NRL Round 7 Preview
Bulldogs vs Sea Eagles
Match Up - Josh Reynolds vs Kieran Foran. Both teams aren't in the best of form and they need these two lads to spark positive vibes throughout their side. Whether it's a big effort on defence or running the football, look for these two to set the benchmark for their respective team.s
Key Man - Tony Williams has to get his mits on the ball as often as possible. He offers go forward thanks to his size but his skill out on the edge is crucial and the Doggies need a bit of flair to trouble Manly's defence.
Keep An Eye On - Bulldogs bench (Lloyd Perrett, Antonio Kaufusi and Frank Pritchard), they are some of the most beastly men in the NRL and to have them come off the bench and serve up plenty of aggression will be a boost around the 20 minute mark.
Verdict - Manly <12. They've got their two best centres back, their forward pack looks settled and surely Daly Cherry-Evans can't continue this slump?
Dragons vs Broncos
Match Up - Mitch Rein vs Andrew McCullough. Two of the better young hookers in the NRL, they are both tough buggers who are crucial to their team's attack movements.
Key Man - Josh Dugan goes under the radar a bit, but he's playing well and when he gets the ball near the line, he's difficult to stop. The Broncos are strong defensively but Dugan can drift around and pop up where he sees an opportunity.
Keep An Eye - Corey Oates started this season on the wing but will come off the bench, probably to slip in on the edge to give Matt Gillett a break.
Verdict - Broncos <12. It's all about their forward pack.
Titans vs Panthers
Match Up - James Roberts vs Waqa Blake. Hopefully they line up on the same side of the field, I'm pretty sure they will and we'll get to see two very exciting young centres go at it.
Key Man - Aidan Sezer directed the Titans around the field perfectly last week and his long kicking game will be crucial to put pressure on the Panthers.
Keep An Eye On - I reckon this will be the low key game of the round; two exciting teams who have flaws and will chance their arm.
Verdict - Titans >12. Same as the Broncos, their forward pack has more starch and I'm not sold on the Panthers without Soward/Wallace.
Cowboys vs Warriors
Match Up - Tautau Moga/Kane Linnett vs Konrad Hurrell/Solomone Kata. The Cowboys have two big centres while the Warriors have two power centres, but this will be about what happens without the ball. Defend your edge well, help your team win.
Key Man - Jake Granville is the dummy half who the Cowboys need after a bit of a rotating door in the 9 jersey up in Townsville. He runs the footy which is the key, distribution is a staple.
Keep An Eye On - Lachlan Coote moved to fullback and the Cowboys started to win.
Verdict - Cowboys <12. Jonathan Thurston knows that the Warriors struggle to grind, he knows.
Storm vs Roosters
Match Up - Jesse Bromwich vs Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Two kiwi props who, let's just say are pretty good at this rugby league thing.
Key Man - James Maloney has been reasonably average of late, missing tackles and taking poor options. The Roosters need him to be at his best, he's also probably going to leave the Chooks.
Keep An Eye On - Siosiua Taukeiaho has improved with each week he's played this season. This week he starts at lock, go well son.
Verdict - Storm <12. The Storm love their defence and they should be able to hold out much of what the Roosters throw at them.
Tigers vs Raiders
Match Up - James Tedesco vs Jack Wighton. Promising fullbacks who are also extremely important to their team's fortunes.
Key Man - Martin Taupau was quiet last week, if he's bringing the ruckus through the middle then expect the Tigers to follow
Keep An Eye On - Kyle Lovett on the edge for the Tigers and Jeremy Hawkins on the wing for the Raiders. Youngsters getting an elongated opportunity early in the season.
Verdict - Tigers <12. There's too much oomph in this Tigers side for the Raiders, they just need a strong showing from their young halves.
Knights vs Eels
Match Up - Chris Houston/Tariq Sims vs Manu Ma'u/David Gower. Ugh, this will be equal parts brutality and skill as these four go to battle on the edges. Gower, he goes unnoticed but he's a fine player.
Key Man - Jarrod Mullen needs to get his outside backs firing again, but to do so he probably needs to go the other direction and keep it simply. Kick well, take the right options and bark out orders.
Keep An Eye On - Peni Terepo/Danny Wicks off the bench for the Eels, both are destructive with the ball under their wings.
Verdict - Eels <12.
Sharks vs Rabbitohs
Match Up - Jack Bird vs Glenn Stewart. Bird's enjoying a great start to his NRL career while Stewart is just trying to do a job for his team, but both are key men.
Key Man - Paul Gallen will have to put his team on his shoulders and lead the way through the middle. The Rabbits got torn to shreds by the Cowboys last week up the guts and Gallen will be looking to do the same with plenty of metres and offloads.
Keep An Eye On - Centres, slightly battler-ish look to the centres here but it will be a war in the middle so Ricky Leutele, Gerrard Beale, Darryl Millard and Bryson Goodwin will need to make the most of chances served up to them.
Verdict - Sharks <12. If you're going too beat the Rabbits, now's the time.