PREVIEW OF NRL ROUND 21 MATCHES (all times AEST):
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8
North Queensland v Brisbane at 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.50pm
Head to head: Broncos 33, Cowboys 16, drawn 3
Last clash: Round 2, 2019 – Broncos 29 bt Cowboys 10 at Suncorp Stadium
Coming off the worst ever round of NRL results for Queensland teams, pride is squarely on the line up north. Tevita Pangai jnr is back from suspension and the Broncos will hope he has the same impact as in their round two win in Brisbane, when his full force hit on Tongan comrade Jason Taumalolo hobbled the Cowboys star.
Key: Broncos ticker. The finals are still within their grasp but how will Anthony Seibold’s men respond to their chastening lesson from the Storm last week?
Tip: Broncos
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
Warriors v Manly at Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm
Head to head: Sea Eagles 24, Warriors 9, drawn 1
Last clash: Round 3, 2019 – Sea Eagles 46 bt Warriors 12 at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Close to injury-free and victorious in six of their last seven, the Sea Eagles are riding high. Just like the Canberra side who bulldozed the Warriors last week. A record seventh straight loss looms at Mt Smart for the hosts unless Stephen Kearney can inject a massive dose of fight and get fourth-choice hooker Jazz Tevaga up to speed quickly.
Key: Dylan Walker. Looked sharp in conjunction with Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves against Newcastle and could take Manly’s attack to another level.
Tip: Sea Eagles
Penrith v Cronulla at Panthers Stadium, 7.55pm
Head to head: Sharks 56, Panthers 43, drawn 4
Last clash: Round 6, 2019 – Sharks 24 bt Panthers 20 at Pointsbet Stadium
Seventh versus ninth and separated by points differential only, it’s a true finals-shaping contest. The Sharks are rediscovering their best after a rough patch and will fancy their chances against a Panthers side missing the suspended James Maloney and injured Jarome Luai. Viliame Kikau’s return will give the hosts some much-needed muscle against a rippling Cronulla pack.
Key: Nathan Cleary. May not get the best platform and will have a rookie halves partner but must find a way to re-ignite the stalling Panthers attack.
Tip: Sharks
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
St George Illawarra v Gold Coast at Jubilee Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Dragons 13, Titans 7, drawn 2
Last clash: Round 3, 2018 – Dragons 54 bt Titans 8 at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Two teams who’d probably prefer to sit out the last month, such has been their abject form. Neither team has won, nor reached 20 points, over the last five rounds. Another loss for the Titans would all-but seal the wooden spoon. Defeat for the Dragons would be a new low in a forgettable campaign.
Key: Gareth Widdop. The Englishman has previously starred against Gold Coast and will want to make a lasting impression in his final weeks as a Dragon.
Tip: Dragons
Parramatta v Newcastle at Bankwest Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to head: Knights 30, Eels 21, drawn 2
Last clash: Round 7, 2019 – Knights 28 bt Eels 14 at McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle have won 11 of their past 13 games against the Eels and they’ll need to build on that record if they’re any chance of playing finals. Parramatta must win to keep their top-four hopes alive. The Eels will start favourites as they chase a third straight win, while the Knights are desperate to end a miserable five-game losing streak. Kalyn Ponga needs to show Newcastle why he’s worth his new asking price of $1.5 million per season.
Key: The battle of the Mitches – Newcastle’s Pearce and Parramatta’s Moses. Whoever wins this duel of the halves wins the game.
Tip: Eels
Canterbury v Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm
Head to head: Bulldogs 22, Wests Tigers 13, drawn 1
Last clash: Round 3, 2019 – Bulldogs 22 bt Wests Tigers 8 at Campbelltown Stadium
The Tigers are eighth but walking the finals tightrope and cannot afford to drop this one against the 15th-placed Bulldogs. Canterbury have been playing for pride for months now but are coming off an impressive upset against Penrith and could keep rolling on the back of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. The Tigers named the same 17 that beat the Cowboys last week, while Chris Smith starts for the Bulldogs.
Key: Tigers veterans Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall look determined to play finals one last time together and shutting them down will be crucial to an upset.
Tip: Tigers
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
Canberra v Sydney Roosters at GIO Stadium, 2pm
Head to head: Sydney Roosters 34, Raiders 28, drawn 1
Last clash: Round 9, 2019 – Sydney Roosters 30 bt Raiders 24 at Suncorp Stadium
Canberra are flying and have won seven of the past eight but their premiership credentials will be tested against the Roosters. The Green Machine could field a full-strength side with Nick Cotric and Ryan Sutton returning, while Joey Leilua is in the squad for the time since round seven. The premiers welcome back Jared Waerea-Hargreaves but will need to penetrate the NRL’s second-best defence in front of 20,000 hostile fans.
Key: Roosters fullback James Tedesco is a lock for the Dally M Medal but don’t be surprised if he’s upstaged by Raiders’ revelation Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
Tip: Raiders
South Sydney v Melbourne at Central Coast Stadium, 4.05pm
Head to head: Storm 25, Rabbitohs 5, drawn 1
Last clash: Qualifying final, 2018 – Storm 29 bt Rabbitohs 28 at AAMI Park
The two greatest coaches of all-time lock horns for the first time this season. Melbourne have looked unstoppable in 2019 but even the best are susceptible to supercoach Wayne Bennett. Souths will come fired-up after they were embarrassed by the Sharks last week. The Storm lead the NRL in tries, possession, completions and line breaks – it’s hard to see anyone slowing them.
Key: Rabbitohs enforcer Sam Burgess won at the judiciary but will be exploited if he can’t control his aggression.
Tip: Storm.