Penrith Panthers v Newtown Jets
Panthers Stadium
Saturday, 31 March 1pm
The Channel 9 free-to-air clash sees Guy Missio’s Panthers host Greg Matterson’s Jets at the foot of the mountains.
Penrith have opened the year with a Round 1 loss (to Wentworthville), followed by wins against the Bears and Warriors. Newtown, meanwhile, lost on the bell to Wyong in Round 1, before beating the Dragons and falling to the Sea Eagles in Round 3.
The Panthers will continue with influential playmaker Jarome Luai, who will play in the Intrust Super Premiership after initially being selected for an NRL debut. The five-eighth was named captain in the Intrust Super Premiership Round 3 Team of the Week and was outstanding in the side's victory over the Warriors.
Wyong Roos v Warriors
Allianz Stadium
Saturday, 31 March, 3.15pm
The sixth-placed Roos, feeder team for the Sydney Roosters, and the 10th-placed Warriors clash in Saturday’s Fox League match at Allianz Stadium.
In their last start, Wyong pipped the high-flying Western Suburbs Magpies in a thriller at Campbelltown, while the Warriors fell to the Panthers in another heart-stopper.
Both clubs have some of the most dangerous talent at Intrust Super Premiership level, including the likes of Paul Momirosvki, Eloni Vunakece and Mitch Williams (Wyong) plus Blake Ayshford, Sam Cook and Mason Lino (Warriors). In fact, three of these teams’ players featured in the Rd 3 Team of the Week.
Keep an eye on Lewis Soosemea – the Warriors winger was the first player to register a hat-trick in the 2018 season and has thus far scored four tries in his three matches.
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles v Mounties
Lottoland
Saturday, 31 March, 5.15pm
Saturday night’s special at Brookvale pits the high-flying Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, first on the competition ladder, against third-placed Mounties.
The Sea Eagles, who have recorded two wins and a draw in their three matches this season, have the best attacking and defensive records in the competition, while Mounties aren’t far behind them.
The hosts’ Jack Gosiewski leads the league in tries and, alongside the likes of Honeti Tuha, Jacob Loko and Lewis Brown, will be one to watch. Gosiewski, however, has been named in Manly’s 21-man NRL squad – watch this space to see where he plays this week.
The visitors, too, have some significant firepower of their own, with Blake Austin (also named in his side’s extended NRL squad), Brad Abbey, Jarrad Kennedy and Craig Garvey likely their go-to men in this clash.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Newcastle Knights
WIN Stadium
Sunday, 1 April, 1.45pm
The Dragons are no doubt feeling buoyant following their impressive last-start win against North Sydney at Shellharbour – but can they back it up against the Knights, who accounted for Wentworthville in their last start?
There’s no doubt about it – even so early in the season a clash like this, between eighth-placed Knights and the seventh-placed Dragons, will have huge ramifications come finals time.
Much of this match will come down to St George Illawarra halfback Darren Nicholls, who was recently given the ultimate compliment by his club coach. Can the Knights, led by their star hooker Danny Levi, shut down Nicholls, or will the Dragons’ forwards, including Josh Kerr and Jacob Host, lay an unbeatable platform?
Both coaches, former NRL stars Mat Head and Simon Woolford, expect plenty from their teams. This could be a cracker.
Western Suburbs Magpies v Wentworthville Magpies
ANZ Stadium
Monday, 2 April, 1.45pm
It’s the battle of the birds in Fox League’s Easter Monday Intrust Super Premiership NSW clash… but who will swoop on a victory?
Western Suburbs are sitting pretty near the top of the table with two wins from three matches so far. Their line-up, featuring the likes of Mahe Fonua, Tyson Gamble, Josh Drinkwater, Chris McQueen and Tim Grant is one of the strongest in the competition.
Wentworthville, meanwhile, have recorded just the one victory so far in 2018 but, with the likes of Brad Deitz, Magnus Stromquist, Arana Taumata and Nathan Davis on their books, will prove a thorn for many sides. Squad consistency, though, may be a challenge for the Eels’ feeder side – last week they had a raft of last-minute inclusions, including the likes of Suaia Matagi, David Gower and Kaysa Pritchard.
