NRL Round Four Preview

Week four of NRL Season 2006 and what a bumper weekend there is ahead.

The round begins tonight with Parramatta hosting North Queensland, the Eels will be desperate to notch up a win in front of their home fans and avenge the Preliminary Final shutout, while the Cowboys are eager to remain unbeaten.

However, before it all begins we take a look at the round in full with our exclusive weekly preview.

Friday Night, March 31
Parramatta vs North Queensland
Parramatta Stadium, Sydney - 7:30pm.

Channel 9 Replay from 8:30pm (NSW/QLD).
Check local guides for other areas.

The Cowboys are the hottest team in the competition at the early stage of the season, being led by Johnathan Thurston who is in tremendous form, and after toweling the Storm they will look to do the same to Parramatta at the weekend.

The Eels will need to play better than they did against the Broncos last week and to do so Tim Smith needs to step it up. He was average last week and the back up to him looked poor. My tip is the Cowboys.

Key Match Up: Smith vs Firman

These two have been struggling for form so far this season, but when on song can destroy opposing teams with dynamic kicking games.

SportsTab: Eels.

Saturday Evening, April   1
Cronulla vs South Sydney
Toyota Park, Sydney - 5:30pm.

Live on Fox Sports One.

While the Sharks need to work on playing for the full 80 minutes after surrendering solid leads to Brisbane and then Manly in their two games this year, the Bunnies just need to focus on playing, the only time they looked good was up until Adrian Morley knocked Ben Walker for a loop in round one, and ever since they have looked lost without their experienced playmaker.

The Sharks look like a good chance to secure their first victory of the season and Kimmorley should dominate behind his bigger pack of forwards. My tip for this one is the Sharks in a canter.

Key Match Up:

The battle in the centres between former team mates Phil Bailey and Paul Mellor should be fantastic to watch, they are both big robust types who can score a try make the play and are big in defence, with not much else set to happen it should be the best match up in this game.

SportsTab: Sharks.

Saturday Night
Manly vs Sydney Roosters
Brookvale Oval, Sydney - 7:30pm.

Live on Fox Sports One.

Interesting game manly have had some tight games while the Roosters have been hot and cold in all their matches thus far, with the problem of being too slow out of the blocks.

The return of Adrian Morley is a big bonus as it gives the Roosters much more firepower in the engine room.

Manly have a good side this year, and they were unlucky not to beat the in form Cowboys two weeks ago.

However the Roosters sport a line up that can score plenty of points in a short time. It will be interesting to see how early Ricky Stuart injects Craig Wing into the game.

My tip is the Roosters who have too much class.

SportsTab: Sea Eagles.

Saturday Night
Canberra vs Penrith
Canberra Stadium - 7:30pm.

Replay on Fox Sports One @ 9:20pm.

Penrith have looked strong early in this years competition defeating premiership favourites the Dragons and perennial heavyweights the Bulldogs in the opening two rounds before having the bye.

Canberra on the other hand have leaked over 100 points in their last two game! If Matt Elliot does not fix their defensive problems it could be a long season in the nations capital.

Craig Gower looks focused on his football after a tumultuous off-season, and the Panthers look great. My Tip is the Penrith side.

Key Match Up:

The battle between Simon Woolford and Luke Priddis is always a great one, and their battle to get their sides moving quickly from the ruck should be great they are both workhorses in defence, and if it were not for Danny Buderus would both have played lots of rep football.

SportsTab: Raiders.

Sunday Afternoon, April   2
Wests Tigers vs Melbourne
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney - 2:30pm.

Live on Fox Sports One.

No Doubt Tigers fans will be thinking Benji is back, that is the solution to all our woes, sorry to disappoint but the side were lucky to beat the Dragons in round 1 and have been terrible since.

This side is really struggling and while the Storm are suffered a heavy loss in Townsville last week expect them to bounce back.

For the Tigers Sheens has gambled and moved Lolesi from the wing to lock, and for the Storm Chris Walker may start as he has impressed Craig Bellamy since joining and if he does look out, Walker may have found a home in Melbourne and could return to his best soon.

Key Match Up: Marshall vs Hill

Two of the most deadly attacking players in the competition close to the line, they get their sides over more than any other players, it is a shame they have been plagued by injury, the team that receives more ball should take honours. Tip Storm.

SportsTab: Tigers.

Sunday Afternoon
Newcastle vs NZ Warriors
Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle - 3:00pm.

Replay on Fox Sports One @ 6:00pm.

A classic first verses last match here, and facing a red hot Knights team at home you almost feel sorry fior the Warriors or at least coach Ivan Cleary. He has a team who can not hold the ball and who despite their size are often woeful in defence.

Look for Joey Johns to have a walk in the park, run rampant, however you want to put it as on form this will be all the Knights.

Key Match Up: Perry vs Wiki

Josh Perry wants to play origin and he aimed up last week looking impressive against Mark O’Meley and co. He was dominant and there is no tougher test in the NRL than Ruben Wiki, who has done everything in the game and is as tough as they come, so the battle up front should produce a big clash.

SportsTab: Knights.

Sunday Afternoon
St George-Illawarra vs Brisbane
WIN Stadium, Wollongong - 3:00pm.

Channel 9 Replay from 4:00pm (NSW/QLD).
Check local guides for other areas.

What a blockbuster for round four. It looks like the Broncos will be at full strength for this one with the return of the tackling machine of Tonie Carrol.

Carrol usually injures about one player for game and the Dragons do not need to lose another forward, they face an uphill battle here against a rejuvenated and strong Broncos pack, and without Ryles or Bailey they will struggle. My Tip is the Broncos.

Key match Ups: Barrett vs Lockyer, Gasnier vs Hodges

There are Australian jerseys on the line and Barrett would have to be outstanding to displace the Aussie captain, so look for a big battle here, same in the centres when the two in form centres in the competition line up on each other they have both been so far ahead of everyone else so far this season, so this match up looks breathtaking.

SportsTab: Dragons.

Bye: Bulldogs.

Note: All kick-off times Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) unless stated.

*All times revert to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on Sunday, April 2.

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