5 Things to Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in NRL Round 22

Expect Round 22 to result in a variety of talking points with several potential finals matchups on display, teams jostling for spots in and around the top eight, and several stars named to return. Here are 5 Things to Watch in Round 22.

Storm-Panthers rivalry returns, albeit understrength

The premiership’s two most elite sides over the past three seasons – Melbourne and Penrith – will do battle at the foot of the mountain this Thursday night with the Panthers able to all but guarantee themselves the J.J. Giltinan Shield with a victory. James Fisher-Harris will miss the clash for the Panthers through suspension with Matthew Eisenhuth promoted into the starting lineup whilst Viliame Kikau has been named among the reserves as he eyes an early return from a hip issue. Melbourne, meanwhile, will be without Felise Kaufusi and Jahrome Hughes but will be boosted by the returns of Nick Meaney and Justin Olam. The Panthers and Storm have faced off six times since the start of 2020 – including the 2020 Grand Final and the 2021 Preliminary Final – with Penrith winning four and Melbourne two; a far cry from 11-year hoodoo from 2006 until 2017 in which the Storm managed 17 wins in 18 games against the Panthers. Penrith enter the match as favourites despite missing several of their key players, however, Melbourne will be as determined as ever with a top four spot on the line.

Souths and Parra play off in a seeding battle

The Eels and Rabbitohs are both fresh off big wins and face off in arguably the match of the round at CommBank on Friday night. South Sydney have dominated Parramatta in recent years having won 16 of their past 21 against the blue-and-golds and each of their past five by an average margin of over 23. Both sides have averaged over 28 points scored over their past five outings so expect a bit of football to be played. Hame Sele returns for South Sydney in place of Daniel Suluka-Fifita whilst Ofahiki Ogden has been named to make his club debut for the Eels. The biggest key for Parramatta will be limiting the involvement of Latrell Mitchell who has been sensational since his return from a long-term hamstring injury. The combination he has crafted with five-eighth Cody Walker has been electric and his outside men are reaping the rewards. Parramatta are still without halfback Mitchell Moses but must have been pleased with the composure teenager Jakob Arthur showed in their last-start win over Manly. Arthur has been subject to all manners of scrutiny but showed a tonne of maturity in the win and will be better for the run. Whichever side comes away with the chocolates will do their top four hopes the world of good.

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Can the Roosters continue their hot run?

The Roosters look to be peaking at the right time of the year with four wins on the trot, however, their biggest test of the last month will come this Saturday afternoon when they take on North Queensland at the SCG. The Cows have won 13 of their past 15 and are still a mathematical chance of overtaking Penrith and finishing minor premiers. The Roosters, meanwhile, are still sitting eighth and are by no means guaranteed a finals berth with clashes against the Wests Tigers, Storm, and Rabbitohs still to come and Canberra trailing them by only one win. Egan Butcher returns onto the bench for the Roosters whilst Jordan McLean will return for the Cowboys after more than a month on the sidelines. The Roosters have historically dominated the Cowboys with 30 wins from their 42 encounters and five from their past six including a 24-point win earlier this year. It is a big week for the Chooks whose finals position may depend on a win in this one whilst the Cows will be eager to remain ahead of the third-place Sharks and secure a home qualifying final. Roosters skipper James Tedesco will be celebrating his 200th NRL game in what is a big occasion for the tricolours in their penultimate home game at the SCG before returning to the Sydney Football Stadium.

Brisbane’s fullback switch

The Broncos will welcome back Te Maire Martin in the place of Tesi Niu this Saturday night when they take on the Knights at Suncorp as they fight to keep in touch with the top four. The fullback spot has been a contentious one for much of the season at Brisbane, however, it appears Kevin Walters will lean on Martin for their run towards the finals. Niu won the number one jumper off Jamayne Isaako in Round 2 before being sidelined five weeks later paving the way for Martin to make his long-awaited return to the NRL. Martin lasted nine weeks before succumbing to a rib injury and allowing Niu to return to the back. Brisbane have won seven of their nine games with Martin at the back this season and just four of their ten with Niu. With Martin departing the club come season’s end and Reece Walsh making his highly-publicised return to Red Hill, questions surrounding Niu’s place at the club are beginning to arise. An explosive athlete, Niu’s positioning and effort areas have let him down at fullback which has prompted Walters to look to the more reliable Martin.

Raiders look to keep their finals hopes alive

Last week’s 26-6 loss to an undermanned Panthers side did not help the Raiders cause as they aim to sneak into the finals, however, they will have a shot at re-entering the winners circle this Sunday afternoon on home soil against the Dragons. Joseph Tapine is a massive loss for the Raiders whilst Nick Čotrić will also be out. Xavier Savage returns for them, however, after being scratched from last week’s clash whilst Corey Horsburgh has been named on the bench. The Dragons will be missing veteran forwards Tariq Sims and Francis Molo with Josh McGuire and Michael Molo promoted to the starting lineup and Tyrell Fuimaono and Billy Burns onto the bench whilst fullback Cody Ramsey has been named among the reserves as he eyes an early return from a lower leg injury. The Dragons have not managed a win in Canberra since 2015 but have won two of their past three against a Raiders side that has historically proven a bogey team. Canberra’s Sebastian Kris has scored four tries in his past four games whilst Dragons winger Mathew Feagai has scored in three of his last four.

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