This weekend it is Round 10 of the 2015 NRL Telstra Premiership and with the State of Origin teams on the cusp of being announced it is going to be an entertaining battle for the jerseys played out on the field this round.
Two blockbusters kick things off on Friday night headed by the highly anticipated Queensland Derby between the fourth-ranked Cowboys chasing their seventh on the trot and the ladder-leading Broncos in a super Top 4 showdown played out up in North Queensland.
The other top of the table clashes on the card this weekend are the Melbourne Storm (2nd) playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs (6th) at AAMI Park on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon’s Dragons (3rd) vs Raiders (5th) at WIN Stadium where the Green Machine will look to build on their giant slaying status.
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Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs Sydney Roosters
Friday, May 15 – 7:30pm (AEST) – ANZ Stadium
First up on Friday night last season’s Grand Final losers the Bulldogs look to build some momentum to get them closer to a Top 8 spot when they play the Rosters (7th) at ANZ. Canterbury were the latest team to lose to the flying Cowboys last week but will appreciate a Sydney game while the Chooks will still be on a high after an all-too-easy 36 – 4 annihilation of the Tigers a week ago that ended a four-match losing streak. The Doggies welcome back their skipper James Graham from a four-match suspension and Josh Reynolds is also back for the club, two big boosts as the battle for the Blues halves begins.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos
Friday, May 15 – 7:35pm (AEST) – 1300 Smiles Stadium
The Cowboys had a rough opener to the season but look out, they are making a charge for that top spot on the ladder currently occupied by the team they play this weekend – Brisbane. Home fans of the NQ crew will be gunning for their boys to salute in their seventh straight win when they play the Broncos who dug deep in a gritty 8 – 5 win over the Panthers last Friday night. Strap in for a beauty here with both teams in peak form and looking for a win before Origin depletes them of their star players. It is Cowboys attack vs Broncos defense, the latter further boosted this week with Sam Thaiday back in business. The home side has the big advantage at this ground with Brisbane able to win just two of their past six visits to Townsville, but can they atone? It’ll be close.
Parramatta Eels vs New Zealand Warriors
Saturday, May 16 – 3:00pm (AEST) – Pirtek Stadium
The Eels are giving their fans plenty of grief once again now sitting second last on the ladder after a host of below-par efforts including a Round 9 loss to the Storm (10 – 28). This weekend they get a home game at Pirtek but play the eighth-ranked Warriors who beat the Sharks 20 – 16 last weekend. The Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has dropped Chris Sandow and Joseph Paulo this week in an attempt to boot the rest of the boys into action, with Luke Kelly and Tepai Moeroa coming in as the fill-ins.
Gold Coast Titans vs Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Saturday, May 16 – 5:30pm (AEST) – Cbus Super Stadium
With a host of off-field dramas (again) the Gold Coast are proving a disappointment in 2015 slipping to 13th on the ladder following a smashing at the hands of the Green Machine when beaten 56 – 16 last week, one of their top three losses since their 2007 inauguration. This week they play at home hosting one of the few teams below them on the ladder – the Sharks (14th). Cronulla have certainly proved they are capable of an upset and were only beaten by four by the Warriors last weekend. Stats are right down the middle with six wins each from the past 12 played but the Sharks haven’t played on the Gold Coast since 2011 when they won 36 – 12. Cronulla do welcome back David Fifita (leg) but not sure if that alone is enough.
Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Saturday, May 16 – 7:30pm (AEST) – AAMI Park
One of Round 10’s blockbusters, the Storm have the home ground advantage here when taking on the Bunnies in this 2nd vs 6th showdown. Melbourne are fighting their way to that first spot on the ladder but will have to be at their best to beat South Sydney who will put up a tougher fight than the Eels did last weekend. Souths meanwhile are on the shorter turnaround having played on Monday night in a tough 16 – 10 win over the Dragons who are proving hard to post points against with ace defense this season. John Sutton will be back in five-eighth here with Adam Reynolds (thumb) injured.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canberra Raiders
Sunday, May 17 – 2:00pm (AEST) – WIN Stadium
The Dragons are one of the form teams of 2015 and are currently sitting third on the ladder after losing to the Bunnies last Monday night. They will be after atonement this Sunday afternoon when taking on one of the big surprises of the season – the Raiders. Canberra are now fifth on the ladder and right on the cusp of a Top 4 spot after their massive victory when putting a 40-point margin on the Titans last week.
Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers
Sunday, May 17 – 4:00pm (AEST) – Hunter Stadium
The Knights continue to slide down the ladder after their early season high and are now 12th in the competition and taking on another team on the slip – the Tigers. Wests are the outsiders without the home ground advantage after their flop when beaten 36 – 4 by the Chooks last Friday night. Newcastle meanwhile were also cruddy in Round 9 at Brookvale when becoming just the second team in 2015 to lose to the Sea Eagles in a 30 – 10 loss. The youth of the Tigers has worked against them really this season and that’s something the Knights are going to capitalise on here in a must win for the club.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs Penrith Panthers
Monday, May 18 – 7:00pm (AEST) – Brookvale Oval
After posting the two points with a win over Melbourne in Round 8 the Sea Eagles managed to post back-to-back victories when putting 20 extra points on the Knights who they beat 30 – 10 last Sunday. They have a Monday night match here so time to recover and at the fortress they are a shot of a third straight when playing the Panthers who only lost three points in an 8 – 5 loss to Brisbane last Friday night. Manly also welcome back Steve Matai from suspension in a further boost to the season’s sob story.