BETWEEN THE LINES
Newcastle Herald
Thursday March 31, 2011
RABBITOHS vSEA EAGLESPAST THREE STARTSRabbitohs: Lost, Roosters 40-29 (A); Lost,Bulldogs 28-19 (H); Won, Eels 32-18 (A)Sea Eagles: Lost, Storm 18-6 (A); Won, Roosters,27-16 (A); Won, Knights 26-12 (H)BOTTOM LINEThis is the first meeting between these teams atBluetongue, where Manly have won all six matchesthey have played against all comers since 2007. TheSea Eagles have won five of their past seven againstSouths, including both games last year at Brookvaleand ANZ. Souths are still settling in. Manly havemuscled their way to successive wins against theRoosters and Knights.SEA EAGLESBRONCOSv PANTHERSPAST THREE STARTSBroncos: Lost, Cowboys 16-14 (H); Won, Raiders20-4 (A); Won, Titans 14-8 (A)Panthers: Lost, Knights 42-8 (H); Won, Eels 20-6(A); Lost, Sharks 44-12 (H)BOTTOM LINEPenrith‚„s 22-12 win in this game last yearwas just the second from their past eight againstBrisbane, and they have lost Luke Walsh for thismatch. Penrith have been awful in their first twohome games ‚€œ heavy losses to Newcastle andCronulla ‚€œ but squeezed in an away victory overParra. Brisbane have won two straight away gamessince falling at home to the Cowboys.BRONCOSRAIDERSv TITANSPAST THREE STARTSRaiders: Won, Sharks 40-12 (H); Lost,Broncos 20-4 (H); Lost, Tigers 34-24 (A)Titans: Lost, Dragons 25-18 (H); Lost,Storm 40-12 (A); Lost, Broncos 14-8 (H)BOTTOM LINEThe Titans, who are trying to avoid a fourth straightloss to open their season, have lost all four gamesagainst the Raiders at Canberra Stadium. In theironly other away match this year, they were blownaway 40-12 by the Storm in Melbourne. Touted astitle contenders by some judges, the Green Machineare yet to find their rhythm but they usually fi nd anextra gear at home.RAIDERSEELS vCOWBOYSPAST THREE STARTSEels: Won, Warriors 24-18 (A); Lost,Panthers 20-6 (H); Lost, Rabbitohs 32-18 (H)Cowboys: Won, Broncos 16-14 (A); Lost, Knights,34-22 (H); Won, Storm 34-6 (H)BOTTOM LINEThe Eels were unlucky not to leadSouths 12-0 in the opening few minutes last Friday.but they did not deal well with the early setbacks oftwo disallowed tries and capitulated after half-time.They have won four straight and five of their pastsix against the Cowboys, who monstered Melbournein Townsville on Monday night. On form, the Cowsshould win, but the Eels are due.EELSSHARKS vWARRIORSPAST THREE STARTSSharks: Lost, Raiders 40-12 (A); Won, Dragons,16-10 (H); Won, Panthers 44-12 (A)Warriors: Lost, Eels 24-18 (H); Lost, Tigers20-12 (A); Lost, Dragons 25-12 (H)BOTTOM LINEThe Warriors have lost three straight.They have never opened a season with foursuccessive losses. Cronulla have shifted this homegame to Taupo but the Warriors have won justtwice in 12 games played at New Zealandvenues other than Mt Smart. The Sharksshocked the Dragons and Panthers in the pasttwo weeks. But surely they aren‚„t capable ofwinning three in a row.WARRIORSKNIGHTS vDRAGONSPAST THREE STARTSKnights: Won, Panthers 42-8 (A);Won, Cowboys 34-22 (A); Lost,Sea Eagles 26-12 (A)Dragons: Won, Titans 25-18 (A); Lost, Sharks 16-10(A); Won, Warriors 25-12 (A)BOTTOM LINEThe Knights finished last season with five straighthome wins until the Dragons ended the streak witha 26-18 victory on Old Boys‚„ Day. That stretchedtheir phenomenal record in Newcastle to six straightwins, and 10 from 12 overall. The champs will havetheir tails up after an impressive win in Auckland.The Knights could still be licking their wounds after abruising loss to Manly.DRAGONSROOSTERSv TIGERSPAST THREE STARTSRoosters: Won, Rabbitohs 40-29 (H); Lost, SeaEagles 27-16 (H); Lost, Bulldogs 24-20 (A)Tigers: Lost, Bulldogs 24-14 (A); Won, Warriors 20-12 (H); Won, Raiders 34-24 (A)BOTTOM LINEThese teams played the most entertaining game of2010 ‚€œ a qualifying fifi nal at this venue which theRoosters won 19-15 in golden-point extra time.That was the Roosters‚„ third straight victory over theTigers, and fifth from their past seven meetings. Theyhave won six of their past eight at the SFS but arestruggling to recapture the form that swept them intolast year‚„s decider.TIGERSSTORM vBULLDOGSPAST THREE STARTSStorm: Won, Sea Eagles 18-6 (H); Won, Titans 40-12(H); Lost, Cowboys 34-6 (A)Bulldogs: Won, Tigers 24-14 (H); Won, Rabbitohs28-19 (A); Won, Roosters 24-20 (H)BOTTOM LINEThe Storm should be smarting after being out-gunnedby the Cowboys in tropical Townsville onMonday night. They will enjoy the familiar surroundsof AAMI Park, where they have won eight straightgames by an average score of 31-10. The born-againBulldogs remain the NRL‚„s only unbeaten team afterthree rounds but their last win in Melbourne was atOlympic Park in 2005.STORM
© 2011 Newcastle Herald
