GAME 1: Narrabri Eagles v Muswellbrook Cats
This one is hard to line up. The Eagles had been good this year, and looked some show at the top four at one stage, but have been disappointing in the last fortnight. The Cats are coming off a bye and the week off might see their veterans fresh and ready to attack the Eagles to secure their first win for the season. I think this will come down to who each team can put on the paddock. Shawcross has been missing for the Eagles recently and their results have shown how much of a rudder he is. If he is out again this week then the Eagles will find the Cats no easy opponents. The young Cats are improving and Stu McAdam is playing as well as ever. If Warner, Scott, Howard and Howarth make the trip then I think the Cats could spring an upset here. The Eagles have been good in close matches this year, but from where both teams sit the Cats might just be that little bit hungrier. I would love to see the team lists before rubbing my crystal ball but I will run with the last teams each side trotted out, in which case I think the Cats are a good chance.
THE DRUM: Cats by two goals.
GAME 2: Tamworth Swans v New England Nomads
How the Nomads have fallen. After looking the goods not too long ago, and being seen as growing into genuine Premiership contenders, the Nomads have suffered two heavy losses. This may have been against the two best teams in the League, but no doubt the big deficit between them and the Kangaroos at Bellevue last week would have been very disappointing for coach Meehan. The loss of Big Oms in the ruck, along with Whitby being sidelined with injury, will reduce their options against the improving Swans. Last year's Premiers were good for much of the game against the all-conquering Saints last week, and are capable of kicking a big score against the Nomads if they are not on their game. With third place on the line the Learned Ones will no doubt step up to the Swans here and this should be an exciting match, but I think the Swans are the ones in form and at home they should see the Nomads off.
THE DRUM: Swans by five goals.
GAME 3: Tamworth Kangaroos v Gunnedah Bulldogs
About eight days ago I would have given the Bulldogs a fifteen goal start in this, but their performance against Narrabri shows that they are not to be written off just yet this year. The Dogs have to win this to be any chance of a finals finish, and might be effectively out of the race anyway if the Swans beat the Nomads in the first leg of Number One's double header. Hardy returning to their midfield, with Brown and George in supreme form, will see the Dogs match up pretty well against the Douglas boys and Cotter for the Roos. Naismith should dominate over the Roos ruckmen, and if the quick Dogs midfield get enough ball their forwards are capable of putting a gap on the Roos. The Roos were very good last week though and are a well disciplined outfit who will be unlikely to let that happen. Over four quarters I expect the Roos are better equipped to grind out a result. I think this willl be even right to half time, and with the match finishing under lights the scoring may dry up late. The Roos train under those conditions and that should tilt the scales in their favour.
THE DRUM: Kangaroos by four goals.
Last Modified on 23/07/2010 08:40