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Broncos v Wests Tigers
Friday, 7.50pm, Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: 1 Jordan Kahu, 2 Greg Eden, 3 Jack Reed, 4 James Roberts, 5 Lachlan Maranta, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Ben Hunt, 8 Joseph Ofahengaue, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Jaydn Sua, 13 Jarrod Wallace 14 Jai Arrow, 15 Herman Ese'ese, 16 Tevita Pangai, 17 Kodi Nikorima
Wests Tigers: 1 Jordan Rankin 2 David Nofoaluma 3 Tim Simona 4 Kevin Naiqama 5 Josh Addo-Carr 6 Mitchell Moses 7 Luke Brooks 8 Tim Grant 9 Dene Halatau 10 Ava Seumanufagai 11 Joshua Aloiai 12 Chris Lawrence 13 Elijah Taylor 14 Sauaso Jesse Sue 15 Matthew Ballin 16 Kyle Lovett 17 Jacob Junior Felise 18 Michael Chee Kam
Chris Boulous writes: No longer the Baby Broncos, Wayne Bennett can still field a quality team despite missing Corey Parker, Sam Thaiday, Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett, Darius Boyd and Corey Oates to Origin commitments.
Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt form the backbone of the Origin-depleted Broncos who are reeling off another one-point loss to the Cowboys. Former Tiger Adam Blair is a key man for the home team and his match-up with Tim Grant is crucial with the Wests Tigers missing their main go forward man in Aaron Woods (NSW).
It's been 2156 days since the Wests Tigers defeated the Broncos and they will need to improve significantly on their last start against the Knights if they are going to break the six year drought. The form of new signing Elijah Taylor is a plus for Jason Taylor's team.
Key match-ups: Anthony Milford v Mitchell Moses, Adam Blair v Tim Grant, Ben Hunt v Luke Brooks
Did you know: The Wests Tigers have won only four games from 24 against the Broncos.
Tip: Broncos by 6
UBET: Broncos $1.25, Wests Tigers $4
Dragons v Cowboys
Saturday, 7.30pm, WIN Stadium
Will it be a Night-ingale to remember for the Dragons? Photo: Cameron Spencer
Dragons: 1 Jason Nightingale 2 Kalifa Faifai Loa 3 Euan Aitken 4 Tim Lafai 5 Kurt Mann 6 Gareth Widdop 7 Benji Marshall 8 Leeson Ah Mau 9 Mitch Rein 10 Russell Packer 11 Jacob Marketo 12 Joel Thompson 13 Mike Cooper 14 Jacob Host 15 Dunamis Lui 16 Siliva Havili 17 Will Matthews 19 Josh McCrone
Cowboys: 1 Lachlan Coote 2 Kyle Feldt 3 Javid Bowen 4 Kane Linnett 5 Antonio Winterstein 6 Jahrome Hughes 7 Ray Thompson 8 Ben Hannant 9 Jake Granville 10 Scott Bolton 11 Gavin Cooper 12 Ethan Lowe 13 Jason Taumalolo 14 Rory Kostjasyn 15 John Asiata 16 Coen Hess 17 Patrick Kaufusi
Chris Boulous writes: A lot has changed since the Cowboys thrashed the Dragons 36-0 in round five. For one, the Cowboys will be without the fab five on Origin duty in halves Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan, props Matt Scott and James Tamou and centre Justin O'Neill.
or another, the Dragons are starting to grind out some wins on a more regular basis and have discovered a genuine attacking weapon in Euan Aitken. The Dragons will be missing their Origin duo in Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell but welcome back Benji Marshall to partner Gareth Widdop to take on the Cowboys inexperienced halves in Jahrome Hughes and Ray Thompson. The Cowboys have won their last three games at Wollongong and still field a formidable forward pack headlined by Jason Taumalolo and Gavin Cooper.
Key match-ups: Jason Nightingale v Lachlan Coote, Benji Marshall v Ray Thompson, Mike Cooper v Jason Taumalolo
Did you know: The Cowboys have won five out of the past six against the Dragons.
Tip: Dragons by 1
UBET: Dragons $1.81, Cowboys$2
Raiders v Bulldogs
Sunday, 4pm, GIO Stadium
The Canberra Raiders will be wearing a special Ricky Stuart Foundation jersey against the Bulldogs. Photo: Elesa Kurtz
Raiders: 1 Jack Wighton 2 Edrick Lee 3 Jarrod Croker 4 Joseph Leilua 5 Jordan Rapana 6 Blake Austin 7 Aidan Sezer 8 Shannon Boyd 9 Josh Hodgson 10 Paul Vaughan 11 Iosia Soliola 12 Elliot Whitehead 13 Shaun Fensom 14 Kurt Baptiste 15 Jeff Lima 16 Luke Bateman 17 Joseph Tapine 18 Clay Priest
Bulldogs: 1 Sam Perrett, 2 Curtis Rona, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Kerrod Holland, 5 Tyrone Phillips, 6 Josh Reynolds, 7 Moses Mbye, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 James Graham, 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 12 Greg Eastwood, 13 Tim Browne 14 Sam Kasiano, 15 Adam Elliott, 16 Danny Fualalo, 17 Craig Garvey
Chris Boulous writes: The Bulldogs search for three straight wins at a venue where they have some success in recent years. Motivation shouldn't be a problem after the Raiders dominated them at their spiritual home earlier in the year and a spot in the top four on the line.
Josh Reynolds will be also be keen for a big game to keep his name firmly in the minds of the NSW selectors. The Raiders produced their best effort since their Belmore demolition last week and welcome back Iosia Soliola and Shaun Fensom from injury. The Raiders have the form three-quarter line of the competition and will target the next eight weeks as an ideal time to make a charge with only Josh Papalii missing with representative commitments.
Key match-ups: Jack Wighton v Sam Perrett, Paul Vaughan v James Graham, Aidan Sezer v Moses Mbye
Did you know: The Bulldogs have won their last three games at Canberra Stadium.
Tip: Raiders by 12
UBET: Raiders $1.70, Bulldogs $2.15
Knights v Eels
Monday, 7pm, Hunter Stadium
Injury concern: Eels' skipper Kieran Foran. Photo: Mark Kolbe
Knights: 1 Jake Mamo 2 Cory Denniss 3 Sione Mata'utia 4 Nathan Ross 5 Akuila Uate 6 Jaelen Feeney 7 Trent Hodkinson 8 Sam Mataora 9 Danny Levi 10 Daniel Saifiti 11 Tariq Sims 12 Pauli Pauli 13 Jeremy Smith 14 Tyler Randell 15 Korbin Sims 16 Joshua King 17 Mickey Paea 18 David Bhana 19 Pat Mata'utia
Eels: 1 Michael Gordon, 2 Semi Radradra, 3 Vai Toutai, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 Clinton Gutherson, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Kieran Foran, 8 Junior Paulo, 9 Isaac De Gois, 10 Danny Wicks, 11 Manu Ma'u, 12 Beau Scott, 13 Tepai Moeroa 14 Kaysa Pritchard, 15 Peni Terepo, 16 David Gower, 17 Kenny Edwards
Chris Boulous writes: Consecutive Monday night games for the Eels who simply must win this week if they are any chance of playing finals footy this year. Execution has let the blue and golds down in the past fortnight as they continue to come to terms with the loss of hooker Nathan Peats.
The good news is the Eels will benefit from a largely unaffected squad during the Origin period and have an in-form Man Ma'u and Semi Radradra at their disposal. The Knights have lost five straight games but will take solace in knowing they won seven straight games against the Eels between 2010-14.
The outstanding performance of Daniel Saifiti last week will also give Nathan Brown some hope his young side will continue to improve in the second half of the season. Former Knight Beau Scott (corked thigh) and Kieran Foran (shoulder) picked up knocks last week but are expected to play.
Key match-ups: Trent Hodkinson v Kieran Foran, Tariq Sims v Manu Ma'u, Jake Mamo v Michael Gordon
Did you know: The match marks the first-ever NRL match in the region of Taranaki.
Tip: Eels by 14
UBET: Eels $1.28, Knights $3.70
