BETWEEN THE LINES
Newcastle Herald
Thursday March 24, 2011
EELS vRABBITOHSPast startsEels: Won, Warriors 24-18 (A);Lost, Panthers 20-6 (H)Rabbitohs: Lost, Roosters 40-29 (A);Lost, Bulldogs 28-19 (H)Bottom lineThe Bunnies have been decidedlyunderwhelming in the first two rounds, whileParramatta crashed back to earth last weekwith a loss at home to Penrith. Souths hadchances to beat both the Chooks and theDogs, and something suggests they willmake Parra pay for relinquishing the home-groundadvantage. A big game from GregInglis will get them home. RABBITOHSTITANS vBRONCOSPast startsTitans: Lost, Dragons 25-18 (H);Lost, Storm 40-12 (A)Broncos: Lost, Cowboys 16-14 (H);Won, Raiders 20-4 (H)Bottom lineThe Titans were rank against Melbournelast week and the Broncos, boosted by thereturn of big guns Ben Hannant and JustinHodges, are coming off a brave win inCanberra. Gold Coast will be nil and threeif they lose this one. The Titans are due tobounce back and always lift for their derbyrivals. TITANSPANTHERSv SHARKSPast startsPanthers: Lost, Knights 42-8 (H); Won,Eels 20-6 (A)Sharks: Lost, Raiders 40-12 (A),Won, Dragons, 16-10 (H)Bottom lineTwo teams coming off morale-boosting winslast week will be looking to get on a roll.The Sharks stunned everyone by upsettingthe premiers. Can they repeat it? Given thatPenrith have a 72-hour head start in theirpreparation, it is hard to tip against them athome. PANTHERSTIGERS vRAIDERSPast startsTigers: Lost, Bulldogs 24-14 (A);Won, Warriors 20-12 (H)Raiders: Won, Sharks 40-12 (H);Lost, Broncos 20-4 (H)Bottom lineThis shapes as a razzle-dazzle affair if bothsides bring their A games. There is talkdynamic Josh Dugan will play his first gamethis season and, if that is the case, theRaiders will be even more dangerous. TheTigers regained some confidence last weekand are on home turf, but this shapes as athriller. TIGERSWARRIORSv DRAGONSPast startsWarriors: Lost, Eels 24-18 (H); Lost,Tigers 20-12 (A)Dragons: Won, Titans 25-18 (A),Lost, Sharks 16-10 (A)Bottom lineEvery team in the NRL owes the Sharkiesa debt of gratitude for exposing WayneBennett‚„s premiers as mere mortals. TheWarriors have gone close in their fi rst twogames and will be desperate to open theiraccount. Backing up after a tough Mondaynight game, the Dragons look unusuallyvulnerable. WARRIORSBULLDOGSv ROOSTERSPast startsBulldogs: Won, Tigers 24-14 (H),Won, Rabbitohs 28-19 (H)Roosters: Won, Rabbitohs 40-29 (H),Lost, Sea Eagles 27-16 (H)Bottom lineThis one is a real toss-of-the-coin job.The Roosters would appear to have morestrikepower in them but the new-lookDoggies have been ruthless in their firsttwo games. Todd Carney needs to producesome magic or Canterbury will out-grind lastyear‚„s runners-up. BULLDOGSSEA EAGLESv KNIGHTSPast startsSea Eagles: Lost, Storm 18-6 (A),Won, Roosters, 27-16 (A)Knights: Won, Panthers 42-8 (A);Won, Cowboys 34-22 (A)Bottom lineHow long before Newcastle‚„s bubblebursts? Maybe it won‚„t. The Knights arehappy to keep cooking up boilovers,and a win against their old rivals will earnserious respect. But Newcastle‚„s recordat Brooky ‚€œ two wins from 11 starts ‚€œis ordinary and Manly deserve to befavourites. SEA EAGLESCOWBOYSv STORMPast startsCowboys: Won,Broncos 16-14 (A);Lost, Knights, 34-22 (H)Storm: Won,Sea Eagles 18-6 (H);Won, Titans 40-12 (H)Bottom lineThis sort of game bringsout the best in JohnathanThurston, but he can‚„tdo it all on his own. TheStorm were so impressiveagainst the Titans last weekendit was easy to forget the starsthey have lost. Melbourne won‚„tbeat themselves. The Cowswill have to produce somethingspecial. STORM
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