Cougars v Souths
Saturday - St Mary's @ 1pm
This week it's the Bunnies turn to venture to the Western Weekender graveyard. South Sydney take on a very in form Cougars side in this Saturday afternoon clash.
The Cougars are the attacking stars of the Premier League, scoring an average of 37 points per match. Souths will find it difficult to defend their line against this side, expecially since the Bunnies are missing a few of their NRL experienced players.
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Newtown v Norths
Saturday - Henson Park @3pm
This famous Foundation club clash sees the Jets and the Bears play off for the Frank Hyde Cup, the perpetual trophy these clubs play for. Mr Hyde will be appearing and it promises to be a big day for the clubs. Newtown lead the best of 3 series 1-0.
Both teams are in form and displaying better football than last year. Norths are coming off a bye and they should perform well against the Jets who have had problems defending leads in the closing stages of games this year. Contrast this with the Bears who often finish matches with a wet sail. This match may go down to the wire.
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Roosters v Balmain
Aussie Stadium - Saturday @ 3.45pm
This is a match between two of the better sides of the Premier League yet both sides have lost their past two matches. Both teams were the victims of poor opening halves last week. Whoever starts the better of the two could well determine the final result.
The Roosters, who were humbled by Canberra last week, are without NRL stars Lester, Dorn and Phillips. They are facing an enthusiastic Balmain side keen end their recent poor form after such a great start to the year.
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Manly v Saints
Sunday - Brookvale @12.45pm
The Premier League match of the round sees the two winningest sides in the competition play against each other. The competition leading St George Illawarra Dragons travel to the northern beaches to face the surprise packets of the VB Premier League.
The Dragons have been in superb form accounting for the Roosters and the Sharks in the past fortnight. They face a fresh Manly side having just coming off the bye after ending Balmain's undefeated start to the year. The question is, will Manly have enough to stop the Saints?
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Newcastle v Bulldogs
Sunday - EA Stadium @ 1pm
On paper, this match looks like a walkover. The high flying Bulldogs unit face a very young Newcastle side who are struggling in the Premier League this year, anchored in last position.
The Knights lost last week to South Sydney. The form of their opponents is more impressive. The Bulldogs have been good but not outstanding in the past fortnight. Even so, they should have enough to account for the Knights.
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Canberra v Wests
Sunday - Canberra @ 1.10pm
The final match of the round sees the much improving Canberra Raiders tackle the struggling Western Suburbs Magpies. Canberra were in sensational form last week making light work of the Sydney Roosters. Contrast this with the Magpies who blew a half time lead to fall to the Cougars.
Wests have a very capable side but their form has not reflected this. They face a Canberra side finally getting into gear. The Magpies should be careful how they approach this match. It could move beyond their reach in the blink of an eye.
Saturday - St Mary's @ 1pm
This week it's the Bunnies turn to venture to the Western Weekender graveyard. South Sydney take on a very in form Cougars side in this Saturday afternoon clash.
The Cougars are the attacking stars of the Premier League, scoring an average of 37 points per match. Souths will find it difficult to defend their line against this side, expecially since the Bunnies are missing a few of their NRL experienced players.
----------
Newtown v Norths
Saturday - Henson Park @3pm
This famous Foundation club clash sees the Jets and the Bears play off for the Frank Hyde Cup, the perpetual trophy these clubs play for. Mr Hyde will be appearing and it promises to be a big day for the clubs. Newtown lead the best of 3 series 1-0.
Both teams are in form and displaying better football than last year. Norths are coming off a bye and they should perform well against the Jets who have had problems defending leads in the closing stages of games this year. Contrast this with the Bears who often finish matches with a wet sail. This match may go down to the wire.
----------
Roosters v Balmain
Aussie Stadium - Saturday @ 3.45pm
This is a match between two of the better sides of the Premier League yet both sides have lost their past two matches. Both teams were the victims of poor opening halves last week. Whoever starts the better of the two could well determine the final result.
The Roosters, who were humbled by Canberra last week, are without NRL stars Lester, Dorn and Phillips. They are facing an enthusiastic Balmain side keen end their recent poor form after such a great start to the year.
----------
Manly v Saints
Sunday - Brookvale @12.45pm
The Premier League match of the round sees the two winningest sides in the competition play against each other. The competition leading St George Illawarra Dragons travel to the northern beaches to face the surprise packets of the VB Premier League.
The Dragons have been in superb form accounting for the Roosters and the Sharks in the past fortnight. They face a fresh Manly side having just coming off the bye after ending Balmain's undefeated start to the year. The question is, will Manly have enough to stop the Saints?
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Newcastle v Bulldogs
Sunday - EA Stadium @ 1pm
On paper, this match looks like a walkover. The high flying Bulldogs unit face a very young Newcastle side who are struggling in the Premier League this year, anchored in last position.
The Knights lost last week to South Sydney. The form of their opponents is more impressive. The Bulldogs have been good but not outstanding in the past fortnight. Even so, they should have enough to account for the Knights.
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Canberra v Wests
Sunday - Canberra @ 1.10pm
The final match of the round sees the much improving Canberra Raiders tackle the struggling Western Suburbs Magpies. Canberra were in sensational form last week making light work of the Sydney Roosters. Contrast this with the Magpies who blew a half time lead to fall to the Cougars.
Wests have a very capable side but their form has not reflected this. They face a Canberra side finally getting into gear. The Magpies should be careful how they approach this match. It could move beyond their reach in the blink of an eye.
