The best NRL Preview on the net is back online with all the info you need to make an 'informed decision' in your Fantasy and Tipping Competitions.
Make sure you bookmark www.wdnicolson.com and compare your picks to the Podcast Panel's Tips every week. Download the Podcast and check back on Friday for the Latest Mail as it breaks.
Make sure you bookmark www.wdnicolson.com and compare your picks to the Podcast Panel's Tips every week. Download the Podcast and check back on Friday for the Latest Mail as it breaks.
- Waz 11/21: Dragons; Matt 17/21: Tigers; Dave 14/21: Sea Eagles; Nic 17/21: Storm -
You can check out who the NOT The Footy Show Experts picked for the 2011 Premiership via this link.
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Check out the Round 22 Tipping Preview below...
ROUND 22 MATCHUPS
04/08 Odds are courtesy of Sportingbet Australia
THE NRL TWEET's ROUND 22 PREVIEW
Welcome to Season 2011... after an off-season that often feels longer (or shorter - depends if you like cricket or not) than it is - the footy is back. Here on www.wdnicolson.com we've got all the Tuesday Team News, Wednesday or Thursday Previews and Friday Late Mail (sourced from SMH and beyond) that will keep your Tipping and Fantasy habit well fed. This preview integrates our NRL Injured List - which if you haven't bookmarked by now - I suggest you do so.
Coming In...
8th TIGERS TEAM RECORD 10-9 for 24 Points, +17.
5th DRAGONS TEAM RECORD 12-6-1 for 29 Points, +130.
Head to Head Last 10...
TIGERS 5 DRAGONS 5 - The Dragons have won the last 4 games between the clubs including the epic preliminary final last year. They also won 24-18 in Round 12 at Kogarah.
Tuesday Team News...
[Team Changes - The Tigers have made just one addition to their bench for the blockbuster with the Dragons at the SFS on Friday. Wade McKinnon is once again named to return from a rib injury and it will come down to him v Mitch Brown (who was not used v Manly) for the final bench spot. ]
[Team Changes - The Dragons bring Dean Young back onto the bench in their only change from the team that was run down by the Rabbitohs last Sunday. Kyle Stanley and Mitch Rein are the extra men on the bench and if Young plays they will probably miss out. ]
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - The Tigers will decide between Wade McKinnon and Mitch Brown for the final interchange spot tonight and Andrew Fifita may be a late inclusion. Dean Young should play.
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Coming In...
10th BULLDOGS TEAM RECORD 8-11 for 20 Points, -68.
3rd COWBOYS TEAM RECORD 13-6 for 30 Points, +84.
Head to Head Last 10...
BULLDOGS 5 COWBOYS 5 - The Bulldogs have won the past 3 games since 2009 and the Cowboys had won the previous 4 before that from 2007-2008.
Tuesday Team News...
[Team Changes - The Bulldogs have come to their senses and recalled Josh Morris at centre for Tim Lafai. Ben Roberts is named but picked up a thigh injury that could rule him out. Aiden Tolman's shoulder should be right with a needle said coach Jim Dymock on Tuesday. ]
NQL: Bowen, Graham, Tate. Tonga, Fai-Fai Loa, Thompson, Jones, Scott (c), Payne, A Sims, Cooper, T Sims, Johnson. Bench: Segeyaro, Hall, Paterson, Tamou.
[Team Changes - The Cowboys resisted naming Johnathan Thurston to return from injury and may do so until they are back at home just to be sure his knee is right. Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa has been named despite picking up a hammy strain last Saturday and will be monitored. Scott Bolton will continue to make his comeback from injury in the QLD Cup. ]
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - There is a minuscule chance Johnathan Thurston could play but expect him to turn out in Round 23 instead. Ben Roberts is no certainty for the Dogs. Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa was in doubt all week and is expected to miss out with Will Tupou and Scott Bolton travelling with the squad... as did Thurston. Matthew Scott is in doubt with a recurring back injury. So if Fai-Fai Loa and Scott are out - Bolton and Tupou will play.
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Coming In...
1st STORM TEAM RECORD 16-3 for 36 Points, +213.
9th PANTHERS TEAM RECORD 8-11 for 20 Points, -20.
Head to Head Last 10...
STORM 8 PANTHERS 2 - Melbourne won 25-10 in Round 6 and stretched their winning streak over the Panthers to 8 straight since 2006.
Tuesday Team News...
MEL: Slater, Waqa, Nielsen, Champion, O'Neill, M Blair, Cronk, Bromwich, Smith (c), Norrie, A Blair, Proctor, Hinchcliffe. Bench: Rochow, Vea, Woolnough, Lowe.
[Team Changes - The Storm rested Sika Manu, Gareth Widdop and Matt Duffie last weekend (Rory Kostjasyn's knee kept him out) and could recall all three despite not naming them for the clash with Penrith. Keep in mind they played Monday Night and Craig Bellamy rarely names his proper team the next day (Tuesday) when that is the case. If all three come back then a number of Sisa Waqa, Beau Champion, Robert Rochow and Atelea Vea could make way. ]
[Team Changes - The Panthers made a number of additions on the bench with hookers Nafe Seluini and Masada Iosefa named. Dayne Weston makes way. Luke Lewis has been named despite knocking himself out on Saturday night - so is no certainty. ]
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - The Storm won't finalise their roster til Friday - expect a change or two with the omitted quartet from MNF v the Eels (Widdop, Duffie, Kostjasyn and Manu) all a chance to play. Luke Lewis will be given every chance to play and one of Nafe Seluini or Masada Iosefa will be omitted.
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Coming In...
4th BRONCOS TEAM RECORD 13-6 for 30 Points, +80.
6th WARRIORS TEAM RECORD 11-8 for 26 Points, +82.
Head to Head Last 10...
BRONCOS 4 WARRIORS 6 - The Warriors crushed the Broncos 36-4 in Round 25 last year when Brisbane were without Darren Lockyer in the last meeting between the teams.
Tuesday Team News...
BRI: Hoffman, Beale, Reed, Hodges, Yow Yeh, Lockyer (c), Wallace, Hannant, McCullough, Anderson, Glenn, Thaiday, Parker. Bench: Gillett, Hunt, Te'o, McGuire.
[Team Changes - The Broncos have regained Ben Te'o from a long term arm injury and he joins the bench at the expense of David Hala who goes back to the QLD Cup. Dane Carlaw is also back from injury in QLD Cup as well. Otherwise the Broncos are unchanged. ]
[Team Changes - The Warriors have named captain Simon Mannering despite the fact he left the field early with a knee injury against Canberra. Lewis Brown made his comeback in the NSW Cup last weekend and has been named as 18th man and is Mannering's probable replacement if the skipper can't play. There is still no sign of Lance Hohaia for the Warriors. ]
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - The Broncos will be 1-17 and the Warriors could include Lewis Brown even if Simon Mannering is fit.
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Coming In...
12th SHARKS TEAM RECORD 7-12 for 18 Points, -91.
16th TITANS TEAM RECORD 4-15 for 12 Points, -205.
Head to Head Last 10...
SHARKS 4 TITANS 3 - Cronulla easily won 36-12 at Skilled Park in Round 16 but the games have been shared since 2007.
Tuesday Team News...
CRO: Gordon, M Wright, Pomeroy, Leutele, Stapleton, Graham, Townsend, Cordoba, Morris, Douglas, Smith, Tautai, Gallen (c). Bench: Snowden, Tagataese, Aiton Tupou, Mannah, Gardner, Frizell.
[Team Changes - The Sharks might have pulled off the biggest selection shock of the round by dropping Nathan Gardner to the bench and naming Isaac Gordon at fullback. Colin Best was dropped and Matt Wright shifted to the wing for John Williams to allow Ben Pomeroy and Ricky Leutele to come in at centre. Paul Aiton is on the bench with Jon Mannah and last week's debutant Tyson Frizell. Oh and Paul Gallen is back. ]
GLD: Rankin, Michaels, Zillman, Peyroux, Mead, Henry, Prince (c), Bailey, Srama, White, Laffranchi, Minichiello, O'Dwyer. Bench: Lawrence, Matthews, Thompson, Campbell.
[Team Changes - The Titans lost another key backrower to injury with Greg Bird's chest injury ruling him out. Luke O'Dwyer goes to lock and Dom Peyroux goes to centre to take Clinton Toopi's spot. Steve Michaels returns on the wing, while Will Matthews is a new face on the bench. William Zillman is no certainty after a heart condition forced him from the field last Sunday. ]
Wednesday Game Preview...
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - There is still significant doubt surrounding Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen's calf - he trains for the first time Friday in a bid to prove his fitness (late late late mail is he pulled up well but how he feels Saturday is the key part). The Titans only have concern for William Zillman after his elevated heart rate last Sunday.
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Coming In...
7th KNIGHTS TEAM RECORD 10-9 for 24 Points, +25.
14th RAIDERS TEAM RECORD 6-13 for 16 Points, -116.
Head to Head Last 10...
KNIGHTS 6 RAIDERS 4 - Newcastle ran all over Canberra in the second half of their Round 7 clash to win 22-12. Canberra had won the previous two games before that comfortably.
Tuesday Team News...
[Team Changes - The Knights get Richie Fa'aoso back from a hammy strain and hope to finally have Evarn Tuimavave back from the same ailment. They will monitor the fitness of the pair plus Jarrod Mullen (arm), Kurt Gidley (hammy) and Ryan Stig (groin) during the week. ]
CAN: Dugan, Ferguson, Croker, Thompson, Vidot, McCrone, Williams, White, Tongue (c), Shillington, Papalii, Harrison, Fensom. Bench: Buttriss, Miller, Galea, Tilse, Picker, Mataora.
[Team Changes - Canberra are done for 2011 but have retained much the same side that went down 29-10 to the Warriors last Sunday. Josh Dugan has been named despite picking up a new ankle injury - as have Bronson Harrison and Jarrod Croker who were hurt as well. Joe Picker and Josh Miller join the squad, while David Shillington starts for Dane Tilse. ]
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - There are no guarantees the Raiders will have Josh Dugan, Jarrod Croker or Bronson Harrison due to injuries picked up last Sunday v the Warriors. Evarn Tuimavave and Richie Fa'aoso are still in doubt with hamstring injuries.
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Coming In...
2nd SEA EAGLES TEAM RECORD 14-5 for 32 Points, +157.
13th ROOSTERS TEAM RECORD 6-13 for 16 Points, -107.
Head to Head Last 10...
SEA EAGLES 8 ROOSTERS 2 - Manly won 27-16 in Round 2 and have won 3 of the past 4 since 2009.
Tuesday Team News...
[Team Changes - Manly have added Tony Williams to their bench but will still not have winger Michael Robertson who has concussion. Michael Oldfield is listed to play on the wing but Williams could start instead. Darcy Lussick is added to the bench once again. ]
[Team Changes - The Roosters keep Joseph Leilua at centre and Phil Graham on the wing after their efforts last Saturday. Lama Tasi was a late inclusion and along with Mose Masoe - they hold their spots. Tom Symonds is in NSW Cup. ]
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - The return of Tony Williams may be delayed a week with the giant utility trying to come back from a hamstring injury. Michael Robertson has started to train again but is probably not going to play this weekend. Darcy Lussick will almost certainly miss the squad while Vic Mauro or Jamie Buhrer will be cut if Williams is fit.
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Coming In...
11th RABBITOHS TEAM RECORD 8-11 for 20 Points, -84.
15th EELS TEAM RECORD 5-13-1 for 15 Points, -97.
Head to Head Last 10...
RABBITOHS 4 EELS 5 DRAW 1 - Souths have won the past two games including a 32-12 win in Round 3 at ANZ. These clubs have played the past 6 games only at ANZ.
Tuesday Team News...
SOU: Wesser, Merritt, Farrell, Inglis, McQueen, Sutton, Sandow, Ross, Luke, McPherson, Clark, Pettybourne, Crocker (c). Bench: L Burgess, Tyrrell, Lowe, Peats, Corrigan.
[Team Changes - The Bunnies get a huge boost with Dave Taylor back from a long suspension. He comes straight in and partners Eddy Pettybourne and Michael Crocker in a good backrow. One of Shaune Corrigan, Dave Tyrrell, Nathan Peats or Jason Clark will probably miss out to accommodate him. There is still no word on the return of Roy Asotasi from a wrist injury - but it was expected relatively soon. ]
PAR: Burt, Uaisele, Horo, Smith, Atkins, Hayne, Robson, Mannah, Keating, MoiMoi, Hindmarsh (c), Lasalo, Maitua. Bench: McGuire, Shackleton, Allgood, O'Hanlon.
[Team Changes - Jeff Robson lasted just 5 minutes against the Storm before a jaw injury and has been replaced at halfback by Casey McGuire. Jordan Atkins is also back on the wing for Chris Hicks. Manase Manuokafoa is the new face on the bench. As with Melbourne - they played Monday so the team could change considerably by the time they actually play. ]
SMH and Other Late Mail 05/08 - There is some good news for South Sydney fans with captain Roy Asotasi starting contract training again with a target to return for Round 24. Jordan Atkins will need every day of the week long break between games to overcome his neck injury with Chris Hicks or Ryan Morgan the options to replace him, while the Bunnies will make a final call on their bench on gameday.
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