Wests Tigers ... Benji Marshall dropped to the bench this weekend. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited
Fox Sports league expert Ben Ikin looks ahead to round 10 action in the NRL and picks out the five things he is most looking forward to.
The grudge match
The local derby between Brisbane and Gold Coast always makes for an interesting game of football. The Titans will be smarting after the way they capitulated against the Broncos in their last meeting. Out of that game I would have to say they have remained level pegging in terms of form and they come together as equal opponents, which makes things very exciting. This game will be performed in front of big crowd at Suncorp Stadium. It is a grudge match and it will be gritty. For Brisbane to win, Justin Hodges will need to be close to his best. When he is on song, he's is a real treat to watch while the Titans young halves pairing of Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly are their keys. They have been the surprise packet of the season. You would have to imagine they would be excited about stepping out onto a big stage because when you face Brisbane at home, it is a big occasion. The Titans also have one of the better forward packs in the competition so there is no question over whether they are going to take it to the Broncos forwards.
Benji off the bench
You can dissect the whole issue of Benji being dropped to the bench anyway you like but at the end of the day he has not being playing great football. Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter was brave enough to make the tough call in dropping him to the bench and now what we are left with is for the champion that is Benji Marshall to respond. Marshall has two options. He can prove the coach right in that he was deserving of being put on the bench or he can prove him wrong and play the game of his life. He can deliver a solid performance against South Sydney this weekend and turn it into some consistent football to use as a platform for the rest of the season. He has had two wakeup calls now. The first came in the form of losing the New Zealand captaincy at international level and now being benched. He is well aware that he needs to return to his best or he won’t be thought of in a high regard by his coach and ultimately attract the new contract he is chasing.
Can the Eels go back to back?
Can the Eels do it again? Following a solid performance against North Queensland they backed it up with a great win over Brisbane. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been really excited to see Jarryd Hayne’s form grow. He has stepped up to the plate and is finally buying into the fact that the Eels need him to perform like the star that he is. Star players can turn the fortunes of a struggling team around almost on their own. The age-old saying is that players make coaches and if the big names are patchy the whole side will play that way. With Hayne playing consistent, high-quality football he has every chance of dragging the Eels along with him and making life very difficult for St George Illawarra.
Can the Cowboys beat the Roosters?
There is no sugarcoating it, North Queensland are in a rut. If they are going to be a genuine threat in the competition this season they need to improve and do it quickly. Playing at home will work in their favour but the challenge is far from an easy one. They face the Roosters; a team I believe are a genuine top four side. They are best defensive team in the competition yet have such a potent attack which spells danger for the home side. Even though they have to travel to Townsville, they are going to still prove very hard to beat. If the Cowboys are able to beat the Roosters it could be the catalyst to turning around their season. The Cowboys have struggled to find their groove and until they do, they will continue to play below the level they are capable of.
More of the Raiders, please!
I witnessed Canberra’s victory over Newcastle on Sunday and I cannot begin to explain how good they are to watch when they are performing at their brilliant best. They have a big forward pack who lay a solid platform with variety and not just a one out style of play. Off the back of that, their enormously talent outside backs run riot over the opposition. Reece Robinson has been superb even before Josh Dugan left the club. He showed last year while Dugan was injured that he is more than capable of performing that role at a high level. He has made that spot his own. In the halves Josh McCrone has been a consistent performer for a long time but when he moves into hooker, which allows young gun Anthony Millford to come off the bench, he adds excitement to the side. Terry Campese is a natural footballer who continues to impress. In an age where a lot of play makers can only perform pre-rehearsed plays he plays what he sees. He doesn’t get flustered by a changing defence and adjusts by what he sees in front of him. I know he has only been back for a few weeks and his running game may not be back to where it has been in previous years but I’d be tempted to consider him for a Blues jersey. He is a big five-eighth so he is a really physical player which only adds to the Raiders aura.
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