NRL ROUND 03 SIDES 2009 - With Team SKINNY attached.
UPDATED: 5:15pm Tuesday 24 March 2009.
ALL TEAMS NAMED.
As they are named they'll go up here. We'll go a little more in depth with our assesments of the sides - so it'll be worth checking in for our quick takes on the selections each week. So check out the SKINNY under each lineup for the latest take on your side.
The Fixtures Round 03 2009:
TIGERS v ROOSTERS @ SFS
TITANS v BULLDOGS @ Skilled
WARRIORS v BRONCOS @ Mt Smart
EELS v RAIDERS @ Parramatta
COWBOYS v STORM @ Dairy Farmers
RABBITOHS v KNIGHTS @ Bluetongue
DRAGONS v SHARKS @ WIN Jubilee
SEA EAGLES v PANTHERS @ Brookvale
THE TEAMS ROUND 3:
BRISBANE BRONCOS (NAMED 24/3)
Backs: Karmichael HUNT, Antonio WINTERSTEIN, Steven MICHAELS, Israel FOLAU, Jharal YOW YEH, Darren LOCKYER (c), Peter WALLACE.
Forwards: Nick KENNY, Aaron GORRELL, Joel CLINTON, Sam THAIDAY, Ben TE'O, Corey PARKER.
Bench: Andrew McCULLOUGH, Lagi SETU, David TAYLOR, Alex GLENN, Josh McGUIRE+, Ashton SIMS, Michael DE VERE (Three to be omitted).
Coach: Ivan HENJAK.
IN: Nick KENNY, Josh McGUIRE+, Michael DE VERE.
OUT: Justin Hodges (Suspended).
Round 03 Vs WARRIORS on Saturday.
SKINNY: Justin Hodges return to the team was brief... he's suspended for a week for a dumb fake grapple on serial offender Cameron Smith. Considering how good Hodges looked in attack playing on the right with Folau, Coach Ivan Henjak will be livid with his star centre. Yow Yeh gets another start after being the unlucky one demoted for Round 2 and the bench is an extended one again with youngster Josh McGuire still on the cusp of his NRL debut and veterans Ashton Sims and the veteran's veteran Michael De Vere a chance of playing the Warriors. Tough road trip despite the Broncos being 2-0 to start the year.
BULLDOGS (NAMED 24/3)
Backs: Luke PATTEN, Hazem EL MASRI, Josh MORRIS, Jamal IDRIS, Bryson GOODWIN, Ben ROBERTS, Brett KIMMORLEY.
Forwards: Ben HANNANT, Michael ENNIS, Chris ARMIT, Gary WARBURTON, Andrew RYAN (c), David STAGG.
Bench: Lee TE MAARI, Greg EASTWOOD, John KITE, Ben BARBA.
Coach: Kevin MOORE.
IN: No changes.
OUT: No changes.
Round 03 Vs TITANS on Friday.
SKINNY: Will most likely lose their points from their win over the Panthers for fielding 14 men when they scored the match winning try but they can at least claim to be still undefeated. Lost their way during the match against the Panthers but veterans Brett Kimmorley and David Stagg were outstanding in keeping them in the match and they ran over the Panthers in the final minutes... albeit illegally. Will be licking their lips at the prospect of being 3-0 especially if Gold Coast halfback Scott Prince can't play due to a hamstring injury picked up at training.
CANBERRA RAIDERS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: David MILNE, Brett KELLY, Jarrod CROKER, Joel MONAGHAN, Justin CARNEY, Terry CAMPESE, Marc HERBERT.
Forwards: David SHILLINGTON, Stuart FLANAGAN, Josh MILLER, Joe PICKER, Bronson HARRISON, Alan TONGUE (c).
Bench: Tom LEAROYD-LAHRS, Trevor THURLING, Glen TURNER, Nigel PLUM.
Coach: David FURNER.
IN: Stuart FLANAGAN, Nigel PLUM, Brett KELLY.
OUT: Adrian PURTELL, Troy THOMPSON (Injured), Glen BUTTRISS (Injured).
Round 03 Vs EELS on Saturday.
SKINNY: Injuries to Glen Buttriss and Troy Thompson open the door for Stuart Flanagan and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs to take big roles in the Canberra setup this round as the Raiders look to bounce back from a horrible performance against the Roosters. Adrian Purtell is the big casualty of the season being dropped for a poor display and Brett Kelly will get his first chance of the year to impress. The bench now has some defensive starch in Plum and Turner to come on and young Joe Picker gets a start after curiously being a bench player in the opening two rounds. The Raiders can hardly be worse than they were last weekend as they travel to Parramatta, so expect the offence to look remarkably better on Saturday night.
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: David SIMMONS, Misi TAULAPAPA, Ben POMEROY, Blake FERGUSON, Luke COVELL, Trent BARRETT, Blake GREEN.
Forwards: Kade SNOWDEN, Corey HUGHES, Luke DOUGLAS, Reece WILLIAMS, Anthony TUPOU, Paul GALLEN (c).
Bench: Reni MAITUA, Grant MILLINGTON, Bryan NORRIE, Tony CAINE, Mitch BROWN (One to be omitted).
Coach: Ricky STUART.
IN: Mitch BROWN.
OUT: Misi TAULAPAPA (Suspension pending).
Round 03 Vs DRAGONS on Sunday.
SKINNY: A pretty ordinary attacking performance on Monday Night saw the Sharks overcome by a Knights side that finished the game with just 14 fit men. There are some encouraging signs that the Sharks can get better as Trent Barrett in particular looks set to breakout in the next week or two as he re-adjusts to the NRL game. Big Kade Snowden has been a real find for Ricky Stuart so far this season and the Reni Maitua will be better for his first run. Tony Caine offered some spark as a replacement at hooker and may be putting pressure on Corey Hughes for a start. Should need no extra motivation to get up for the Dragons on Sunday at Kogarah.
GOLD COAST TITANS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Preston CAMPBELL, Esi TONGA, Josh GRAHAM, Brett DELANEY, Chris WALKER, Mat ROGERS, Scott PRINCE (c).
Forwards: Luke BAILEY, Nathan FRIEND, Michael HENDERSON, Anthony LAFFRANCHI, Mark MINICHIELLO, Ashley HARRISON.
Bench: Brad MEYERS, Matthew WHITE, Luke O'DWYER, Aaron CANNINGS, William ZILLMAN (One to be omitted).
Coach: John CARTWRIGHT.
IN: Chris WALKER, Michael HENDERSON.
OUT: Jordan ATKINS.
Round 03 Vs BULLDOGS on Friday.
SKINNY: Jordan Atkins is the only player dropped on performance from Round 2 and a few others can consider themselves fortunate he was the only one. Chris Walker gets his chance to ressurect his career coming in on the wing but the big question mark is hanging over the fitness of halfback Scott Prince who is said to have missed training with a hamstring tear yesterday. If Prince is out watch for Preston Campbell to move to halfback and William Zillman to play fullback - as bad as it is to lose Prince, Campbell at halfback and Zillman in the #1 is a fairly handy alternative. Michael Henderson also gets his first start of the year at Matt White's expense for the clash with the Bulldogs on Friday Night.
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Michael ROBERTSON, Michael BANI, Jamie LYON, Steven MATAI, Shane NEUMANN, Chris BAILEY, Matt ORFORD (c).
Forwards: Brent KITE, Matt BALLIN, Josh PERRY, Anthony WATMOUGH, Glenn HALL, Glenn STEWART.
Bench: Heath L'ESTRANGE, Jason KING, Adam CUTHBERTSON, Jared WAERA-HARGREAVES+, George ROSE (One to be omitted).
Coach: Des HASLER.
IN: Shane NEUMANN.
OUT: Andrew SUNIULA (Injured), Shane RODNEY.
Round 03 Vs PANTHERS on Monday.
SKINNY: The defending premiers are 0-2 and are still hurting without the strikepower of star fullback Brett Stewart and injured wingers David and Tony Williams. It looks like Suniula has a hand injury and is out, replaced by centre Shane Neumann on the wing, while rookie union convert Jared Waera-Hargreaves may make his NRL debut from the bench at the expense of Shane Rodney. George Rose is once again the extra man on the bench for the Sea Eagles Monday Night Football tilt with the also 0-2 Panthers.
MELBOURNE STORM (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Billy SLATER, Steve TURNER, Will CHAMBERS, Willie ISA, Anthony QUINN, Greg INGLIS, Cooper CRONK.
Forwards: Jeff LIMA, Cameron SMITH (c), Adam BLAIR, Wairangi KOOPU, Ryan HOFFMAN, Dallas JOHNSON.
Bench: Ryan HINCHCLIFFE, Kevin PROCTOR, Aiden TOLMAN, Scott ANDERSON, Sika MANU, Joseph TOMANE (Two to be omitted).
Coach: Craig BELLAMY.
IN: Sika MANU, Joseph TOMANE.
OUT: No Changes.
Round 03 Vs COWBOYS on Saturday.
SKINNY: Dudded no doubt by a non-call on a clear knock on by Aaron Gorrell in the immediate leadup to a Peter Wallace try wasn't the reason they lost to the Broncos but it didn't help. Sika Manu may have recovered from a hamstring strain to force his way onto the bench but the Storm's bench was a positive against the Broncos so it will be interesting to see what Coach Craig Bellamy does on gameday. The Storm have been below their best so far in 2009 and the health of Greg Inglis has a lot to do with how dangerous they are in attack - he was a relative passenger last Friday night.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Kurt GIDLEY (c), James McMANUS, Junior SAU, Adam MacDOUGALL, Akuila UATE, Ben ROGERS, Scott DUREAU.
Forwards: Daniel TOLAR, Isaac DE GOIS, Ben CROSS, Chris HOUSTON, Corey PATERSON, Zeb TAIA.
Bench: Matt HILDER, Keith LULIA, Richard FA'AOSO, George NDAIRA.
Coach: Brian SMITH.
IN: Adam MacDOUGALL, Ben ROGERS, George NDAIRA.
OUT: Cameron CIRALDO (Injured), Jarrod MULLEN (Injured), Steven SIMPSON (Injured).
Round 03 Vs RABBITOHS on Sunday.
SKINNY: Limped out of Toyota Park with the 2 competition points but lost three players to serious injury during the game - Simpson, Mullen and Ciraldo all won't be available for multiple weeks. However a win at this stage of the year in the face of such setbacks is gold to Coach Brian Smith who has brought in Adam MacDougall, Ben Rogers and reserve hooker George Ndaira to replace the injured players for the clash with the Rabbitohs at Gosford. Scott Dureau played very well at halfback when Mullen got hurt and has to carry the organising load for the next month or two.
COWBOYS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Matt BOWEN, John WILLIAMS, Ashley GRAHAM, Ty WILLIAMS, Ben FARRAR, Travis BURNS, Johnathan THURSTON (c).
Forwards: Shane TRONC, Aaron PAYNE, Antonio KAUFUSI, Carl WEBB, Ben HARRIS, Luke O'DONNELL.
Bench: Grant ROVELLI, Scott BOLTON, Matthew SCOTT, Manase MANUOKAFOA, Clint AMOS, Shannon HEGARTY (Two to be omitted).
Coach: Neil HENRY.
IN: Shannon HEGARTY, Clint AMOS.
OUT: No Changes.
Round 03 Vs STORM on Saturday.
SKINNY: Recovered well from a disappointing loss in Round 1 to take the Tigers to the cleaners at home 42-14. Won't have Willie Tonga for at least a month who was a late withdrawal before the Tigers clash and Ashley Graham may also miss this game after being struck down with a groin injury during that game as well. Grant Rovelli was a welcome addition to the side when he came on and may be just the ticket to expand the Cowboys attack midway through games. Carl Webb will start in the second row and it was nice to see Matthew Scott play well off the bench after a long road back from injury. Shannon Hegarty or Ben Harris will likely replace Graham should he pull out.
PARRMATTA EELS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Luke BURT, Joel REDDY, Ben SMITH, Krisnan INU, Eric GROTHE, Jarryd HAYNE, Brett FINCH.
Forwards: Nathan CAYLESS (c), Matt KEATING, FuiFui MOIMOI, Nathan HINDMARSH, Joe GALUVAO, Feleti MATEO.
Bench: Kris KEATING, Todd LOWRIE, Tim MANNAH, Broderick WRIGHT.
Coach: Daniel ANDERSON.
IN: No Changes.
OUT: No Changes.
Round 03 Vs RAIDERS on Saturday.
SKINNY: Will take a lot of confidence from their gutsy win over the Rabbitohs and will fancy their chances with the Raiders coming to town Saturday. That being said the Rabbitohs simply refused to run the ball when they needed to and kicked instead which helped the Eels cause but a win is a win and they've got one more than the Raiders at this stage. No changes as Daniel Anderson keeps the same 17 for the game.
PENRITH PANTHERS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Lachlan COOTE, Michael GORDON, Michael JENNINGS, Brad TIGHE, Shane ELFORD, Luke LEWIS, Jarrod SAMMUT.
Forwards: Frank PULETUA, Paul AITON, Petero CIVONICEVA (c), Trent WATERHOUSE, Matthew BELL, Nathan SMITH.
Bench: Masada IOSEFA, Frank PRITCHARD, Tim GRANT, Adam WOOLNOUGH, Wade GRAHAM, Joseph PAULO (Two to be omitted).
Coach: Matthew ELLIOTT.
IN: Shane ELFORD, Wade GRAHAM, Joseph PAULO.
OUT: Gavin COOPER (Suspension).
Round 03 Vs SEA EAGLES on Monday.
SKINNY: Desperately unlucky to get done by a 14 man Bulldogs side in the final two minutes but they still didn't make the tackle to save the game so they are 0-2 to start the year. Matt Elliott is persisting with the Jarrod Sammut at #7 experiement and it is hard to see why as he was below average again on Saturday. Elliott needs to give Wade Graham a chance but if the youngster won't pull his head in stop doing dumb things like talking to a sensationalistic newspaper to try and get out of his contract - Elliott is well within his rights to keep him in the Toyota Cup. Matthew Bell is a curious choice to replace Gavin Cooper as youngster Joseph Paulo is really something to watch if given a chance.
ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (Named 28/3)
Backs: Darius BOYD, Jason NIGHTINGALE, Beau SCOTT, Matt COOPER, Wendell SAILOR, Jamie SOWARD, Ben HORNBY (c).
Forwards: Jarrod SAFFY, Dean YOUNG, Michael WEYMAN, Matt PRIOR, Ben CREAGH, Jeremy SMITH.
Bench: Dan HUNT, Neville COSTIGAN, Mathew HEAD, Luke PRIDDIS.
Coach: Wayne BENNETT.
IN: Mathew HEAD.
OUT: Brett MORRIS.
Round 03 Vs SHARKS on Sunday.
SKINNY: Returning to Kogarah is a big deal for the Dragons and playing the Sharks is the perfect game to christen the revamped ground. Just one change from the team that defeated the Titans in Wollongong with playmaker Mathew Head onto the bench for the unlucky Brett Morris who wasn't used in that game. Head's addition is a reminder from Wayne Bennett to his halves Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby that their play has to improve to keep their spots and it can't hurt to have another game-breaker in the squad even if he's barely used - see Morris last week.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Rhys WESSER, Shaune CORRIGAN, Colin BEST, Beau CHAMPION, Fetuli TALANOA, John SUTTON, Chris SANDOW.
Forwards: Luke STUART, Issac LUKE, Roy ASOTASI (c), Ben LOWE, Shannan McPHERSON, David FA'ALOGO.
Bench: Craig WING, Eddy PETTYBOURNE, David KIDWELL, Jaiman LOWE.
Coach: Jason TAYLOR.
IN: Craig WING, Beau CHAMPION.
OUT: Jamie SIMPSON, Nathan MERRITT (Suspended).
Round 03 Vs KNIGHTS on Sunday.
SKINNY: Came crashing back to earth as they forgot to run the ball in attack, got kick happy and were beaten by the Eels. Have lost Merritt to suspension but have Craig Wing and Beau Champion available which will make them better. Wing's addition is huge and he'll likely play lock forward when coming on and spelling Issac Luke when needed - he's a star player so it is great boost to the Rabbitohs. Corrigan somehow keeps his spot despite looking way out of his league on Friday but Ben Lowe was a factor starting in the backrow. Need to beat Knights on Sunday to get their swagger back.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Sam PERRETT, Sonny TUIGAMALA, Mitchell AUBUSSON, Iosia SOLIOLA, Shaun KENNY-DOWALL, Braith ANASTA, Mitchell PEARCE.
Forwards: Mark O'MELEY, James AUBUSSON, Nate MYLES, Willie MASON, Craig FITZGIBBON (c), Setaimata SA.
Bench: Frank-Paul NUUASUALA, Lopini PAEA, Shane SHACKLETON, Anthony CHERRINGTON, Ben JONES (One to be omitted).
Coach: Brad FITTLER.
IN: Sonny TUIGAMALA, Anthony CHERRINGTON.
OUT: Anthony MINICHIELLO.
Round 03 Vs TIGERS on Friday.
SKINNY: Must be pleased with their win in Canberra but they shouldn't get too excited, their victory was a case of Canberra having a dud day in attack rather than the Roosters playing great football. Might sound harsh but the Roosters only had the kick once again as their default attacking play and the side will really miss Anthony Minichiello at fullback for the next three months. Sam Perrett is a stat machine at fullback but no game-breaker and new kid Sonny Tuigamala and Anthony Cherrington are also in the squad for the Tigers game at the SFS.
WARRIORS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Wade McKINNON, Denan KEMP, Brent TATE, Jerome ROPATI, Aidan KIRK, Joel MOON, Nathan FIEN.
Forwards: Sam RAPIRA, Ian HENDERSON, Steven PRICE (c), Simon MANNERING, Jacob LILLYMAN, Micheal LUCK.
Bench: Stacey JONES, Russell PACKER, Jesse ROYAL, Ukuma TA'AI.
Coach: Ivan CLEARY.
IN: Aidan KIRK, Micheal LUCK.
OUT: Manu VATUVEI (Injured), Leeson AH MAU (Injured).
Round 03 Vs BRONCOS on Saturday.
SKINNY: Losing Manu Vatuvei is not good as the Warriors loved attacking down the left side so it may result in them going to the right with Tate and Kemp - who both haven't seen much ball in the opening rounds. Stacey Jones proved he's still a gun against Manly and will be a super sub again and rookie Ukuma Ta'ai made progress after losing the ball on his first two runs. Micheal Luck should also return while Aidan Kirk replaces Vatuvei. Broncos visit Saturday Night.
TIGERS (NAMED 28/3)
Backs: Tim MOLTZEN, Taniela TUIAKI, Dean COLLIS, Chris LAWRENCE, Beau RYAN, John MORRIS, Benji MARSHALL.
Forwards: Bryce GIBBS, Robbie FARAH (c), Keith GALLOWAY, Gareth ELLIS, Chris HEIGHINGTON, Todd PAYTEN.
Bench: Corey PAYNE, Rhys HANBURY, Danny GALEA, Dene HALATAU.
Coach: Tim SHEENS.
IN: No Changes.
OUT: No Changes.
Round 03 Vs ROOSTERS on Friday.
SKINNY: Outgunned by the Cowboys on Saturday night but they've got a favourable matchup with the Roosters at the SFS on Friday. Tim Sheens will have his team put their loss up north behind them and despite having a bench without much quality after Dene Halatau they could still start favourites as it is a home game for the Tigers. Look for Marshall and Farah to explode around the rucks this week.
