Roosters v Bulldogs: Schick preview - NRL

<br /><br />Their only problem; nine of those matches are against teams currently in the top eight. <br /><br />Their first task is a date with the Bulldogs, and despite boasting an impressive recent record against the men from Belmore, the Roosters will head into this one as heavy underdogs.<br /><br />The Tricolours have won just one of their past five matches – including a 32-20 defeat at the hands of the Dogs in Round 11 – while the Bulldogs are fresh from an emphatic 26-point win over the Broncos on Saturday night. <br /><br />Having traded wins for losses for the first two months of the season, the Bulldogs have snuck under the radar to sit on 20 competition points in equal-fifth position on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.<br /><br />A win on Thursday wouldn't just consolidate their position inside the top eight; it would confirm their status as a genuine premiership threat in 2016.  <br /><br />The Roosters have received a huge boost with star halfback Mitchell Pearce returning from injury for the first time since these sides last met. His inclusion sees Ryan Matterson drop back to an extended bench. <br /><br />Origin players Blake Ferguson and Aidan Guerra slot straight back into the starting side forcing Sam Moa back to the interchange bench while Joseph Manu and Chris Smith drop out of the side altogether. <br /><br />The Bulldogs welcome back Greg Eastwood in the back row with Asipeli Fine and Raymond Faitala-Mariner joining an extended bench of six. <br /> <center> <script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <!-- olfa --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8981092383058457" data-ad-slot="8264054525" style="display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </center>

Roosters v Bulldogs: Schick preview - NRL

Their only problem; nine of those matches are against teams currently in the top eight. Their first task is a date with the Bulldogs, and de...

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Rabbitohs v Eels: Schick Preview

An 80th-minute Adam Reynolds conversion is all that separated these teams when they met on Friday the 13th a month ago as the Eels were still coming to terms with their salary cap punishments. <br /> <br /> While that matter is yet to be resolved, the fate of both the Eels and Rabbitohs is still very much up in the air.<br /> <br /> The Rabbitohs sit down in 13th spot on the NRL Telstra Premiership but are only three wins behind Parramatta who currently sit in equal third spot on 18 competition points.<br /> <br /> Both teams have been affected by next week's State of Origin Game Two in Brisbane but there will still be plenty of firepower on show at ANZ Stadium this Friday night. <br /> <br /> The absence of NSW halfback Adam Reynolds and Queensland's Greg Inglis means Cody Walker and Luke Keary are the Rabbitohs' new halves partnership. With Bryson Goodwin out with a broken arm, Siosifa Talakai starts at centre while Kyle Turner starts in the back row with Jack Gosiewski and Damien Cook joining the bench.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <center> <script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <!-- olfa --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8981092383058457" data-ad-slot="8264054525" style="display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </center>

Rabbitohs v Eels: Schick Preview

An 80th-minute Adam Reynolds conversion is all that separated these teams when they met on Friday the 13th a month ago as the Eels were stil...

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Roosters v Wests Tigers: Schick Preview

The fact this game features 15th hosting 13th means there will be no shortage of desperation on Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium as both sides desperately try to keep their finals hopes alive.<br /> <br /> With just two wins from 11 games things are already dire for a Roosters side that should be well-rested from last week's bye (other than Origin reps Boyd Cordner, Aidan Guerra and Blake Ferguson, who have all been named to back up) while the Tigers will be buoyed by last week's impressive upset win over ladder-leaders Brisbane (albeit minus their Origin stars).<br /> <br /> With three more victories in the bag than their opponents this year, Jason Taylor's men are just a win behind the eighth-placed Panthers and if they can string a few together now can put themselves in a good position coming out of the rep period.<br /> <br /> They get a further boost in the return of star fullback James Tedesco from a shoulder injury, while their two most senior players in Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah return from Blues duty. Jordan Rankin is the unlucky man to make way for Tedesco, with promising rookie Josh Addo-Carr retained on the wing. Dene Halatau and Tim Grant push back to the bench and JJ Felise and Kyle Lovett both go out to an extended bench.<br /> <br /> <br /> <center> <script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <!-- olfa --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8981092383058457" data-ad-slot="8264054525" style="display: inline-block; height: 280px; width: 336px;"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </center>

Roosters v Wests Tigers: Schick Preview

The fact this game features 15th hosting 13th means there will be no shortage of desperation on Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium as both ...

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