LLOYD PERRETT 9. DAMIEN COOK 10. MAKAHESI MAKATOA 11. LACHLAN BURR 12. RENI MAITUA 13. GREG EASTWOOD 14. HARLAN ALAALATOA 15. DAVID MINUTE 16. BRAD CLARKE 19. NATHAN MASSEY 24. SAM KASIANO COACH ANDREW PATMORE

ROOS – 1. ALEX LANGBRIDGE 2. KYLE MACGREGOR 3. JAY FLORIMO 4. SHAUNE CORRIGAN 5. DALE CLACHERTY 6. TODD LEWIS 7. DARREN NICHOLLS 8. MARK O’MELEY 9. MITCH WILLIAMS © 10. MAGNUS STROMQUIST 11. SAM BERNSTROM 12. TEKINA VAILEA 13. BROCK MOLAN 14. INOKE VUNIPOLA 15. SHAUN BOSS 16. ADAM SHAW 17. BLAKE CARTER 19. MATT LLOYD 20. TYLA HEPI COACH: RIP TAYLOR


Wentworthville Magpies Vs Penrith Panthers
Ringrose Park, Sunday, March 30
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Jeff Hartup

MAGPIES – 1. HENRY RAIWALUI 2. VAI TOUTAI 3. RYAN MORGAN 4. ETHAN TANGIRA 5. BURETA FARAIMO 6. SAM GORMAN 7. LUKE KELLY 26. TANIELA LASALO 9. JUSTIN HUNT 10. JUNIOR PAULO 11. JOSEPH UALESI 12. BRENDAN SANTI 13. LORENZO MA’AFU 14. LIAM FORAN 15. DANIEL ALVARO 16. PAT MATAELE 18. JOSEPH MATAPUKU 17. BEN JONES COACH: BRETT COOK

PANTHERS – 1. WILL SMITH 2. ETO NABULI 3. ISAAH YEO 4. WES NAIQAMA 5. DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK 6. LUKE CAPEWELL 7. ISAAC JOHN 8. SAM ANDERSON 9. KIERRAN MOSELEY 10. REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD 11. MATT ROBINSON 12. NATHAN SMITH 13. RYAN SIMPKINS 14. SHAUN SPENCE 15. TOM EISENHUTH 16. LEILANI LATU 17. MITCH CLARK 18. LIAM AYOUB 22. ANTHONY CHERRINGTON COACH: GARTH BRENNAN

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have the bye

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 9 previews

NZ Warriors Vs Mounties
Eden Park, May 10, 12.40pm (NZT) 10.40am (AEST)
Referee: Shane Rehm
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ

The NZ Warriors return home for the first time in a month and will be looking to knock over a Mounties side that currently sits in third place on the competition ladder. Mounties bounced back following some indifferent form of late with a 24-14 win last weekend while the Warriors were no match for the Panthers going down 36-8 at Sportingbet Stadium. The Warriors will get back the services of Dominique Peyroux, Michael Sio, Siliva Havili and Carlos Tuimavave this round after they missed last week through representative commitments while Mounties lose the services of Shannon Boyd, Tevita Pangai and Kyle O’Donnell but Jarrad Kennedy could be a late inclusion if he isn’t required in first grade. The Warriors have played just three home games thus far in 2014 and have a win, a draw and a loss to show for it. For a side that has had its troubles on the road, it’s imperative that they make the most of their home fixtures. For our readers here in Australia, keep in mind that this is a 10.40am (AEST) kick off, so mow the lawns and take the kids to the park nice and early and then settle in for a bumper afternoon of footy.

The good the bad and the ugly: After four straight wins, the Warriors plummeted back to earth last weekend with a display that surely would have caught Coach Rohan Smith off guard. The Warriors dominated large facets of the match against the Panthers last Saturday but failed to translate that domination into points on the board. Smith will be hoping that a new halves combination in Lino and Tuimavave may prove to be more fruitful.

Prediction: Warriors to bounce back at home. Warriors by 4.

Cronulla Sharks Vs Wentworthville Magpies
Henson Park, May 10, 1pm
Referee: Damien Briscoe
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

A 50-32 win over the Knights last round saw Wentworthville move to the top of the competition table and they will be licking their lips at the chance to take on the reigning premiers at Henson Park this weekend. After an indifferent start to the season, the Sharks have rattled off three straight wins and have now joined four other sides on 12 competition points. In fact, a win to the Sharks here would see them join Wenty on 14 points, such is the closeness of this year’s competition. The Magpies are averaging around 34 points a game in attack and it is easy to see why with weapons like Justin Hunt, Luke Kelly, Vai Toutai and Bureta Faraimo all launching off the back of some wonderful forward play. Wenty have three inclusions this weekend who all participated in last weekend Under 20’s Origin match. Ryan Matterson (NSW), Kaysa Pritchard (NSW) and John Folau (QLD) will all be out to impress here following solid performances last week for their respective states. The Sharks had the bye last weekend, and amazingly enough, not one side has won in 2014 coming off the back of the bye.

The early bird gets the worm: We are calling on the Henson Park regulars to get out there early on Saturday and watch what promises to be a cracking game of football between the Sharks and Wenty. Jets fans haven’t had a lot to cheer about of late, and while they will be willing on their troops in the later game, this match may well end up being the better of the two matches and promises to be worth the early arrival.

Prediction: Look for the Sharks to continue their good form of late and break the bye hoodoo. Sharks by 4.

Newtown Jets Vs North Sydney Bears
Henson Park, May 10, 3pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

To say that both of these sides will be desperate for the win would be an understatement. Currently occupying the bottom two places on the ladder, the Jets and Bears will be hoping that this Saturday is the day that their seasons begin in earnest. The side that doesn’t get the two points this round will most likely be four wins, plus a significant chunk of for and against behind the eighth placed team with two thirds of the season remaining. The Bears won’t be happy with their performance last weekend against the Dogs given they were the better team for large periods of the match, but they couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard. The Jets were far more competitive last week than they had been the previous two rounds, however it still wasn’t enough to stop them from losing their third straight match. After missing last week, Jonathon Reuben has been named at fullback for the Jets, and his clash with Nathan Merritt should be one of the highlights on the day. Tuqiri is back for North Sydney following a hit out with Fiji last weekend while Joe Uluibau was one of the Bears' best against the Dogs and will need to be marked closely here.

It’s long enough, it’s high enough: and it’s straight between the posts! For the past ten years or so the Jets and the Bears have faced off each and every year for the Frank Hyde Shield. Regarded as a pioneer in terms of league commentary, Hyde was also a pretty handy player. During stints with both the Jets and the Bears, Hyde was involved in a number of clashes between these two clubs, perhaps highlighted by the 1943 Grand Final when Frank captain-coached the Bears to a loss against… you guessed it, Newtown! Get out there for what is always an emotionally charged day for these two teams.

Prediction: Toss a coin. Jets by 2.

Illawarra Cutters Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
WIN Stadium, May 10, 3pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls

The Illawarra Cutters will look to continue their good recent form when they host a Dogs side seeking back to back wins. The Bulldogs won just their second match of the season last weekend when they defeated the Bears 27-20 while the Cutters kicked clear in the second half for a comfortable 40-0 win against Wyong. Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin, Bronson Harrison, Jack Stockwell and Will Matthews all went around for the Cutters last weekend but have been elevated into the Dragons 18 for this week. The Cutters do get some help however with Michael Witt, Peter Mata’utia and Matt Groat all named to tackle the Dogs. For Canterbury, Tyrone Phillips, Lloyd Perrett, Krisnan Inu and Reni Maitua return from representative duty while Chase Stanley is also a welcome addition. On paper these two sides look evenly matched but the Dogs will definitely need to bring their ‘A’ game to WIN Stadium if they are to be any chance of causing the upset.

Stealth mode: In true Des Hasler style, the Cutters are just flying along nicely under the radar. The Cutters are sitting in second place and along with Wenty, are the only sides to have just the two losses as we enter round nine. A draw and a loss to the Warriors are the only real blots on an otherwise clear copybook at present. Illawarra appear to have wonderful depth and with constant competition for spots in the Dragons NRL side, this side looks to be one that can do some real damage over the coming weeks.

Prediction: The Cutters are going about things nicely at present and should be too strong at home. Cutters by 10.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Wests Tigers
Brookvale Oval, May 10, 3pm
Referee: Adam Cassidy

After a red-hot start to the season, injuries at the club has seen the Tigers come back to the pack in recent weeks, and they will have their hands full with the Sea Eagles at Brooky on Saturday. The Sea Eagles ground out a professional win against the Jets last weekend and will be out to keep the good times going this weekend at home. The Tigers were valiant in their 10-point loss to Mounties last weekend and will be happy to get Marika Koroibete back for this one although they will be without Nathan Waters meaning Jarrod Farlow will serve as a makeshift number six this round. Manly get back both Clinton Gutherson and Jake Trbojevic from representative duty and they have also named Tom Symonds whose inclusion would be a massive boost. This week commences a solid block of home games for the Sea Eagles and you get a sense that the next six weeks or so will make or break Manly’s ambitions one way or another about playing finals in 2014. This match will be the third of three games on the day with a Sydney Shield clash between the Peninsula Seagulls and Guildford Owls at 12.45pm and also a City Vs Country Tertiary League clash kicking things off at 11am.

Doin' the eagle rock: Manly is a tough one to work out. One week they look like a side that can mix it with anyone, and other weeks they look anything but. We can’t put our finger on what the issue is, but if this team can sort their issues out, they do look to have a roster capable of elevating themselves into the bottom half of the top eight before season's end. A win here at home, and their second in a row, may be the catalyst for such a charge.

Prediction: The Sea Eagles can make it back to back wins here against an understrength Tigers side. Sea Eagles by 4.

Newcastle Knights Vs Penrith Panthers
Cessnock Sports Ground, May 10, 5pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Broadcast: LIVE stream courtesy of Bar TV Sports, NSWRL Match Centre coverage (NSWRL.com.au)

The Panthers will not have forgotten about a 24-14 round one loss at the hands of the Knights as they prepare to take them on in Cessnock this Saturday afternoon. These two sides find themselves joined at the hip on the ladder with identical records entering round nine, with the Knights boasting the superior attack and the visitors the better defence. That defence was on show last Saturday when they held a dangerous Warriors side scoreless in the first half and conceded just the two tries in the second half while scoring five of their own. The Knights will be fired up to bounce back from their loss to Wenty last week where they conceded 50 points for the second time in four weeks. No doubt defence would have been a major focus for the Knights mid-week, so an inspired start to this game is a certainty, but will they be able to sustain it for 80 minutes against the likes of Nabuli, Smith, Naiqama and John? Ben Murdoch-Masila, who joined the Panthers last week is set for his first start with his new club after coming off the bench last weekend while for the Knights, they have lost Siulepa and Hilder but should have the services of Toka Likiliki who has been named to return from injury.

No place like home: The Knights will be happy to be back at home after going down 50-32 to Wenty last Sunday at Ringrose Park. With just the one loss at home over the past two seasons, Newcastle will be banking on that record holding up when the ever dangerous Panthers make their way up the M1 on Saturday. In terms of defence, the Knights have conceded around 10 points less at home than what they have been giving up on the road, so look for the home side to muscle up in an attempt to contain a Panthers attack that has started to come into its own of late.

Prediction: Will go with the Knights at home but the Panthers are a big chance. Knights by 4.

Wyong Roos have the bye

http://www.nrl.com/

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 10 previews

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Vs Penrith Panthers
Belmore Sports Ground, May 16, 6.00pm
Referee: Adam Cassidy
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (www.hawkesburyradio.com.au) and 2GLF FM 89.3 (893fm.com.au)

Summary: The Bulldogs looked like they have turned a corner in recent weeks. They got just their second win of the season a fortnight ago and they pushed the second-placed Cutters all the way last weekend in Wollongong. Patrick Templeman’s switch to five-eighth looks to have sharpened up their attack and his tactical kicking game has seen the Dogs turn field position into points. Templeman faces a stern test this week against the experienced Luke Capewell. Capewell missed the early part of season 2014 with injury but since returning, he has been instrumental in many of the Panthers’ wins. His role will take on even more importance now with a season ending achilles injury to New Zealand international Isaac John. Garth Brennan has named veteran Nathan Smith in the centres to hopefully box up another international in Krisnan Inu. The Bulldogs are capable of beating any team in the competition if they want to and it is Andy Patmore’s job to motivate a team who is behind the competition leaders and spots in their NRL side are hard to come by.

This Cook won’t spoil the broth: Damien Cook was the best in a beaten side last weekend. The former Cutter tore apart the defence in and around the ruck and we can see him making his Club debut come representative season for Des Hasler.

Prediction: The Dogs will push Penrith all the way but the visitors should sneak home late. Panthers by 8.

Wentworthville Magpies Vs Illawarra Cutters
Pirtek Stadium, May 17, 12.40pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ

Summary: Even the most astute VB NSW Cup fan wouldn’t have predicted these two sides would be the form two teams of the competition near the halfway mark of the season. Don’t take that statement the wrong way. We knew they had the ability to challenge the best in the competition but with heavyweights like Cronulla and Penrith boasting almost NRL-strength sides, you could be forgiven for not foreseeing these two sides rise through the early rounds. The Magpies will have the services of Fui Fui Moi Moi and English international Lee Mossop for the second week in a row in a massive boost for Wenty Coach Brett Cook. Dragons NRL Coach Steve Price stated that he will be keeping an eye on the Cutters team this week, especially up front. Young bulls Matt Groat and Josh Ailaomai will have a perfect test in front of them this weekend as they face-off against the two previously mentioned internationals. Cutters Coach Ian Millward looks like he is set on having Kyle Stanley lock the scrum for the Cutters. It will be interesting to see how he uses him in attack.

Keep your Witts about you: Chad Townsend’s guidance of the Cronulla Sharks to a premiership last season showed how important it is to have a classy and experienced half running point. Michael Witt has shown signs he can do that for the Cutters this year. Should Benji Marshall slip into the top grade at the last minute, Witt may be joined by Sam Williams. That halves combination is definitely strong enough to hold the VB NSW Cup trophy aloft at seasons end.

Prediction: All the hallmarks of a classic. Perhaps the home side, just. Magpies by 4.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs NZ Warriors
Brookvale Oval, May 17, 3.00pm
Referee: Chris Sutton
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Triple H FM (www.triplehfm.com.au/hhh)

Summary: The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are chasing three consecutive wins in the VB NSW Cup for the first time in three years as they host a Warriors side that is looking to avoid a third straight defeat. Wins against Newtown and the Tigers in recent weeks has seen Manly move up to tenth position on the ladder, and a win here against the eight placed Warriors would see them pull to within one point of a spot in the eight come the end of the round. The Warriors continue their journey of self-discovery under Rohan Smith, with the side yet to really show us what they are about. Some weeks their attack has looked wonderful while their defence has let them down while on other occasions it has been the opposite with their defence holding sway but being unable to put points on the board. Prolific try scorer, Jarred Wilson, returns for the Warriors to assist in attack while Nathaniel Peteru also comes back into the side to help solidify the pack. For Manly, Luke Williamson has the luxury of naming an unchanged line up from the one that accounted for the Tigers last weekend.

Trade deadline: There are only a couple of weeks left for clubs to come knocking on the door of prospective players to join them for this season. Each and every year a few players make the mid-year move to fill the void at other clubs with the promise of more NRL game time a tasty carrot indeed. There are a number of talented players in both of these squads that could quite feasibly be playing more consistent NRL at some other clubs, so this match may well be a job interview in some regards.

Prediction: The Sea Eagles finally have some momentum and can win again here. Sea Eagles by 7.

Cronulla Sharks Vs Wests Tigers
Remondis Stadium, May 17, 3.10pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

Summary: Two sides with near identical records square off here in what is the second of three games between the two clubs on the day. Both the Tigers (5th) and Sharks (7th) have won five games and lost four thus far in 2014, with only for and against separating them at present. The stats would say that the Tigers are slightly the better defensively while the Sharks the same in an attacking sense. These stats are probably best summarized by last week’s performances. The Sharks shot out to an 18-0 lead against Wenty and went on to score 28 for the match but still lost as they conceded 30, while the Tigers only managed to post 22 points against a Manly team that had been conceding 26 points per game. The Tigers will be boosted this week by the inclusions of Keith Lulia, Joel Luani and Sitaleki Akauolo. For the Sharks, it is always difficult to anticipate just who will take to the park due to a number of factors, including their relationship with the Storm, but their NRL side has named a large extended bench, so anticipate some late inclusions here.

Consistently Inconsistent: We have always said that the Sharks’ relationship with Melbourne is a double-edged sword. Yes, many would argue that the relationship helped carry the side to a VB NSW Cup title in 2013, but you only need to take a look at the Sharks this year to understand better the other side of the coin. Take the Sharks halves as an example of what Tony Herman has to deal with each week. The following is a breakdown of the Sharks halves combinations over the opening ten rounds. Rd 10: Roberts & Manumalealii Rd 9: Politoni & Manumalealii Rd 8B: BYE Rd 8: Manumalealii & Holdsworth Rd 7: Hampton & Holdsworth Rd 6: Hampton & Holdsworth Rd 5: Roberts & Manumalealii Rd 4: Politoni & Manumalealii Rd 3: Roberts & Manumalealii Rd 2: Roberts & Politoni Rd 1: Mann & Manumalealii. As displayed above, only in rounds six and seven have the Sharks carried the same halves combination into consecutive matches and unsurprisingly, the Sharks won both of those fixtures. Some food for thought.

Prediction: The Sharks should be too strong at home. Sharks by 8.

North Sydney Bears Vs Newcastle Knights
North Sydney Oval, May 18, 3.00pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

Summary: Both of these sides lost their respective round nine clashes by 22 points last weekend, but in very different fashion. The Knights largely controlled their clash with the Panthers and lead 16-4 with around 20 minutes left to play, only to concede 34 unanswered points in a crazy final quarter of the match. The Bears trailed the Jets by more than 30 points only to rally in the second half to draw within a couple of converted tries, but it was too great a start to reel in. Perhaps the biggest issue for the Bears this season has been their point’s production. While their defence is not great, ironically it is not that much worse than the ladder leading Magpies, but unlike Wenty, who are averaging 33 points a game in attack, the Bears are managing just 18 a game on average. Rick Stone would not have been happy with his side’s late capitulation at Cessnock. An alarming stat for the Knights is that they have lost four matches in 2014, and the closest loss was 18 points to Wenty. In fact the Knights average losing margin over the course of those four losses has been 24 points. The additions of Joe Uluibau and Curtis Johnston for the Bears should help them in attack while Newcastle have lost Chanel Mata’utia but do welcome back Pat Vaivai, Matt Hilder and Nathan Ross.

The air up there: One of the highlights from this one should be the clash on the flank between Curtis Johnston and Josh Mantellato. Two of the better finishers in the VB NSW Cup in recent years, Mantellato and Johnston are both big physical wingers who also provide great cross field targets for their respective kickers on the fifth tackle in the attacking 20m zone. Don’t be surprised to see both of these players get their names on the score sheet in what promises to be an interesting side note to this match.

Prediction: This is a danger game for the Knights but will have to stick with them on form. Knights by 6.

Wyong Roos Vs Newtown Jets
Morry Breen Oval, May 18, 3.00pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

Summary: The Wyong Roos will look to do what no other side has managed to do in 2014, and that is post a win coming off the bye. Try as they might last round, the Sharks fell foul of the curse of the bye. The Roos will like their chances too as they host a Jets side that only won their second game of the season last weekend against the Bears. Josh Davis has moved into the centres for the Jets to fill the void left by Samisoni Langi who will travel to Townsville with the Roosters while Remi Casty will start at prop. During the bye for Wyong, they have released their halfback in Darren Nichols who has reportedly linked up with the Brisbane Broncos, and utility Alex Langbridge will fill the void for this one. A few points of note for this match include the return of Arana Taumata to Wyong, who was with the club for a very brief period in 2013. It will be interesting to see how he is welcomed come Sunday. Chris Taripo had some success against the Roos last season and is coming off a double last weekend, so he will need to be watched closely.

The French invasion: It was already certain that Rip Taylor had been exploring his options regarding brining in some mid-season recruits to the club, but following the loss of Nichols, the club will be desperate to secure the services of an experienced half for the remainder of the season. Johnathon Ford is certainly a player who could assist the club, however despite his ability to play in the halves, usually at six, we would still expect Wyong to be in the market for a genuine number seven. There are currently a few options who may be available following the conclusion of the French domestic competition, but don’t be surprised to see the Roos knocking on the doors of some talented halves that currently ply their trade in the Ron Massey Cup competition. Watch this space.

Prediction: A win to either side wouldn’t come as a shock. Jets by 4.

Mounties have the BYE

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 11 previews

Wests Tigers Vs Newcastle Knights
Campbelltown Sports Stadium, May 24, 1:10pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1

The Wests Tigers confirmed their premiership credentials with a grinding win over the Cronulla Sharks last weekend, while the Knights struggled to get out of first gear, losing to the Bears 18-12 at North Sydney Oval. The Knights will be boosted by the inclusions of inform fullback Nathan Ross and NRL experienced hooker Travis Waddell. The Tigers have some big ins as well with Curtis Sironen returning from injury and the inclusion of NSW Under 20s five-eighth Mitchell Moses. Michael Potter has history of testing his young halves in the VB NSW Cup before he elevates them to the NRL, he did it with Luke Brooks and it looks like Moses will follow the same path as the boom teenager. The Tigers will be without the services of Joel Luani who has again been elevated to cover for Robbie Farah. The Knights halves are the key to their chances here. Dobson and Minto are far more experienced than their opposition and must take control early or this enthusiastic Tigers side will pluck the game from them.

Rep jerseys await: With selections for the VB NSW Cup Representative side nearing closer, now is the time to throw your hand up. With the shift to look forward as part of the NSWRL High Performance program, there are several HPU members who could thrust themselves into contention here: Lovett, Santi and Mata’utia just to name a few.

Prediction: The Tigers are playing well and deserve favouritism at home. Tigers by 4.

Newtown Jets Vs Illawarra Cutters
Henson Park, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)
The Jets may have played themselves into some form last weekend with their big win over Wyong and they have been dealt an ideal hand courtesy of Laurie Daley. No Pearce and Maloney means the Jets, for the most part, will keep a full field of Roosters contracted players for this match against the Cutters. Rumours have been floating throughout the Rugby League world that Benji Marshall may run out in the red and white this weekend for some more match fitness. Benji has played at some of the best stadiums in the world but he has never played at the ‘jewel in the crown’ that is Henson Park. For the game’s sake, we hope he has a run but we think he may be kept in cotton wool by Steve Price. The Jets have looked a far better outfit when Josh Davis has suited up for them in the centres. The former Tiger was on the verge of an NRL debut not so long ago but a horror run with injuries has him looking to return to his glory days from Henson Park. He will have his work cut out for him this weekend however, as he lines up against one of the best young centres in the competition, Charly Runciman. The Jets have lost Evans and Casty to the NRL this week so young Willis Meehan will make his Jets debut.

Let them at them: It has been well publicized that the Dragons are in desperate need of some big boppers. Josh Ailaomai and Matt Groat have size and have been playing well for Ian Millward. When do they get their shot?

Prediction: The home side will be sensing an upset but will have to stick with the Cutters. Cutters by 8.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Penrith Panthers
Brookvale Oval, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Adam Devcich
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

Unable to make it three wins in a row for the first time in three years last weekend, the Sea Eagles will look to bounce back here against a Penrith side that is looking to post their fourth straight win. In fact, the Panthers have only tasted defeat once since opening the season with two straight losses and could perhaps lay claim to being the hottest team in the competition right now. A professional seven point win against the Bulldogs last Friday night now sees the Panthers sitting pretty inside the top four, and well within striking distance of the first placed Magpies. The Sea Eagles had ample opportunities last weekend to get home over the top of the Warriors but couldn’t do so. With that said, they were once again very competitive and they do appear to have turned a corner from the side that lost their opening five games of the season. Manaia Rudolph is looking increasingly comfortable each and every week in the Sea Eagles colours and his match up against Panthers halfback Tom Humble may well hold the key to this clash.

Come get some: We are always excited by some of the great individual match ups that we get to see each and every week in the VB NSW Cup, and the one here between Waqa Blake and Cheyse Blair is another that has us licking our lips. Blair has an obvious advantage in terms of experience having tasted first grade at Parramatta and more recently with Manly, however Blake has first grade written all over him, and is definitely a player on the rise. Both of these centres are strapping young lads and love to mix it up physically on the field. Look for them to go at it right throughout.

Prediction: The Panthers won’t get it all their own way but should come out on top. Panthers by 10.

Mounties Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Phil Haines
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (893fm.com.au)

Mounties will be out to do what no other club has managed to do in 2014, and that is win the week after having had the bye. Ten teams have tried and failed but Mounties will have no excuses if they cannot crush the curse. They are taking on an undermanned Bulldogs side at Aubrey Keech Reserve, a venue where they have won all three of their games played there thus far in 2014. If the Bulldogs are to continue the curse of the bye, they will have to do it without Krisnan Inu, Reni Maitua and Pat O’Hanlon who have all been elevated into the Dogs NRL side due to the clubs extensive Origin representation. The Raiders on the other hand have not really been affected by Origin selections, and as a result, Mounties will once again field a formidable side. It must be noted though, that Mitch Cornish is finally set to make his well-deserved NRL debut, and his spot in the halves will be taken by the more than serviceable Ryan Carr. With Wenty having the bye this round, Mounties cannot move into the top spot, but they will certainly be keen to hold onto second spot and keep the pressure on Wenty.

Junior by name not by nature: It is great to see Ricky Stuart playing Tevita Pangai with Mounties. It clearly shows the high regard he is held in at the club and also a sign that they are looking to fast track his development. Having represented NSW in the junior age groups the past few years, the experience that Pangai will gain playing alongside the likes of Learoyd-Lahrs and Jake Foster will be invaluable to him in the long run, and while he won’t dominate in this grade, he probably won’t look out of place either.

Prediction: A weakened Dogs side may struggle to foot it with a well-rested Mounties outfit. Mounties by 14.

North Sydney Bears Vs NZ Warriors
North Sydney Oval, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Jeff Hartup
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Triple H FM (www.triplehfm.com.au/hhh)

The North Sydney Bears registered a much needed win last weekend when they defeated the Newcastle Knights 18-12 while the Warriors, at nearby Brookvale Oval, snuck past the Sea Eagles 22-18. Despite sitting second to last on the competition ladder, there is still some light at the end of the tunnel for the Bears with a number of key personnel having either become, or are becoming available over the coming weeks. The likes of Joel Reddy, Ben Lowe and Joe Picker were all late inclusions in last week’s win, and with the prospect of Issac Luke and Luke Keary returning for South Sydney shortly, more re-enforcements may be on their way to North Sydney Oval in the near future. The Warriors will field a near identical side to the one that snuck home against Manly last weekend however David Fusitua will come in for former QLD Origin representative Dane Nielsen in a move that shouldn’t hurt the Warriors chances of a win too much. Merritt, Reddy and Lowe have all been called into Souths NRL side this week which has handed Morgan, Uluibau and Lupi another chance in the VB NSW Cup.

The next step: Halfbacks Mason Lino and Jordan Worboys would have squared off a number of times over the past few seasons in the Holden Cup, and while both players tasted great success at that level of the game, they are both taking a little longer to find their feet in this open age competition. No one doubts that both of these boys have what it takes to make it at the next level, but for some it takes longer than it does for others. That is where the VB NSW Cup plays such a vital role in providing a bridging platform for these types of players to hone their game for the next level.

Prediction: Maybe the Bears have turned a corner and can go back to back here. Bears by 2.

Wyong Roos Vs Cronulla Sharks
Morry Breen Oval, Sunday, May 25, 3.00pm
Referee: Luke Phillips
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

Both sides are coming off losses in round ten. The Roos were swamped by the Jets at Morry Breen, while the Sharks went down by two to the Tigers. The Sharks welcome back Ben Roberts in the number six jersey after Blake Ayshford returns to the NRL with Tupou Sopoaga and Tinirau Arona also recalled. NSW Under 20s prop Dean Britt has been named on an extended bench for the Sharks but we expect him to travel up from Melbourne and get his first taste of open age football at Morry Breen Oval. Britt will certainly know he’s been in a match as he will line up against former Blues prop Mark O’Meley and his hardnosed partner Magnus Stromquist. It is good to see Bennett Leslie back in the VB NSW Cup. He was close to best on the field in the representative game last year and he now has a few weeks to push for another rep jersey this year. The Sharks don’t lose three in a row very often and seem to have some key personnel back for this match.

Sione Masima: This powerful back-rower has burst onto the VB NSW Cup scene. He has been throwing experienced NRL players around like rag-dolls in recent weeks. Look for him to push himself into NRL contention sooner rather than later.

Prediction: After back to back two point losses, the Sharks may be in a mood to do some damage on Sunday. Sharks by 16.

Wentworthville Magpies have the BYE

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 11 previews

Wests Tigers Vs Newcastle Knights
Campbelltown Sports Stadium, May 24, 1:10pm
Referee: Daniel Olford
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1

The Wests Tigers confirmed their premiership credentials with a grinding win over the Cronulla Sharks last weekend, while the Knights struggled to get out of first gear, losing to the Bears 18-12 at North Sydney Oval. The Knights will be boosted by the inclusions of inform fullback Nathan Ross and NRL experienced hooker Travis Waddell. The Tigers have some big ins as well with Curtis Sironen returning from injury and the inclusion of NSW Under 20s five-eighth Mitchell Moses. Michael Potter has history of testing his young halves in the VB NSW Cup before he elevates them to the NRL, he did it with Luke Brooks and it looks like Moses will follow the same path as the boom teenager. The Tigers will be without the services of Joel Luani who has again been elevated to cover for Robbie Farah. The Knights halves are the key to their chances here. Dobson and Minto are far more experienced than their opposition and must take control early or this enthusiastic Tigers side will pluck the game from them.

Rep jerseys await: With selections for the VB NSW Cup Representative side nearing closer, now is the time to throw your hand up. With the shift to look forward as part of the NSWRL High Performance program, there are several HPU members who could thrust themselves into contention here: Lovett, Santi and Mata’utia just to name a few.

Prediction: The Tigers are playing well and deserve favouritism at home. Tigers by 4.

Newtown Jets Vs Illawarra Cutters
Henson Park, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)
The Jets may have played themselves into some form last weekend with their big win over Wyong and they have been dealt an ideal hand courtesy of Laurie Daley. No Pearce and Maloney means the Jets, for the most part, will keep a full field of Roosters contracted players for this match against the Cutters. Rumours have been floating throughout the Rugby League world that Benji Marshall may run out in the red and white this weekend for some more match fitness. Benji has played at some of the best stadiums in the world but he has never played at the ‘jewel in the crown’ that is Henson Park. For the game’s sake, we hope he has a run but we think he may be kept in cotton wool by Steve Price. The Jets have looked a far better outfit when Josh Davis has suited up for them in the centres. The former Tiger was on the verge of an NRL debut not so long ago but a horror run with injuries has him looking to return to his glory days from Henson Park. He will have his work cut out for him this weekend however, as he lines up against one of the best young centres in the competition, Charly Runciman. The Jets have lost Evans and Casty to the NRL this week so young Willis Meehan will make his Jets debut.

Let them at them: It has been well publicized that the Dragons are in desperate need of some big boppers. Josh Ailaomai and Matt Groat have size and have been playing well for Ian Millward. When do they get their shot?

Prediction: The home side will be sensing an upset but will have to stick with the Cutters. Cutters by 8.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Penrith Panthers
Brookvale Oval, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Adam Devcich
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

Unable to make it three wins in a row for the first time in three years last weekend, the Sea Eagles will look to bounce back here against a Penrith side that is looking to post their fourth straight win. In fact, the Panthers have only tasted defeat once since opening the season with two straight losses and could perhaps lay claim to being the hottest team in the competition right now. A professional seven point win against the Bulldogs last Friday night now sees the Panthers sitting pretty inside the top four, and well within striking distance of the first placed Magpies. The Sea Eagles had ample opportunities last weekend to get home over the top of the Warriors but couldn’t do so. With that said, they were once again very competitive and they do appear to have turned a corner from the side that lost their opening five games of the season. Manaia Rudolph is looking increasingly comfortable each and every week in the Sea Eagles colours and his match up against Panthers halfback Tom Humble may well hold the key to this clash.

Come get some: We are always excited by some of the great individual match ups that we get to see each and every week in the VB NSW Cup, and the one here between Waqa Blake and Cheyse Blair is another that has us licking our lips. Blair has an obvious advantage in terms of experience having tasted first grade at Parramatta and more recently with Manly, however Blake has first grade written all over him, and is definitely a player on the rise. Both of these centres are strapping young lads and love to mix it up physically on the field. Look for them to go at it right throughout.

Prediction: The Panthers won’t get it all their own way but should come out on top. Panthers by 10.

Mounties Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Phil Haines
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (893fm.com.au)

Mounties will be out to do what no other club has managed to do in 2014, and that is win the week after having had the bye. Ten teams have tried and failed but Mounties will have no excuses if they cannot crush the curse. They are taking on an undermanned Bulldogs side at Aubrey Keech Reserve, a venue where they have won all three of their games played there thus far in 2014. If the Bulldogs are to continue the curse of the bye, they will have to do it without Krisnan Inu, Reni Maitua and Pat O’Hanlon who have all been elevated into the Dogs NRL side due to the clubs extensive Origin representation. The Raiders on the other hand have not really been affected by Origin selections, and as a result, Mounties will once again field a formidable side. It must be noted though, that Mitch Cornish is finally set to make his well-deserved NRL debut, and his spot in the halves will be taken by the more than serviceable Ryan Carr. With Wenty having the bye this round, Mounties cannot move into the top spot, but they will certainly be keen to hold onto second spot and keep the pressure on Wenty.

Junior by name not by nature: It is great to see Ricky Stuart playing Tevita Pangai with Mounties. It clearly shows the high regard he is held in at the club and also a sign that they are looking to fast track his development. Having represented NSW in the junior age groups the past few years, the experience that Pangai will gain playing alongside the likes of Learoyd-Lahrs and Jake Foster will be invaluable to him in the long run, and while he won’t dominate in this grade, he probably won’t look out of place either.

Prediction: A weakened Dogs side may struggle to foot it with a well-rested Mounties outfit. Mounties by 14.

North Sydney Bears Vs NZ Warriors
North Sydney Oval, Saturday, May 24, 3.00pm
Referee: Jeff Hartup
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Triple H FM (www.triplehfm.com.au/hhh)

The North Sydney Bears registered a much needed win last weekend when they defeated the Newcastle Knights 18-12 while the Warriors, at nearby Brookvale Oval, snuck past the Sea Eagles 22-18. Despite sitting second to last on the competition ladder, there is still some light at the end of the tunnel for the Bears with a number of key personnel having either become, or are becoming available over the coming weeks. The likes of Joel Reddy, Ben Lowe and Joe Picker were all late inclusions in last week’s win, and with the prospect of Issac Luke and Luke Keary returning for South Sydney shortly, more re-enforcements may be on their way to North Sydney Oval in the near future. The Warriors will field a near identical side to the one that snuck home against Manly last weekend however David Fusitua will come in for former QLD Origin representative Dane Nielsen in a move that shouldn’t hurt the Warriors chances of a win too much. Merritt, Reddy and Lowe have all been called into Souths NRL side this week which has handed Morgan, Uluibau and Lupi another chance in the VB NSW Cup.

The next step: Halfbacks Mason Lino and Jordan Worboys would have squared off a number of times over the past few seasons in the Holden Cup, and while both players tasted great success at that level of the game, they are both taking a little longer to find their feet in this open age competition. No one doubts that both of these boys have what it takes to make it at the next level, but for some it takes longer than it does for others. That is where the VB NSW Cup plays such a vital role in providing a bridging platform for these types of players to hone their game for the next level.

Prediction: Maybe the Bears have turned a corner and can go back to back here. Bears by 2.

Wyong Roos Vs Cronulla Sharks
Morry Breen Oval, Sunday, May 25, 3.00pm
Referee: Luke Phillips
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

Both sides are coming off losses in round ten. The Roos were swamped by the Jets at Morry Breen, while the Sharks went down by two to the Tigers. The Sharks welcome back Ben Roberts in the number six jersey after Blake Ayshford returns to the NRL with Tupou Sopoaga and Tinirau Arona also recalled. NSW Under 20s prop Dean Britt has been named on an extended bench for the Sharks but we expect him to travel up from Melbourne and get his first taste of open age football at Morry Breen Oval. Britt will certainly know he’s been in a match as he will line up against former Blues prop Mark O’Meley and his hardnosed partner Magnus Stromquist. It is good to see Bennett Leslie back in the VB NSW Cup. He was close to best on the field in the representative game last year and he now has a few weeks to push for another rep jersey this year. The Sharks don’t lose three in a row very often and seem to have some key personnel back for this match.

Sione Masima: This powerful back-rower has burst onto the VB NSW Cup scene. He has been throwing experienced NRL players around like rag-dolls in recent weeks. Look for him to push himself into NRL contention sooner rather than later.

Prediction: After back to back two point losses, the Sharks may be in a mood to do some damage on Sunday. Sharks by 16.

Wentworthville Magpies have the BYE

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 14 previews

NZ Warriors Vs Cronulla Sharks
Gisborne Rugby Park, Saturday, June 14, 3.00pm (NZT), 1.00pm (AEST)
Referee: Aaron Donald

The VB NSW Cup makes history this weekend when the NZ Warriors take their Round 14 clash against the Sharks to the picturesque seaside town of Gisborne. Historically a rugby town, Gisborne, located on the eastern side of the north island, will be exposed to some of the finest talent that the VB NSW Cup has to offer. The Warriors and Sharks will be desperate for the two competition points after they both head into this clash off the back of losses. The Sharks shot out to a 22-4 lead against the Cutters last weekend, only to concede the next 19 points and go down 23-22. The Warriors never bothered the Bulldogs in a 28-0 defeat at Belmore Sports Ground. In team news, Tui Lolohea and Siliva Havili have both been named to return for the Warriors after travelling to Perth with the NRL side last weekend, while for the Sharks, a number of quality inclusions will come into the team. Nathan Stapleton, Jacob Gagan, Nathan Gardner, Matt Prior and Tupou Sopoaga will all bring a wealth of NRL experience into this Sharks side for their trip across the Tasman.

Things you didn’t know about Gisborne: 1) In December last year, Gisborne set a world record for the most people skinny dipping in the one place, with 745 people getting their kit off at Midway Beach, 2) Australian Basketball player, and member of the San Antonio Spurs, Aron Baynes was actually born in Gisborne prior to moving to Australia with his family, 3) Due to its eastern location, Gisborne generally sees more sun on average than most NZ towns and as a result has higher than average temperatures all year around.

Prediction: Tend to think the home side will be up for this one. Warriors by 4.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs North Sydney Bears
Leichhardt Oval, Saturday, June 14, 2.00pm.
Referee: Adam Devcich
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

It’s officially crunch time for both of these sides when they square off at Leichhardt Oval this Saturday. Manly sits five points behind the eighth place Jets but have also had their second bye already while the Bears sit bottom of the table and would probably need to win about eight of their remaining games to have any hope of playing finals in 2014. The Bears went down to the Jets 38-16 last weekend despite playing with a man’s advantage for around 50 minutes while Manly had the week off. Despite not being named, there is talk that Luke Keary will make his comeback from injury here for the Bears, so you would expect that he will start, meaning that either Kurt Aldridge or Jordan Worboys may make way. When these two sides met back in Round 7, it was all the Sea Eagles as they ran out 42-14 winners. Manaia Rudolph was one of the Sea Eagles best that day and will need to be marked closely here.

Home away from home: Due to the state of Brookvale Oval, this match had to be rescheduled to Leichhardt Oval in order to get it played. Clearly there is a long and interesting history between these two clubs, and it is a little sad in a way that this game will not be played at a venue north of the Harbour Bridge. Hopefully both sets of fans can find their way to Leichhardt Oval to watch two evenly matched sides playing for their seasons.

Prediction: Hard to tip the Bears at present so have to go with the Sea Eagles. Sea Eagles by 6.

Mounties Vs Wyong Roos
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Saturday, June 14, 3.00pm
Referee: Chris James
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of 2GLF FM 89.3 (893fm.com.au)

Mounties mini mid-season slump continued last weekend when, despite a late rally, they couldn’t account for Wenty, going down 20-16. The Roos also rallied late in their clash with the top of the table Panthers, but ultimately it wasn’t enough and they went down 32-24. Mounties have now won just one of their last three, and that was an unconvincing two point win over the Bulldogs. Luckily enough for Mounties, their excellent early season form means that they still sit in fourth place on the ladder and have a wonderful launching pad for the second half of the season. Despite sitting in tenth spot on the ladder, the Roos also have cause for optimism over the coming weeks following the recent signing of a host of talented players. Chris Centrone, Jono Ford, Mark Kheirallah, Eloni Vunakece and Daniel Penese have all arrived at Kanwal in recent weeks, and certainly provide the club with some much needed depth and quality in key positions. Wyong certainly won’t fear tackling Mounties as they have already tasted success against them in 2014 thanks to 20-16 win at Morry Breen back in round eight.

Killer the thriller: Mark Kheirallah, also known as ‘killer’, has big shoes to fill at Wyong however he does look like a perfect replacement for the recently departed Darren Nichols. Although Nichols only joined the club this season, a large portion of their earlier season success had to be attributed to the former Bears halfback. In recent times, the Roos have looked a little bit like a boat with a busted rudder, lacking direction and struggling to get to where they wanted to go. Enter Kheirallah. A premiership winner with the Jets in 2012, Mark was very good for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs in Newcastle's Real NRL competition last year before heading over to France. The best thing about Mark is the fact that he is a winner. He won at Newtown, he helped Kurri Kurri to a Grand Final and then again with Toulouse in France. Wyong fans will be hoping for more of the same.

Prediction: Favouring the home side ever so slightly but a Roos victory wouldn’t surprise. Mounties by 4.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Vs Wentworthville Magpies
Belmore Sports Ground, Saturday, June 14, 3.00pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski

The Bulldogs will head into this clash full of confidence following their best performance of the season last weekend. A comprehensive 28-0 win over the Warriors was clearly the Dogs best showing of the year. Wenty are not sitting equal top of the ladder by chance though and will prove to be more than a handful for this young Bulldogs side. Wenty bounced back from an off day at the office against the Tigers in Round 12 by posting a four point win against Mounties last weekend. After playing NRL last weekend, Luke Kelly comes back into the Wenty side following Parramatta’s mid-week signing of Isaac De Gois. Still no Justin Hunt for Wenty meaning that Api Pewhairangi will once again be at the back while the Magpies have also lost Vai Toutai and Ryan Morgan to NRL duty, with their places taken by Fabian Goodall and Jake Butler-Fleming. For the Dogs, both Damien Cook and Reni Maitua have been called into first grade to cover for Hodkinson and Reynolds, meaning that Brad Clarke will start at hooker and David Minute starts in the second row.

Young talent time: There are probably not two better young forwards in the VB NSW Cup than Lloyd Perrett and David Minute, and luckily enough for Bulldogs fans, they both play in your side. Perrett represented QLD in the Under 20's Origin match earlier this year (we won’t hold that against him) while Minute continues to get fitter with each and every game he plays, and that is showing through in his recent performances. Perrett has actually been named on an extended NRL bench this week, such is the esteem in which he is thought of by Des Hasler. Despite their side’s position on the ladder, there are definitely exciting times ahead for these young pups.

Prediction: Tempted to think that the Dogs can make it back to back wins, but will pay Wenty the respect they deserve and tip them in another close one. Magpies by 7.

Newtown Jets Vs Newcastle Knights
Henson Park, Saturday, June 14, 3.00pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

The Newtown Jets have now strung together five straight wins following their 38-16 win over the Bears last weekend. The Knights on the other hand, have now lost their last six outings following a 34-12 loss to the Tigers. Amazingly enough, just six weeks ago, the Knights were in second spot on the ladder while the Jets were at the foot of the table. Fast forward to now and the Jets sit in eighth, some three competition points clear of the Knights in ninth. Both Kane Evans and Daniel Mortimer have been recalled to the NRL meaning that Kurt Kara will slot back into the halves and Pearn and Verlinden will form the front row. A number of inclusions for the Knights with Timana Tahu, Chanel Mata’utia and Matt Hilder all named. These two sides have scarily similar statistics after 13 rounds, with the Knights the slightly better of the two in attack and the reverse in favour of the Jets in terms of defence. All things being equal, a close and exciting encounter looks to be on the cards.

Blue Collar-Bags: One of the things we love about the Jets is that with the exception of a little bit of flare you get from the likes of Taumata at times, they really are just a bunch of blue collar workers. Players like L’Estrange, Kara, Pearn and Harris epitomize what this club is all about. No bells, no whistles, no BS, just roll up your sleeves and do what it takes to get the job done. And you get the feeling that Greg Matterson and co loves it like that!

Prediction: Momentum is a funny thing in football, you either have it or you don’t. That seems to be the case here. Jets by 8.

Penrith Panthers Vs Illawarra Cutters
Sportingbet Stadium, Saturday, June 14, 3.10pm
Referee: Adam Cassidy
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ radio coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

The Panthers continued on their merry way last weekend, despite a late fight back by the Roos, to post a 32-24 win at Sportingbet Stadium. The Cutters managed to post a one point win against the Sharks thanks to a late Sam Williams field goal. The bad news coming from the win is that that field goal was to be Sam Williams last act as a Cutter after he was released almost immediately after the match to take up a contract with the Catalan Dragons in France. Having also lost Michael Witt a week earlier to serious injury, the Cutters must now turn to a new halves combination to help fill the void. No such concerns for the Panthers though, as they welcome veterans Kevin Kingston and Tim Grant into their side for this clash. These two sides met only a few weeks ago and it was a late Tom Humble field goal on that occasion that handed the Panthers a narrow win. Scott Logan has stepped into the coaches’ hot seat, replacing Ian Millward, and he will get no stiffer test than tackling the competition front runners at home.

It’s a Bati Party: There are plenty of talented Fijian players scattered right throughout the VB NSW Cup competition but none more so than at the Panthers club. A quick peek at this week’s team list is a great example of that. You have the Naiqama brothers as well as last year’s leading try scorer in Eto Nabuli, and perhaps the most exciting of them all, young Waqa Blake. Fans that head out to Sportingbet Stadium on Saturday or watch the match on Fox Sports are sure to be treated to some exciting football, and it’s fairly likely that these guys will be front and centre.

Prediction: Have to go with the home side, but look for the Cutters to make them earn it. Panthers by 10.

Wests Tigers have the BYE

http://www.nrl.com/

[DIEHARD]

VB NSW Cup: Round 16 previews

Cronulla Sharks Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Henson Park, Saturday, June 28, 1.00pm
Referee: Chris Treneman
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

The Cronulla Sharks showed that their title defence is still alive and well after a 34-point win over Manly last weekend while the Bulldogs ran into a rampant Knights outfit up in Newcastle. With just 10 matches remaining in the regular season it would appear 28 or at worst 26 competition points will be the cut off for the top eight. With that being the case, it would seem that the Bulldogs would most likely have to win at least eight of their remaining nine games, even allowing for their second bye. While this may be a hill too high to climb, the Dogs will still want to finish off the year in style and perhaps even throw a spanner in the works of a few of the more fancied sides in the process. With just the four competition points separating the fourth placed Cutters and the tenth placed Jets at present, every match is now an important one for the Sharks. Currently sitting in sixth, the Sharks are still in a decent position to launch an assault on a top four spot, however a loss or two could see them in real danger of dropping out of the eight altogether. It’s going to be an exciting run into the finals, with plenty of machinations yet to be played out.

Packing a punch: Win, lose or draw, this Dogs pack looks very good for this Round 16 clash against the Sharks. Cook, Perrett, O’Hanlon and Maitua all suit up here after not going around against the Knights last weekend. With so much youth in their backline, the Dogs will definitely benefit from having a few more experienced heads back in the side.

Prediction: The Sharks should be able to do enough against what is likely to be a resilient Dogs side. Sharks by 10.

Newtown Jets Vs Wyong Roos
Henson Park, Saturday, June 28, 3.00pm
Referee: Adam Cassidy
Broadcast: Radio Coverage courtesy of Steele Sports Radio (www.steelesports.com.au)

Perhaps the most important clash of the weekend in terms of top eight aspirations with the 10th placed Jets hosting the ninth placed Roos. Wyong will be confident of securing the two points, having won their last two against top eight sides in the Warriors and Mounties, and winning three of their last four overall. The Roos play a simple yet effective brand of football that is based around completing their sets and forcing the opposition to cart the ball out from deep in their own end. It has been intriguing to watch the development of this Wyong side since their introduction into the competition back in early 2013. There was perhaps a time when sides wouldn’t necessarily pay them the respect that they deserved, but clearly those days are now over. A loss to the Tigers last weekend was the Jets second in a row, and as a result, they once again find themselves outside the eight looking in. Greg Matterson has tinkered with his side’s makeup in a search for that winning formula. Kara moves back to hooker with his place at five-eighth taken by Samisoni Langi. The suspension of Tautau Moga means that new signing Junior Vaivai will get his first run with the Jets.

Return of the Mark: This very column trumpeted the signing of Mark Kheirallah by the Roos a few weeks ago and it doesn’t come as a surprise to us that the Roos have won three of their last four games. Kheirallah cannot claim all of the credit for his side’s recent success, but there is little doubt that he has straightened them up and has definitely filled the void left by the mid-season departure of Darren Nicholls. A former Jet himself, look for the man they call ‘Killer’ to have a blinder against his old club.

Prediction: The Roos will be shooting for three in a row but the Jets might just scrape through at home. Jets by 2.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Illawarra Cutters
Brookvale Oval, Saturday, June 28, 3.00pm
Referee: Daniel Olford

The Sea Eagles couldn’t match it with the Sharks last weekend and now find themselves in a must win clash at home with a Cutters side that has won two of their last three. The Sea Eagles scenario is not too dissimilar to that of the Bulldogs, although they have already had their second bye, so they would most likely need eight wins from their remaining ten matches. The Cutters are currently sitting nicely in fourth place, however due to the compact nature of the ladder, a couple of bad weeks at the office could see them fall out of the top eight, so wins, and more of them, will be what Scott Logan and the Cutters are after over the coming weeks. Illawarra have lost Matt Groat for a few weeks to injury, and his place in the front row will be taken by Shannon Wakeman. In good news for Cutters and Dragons fans, Kyle Stanley has been named to play here and hopefully he will be able to avoid injury for the reminder of the year. The Sea Eagles are almost unchanged from the side that went down to the Sharks, but Jayden Horo comes in to replace the injured Jake Trbojevic.

The Good, the bad and the ugly: Who would want to be a coach? We just can’t keep up with the Sea Eagles at times and can only imagine the frustration it must cause poor Luke Williamson. Some weeks they look like a million dollars and other weeks anything but. As we touched on above, if the Sea Eagles are to be a factor in this year’s finals, they need to find, and hold, some top form fast. At their best this is achievable but like Wayne Bennett said earlier this year about his Knights team “Sometimes you just don’t know which team is going to get off the bus.”

Prediction: The Cutters are playing with great spirit at the moment and should be able to get the points here. Cutters by 6.

Wests Tigers Vs Mounties
Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Saturday, June 28, 3.10pm
Referee: Liam Nicholls
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ

The third placed Tigers play host to the seventh placed Mounties here and the visitors will be out to avoid a fifth straight loss while the hosts will be shooting for their sixth straight win. It wasn’t all that long ago that Mounties were equal top of the ladder with the likes of Wenty and Penrith, but a poor recent run has seen them slide right back down the ladder, and while a loss won’t see them fall out of the eight, it will put some distance between them and the top four. The Tigers on the other hand are travelling along nicely at present. Their first grade squad is beginning to get players back from injury and as a result, this NSW Cup side is also looking strong. There is a bit of the Windsor Wolves from 2013 about these Tigers, with a large number of quality second tier players at coach Paul Fletcher’s disposal. The loss of Marika Koroibete to the Storm has been offset somewhat by the signing of John Sila from the Bulldogs, but it will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to find his feet at a new club. Kurtis Rowe injured his ankle last weekend in the Tigers win over the Jets, but the clubs depth should see them able to make do in his absence with the versatile Jy Hitchcox named at fullback for this clash. Mounties are just struggling for fluency at present with a number of changes, some forced, some not, at NRL level wreaking havoc on their ability to play consistent football week in and week out.

Five of the best: Scoring five tries in a match doesn’t happen all too often but Tigers winger, Corey Brown, achieved this feat just last weekend. Playing for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup, Brown scored all five of the Magpies tries in a 28-22 loss. The former rugby convert who had spent time with the Western Force, would probably settle for one or two this weekend, as long as it helps his side keep pace with the VB NSW Cup front runners in Penrith and Wentworthville.

Prediction: The Tigers are on fire at the moment and will be tough to knock off at home. Tigers by 8.

NZ Warriors Vs Penrith Panthers
Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday, June 29, 11.40am (NZT), 9.40am (AEST)
Referee: Shane Rehm
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ & Radio Coverage courtesy of Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM (www.hawkesburyradio.com.au)

The hottest team in the NSW Cup makes the trip across the Tasman this weekend to tackle the Warriors, who will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance last weekend. The Panthers have now won 12 of their last 13 outings and although it could be said that they have been winning ugly of late, the main point is that they are winning. Since Round 10, only one of the Panthers victories have been by a margin of greater than eight points. For the Warriors, a 12-8 loss to Wyong at Mt Smart Stadium last Saturday saw them drop out of the top four, and they will be fired up to avenge a 36-8 loss to the Panthers at Sportingbet Stadium back in early May. Dane Nielsen has earned a call up to the NRL following the suspension of Ngani Laumape, this means that Solomone Kata will shift into the centres and Jarrod Tua comes back into the side on the wing. Luke Capewell and Wes Naiqama have been named here and as a result Will Smith shifts back to number one and Wes will replace his brother Kevin, who has been named to play NRL, on the wing. If the weather is kind in Auckland, this game promises plenty of free flowing attack, and lots of points.

Attack from the back: While he may not be quite in the same class as Roger Tuivasa Sheck, Tui Lolohea has some beautiful feet, and Rohan Smith looks set to unleash them on kick returns this weekend. Moving Carlos Tuimavave into the halves alongside Steve Waetford has freed up Lolohea and allowed him to shift into the number one jersey. We can’t wait to see what he has in store with some extra time and space up his sleeve on kick returns come Sunday.

Prediction: The Panthers appear to be getting closer to a loss but should still win this one. Panthers by 4.

Newcastle Knights Vs Wentworthville Magpies
Newcastle No.2 Sports Ground, Sunday, June 29, 3.00pm
Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Broadcast: NSWRL Match Centre coverage available via NSWRL.com.au

The Newcastle Knights will be out to make it three straight wins they tackle equal competition leaders Wentworthville this Sunday afternoon. After an indifferent few months, the Knights appear to have gotten back on track in recent weeks and will fancy their chances at home against a side that is coming off the bye. In fact when Wentworthville had their first bye of the season, they fell to the Tigers the following week, 52-16 back in Round 12. The Knights are just clinging on to eighth place at the moment and with the Jets and Roos playing one another this weekend, a loss here would see the Knights fall out of the eight by rounds end. Wenty’s last four wins have been by six points or less so a tight affair looms in what is an important clash for both of these sides. The combination between Matt Minto and Nathan Ross has begun to reap dividends for the Knights in recent weeks and is worth keeping an eye on once again. For Wenty, Ben Smith will lock the scrum while Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Lasalo form a formidable pair of starting props.

Brotherly Love: With both Pat and Chanel Mata’utia currently playing in this Knights NSW Cup side you would think that there is a real possibility that at some time in the coming weeks we may see their younger brother Sione join them. Having just celebrated his 18th birthday this week, Sione is now eligible for a first grade debut. Most good judges will tell you that it is a matter of when and not if for this kid and with the Knights no hope of playing finals in the NRL, perhaps Wayne Bennett may look to blood Sione over the concluding rounds of the Premiership. With that being the case, we wouldn’t be shocked to see him get a run in their NSW Cup side first, and that would certainly be a proud moment for the Mata’utia family.

Prediction: The Knights look back on track after consecutive wins. Knights by 7.

North Sydney Bears have the BYE

Source: http://www.nrl.com