With just two rounds left in 2015, the race for spots in the Top 8 is heating up. North Queensland charged into first place after defeating the Warriors in Auckland on Saturday. They took top spot after the 15th-placed Dragons upset the ladder leading Panthers on Thursday night. On Friday night, the Bulldogs defeated the Rabbitohs by two points, who look odds on to take out the wooden spoon. A big win by the Tigers over the Sharks on Saturday afternoon saw them leap the Raiders and Warriors on the ladder, while Brisbane further separated the top 3 from the rest of the pack with an 8-point win over the Roosters. Manly jumped into the top 4 with a last minute win over the Eels, and Newcastle are just one point out of the top 8 after a win over Melbourne on Monday.
Coen Strong
Junior Kangaroo and Qld U20 representative Coen Hess made a great first impression on the NRL in his debut for the Cowboys on Saturday night. A standout in the NYC, Hess played 54 minutes, ran for 104 metres, scored a try and assisted on another for team mate Ben Spina in the 50-16 victory. The 19-year old returns to the Holden Cup this weekend but definitely showed that he was up to the rigours of first grade football.
4th Place Showdown
Manly and the Roosters face off at Brookvale Oval this weekend with a spot in the top 4 up for grabs. Both sides have very winnable games in Round 26, so this game is vital to securing a second chance in the finals. Tom Trbojevic returns for Manly after missing last round’s win with a knee injury, while opposing number Latrell Mitchell is back for the Roosters after a week off. If you’re heading down to Brookie on Friday, get their early to watch these two go at it.
Shape Up or Slip Out
Canberra have conceded a whopping 262 points in the last 5 rounds (52.4 a game), and that’s including win a over the Tigers in which they conceded 34 points. They face Penrith this weekend, who put 64 points on them a month ago, and could drop out of the 8 by the end of Round 26. While a win from their final two games should see them play in the finals, they won’t last long if they continue to concede points the way they have.
Round 25’s Televised Games
Parramatta v Cronulla – Pirtek Stadium – Saturday, August 29
10:30am – FOX Sports 1
A game with no finals or wooden spoon ramifications, these two sides will be playing for pride and looking to finish their seasons on a high. Both teams currently sit on 20 points and are coming off losses in Round 24. Jack Rogers, son of Mat and grandson of Steve, makes his NYC debut on the wing after moving to the Sharks mid-season from Bond University rugby union on the Gold Coast.
Wests Tigers v Warriors – Campbelltown Stadium – Sunday, August 30
11:30am – FOX Sports 1
A third weekend in a row on Foxtel for the young Tigers and they’ll be looking for another big win with the top 4 still (mathematically) in reach. The Warriors on the other hand are on a two game losing streak and in danger of dropping out of the top 8. Welcoming back a host of big names, including five-eighth Mafoa’aeata Hingano, this might be the round where the junior Warriors start their charge towards the finals.
Team of the Week
FB Kalyn Ponga (NQL) [1 try, 327m, 22 tackle busts, 1 offload, 5 line breaks]
WG Patrick Herbert (SGI) [213m, 11 tackle busts, 2 line breaks]
CE Fuaimamao Uta (NEW) [1 try, 288m, 7 tackle busts, 1 offload, 3 line breaks]
CE Rueben Garrick (SGI) [1 try, 237m, 5 tackle busts, 16 tackles)
WG Tyronne Roberts-Davis (GLD) [3 tries, 112m, 1 try assist, 6 tackle busts, 1 offload, 2 line breaks, 1 line b assist]
FE Te Maire Martin (WST) [1 try, 1 goal, 139m, 2 try asssits, 2 tackle busts, 1 line break, 2 line break assists]
HB Daniel Schwass (GLD) [80m, 1 try assist, 5 tackle busts, 1 line break assist]
PR Junior Tatola (WST) [1 try, 225m, 4 tackle busts, 22 tackles, 1 line breaks]
HK Jayden Berrell (BRI) [62m, 1 try assist, 3 tackle busts, 33 tackles, 1 offload, 1 line break assist]
PR Keegan Hipgrave (BRI) [1 try, 223m, 7 tackle busts, 33 tackles, 1 offload, 1 linebreaks]
SR Jacob Host (SGI) [1 try, 165m, 1 try assist, 2 tackle busts, 29 tackles, 1 line break, 1 line break assist]
SR Renouf Toomaga (CBY) [1 try, 106m, 4 tackle busts, 28 tackles, 1 offload, 2 line breaks, 1 line break assist]
LK Hame Sele (SGI) [139m, 6 tackle busts, 26 tackles, 1 offload, 1 line break assist]
BE Addison Demetriou (MAN) [2 tries, 155m, 8 tackle busts, 1 offload, 1 line breaks]
BE Liam Knight (MAN) [166m, 2 tackle busts, 51 tackles, 3 offloads,
BE Brock Lamb (NEW) [3 goals, 2 try assists, 3 tackle busts, 1 offload, 2 line break assists]
BE Kyle Laybutt (NQL) [1 try, 2 goals, 1 try assist, 5 tackles busts, 17 tackles, 1 offload, 1 line break, 1 line break assist]
Random Player of the Week
Adam Quinlan St George Illawarra 2012 (17 games, 13 tries, 20 goals, 92 points)
Comfortable at fullback or in the halves, Quinlan spent just the one season in the NYC, playing 17 games and scoring 13 tries in the Red V. A Culburra junior, Quinlan made his NRL debut for the Dragons in 2013 and would play 10 games that season and 15 in 2014. He moved to the Eels in 2015 but left without playing a game to join St. Helens midway through season, where he scored a hat trick on debut.
There’s just two rounds left in 2015, so if you’re heading to a game this weekend, get their early and enjoy the Holden Cup.
18TH MAN 