Newcastle posted a timely win last week but it reeks of their NRL Round 9 win over South Sydney. Dylan Lucas and Fletcher Sharpe impressed in their preferred positions to run through a decimated Panthers outfit, but how repeatable were most of those scoring actions?
I’m not sure the Dragons line will crack so easily here. St George need to keep in touch with the Eight and this is a winnable game for them on the back of their clinical left-edge attack.
Without knowing who backs up from Origin and who doesn’t, this is a nightmare to tip.
Des Hasler has rung more changes in his spine as the Titans search for a winning formula in attack. It makes an already unpredictable Gold Coast side even more difficult to predict ahead of time.
With all the unknowns in this one, I’m with the Storm in a grind.
With Lachlan Galvin finally in the rear-view mirror, I’m keen to see how Wests kick on from here. It’s a makeshift halves pairing this week while Latu Fainu returns from injury but I think there’s value in the Tigers to keep this interesting.
Terrell May’s ability to promote the ball profiles nicely through a leaky Cowboys middle. If he can put enough disruption in the line, there will be spaces for Api Koroisau and Jahream Bula in the second-phase.
Coming off a horrid performance in NRL Round 12, the Sea Eagles simply need to respond here. Their middle has been decimated to begin the year but some of their repeat efforts last week wouldn’t have looked pretty in this week’s video review.
Tom Trbojevic is a big loss but Lehi Hopoate’s tempo and hands in the jockey position is up there with the best in the comp. If Brooks and DCE can put him into enough positive involvements, Hopoate will turn half chances into points.
That being said, Brisbane also need a response coming off the bye and should have too much punch through the ruck here.
A messy loss to Canberra last week should not overshadow what New Zealand have done to begin the year. Their ability to absorb pressure with their defence is elite and (barring NRL Round 12) it’s seen the Warriors excel at winning close contests – something Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs have also impressed with this season.
If Latrell Mitchell backs up from Wednesday night, the Bunnies might win enough little moments to steal the two points here. That being said, Luke Metcalf has been relishing a similar role for the Wahs all season which makes this difficult to tip.
An upset win over Manly last week highlighted all the improvements Parramatta have made under Jason Ryles this year. Mobile, hard working middles rolled the ruck while Dean Hawkins and Isaiah Iongi made smart decisions over the ad-line to put an organised backline into scoring situations.
They won’t roll through Penrith’s middle quite as easily here but they won’t need to if Mitch Moses backs up to kick them out of trouble.
While the Panthers are still looking for a winning formula in attack, I expect them to double down on defence here and try to grind Parramatta out of the contest.
The FoxSports camera rode the Ricky Rollercoaster right through their NRL Round 12 win over New Zealand last week. By full time, Canberra had found yet another way to win as their hot start to the regular season continued.
Tom Starling is a big loss here. His smaller body is a spot for opposing middles but his willingness to fly out of the line and put a shot on has turned momentum more than once for Canberra this year.
I like an improving Easts side welcoming back a stack of rep talent to get it done at home.