Origin Awaits and NRL Round 12 Marches On!
Tags : rugby league, NRL, footy, state of origin, melbourne storm, cronulla sharks, featured, monday night football, gold coast titans29th May 2009, by Daniel Hillege
With State of Origin sides chosen and training camps in full swing, we have five NRL games for this round.
On Friday night, we have the Dragons at WIN Stadium up against the Panthers.
The Dragons are favourites to take out this battle and their position on the ladder supports the odds. Wayne Bennett’s influence and masterful coaching is doing them wonders. The Dragons have been playing solid, mistake-free footy which is getting them over the line.
The Panthers will need to be strong and sharp to cut through the defence of the Dragons – which has been exposed in the last month (controversial win over the Bulldogs 20-18, loss to the Cowboys 20-24) in saying that the Dragons have fought for the whole 80 minutes, something the Panthers have done and will need to do here if they’re a chance of getting the two points.
Penrith are coming off four wins on-the-trot, a thrashing of the Roosters, a close game where they got the better of the Sharks and wins against the Raiders and the Titans. This is a huge game for both teams. The Panthers have the chance to join the top fliers on the table and the Dragons to go one better cement a place a the top of the table.
On Saturday the Eels have the Sharks at home, the Eels are without star playmaker and major attacking weapon Jarryd Hayne as he prepares for Origin.
The Sharks have to win this game for them to have any hope of rebuilding their diabollical season. A top eight spot is gone – not theoretically but logically. The Sharks have to turn it around and although they're away against the Eels it’s the perfect opportunity to grab two points and take something positive from the game. A loss no-matter how close is not good enough.
Will the Sharks grab a win and put an end to the 10 straight losses, or will the Eels add to the Sharks woes?
Two games on Sunday see the Warriors at home to the Tigers and the Knights at home to the Bulldogs.
The Warriors have been disappointing this season, the return of Stacey Jones hasn’t has as much influence on the scoreboard as they would have liked and they are loosing at Mt Smart Stadium – which historically has been a guaranteed two points.
The Tigers will be without Robbie Farah a key element to their side, however with Benji on the paddock anything is possible. Will the speedy footwork and vision of Benji Marshall be enough to get the Tigers over the line or will they be hunted by the Warriors on home turf?
Knights go head to head with Bulldogs at Energy Stadium, with inspirational, key man and captain courageous Kurt Gidley absent for Origin duties. This is a major blow for the Knights who have looked brilliant on the back of Kurt Gidley’s performances. The Knights are in fifth position on the ladder and look confident of remaining thereabouts.
The Bulldogs have lost big man: Ben Hannant as he sits on the interchange bench for Queensland, there is also a cloud over the fitness of Brett Kimmorley (corked thigh), Bulldogs have a worthy replacement in Daniel Holdsworth.
The Bulldogs are coming off one of the best wins in the 2009 NRL season beating the Storm 26-10 (with Kimmorley out for a large period of the game).
So who will it be the Knights or the Bulldogs?
The Final game of NRL round 12 takes us to ANZ stadium where the Rabbitohs will face the Raiders.
The Rabbitohs have been in good form and are holding on to the top eight. The Raiders have been inconsistent throughout the season and sit 3rd last on the ladder. They have had a major loss in Terry Campese’s absence due to Origin, however have been bolstered by the return of work-horse Alan Tongue and the victory over Auckland last weekend should have given them a major confidence boost.
There is great Rugby League betting action all weekend so Get On at Centrebet.com!
| STATE OF ORIGIN - Game 1 | |
| $1.53 | Queensland |
| $2.50 | New South Wales |
| STATE OF ORIGIN - Series | |
| $1.48 | Queensland |
| $2.65 | New South Wales |
| $1.42 | Dragons |
| $2.90 | Panthers |
| $1.53 | Eels |
| $2.50 | Sharks |
| $1.51 | Warriors |
| $2.55 | Tigers |
| $2.10 | Knights |
| $1.72 | Bulldogs |
| $1.48 | Rabbitohs |
| $2.65 | Raiders |
last update : 29th May 2009 11:56
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