Tigers vs Cowboys

Tigers

Starting: Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Russell Packer, Elijah Taylor, Ben Matulino.

Bench: Michael Chee Kam, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak.

Cowboys

Starting: Antonio Winterstein, Jason Taumalolo.

Bench: Te Maire Martin.

Doc's Word

First of all, in a losing team, Michael Chee Kam was nek level on home soil in Auckland vs Warriors last week. Chee Kam got an extended run on the left due to a concussion for Chris Lawrence and flexed with 18runs/196m, a line break, an offload and 4 tackle busts, along with 20 touches of the footy which was the most of any non-hooker Tigers forward. That's a 'yo I'm in Auckland, let me flex' performance.

Wests Tigers utility Michael Chee Kam talks about the year that was and the year to come in his 2017 Player Profile.

There are a few wrinkles to Russell Packer's return. With Packer returning, Mathew Eisenhuth moves to lock and that pushes Elijah Taylor into hooker and that, then continues the revolving door of the Tigers hooker/bench hooker position. While Eisenhuth has demand selection through strong performances in Packer's absence, thus meaning Taylor moves from lock to hooker to allow that, coach Ivan Cleary has consistently tinkered with his hooking rotation. This week Pita Godinet drops out and Jacob Liddle is back on the bench, with Taylor starting.

Then we have what Packer offers the Tigers. There are of course intangibles and Packer's leadership is apparently crucial to the Tigers, which appears to be the most important aspect of Packer's return because statistically, Packer isn't a stand out. Packer averages 9.8runs/85m (solid, not fabulous) and doesn't have any tackle busts, he only averages 0.2 offloads a game and he averages 2.8 missed tackles a game (Ben Matulino averages 1.4 and Eisenhuth averages 1.7).

So, basically, Packer is solid running the footy and doesn't have much else to offer in attack, while he is good to miss almost 3 tackles a game. That sounds fairly mediocre, especially in the context of how Packer is talked about and how important he apparently is to the Tigers.

That's statistics though and Packer's value is in the intangibles, that which can't be measured. We do not that he averages a healthy 49 minutes, which is great value and watching Packer's return, I will take great interest in observing the energy, aggression and 'one-percent' type of plays from Packer. I will effectively be on a mission to highlight what makes Packer so good for the Tigers; highlighting that which can't be measured.

Knights vs Panthers

Knights

Starting: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Herman Ese'ese, Slade Griffin.

Bench: Danny Levi.

Panthers

Starting: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Corey Harawira-Naera, James Fisher-Harris.

Bench: Sione Katoa, Jarome Luai/Nick Lui-Toso.

Doc's Word

Once again interested in what happens with Jarome Luai as he has been named on the bench, except that this time it is alongside Sione Katoa. Wayde Egan is on the extended bench, as is Tyrone May, so Penrith don't have any shortage of utility bench options in their squad, which is low key funky because there's no certainty that Luai will be in the 17 come game time.

If Luai does make the 17, then we will probably see Katoa used more as a middle forward, playing at lock, with Luai there to do a job at hooker if needed. Peter Wallace is starting at hooker and he's an 80 minute gun, so expect to see Katoa show off his versatility.

Bulldogs vs Eels

Bulldogs

Starting: Kieran Foran, Jeremy Marshall-King, Raymond Faitala-Mariner.

Bench: Remouf To'omaga.

Eels

Starting: Brad Takairangi, Suaia Matagi, Manu Ma'u, Peni Terepo.

Bench: Kenny Edwards/Kirisome Auva'a, Josh Hoffman, Marata Niukore.

Doc's Word

Jeremy Marshall-King made a strong case for continued selection at dummy half ahead of Michael Lichaa in the Bulldogs narrow loss to the Broncos. He's back there this week and hopefully he can improve on his 3 dummy half runs for 35m as I reckon he could play a key role in sparking the Bulldogs' attack against a slow-ish Eels middle.

That was Marshall-King's first start at hooker in the NRL, so no dramas with 3runs/35m and the efficiency there is great. If he can bump that up to 5 dummy half runs, in conjunction with Aaron Woods' offloads, Moses Mbye's speed and the brutal carries of David Klemmer, then the Bulldogs will ramp up the speed around the ruck and do damage.

Warriors vs Roosters

Warriors

Starting: All but Blake Green.

Bench: All but Karl Lawton.

Roosters

Starting: Joseph Manu, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu.

Bench: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Zane Tetevano/Sitili Tupouniuea, Frank-Paul Nuuausala.

Doc's Word

Sio Siua Taukeiaho was back to his best last week with 17runs/155m and 3 offloads vs Manly and we can expect some sort of hectic performance from him as he returns to the Warriors. How coach Trent Robinson is using his forwards is a wee bit puzzling though as he's constantly chopping and changing guys between starting and bench, searching for the right mix.

Taukeiaho came off the bench last week and I view that as his best role, which produces his best work and now he's named to start this week; if Taukeiaho does start, I'll be intrigued about his workload and output compared to coming off the bench.

Storm vs Titans

Storm

Starting: Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Bench: Brandon Smith, Kenny Bromwich, Sam Kasiano.

Titans

Starting: Kevin Proctor.

Bench: Moeaki Fotuaika.

Doc's Word

Well done to #intrustsupercup @THSeagullsRLFC forward Moeaki Fotuaika who made his #NRL debut with @GCTitans on Saturday. Here's what he had to say about the experience --> https://t.co/NjPAoY1Bha pic.twitter.com/iaXSonq83x
— Intrust Super Cup (@IntrustSuperCup) May 7, 2018

We have finally been given a glimpse of Moeaiki Fotuaika, who came off the bench for Gold Coast Titans in their loss to Canberra Raiders. Fotuaika was a 2017 Junior Kiwi and has been playing reserve grade this season, with plenty of buzz about his strength and power. I'm excited to see how the toko from Gisborne adds to the Titans forward pack, which lacks a dose of x-factor and if Fotuaika can show any promising signs against Melbourne Storm, there's reason to be hyped.

We can all take great inspiration from Moeaiki's journey so far. NRL.com had a story about that journey, so check that out and follow his example.

Sea Eagles vs Broncos

Sea Eagles

Starting: Addin Fonua-Blake, Martin Taupau.

Bench: Lewis Brown/Toafofoa Sipley.

Broncos

Starting: Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima, Alex Glenn.

Bench: /Sam Tagataese.

Doc's Word

Who knows what's going on with the Broncos spine as Kodi Nikorima is back in the halves, after moving to the bench where he was used as a hooker and a half. I've said many times that I don't like the balance of Nikorima and Anthony Milford in the halves, yet coach Wayne Bennett keeps falling back to it and I'm going to be very interest in how this works against a Manly forward pack that could peg the Broncos on the back foot.

Addin Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau were beastly in their loss to the Roosters last week and if they show up in the same mood here, the Broncos may struggle to contain Manly through the middle. There are many other moving parts including Daly Cherry-Evans' control of the game, I'm simply eager to see how Nikorima performs if Brisbane aren't rolling with momentum and he needs to handle the basic halves duties.

Rabbitohs vs Dragons

Rabbitohs

Starting: Haters.

Bench: Haters.

Dragons

Starting: Jason Nightingale.

Bench: Leeson Ah Mau.

Doc's Word

There has been growing hype around Leeson Ah Mau's work off the bench for the Dragons and now with a few other NRL teams eager to sign the Papatoetoe/Otahuhu junior, that interest in his work is growing. This week Ah Mau will line up against the Burgess bros and will play a crucial role in maintaining the good work of the starting middle forwards, or changing the flow of the game; Ah Mau and Kurt Mann will offer plenty of footwork and mobility off the bench to challenge the Burgess bros.

Leeson Ah Mau pulls off incredible kick and re-gather to set up play of the day in #Nelson! #redvinNZ

Ah Mau only averages 36mins/game, which is considerably less than Paul Vaughan (51m/g), James Graham (48m/g) and Jack de Belin (58m/g). But what Ah Mau does in those 36 minutes is the key note here as he is incredibly efficient with his work, averaging 10.37m/run, while the three starters are all below the 10m/run mark.

Averaging 11.1runs and 115m a game, Ah Mau also churns out 2.3 tackle busts/game and that is more than Vaughan (0.1tb/g), Graham (0.4tb/g) and de Belin (2.1tb/g). This is exactly what you want from a bench forward and Ah Mau benefits from the graft of his starting middle forwards, pouncing on any fatigued defenders. I suspect Ah Mau will be even more potent against the Burgess bros in that regard.

Raiders vs Sharks

Raiders

Starting: Jordan Rapana, Iosia Soliola, Siliva Havili, Joseph Tapine.

Bench: Ata Hingano, Charlie Gubb.

Sharks

Starting: Sosaia Feki.

Bench: Ava Seumanufagai/Braden Uele.

Doc's Word

Charlie Gubb has been waiting in the wings at Canberra after leaving the Warriors for an opportunity with the Raiders, now he gets his chance against a rugged Sharks pack. Gubb's chance coincides with the return of Paul Gallen for Cronulla, although we may see Gubb get his minutes in a 10-15 minute stint around half-time when Gallen may be off the field. How Ricky Stuart uses Gubb will be of interest as Gubb is the biggest body on their bench, yet he's below Dunamis Lui and Luke Bateman in the pecking order.

The first Semi-final of the 2013 BB series. Best of 7, 1-on-1 comp.

With Gubb moving into the top-17 and likely to spend more time there if all goes well (Junior Paulo is out for a month or two), Canberra will roll out a trio of Wellingtonians. Gubb joins Jordan Rapana and Joseph Tapine in being from Wellington and all three are Maori, giving those of you down in the capital a funky team to rally behind.

Jahtearoa Premiers

Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: David Fusitu'a (T), Jordan Rapana.
Centres: Peta Hiku, Dean Whare.
Halves: Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran.
Middles: Martin Taupau, Adam Blair, Jason Taumalolo (T), Issac Luke.
Edges: Tohu Harris, Joseph Tapine.
Bench: Kodi Nikorima, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Ben Matulino, James Fisher-Harris.

In: Peta Hiku, Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris, Joseph Tapine.

Out: Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Corey Harawira-Naera, Manu Ma'u.

Jahtearoa Reserves

Fullback: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Wings: Jason Nightingale, Ken Maumalo (S).
Centres: Esan Marsters, Brad Takairangi.
Halves: Benji Marshall, Te Maire Martin.
Middles: Bunty Afoa (S), Herman Ese'ese (S), Addin Fonua-Blake, Slade Griffin.
Edges: Alex Glenn, Corey Harawira-Naera.
Bench: Siliva Havili (T), Peni Terepo (T), Kenny Bromwich, Agnatius Paasi (T).

In: Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Addin Fonua-Blake, Corey Harawira-Naera, Kenny Bromwich.

Out: Jeremy Marshall-King, Josh Aloiai, Ava Seumanufagai.

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Peace and love 27.