Round 17 Preview

While he faced off against them in the pre-season, Friday night’s match will mark the first time Bronson Xerri will compete against his old team in the NRL arena. A speedster, Xerri will be looking to produce a game of the ages against his former teammates.

Another player to keep a close eye on is Sharks utility Siosifa Talakai, who will be making his 100th first-grade appearance this weekend.

After a humiliating defeat to the Titans last round, the Warriors are looking to bounce back in front of their home fans and finally earn two points again.

With Shaun Johnson out for the Warriors they will need to rely on their stars and halves this round. Te Maire Martin has shown his ability in the No.7 jumper and has created a great combination with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in recent weeks.

While the Eels will receive all their Origin stars back, they will also receive the returning Maika Sivo. A behemoth in attack, the Fijian flyer is unstoppable close to the try-line.

Both teams have struggled as of late and enter the team by losing their past two games (three in the Knights case). With a close game expected, it’s hard to bet against the Eels considering the masterclass that Mitchell Moses portrayed in Game 2 of Origin.

Set to back-up from Game 2 of Origin, Xavier Coates can be counted on to score and will be an easy target on the kick due to his aerial ability.

The Raiders got smashed by the Tigers last week by 20 points and expect their woes to continue against a red-hot Storm team led by Jahrome Hughes.

Back in the team for the injured Jack Bostock, one can expect Tesi Niu to make an instant impression for The Dolphins. In-and-out of the side, a good showing could see him cement a spot in the team over time.

Set to be one of the closest matches of the round, the two teams both sit at $1.90 to win. However, the Dragons will be playing in front of their home fans which should give them the upper advantage.

Penrith will receive all their Origin stars back this round and they will be on a high after a decisive victory against the Maroons.

The Panthers may be receiving all their Origin stars back but Scott Drinkwater can make a case for being the best player in the NRL at the moment and manages to create a plethora of try-scoring opportunities for the Cowboys.

The Wests Tigers are aiming to claim their third consecutive victory in some time and shouldn’t be counted out as underdogs especially after two good showings in the past couple of weeks.

Daniel Tupou is eyeing a new contract extension with the Roosters, and there is no better way to further increase your chances than crossing over the line for a four-pointer.