Despite the best efforts of many people to knock Premier League, this week sees 6 more fantastic fixtures in the NSWRL's best competition.
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Cougars v Dragons (Alan McIndoe Cup :lol: )
Friday 5.40pm
Penrith Stadium
What a great tie to kick off Round 14 in the NSWRL VB Premier League. Jeff's equal first Match of the Round sees the 2nd placed Saints travel to Penrith to take on the 5th placed Cougars. Both sides are weakened due to call ups to NRL on the eve of Origin. The Cougars will miss Daniel Russell who is still playing up a grade. The Cougars fell to Manly last week while the Saints thrashed Norths. It will be a thriller with the match going down to the wire. The Cougars will rely on coming away with a win because of home soil.
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Norths v Newcastle (Jason Martin Cup :lol: )
Friday 8.00pm
North Sydney Oval
The Bears return home after a nightmare road trip that took up the past month. The Bears have had some big defeats of late but improved last week against the Saints. This week they are home to lowly Newcastle in the battle of the cellar dwellars. Norths will be backing themselves to win. The Knights, depleted by NRL call ups, played admirably last week against Parra and are certainly capable of a win. But if the hungry Bears can get their defence in order they may just sneak home.
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Newtown v Wests (Tom Raudonikis Cup :lol: )
Saturday 3.00pm
Henson Park
Another great battle between two great foundation clubs this weekend at Henson Park. The soaring Jets host one of their bogey teams, the Western Suburbs Magpies. Newtown haven't beaten Wests since 2000. But it won't matter this time. Newtown's strength is their big forward pack while Wests backline, controlled by pivot Liam Fulton, is much talked about. Both teams won narrowly last weekend and they'll be full of confidence. Newtown should be too good for the underachieving Magpies.
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Canberra v Cronulla (any ideas for a Cup?)
Saturday 3.40pm
Canberra Stadium
Canberra's first assignment after their week off last week is hosting the Cronulla Sharks. The teams are not separated by much on the Premier League ladder but in reality, Canberra would be the easy favourites. Cronulla blew a good lead against Wests last week and they won't find their road trip to the chilly ACT any easier. Canberra should win comfortably. Lookout for a return to Rugby League from Ken Nagas. It will be good to see a club stalwart in the lime green again.
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Souths v Bulldogs (Braith Anasta Cup :lol: )
Saturday 5.30pm
Aussie Stadium
This is a rematch of the Anzac weekend clash won by the Bulldogs 36-28. How times change. At the time, Souths had just the one win while the Bulldogs were in the top half of the ladder. Today, Souths are knocking on the door of the Top 8 while the Bulldogs have freefalled into 12th spot. Souths have a new coach in Brendan Hurst, who steps into the role after Artie Katinas goes the NRL. The Bulldogs played well against the Roosters. For their season's sake, they need to take the 2 points against a good Souths lineup.
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Parramatta v Manly (Noel Cleal - Jamie Lyon Cup :lol: )
Sunday 1.00pm
Parramatta Stadium
The other Match of the Round for the week features the 1st place Eels at home to Manly. Parramatta won well last week over Newcastle while Manly caused a big upset, downing the Cougars. Both temas have good forwards and the match could be decided up front. Where Parramatta have the edge over the Eagles is their class backline directed by halfback Chris Thorman, who may finally be settling in to the Aussie life. While Parramatta would be slight favourites it is always hard to discount the giant-killing Eagles. Looks like a great game
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Balmain and the Roosters have the bye (if they wanted a game it could be the Arthur Beetson Cup :lol: ).
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Jeffles Tips:
Dragons
Norths
Jets
Canberra
Souths
Parramatta
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Cougars v Dragons (Alan McIndoe Cup :lol: )
Friday 5.40pm
Penrith Stadium
What a great tie to kick off Round 14 in the NSWRL VB Premier League. Jeff's equal first Match of the Round sees the 2nd placed Saints travel to Penrith to take on the 5th placed Cougars. Both sides are weakened due to call ups to NRL on the eve of Origin. The Cougars will miss Daniel Russell who is still playing up a grade. The Cougars fell to Manly last week while the Saints thrashed Norths. It will be a thriller with the match going down to the wire. The Cougars will rely on coming away with a win because of home soil.
----
Norths v Newcastle (Jason Martin Cup :lol: )
Friday 8.00pm
North Sydney Oval
The Bears return home after a nightmare road trip that took up the past month. The Bears have had some big defeats of late but improved last week against the Saints. This week they are home to lowly Newcastle in the battle of the cellar dwellars. Norths will be backing themselves to win. The Knights, depleted by NRL call ups, played admirably last week against Parra and are certainly capable of a win. But if the hungry Bears can get their defence in order they may just sneak home.
----
Newtown v Wests (Tom Raudonikis Cup :lol: )
Saturday 3.00pm
Henson Park
Another great battle between two great foundation clubs this weekend at Henson Park. The soaring Jets host one of their bogey teams, the Western Suburbs Magpies. Newtown haven't beaten Wests since 2000. But it won't matter this time. Newtown's strength is their big forward pack while Wests backline, controlled by pivot Liam Fulton, is much talked about. Both teams won narrowly last weekend and they'll be full of confidence. Newtown should be too good for the underachieving Magpies.
----
Canberra v Cronulla (any ideas for a Cup?)
Saturday 3.40pm
Canberra Stadium
Canberra's first assignment after their week off last week is hosting the Cronulla Sharks. The teams are not separated by much on the Premier League ladder but in reality, Canberra would be the easy favourites. Cronulla blew a good lead against Wests last week and they won't find their road trip to the chilly ACT any easier. Canberra should win comfortably. Lookout for a return to Rugby League from Ken Nagas. It will be good to see a club stalwart in the lime green again.
----
Souths v Bulldogs (Braith Anasta Cup :lol: )
Saturday 5.30pm
Aussie Stadium
This is a rematch of the Anzac weekend clash won by the Bulldogs 36-28. How times change. At the time, Souths had just the one win while the Bulldogs were in the top half of the ladder. Today, Souths are knocking on the door of the Top 8 while the Bulldogs have freefalled into 12th spot. Souths have a new coach in Brendan Hurst, who steps into the role after Artie Katinas goes the NRL. The Bulldogs played well against the Roosters. For their season's sake, they need to take the 2 points against a good Souths lineup.
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Parramatta v Manly (Noel Cleal - Jamie Lyon Cup :lol: )
Sunday 1.00pm
Parramatta Stadium
The other Match of the Round for the week features the 1st place Eels at home to Manly. Parramatta won well last week over Newcastle while Manly caused a big upset, downing the Cougars. Both temas have good forwards and the match could be decided up front. Where Parramatta have the edge over the Eagles is their class backline directed by halfback Chris Thorman, who may finally be settling in to the Aussie life. While Parramatta would be slight favourites it is always hard to discount the giant-killing Eagles. Looks like a great game
----
Balmain and the Roosters have the bye (if they wanted a game it could be the Arthur Beetson Cup :lol: ).
----
Jeffles Tips:
Dragons
Norths
Jets
Canberra
Souths
Parramatta
