Matty Johns looks ahead to the NRL big games for round 19 and delivers his predictions
IT’S business time and for those teams still in finals contention, there is no margin for error. MATTY JOHNS delivers his predictions for the biggest NRL games for round 19.
Opinion
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IT’S round 19 — the frivolity is over.
For teams still in contention, the focus really starts to narrow. Check the ladder and look how tight things are.
There are teams kicking themselves about the games where they just didn’t turn up, how important that two points would be now.
A good next month will entrench a team in the top four. A bad month and they risk going out the back door.
Some of the games this weekend are hugely important, let’s check them out and work out what’s at stake.
CLASSIC CLASH: Look back to the iconic Bulldogs-Eels battle
LISTEN! Nick Campton and Tim Williams celebrate length of the field intercept tries, compare two top shelf Rabbitohs sides and preview all of the Round 19 action.
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SHARKS VS RAIDERS, Friday, 6pm
SHARKS: They are gathering momentum and getting important players back from injury and have a good draw to the finals. If there’s a team who is capable of coming from the clouds and winning the comp, I nominate Cronulla. A win this week sees them very well positioned for a top four finish; a loss and they’re back thinking about survival.
RAIDERS: It’s very simple for the Raiders — lose and, given the difficulty of their run home, their final hopes are dashed.
WHO WINS? I really like the way the Sharks are playing at the moment. The Raiders on the other hand are being smashed in the injury department. If the Sharks play with the necessary energy and desperation, they win this.
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BRONCOS VS PANTHERS, Friday, 7.55pm
BRONCOS: A loss here and the Broncos see themselves under huge pressure with the Raiders and Tigers potentially just two points adrift. What adds to the importance of this game is Brisbane’s run home — it’s a tough one.
PENRITH: It wasn’t far back that the Panthers were top of the table, but their inconsistency over the last month has seen them drop out of the top four and, on 24 points, they’re the same points as the seventh place Warriors. The Panthers’ run home is good, but a loss puts this young squad back in the danger zone and under pressure. A win, and given the draw, nicely placed for a top four finish.
WHO WINS? I like the Panthers on the strength of their halves. Brisbane’s lack of a serious game manager is a major drawback in these big contests. The strength of the Broncos is their brilliant young forwards; if Penrith can control them, their creative men will get them home.
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TIGERS VS RABBITOHS, Saturday, 5.30pm
TIGERS: They can’t lose. Although their run home is pretty good, their points differential is poor, which means in the event of finishing equal eighth, they drop out. Lose and no finals football for the Tigers.
RABBITOHS: This is a very dangerous game for Souths. They’ve won nine in a row, and are cruising nicely. But that’s part of the problem, they are starting to “cruise”. The Bunnies need to find a little extra “killer” in their football. If they don’t lift their desperation, they will get beat this week.
WHO WINS? This will be very tight. I’m going for Souths, but they will need to be better than what they were against the Bulldogs. Robbie Farah will be extra keen for a big performance, and that’s where the danger lies for Souths, through the middle. This will be the game of the round.
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WARRIORS VS STORM, Sunday 2pm
WARRIORS: I can’t believe this is the same team that hammered the Broncos, yet just two weeks earlier were annihilated by a team full of kids at Penrith. The Warriors are big, strong and dangerous, but are they serious? We find out this week against Melbourne. A win gives them enormous confidence and momentum. A loss and they’re looking over their shoulders.
STORM: It’s time for Melbourne to narrow the focus. They’ve only gotten hot occasionally this campaign and it’s dangerous to think you can stroll into September and simply flick a switch. Melbourne need to start to find their best football consistently.
WHO WINS? With Melbourne welcoming back their Origin stars, they win. The Warriors won’t bully the Storm’s middle defence the way they did the young Broncos.
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SEA EAGLES VS ROOSTERS, Sunday 4pm
SEA EAGLES: What’s at stake? Pride.
ROOSTERS: They’re in the top four and time for them to go on a consistent run. They’ve tinkered around with their football, adapting to life with Cooper Cronk and that’s led to a bit of stuttering form. However, there are signs that we are about to see the best of them. Expect James Tedesco to have a huge back end of the season after his brilliant Origin series.
WHO WINS? Can only see a Roosters win.
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