NRL preview for punters round 25 | Thebigtip

The penultimate round of the Telstra Premiership presents us with some huge matches that look set to have a massive bearing on the finals chances of many sides this week.  Which teams will rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of a top eight spot?

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS V BRISBANE BRONCOS

A massive game for both sides, given a win for the Warriors would seal a finals birth, while a loss for the Broncos would almost end their season. The key to this match will surround the availability of Broncos stalwart Darren Lockyer. He has not been named by Coach Ivan Henjak, but one suspects he could be a late inclusion in the side. Brisbane are in desperate need of Lockyer’s vision and patience with the football, and if he plays, they are a genuine chance of knocking off a determined Warriors outfit who were gallant in their defeat to Manly last week. If Lockyer continues to be sidelined however, the Warriors could easily rack up a score here and put themselves within touching distance of securing a home final.

Tip – Warriors

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS V PARRAMATTA EELS

The finals chances of both these sides appear all but over, which suggests that pride will be the only thing on the line in a game that promises a lot of points. The Eels came agonisingly short of producing a miracle win against the Tigers last week, but a missed penalty goal by winger Luke Burt ultimately cost them dearly. The Rabbitohs on the other hand produced arguably their worst performance of the season against the Panthers last Friday night, conceding over 50 points to suggest the club already has its focus set on season 2011. South Sydney do welcome back Queensland Origin forward Dave Taylor from injury, but even his inclusion in the side will do little to mend the point scoring spree the Eels look set to dish out here.

Tip – Eels

CRONULLA SHARKS V GOLD COAST TITANS

Although the Dragons appear to be the obvious premiership favourites, spare a thought for a Titans outfit which has now won five matches in a row and is gunning for a club record six straight victories. What makes the Gold Coast’s run so impressive surrounds the fact they have beaten finals aspirants, the Dragons, Warriors and Sydney Roosters all away from home. The Titans are the real deal this season, and a trip to Toyota Stadium to play the cellar dweller Sharks shouldn’t present too many obstacles for John Cartwright’s men. The Sharks will do everything to turn this match into a grind, but the Titans have shown enough this season to suggest they should win this game fairly comfortably.

Tip – Titans

CANBERRA RAIDERS V NTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Brace yourself Cowboys fans because your season from hell could get a whole lot worse down at the nation’s capital. The Raiders stand alongside the Titans as the two form teams in the NRL at the moment, winning six of their past seven matches. The Green Machine was simply outstanding against the Dragons last week, beating the ladder leaders 32-16 and putting themselves right in the running for a top eight birth. The Cowboys have been gallant in their past two matches, but there will be serious concerns about their capacity to hold out a Raiders unit which posted six tries against the NRL’s best defensive team last Sunday. If Nth Queensland can somehow stay in touch come halftime, then they are a chance of causing one of the season’s big upsets. If Canberra starts well however, don’t be surprised if we see Dave Furner’s men crack the half century mark before fulltime.

Tip – Raiders