ROUND 16
CAMERON SMITH VS COOPER CRONK ON FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
RABBITOHS VS COWBOYS FROM CAIRNS ON SUNDAY FOOTBALL
The two men who have combined to dominate the last decade of rugby league, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, face each other for the first time when the Sydney Roosters meet the Melbourne Storm at Adelaide Oval on Friday Night Football, LIVE on Nine.
At 7.30pm tonight the masterminds of countless Storm, Queensland Maroons and Australian Kangaroos victories will plot against one another with a mouthwatering support cast.
In Smith’s corner will be Billy Slater, Will Chambers, speedsters Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu, while in Cronk’s red, white and blue corner the Roosters will have James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Dylan Napa and Luke Keary.
Nine rugby league expert, Paul Vautin, said: “It’s position five versus position six on the ladder when these two teams in peak form meet. The Roosters have four wins in a row, the Storm have three, and both teams are heading in the right direction at the mid-season marker.
“There are plenty of players backing up from last Sunday’s brutal Origin match but I’m looking forward to watching the Roosters’ new cult hero, Victor Radley. This hard-running, crash-tackling backrower is a ripper. Roosters to win by four.”
On Sunday Football, the South Sydney Rabbitohs take a home fixture into the middle of Cowboy country in North Queensland where they plan to lasso Johnathan Thurston’s Cowboys in Cairns.
Nine rugby league expert, Darren Lockyer, said: “The Bunnies have a new lease on life and are flying under coach Anthony Seibold. There is a lot to like about the way they are playing, with their big and mobile forward pack featuring Sam Burgess, John Sutton, Angus Crichton and the front-row twins Tom and George Burgess laying a great platform for their creative and fast men to pile the points on.
“With Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai, Alex Johnston, Damien Cook, Cody Walker and Adam Reynolds all popping up off their damaging forward pack on what will be a dry and fast track in Cairns, I see a lot of points being scored.
“The Cowboys can win but they need a huge defensive performance and someone in their pack to bring more energy. They have one man who is capable, former Dally M Medallist Jason Taumalolo. He can inspire his team with his damaging runs before Thurston makes the Bunnies pay with his selective passing and kicking game.”
Broadcast Times
Tonight Friday, June 29
Roosters vs Storm
Sydney 7.30pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 7.30pm LIVE on Nine
Melbourne 7.30pm LIVE on Nine
Adelaide 7.00pm LIVE on 9GEM
Perth 5.30pm LIVE on 9GEM
Sunday, July 1
Rabbitohs vs Cowboys
Sydney 3.00pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 3.00pm LIVE on Nine
Melbourne 3.00pm LIVE on 9GEM
Adelaide 2.30pm LIVE on 9GEM
Perth 1.00pm LIVE on 9GEM
THE WEEK OF RUGBY LEAGUE ON NINE
FRIDAY, JUNE 29:
• FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – Roosters vs Storm, LIVE from 7.30pm AEST on Nine. Cameron Smith’s Storm are preparing a hostile reunion with Cooper Cronk and his new Roosters teammates at Adelaide Oval. In commentary: Phil Gould, Paul “Fatty” Vautin, Brad Fittler, Darren Lockyer and host James Bracey. LIVE on the main channel for Melbourne viewers.
SATURDAY, JUNE 30:
• INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP – 1.00pm, on Nine in NSW. Newtown Jets vs Wentworthville Magpies at Henson Park. Caller Joel Caine will be joined by NRL premiership winner with the Dragons, Jamie Soward, and St George Illawarra Dragons ISP coach Mat Head.
• INTRUST SUPER CUP – 1.00pm, on Nine in Queensland. Ipswich Jets vs Easts Tigers in Ipswich. Scott Sattler will be joined by Ben Dobbin and Peter Psaltis.
SUNDAY, JULY 1:
• SPORTS SUNDAY – Sunday, at 10.00am AEST, LIVE on Nine. This week Liz Ellis hosts an action- packed edition with fellow sporting stars and special guests: boxing legend Danny Green, swimmer James Magnussen, former Australian opening batsman Michael Slater, and leading sports opinion-makers Richard Freedman and Neil Breen providing bold and passionate debate.
• SUNDAY NRL FOOTY SHOW – Sunday, at 11.00am. Host Peter Sterling will cover all the Round 16 action so far with NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler, Cronulla Sharks forward Wade Graham and former Jillaroo, Allana Ferguson.
• SUNDAY FOOTBALL – Rabbitohs vs Cowboys, Sunday, at 3.00pm LIVE on Nine from Cairns. This week: Phil Gould, Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis will dissect all the on-field action when Sam Burgess and the Rabbitohs clash with Johnathan Thurston’s North Queensland Cowboys.
MONDAY, JULY 2:
• 100% FOOTY– Monday, 9.45pm, on Nine and 9Now. 100% Footy is the home of the strongest opinions in rugby league from the people who count. Phil Gould returns with Paul Gallen, alongside Jillaroos star Ruan Sims, journalist Neil Breen and host James Bracey.
** Check local guides for details. Times will differ.
PODCAST – SIX TACKLES WITH GUS
James Bracey discusses the biggest rugby league issues of the week with NRL legend and expert commentator Phil Gould on Six Tackles with Gus.
This week:
• Origin II wrap-up
• Kalyn Ponga’s amazing Origin debut and the next generation of NRL superstars
• NRL calendar rescheduling
• The future of the NRL from a strategic media viewpoint
• Women’s Origin and its development
• Building up rep fixtures
• The Bulldogs’ roster rebuild