5 Things to Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in NRL Round 20

The rugby league news cycle has accelerated into absolute overdrive in recent days to the point where fans could be forgiven for overlooking the weekend of clashes that are rapidly approaching. Here are 5 Things to Watch in Round 20.

8 vs. 9 opener

Manly will hope to put a difficult week behind them when they host the eighth-place Roosters to open Round 20 in a clash that firms as a huge one for both sides. The Sea Eagles and Roosters are both sitting on 20 competition points with nine wins and nine losses and will have had this clash circled on their respective calendars for some time. Manly’s squad has been decimated by the withdrawal of seven of their starting 17, including Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Schuster, Jason Saab, Toluta’u Koula, Christian Tuipulotu, Toafofoa Sipley and Josh Aloiai, opening the door for debutants Pio Seci, Alfred Smalley, and Zac Fulton, whilst James Segeyaro has been named to play in his first NRL game since the 2019 finals series with Brisbane. In brighter news, Jake Trbojevic, Lachlan Croker, and Andrew Davey will return to the starting lineup after a one-week COVID absence. Reuben Garrick has scored or assisted on 10 tries, broken 28 tackles, and averaged over 202 run metres over his past seven games at fullback and will need to put together another big one if Manly are to get the job done against a strong Roosters outfit. The Roosters, meanwhile, are set to welcome back Lindsay Collins and Joseph Manu who will offer a serious boost for a side who has scored 96 points over their past two games.

Melbourne aim to slow skid

The Melbourne Storm will travel to Mount Smart Stadium for the first time in over three years to take on the Warriors on Friday evening in an attempt to put an end to their four-game losing streak and make a climb back up the table. They will trot out the same starting 13 that were unable to get past South Sydney, whilst Reece Walsh will be back at fullback for the hosts, Chanel Harris-Tavita will wear the six, and Edward Kosi will come in for the injured Jesse Arthars. Melbourne are expected to be boosted next week by the arrival of David Nofoaluma who will spend the remainder of the season with them before returning to the Wests Tigers next year, however, their backline will remain the same for their venture into hostile territory this weekend. The Warriors and Storm have met in some memorable clashes over the past two decades and the local fans will be eager to make some noise in what is their first game back in Auckland since their homecoming victory over the Wests Tigers. The two sides met in Melbourne earlier this season with the Storm running away 70-10 victors in what was a rugby league bloodbath.

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The Battle of the West heads to CommBank

Parramatta are the only team this season who have beaten the Penrith Panthers this season and will look to pull off an unlikely double when they take their rivals on this Saturday night at CommBank Stadium. The Eels came away with a two-point victory when they last faced off in Round 9 to snap Penrith’s 21-game home winning streak. Bryce Cartwright has been named to play his first game since Round 10 for Parramatta off the bench, whilst Robert Jennings and Sean O’Sullivan will replace the injured Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai for Penrith. The Eels have dropped to seventh on the competition ladder after losing three of their past six and face a brutal draw to finish the season. Penrith, meanwhile, have all but wrapped up the minor premiership and will be hoping to time their run into the postseason and remain as injury-free as possible. Eels powerhouse Maika Sivo has crossed for four tries over his past three games and managed a four-pointer in his last outing against Penrith. Taylan May, meanwhile, who is third in the premiership in tries scored this season is currently in the midst his longest try-scoring drought of the season and bagged a double in their loss to Parramatta earlier this year.

Top four hopes on the line in the Shire

South Sydney will make their first trip to the Shire in almost three years when they take on the Sharks on Saturday evening. A four-game winning streak has the Bunnies within two points of the top four and can make things very interesting if they are able to secure their fifth-straight. Shark Park, however, has not proven a happy hunting ground for the Rabbits who have lost six of their past seven at the venue. The volatility of the top eight will ensure a number of high-intensity encounters throughout the remainder of the season. The Sharks are only one win below the second-place Cowboys but only a win ahead of the seventh-place Eels, whilst an 18-point win would see South Sydney jump Cronulla on the competition ladder. Predicting how things shake up from here on out is virtually impossible. History shows, however, that a top four finish is crucial for sides with premiership aspirations. The Sharks will be without lock Dale Finucane for the next two weeks after he was suspended for a high shot on Stephen Crichton, with Cameron McInnes expected to be promoted to the run-on side, whilst Daniel Suluka-Fifita will start for the injured Mark Nicholls for the Bunnies. Alex Johnston has been on an insane try-scoring run and will look to add to his premiership-high tally of 21 on Saturday night. The 27-year-old has scored 13 tries over his past six games including a trio of hat-tricks.

Cowboys’ Kogarah hoodoo

The North Queensland Cowboys have surprised even their most optimistic supporters in 2022 and have given themselves every opportunity to host their first finals encounter at QLD Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Their march towards September continues this Sunday afternoon when they make their first trip to play the Dragons at Kogarah in over eight years. Trips to Kogarah have been few and far between for the Cowboys who have only played nine games at the venue since their inception in 1995 with only two victories. In fact, the last time they came out victors at Kogarah was in Round 12, 2003 when a Matt Sing double led them to 20-point win over the Dragons. Granted, they have only played five games there since – three against the Dragons and two against the temporarily relocated Sharks – but it is an interesting tidbit for this one. North Queensland can push themselves one step closer to a top two finish whilst St. George Illawarra risk falling further out of the finals picture with a loss. Cody Ramsey will miss the clash after succumbing to an MCL injury with Moses Mbye shifting to the back, Jack Bird into the centres, and Tyrell Sloan onto the bench, whilst Reuben Cotter has been listed in the reserves and may be a late inclusion for the Cows.

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