Toyota Cup: Round Three Preview

The Fox Sports cameras cover defending Toyota Cup premiers Melbourne for the first time this season on Saturday. Fresh from a huge win, Melbourne travels to play Penrith. On Sunday, it's Brisbane at home to the Warriors. Fox Sports commentator Matt Russell has his weekly look at the National Youth Competition, including a preview of both television games.<br><br><b>Please explain..</b><br><br>The 38-5 scoreline between North Queensland and Penrith raised some eyebrows in the Fox Sports Stats department this week. <br><br>The last scoring play of the game was an 81st minute field goal from fullback Ali Beale.<br><br>Given 81st minutes aren't meant to exist... and that the Panthers trailed by 34 points at the time... it must have been a mistake, right? Wrong?<br><br>Ali did kick a field goal. From 45m out!<br><br>It meant Penrith only got beat by 33.<br><br>And before you come up with the nickname Baa (given Terry Lamb's ability to land a late field goal, despite trailing by more than one), it seems Ali Beale has already been given a nickname on a supporters' forum.. Mac!<br><br>Ali isn't related to Calista Flockhart but he is a cousin to the Waratahs' Kurtley Beale.<br><b><br>Another Tank rolls in..</b><br><br>Still at Penrith, Pritchard is a well known name. <br><br>Frank the Tank's younger brother Andrew is captaining the Toyota Cup team, lucky to still be playing rugby league at all.<br><br>In January, Andrew was cut from his car unconscious and rushed to emergency after falling asleep at the wheel and slamming into a telegraph pole. He was on his way from work at a Western Sydney warehouse to training at CUA stadium.<br><br>Doctors were amazed Andrew survived. His brother's four-wheel-drive wasn't so lucky - written off.<br><br>They've been lucky the Pritchard boys, given middle brother Tom survived a stabbing which left him clinically dead three years ago.<br><br>Andrew hopes it's nothing but good news from here on as he chases a dream of playing NRL beside Frank.<br><br><b>Some comeback..</b><br><br>Penrith hosts Melbourne this weekend after the Storm wreaked havoc in Newcastle.<br><br>The Knights scored the first two tries but Melbourne scored the next 13 to win 62-10!<br><br>Justin O'Neill and Blake Leary crossed three times each.<br><br>Melbourne's unbeaten start to the season must please new coach Dean Pay after Brad Arthur moved up to an NRL assistant role.<br><br>Over 11 seasons, Pay played for Canterbury, Parramatta, Country, New South Wales and Australia.<br><br>As a coach, he's been at the Roosters and Catalan Dragons.<br><br>If Melbourne's Under 20's can emulate their coach's uncompromising performances as a player, they'll be hard to beat again.<br><br>Braith Anasta joins me in commentary on Saturday as Penrith hosts Melbourne. We'll have all the action as part of Super Saturday from 3.15pm EDT on Fox Sports 2.<br><br><b>Split decision..</b><br><br>Brett Kimmorley couldn't separate two of Manly's standout forwards when it came to our Young Gun award on Sunday.<br><br>Magnus Stromquist and James Cunningham had huge games despite the oppressive conditions.<br><br>Given Cunningham, a prop, scored a try for the second week in a row, he got the final vote.<br><br>We also give out a Try of the Round each Sunday. Round 1 went to Newcastle fullback Neenan Simpson and as you'll see this week, Round 2 also goes to a fullback.<br><br>As our prize cupboard is a little bare, in fact completely empty, each winner has to settle for valuable air time on Fox Sports.<br><br><b>Hindy clone..</b><br><br>Eels fans should be excited about a player coming through their Under 20's.<br><br>Pat O'Hanlon has a mop of dark hair, wears number 11, runs a great line on the fringe and gets through plenty of work.<br><br>Remind you of anyone at Parramatta?<br><br>The only difference it seems is that Pat is a Queenslander and keeps his playing shorts well and truly tied up!<br><br><b>Wild West..</b><br><br>Still at Parramatta, there was no shortage of action in the Toyota Cup last weekend.<br><br>Brad Graham and Josh Portlock spent time in the bin after a flurry of fists and two ripped jumpers.<br><br>PJ Asiata and Joseph Hawkins then clashed heads and the claret flowed freely.<br><br>Blame it all on the heat perhaps and we don't have to wait long for the re-match - Round 10.<br><br><b>Ambushed..</b><br><br>It might also be hot in Brisbane on Sunday when we cover the Broncos and Warriors.<br><br>Brisbane's Toyota Cup team was ambushed in Canberra on Monday, down 24-0 after 25 minutes, before being beaten 58-32.<br><br>The Broncos are still chasing their first win after being edged out 14-12 by North Queensland in Round 1.<br><br>The Warriors are also yet to win but picked up a point in a 30-all draw with Cronulla on Saturday, courtesy of a Shaun Johnson penalty goal right on fulltime.<br><br>Both sides have impressive lists and will surprise me if they don't make the finals but already the pressure is on.<br><br>I'm looking forward to seeing rival centres Dale Copley and Siuatonga Likiliki head to head, not to mention second rowers Dunamis Lui and Ben Henry.<br><br>Coaches Matthew Wood and John Ackland are in their first year of Toyota Cup coaching and would dearly love their first win.<br><br>The Broncos well need a better start than last week and the Warriors will have to improve on their trip to Southern Queensland a fortnight ago, when beaten by Gold Coast.<br><br>Brisbane has a big edge at home, having beaten the Warriors 50-18 and 32-12 in their two Suncorp Stadium encounters.<br><br>Join myself and Scott Sattler on Fox Sports 2 this Sunday from 11.30am EST.<br><br><b>Hard luck story..<br></b><br>The punter who turned $50k into $100k by successfully backing Manly's Under 20's in Round 1 did not return in Round 2... but two of his mates did unsuccessfully.<br><br>There were two big TAB Sportsbet multis including Toyota Cup teams.<br><br>One successfully tipped Manly's Under 20's to beat Parramatta. Another successfully tipped Manly's Under 20's and the Roosters Under 20's.<br><br>Their potential collects were $90,000 and $150,000<br><br>The problem was their last leg was Parramatta to beat Manly by MORE THAN 8.5 in the NRL... and we all know what happened there.<br><br>The motto being, stick with Toyota Cup boys!