5 Things to Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in NRL Round 14

The State of Origin series opener is now in the rear-vision mirror and focus can be shifted back to club football for the next fortnight. With or without Origin stars backing up, there are some major clashes this week, with half of the premiership fresh off a bye. Here are 5 Things to Watch in Round 14.

Cowboys look to keep it rolling

Sitting at 3rd on the competition ladder with seven wins from their past eight, the North Queensland Cowboys will be eager to keep their hot form rolling as they take on St. George Illawarra in Townsville on Friday night. With three of their stars backing up from Origin and three others spending time with the Maroons in camp, the next month or so may prove challenging for a side with several players experiencing their first Origin campaign. Reuben Cotter and Valentine Holmes each played 80 minutes on Wednesday night and were instrumental in Queensland’s 16-10 win over NSW, whilst Jeremiah Nanai copped an awkward blow to the ankle which forced him to leave the field for treatment before returning. Origin periods often prove testing to those clubs atop the ladder, but head coach Todd Payten will be desperate to ensure that his side overcome it and set themselves up for a run into September. Their record against the Dragons has been tight in recent years, having won three of their past seven against the men in the red-and-white, however, neither side has held each other to single-digits in any of those seven games, so history tells us some points may be scored.

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Top 8 battle at the SCG

The Roosters and Storm have faced off in a number of classic battles over the years and meet this Saturday evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Roosters triumphed over the Storm in the 2018 Grand Final before eliminating them in the preliminary final the following year. From the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2020, the sides met on nine separate occasions, six of which being decided by three points or less. These sides are no strangers to memorable clashes and this Saturday evening should be no different. The Storm have, however, had the wood over the Roosters in recent times, having won their past four over the tricolours by an average margin of almost 21 points, including a 46-0 drubbing in Round 16 of last year. Seven stars across both clubs have been named to back up from Origin, however, Xavier Coates is expected to spend some time on the sideline after failing to finish the game on Wednesday night. Over their past four meetings with Melbourne, the Roosters have allowed six tries to left-side centres and wingers, which bodes well for the likes of Justin Olam and Dean Ieremia. The Roosters are currently sitting seventh on the competition ladder with seven wins from 13 games but are only one win ahead of the 11th-placed Raiders.

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Reynolds & Mam

Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam are set to line-up alongside each other for the first time this Saturday night when Brisbane take on Canberra at Suncorp. Reynolds has proven a catalyst for Brisbane’s stunning turnaround this season, whilst Mam has shown why so many north of the border have wraps on him, across his first two NRL games. Brisbane are sitting in the top four with eight wins from 12 games and may have stumbled upon their most effective halves pairing moving forward. The Raiders, meanwhile, have come into some form of their own having won four of their past five after a 2-6 start and will welcome back Origin stars Jack Wighton and Josh Papali’i. Brisbane, on the other hand, are sweating on the fitness of both Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas after the two picked up knocks on Wednesday night, whilst Selwyn Cobbo and Patty Carrigan enjoyed sensational Origin debuts. Whilst Billy Walters, Albert Kelly, and Tyson Gamble have each spent time in the six jumper, Mam looks set to make it his own and will have the opportunity to lock the jersey down long-term.

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Is the grass greener for the Tigers and Warriors?

Both the Wests Tigers and the Warriors will play their first games this weekend since sacking their respective head coaches on the same day earlier this week. Brett Kimmorley will take over as the Wests Tigers’ interim head coach after the club parted ways with Michael Maguire after a 3-9 start to the year. Maguire took over as head coach at the start of 2019 and won just 29 of 80 games, leading the club to 10th, 11th, and 13th-place finishes. The Warriors, meanwhile, will be under the guidance of club legend Stacey Jones until a full-time coach is employed after severing ties with Nathan Brown. Brown joined the club after an unsuccessful period at Newcastle and took over as head coach at the start of last year, winning only 12 of his 37 games in charge. Whilst any arguments in favour of either coach are largely unconvincing, both sides find themselves being led by interim coaches for the remainder of the season, which is in danger of becoming somewhat of a write-off. The Wests Tigers have not played finals football since 2011, whilst the Warriors have not won a finals game since the same year. The Wests Tigers will face Manly at Campbelltown this Sunday afternoon, whilst the Warriors will face the Sharks on Sunday night in their second last game at Redcliffe before returning to Auckland.

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Sivo returns

Parramatta cult hero Maika Sivo is slated to return this Monday afternoon when the Eels take on the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium after almost 10 months on the sideline recovering from an ACL tear. The Fijian-native has proven to be a phenomenal try-scorer throughout his brief career, having crossed the stripe 54 times in 67 games and will provide Parramatta with some added spark on the flank. His work out of yardage will also be a welcome addition for Parramatta as well, with the 28-year-old having averaged over 130 metres per game for his career. At 186cm and 105kg, he is a big body who has proven more than adept at producing out of his own end and has cemented himself as one of the game’s strongest finishers. Parramatta have utilised five different wingers this season and will be hopeful Sivo can recapture his pre-injury form and make the spot his own. Bailey Simonsson, who has been mostly solid in 2022, will line-up on the other wing for Parramatta, with Will Penisini and Waqa Blake in the centres.

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