My spin on Round 23

[Bomber]

St George Illawarra Dragons (7th)v Brisbane Broncos (5th)
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
<u>Dragons Last Three Results</u> L 10-34 v Cowboys (A), W 28-6 v Panthers (H), L 12-32 v Eels (A)
<u>Broncos Last Three Results</u> L 30-37 v Bulldogs (H), L 28-32 v Storm (A), L 16-30 v Roosters (H)
<u>Head To Head</u> Brisbane 4, St George Illawarra 0
<u>Last Three Meetings</u>Brisbane 34-18 (ANZ, Rd11 2000); Brisbane 44-14 (WIN, Rd 24 2000); Brisbane 40-16 (ANZ, Rd 10 2001)
<u>First Meeting</u> Brisbane 22-4 (ANZ, Rd 21 2001)
Both teams appear to be in a terrible rut at the moment, with the Broncos going winless and the Dragons only beating the hapless Panthers. The Dragons have never beaten the Broncos but I'm going to tip against the trend. St George Illawarra 18 Brisbane 14 (predicted score)

Canterbury Bulldogs (2nd) v Parramatta Eels (1st)
Sydney Showgrounds, Homebush
<u>BulldogsLast Three Results</u> W 37-30 v Broncos (A), L 8-34 v Warriors (A), W 28-14 v Tigers (H)
<u>Eels Last Three Results</u> W 54-10 v Storm (A), W 62-0 v Cowboys (H), W 32-12 v Dragons (H)
<u>Head To Head</u> Canterbury 58, Parramatta 47, Drawn 5
<u>Last Three Meetings</u>Canterbury 22-12 (Stadium Australia, Rd5 2000), Parramatta 25-12 (Parramatta, Rd18 2000), Drew 20-20 (Parramatta, Rd10 2001)
<u>First Meeting</u> Canterbury 35-15 (Belmore, Rd 5 1935)
Well what a match this is going to be. The irresitible force meets the immovable object. Parra have been in great form of late but the Dogs always lift for these matches. This match could be a preview of the Grand Final. Parramatta 30 Canterbury 22

Northern Eagles (10th) v North Queensland Cowboys (13th)
Brookvale Oval, Brookvale
<u>EaglesLast Three Results</u> L 18-40 v Sharks (A), L 6-38 v Tigers (A), W 20-12 v Storm (H)
<u>Cowboys Last Three Results</u> W 34-10 v Dragons (H), L 0-62 v Eels (A), L 10-29 v Raiders (H)
<u>Head To Head</u> Northern Eagles 2, North Queensland 1
<u>Last Three Meetings</u>Cowboys 50-10 (Dairy Farmers, Rd8 2000), Eagles 24-12 (NorthPower, Rd21 2000), Eagles 24-22 (Cairns, Rd10 2001)
<u>First Meeting</u> Cowboys 50-10 (Dairy Farmers, Rd8 2000)
It's funny what a retirement does to a club. As soon as Toovey annouced he was retiring, the Eagles immediately look twice the side they were before. If that is the case, then the Cowboys need more than the coach and CEO to retire. The Cowboys do have a chance in this match though, but will need to be on the ball.. Northern Eagles 32 North Queensland 10

Sydney Roosters (6th) v Melbourne Storm (9th)
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
<u>RoostersLast Three Results</u> L 16-26 v Panthers (A), L 14-22 v Sharks (H), W 30-16 v Broncos (A)
<u>StormLast Three Results</u> L 10-54 v Eels (H), W 32-28 v Broncos (H), L 12-20 v Eagles (A)
<u>Head To Head</u> Sydney Roosters 3, Melbourne 3
<u>Last Three Meetings</u>Storm 42-10 (Olympic, Rd6 2000), Roosters 41-6 (SFS, Rd19 2000), Roosters 23-22 (Colonial, Rd10 2001)
<u>First Meeting</u> Storm 32-20 (SFS, Rd21 1998)
The Roosters appear to have turned the corner, but their toughest challenges lie ahead. Melbourne on the other hand can play brilliant footy at times but then put their cue in the rack and decide not to turn up the next week. Who knows who will win? Sydney Roosters 34 Melbourne 22

Canberra Raiders (12th) v Penrith Panthers (14th)
Bruce Stadium, Canberra
<u>RaidersLast Three Results</u> L 22-28 v Tigers (A), L 26-54 v Knights (A), W 29-10 v Cowboys (A)
<u>PanthersLast Three Results</u> W 26-16 v Roosters (H), L 6-28 v Dragons (A), L 32-48 v Warriors (H)
<u>Head To Head</u> Panthers 20, Raiders 18, Drawn 1
<u>Last Three Meetings</u>Panthers 36-14 (Penrith, Rd21 2000), Raiders 34-16 (Bruce, SF 2000), Panthers 19-12 (Penrith, Rd10 2001)
<u>First Meeting</u> Panthers 27-19 (Seiffert, Rd12 1982)
Only the diehards (and Cowboys fans should they lose) will be interested in this match. Canberra 26 Penrith 18

New Zealand Warriors (8th) v Cronulla Sharks (4th)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
<u>Warriors Last Three Results</u> L 30-37 v Knights (H), W 34-8 v Bulldogs (H), W 48-32 v Panthers (A)
<u>SharksLast Three Results</u> W 40-14 v Eagles (H), W 22-14 v Roosters (A), W 49-30 v Knights (H)
<u>Head To Head</u> Cronulla 6 New Zealand 3
<u>Last Three Meetings</u>Warriors 24-20 (Ericsson, Rd12 2000), Sharks 22-12 (Toyota, Rd23 2000), Sharks 26-16 (Toyota, Rd10 2001)
<u>First Meeting</u> Warriors 23-18 (Shark Park, Rd10 1995)
New Zealand are in great form and playing well, but the Sharks are irresitible at the moment. The score could be anything. Cronulla 30 New Zealand 26

Wests Tigers (11th) v Newcastle Knights (3rd)
Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney
<u>TigersLast Three Results</u> W 28-22 v Raiders (H), W 38-6 v Eagles (H), L 14-28 v Bulldogs (A)
<u>Knights Last Three Results</u> W 37-30 v Warriors (A), W 54-26 v Raiders (H), L 30-49 v Sharks (A)
<u>Head To Head</u> Newcastle 3 Wests Tigers 0
<u>Last Three Meetings</u>Knights 46-8 (Marathon, Rd3 2000), Knights 34-26 (Campbelltown, Rd25 2000), Knights 56-6 (Marathon Rd10 2001)
<u>First Meeting</u> Knights 46-8 (Marathon, Rd3 2000)
Contary to popular belief, form and history, I think the Tigers will get up with the absence (hopefully) of one Mr. A.Johns. A good chance for Newcastle to prove that they are not a one-man-team. Wests Tigers 19 Newcastle 12

 

[Warrior]

Great stuff, Bomber.

Where do get these stats from????

 

[legend]

Raiders v Panthers, only for the diehards. Shame on you bomber, this should be the match of the round.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Mate, i already got my corporate box set up for the penny panthers and the raiders! Should be a top class match between 2 amazing coaches (meninga and royce)...*A bit of sacrasm*
Anyways, onto the selections:
Dogs by 8
Eagles by 18
NZ Warriors by 7
Tigers by 6
St George by 10
Canberra by 12
Roosters by 4
MFC.