Toyota Cup: Round 21 Preview

Matt Russell takes his weekly look at the National Youth Competition. This week features a Flying Fish, a Starling and plenty of others reasons to watch the Toyota Cup on Fox Sports.<br><br><b>The Flying Fish and a Starling...</b><br><br>South Sydney's Josh Starling delivered one of the year's great defensive plays on Sunday... and Warriors fullback Glen Fisiiahi will take along time to live in down.<br><br>The Fish, as he's known, picked up a loose ball deep in his own half and raced away to score.<br><br>The problem was he kissed his wrist and pointed to the heavens in celebration BEFORE he'd grounded the ball.<br><br>It was just the opening a determined Starling needed in his chase, knocking the ball free as Fisiiahi eventually tried to ground the ball.<br><br>As Starling was swamped by the Rabbitohs, Fisiiahi could only shake his head.<br><br>Lucky there are no holes big enough to accomodate a human at Homebush.<br><br>Footnote: As terrible as Fisiiahi's mistake was, his comeback was fantastic.<br><br>The young Warrior was faultless after that, fielding a string of testing kicks also producing his own try-saver late in the game.<br><br>His team won 19-18.<br><br>You can see Fisiiahi and his team again on Sunday when they host the Titans from 9.45am EST on Fox Sports 2.<br><br><b>September in July...</b><br><br>The South Sydney-Warriors contest on Sunday was between two top teams and lived up to all expectations.<br><br>The Warriors fought back to lead 18-16 at halftime and the secound 40 was an arm-wrestle played out largely between the two 20m lines.<br><br>A South Sydney penalty goal levelled the game at 18-all.<br><br>A Shaun Johnson field goal won it for the New Zealanders 19-18.<br><br>The second half score was 2-1.<br><br>Bring on the finals!<br><br><b>Close call...<br></b><br>Who is going to make the finals and in what order?<br><br>I have no idea!<br><br>If you think the NRL ladder is close, then check out the NYC table.<br><br>One point separates the top four teams.<br><br>One win separates the top six.<br><br>Thirteen teams are still talking about finals footy.<br><br><b>Fantastic Friday...</b><br><br>The Toyota Cup game between the Bulldogs and Souths on Friday should make it worthwhile getting to the ground early.<br><br>The Dogs have won 10 of their last 11, most recently when they came back from 22-0 down to beat Parramatta 30-28.<br><br>Second placed South Sydney has won six from eight, with the two losses being by one and two points.<br><br>One team has surged into the top eight. <br><br>The other is still fighting for the minor premiership.<br><br>They have damaging forwards, form halves and proven scorers out wide.<br><br>Good lucking picking the winner.<br><br><b>Big Ben front and back... again.</b><br><br>Tigers forward Ben Murdoch-Masila scored his side's first and last try on Sunday... for the second week in a row.<br><br>His doubles weren't enough to beat Manly (24-20) or North Queensland (28-20).<br><br>In fact the Tigers have won only one of their last seven.<br><br>The absence of point-scoring fullback Jake Mullaney doesn't help.<br><br>The Tigers hope to start a surge towards the finals by beating Cronulla on Saturday night.<br><b><br>Cowboys riding high again...</b><br><br>After a worrying three-game losing streak mid-season, the Cowboys are back on top of the Toyota Cup table.<br><br>They are unbeaten in five games, albeit with two draws along the way.<br><br>Last week three tries from five-eighth Michael Parker-Walshe helped the side beat Newcastle 38-14.<br><br>This week it's a danger-trip to Penrith on Friday night.<br><br><b>Leaving his Mark...</b><br><br>Mark Nicholls commanded Fox Sports Young Gun of the Day praise last Saturday.<br><br>The hard-working second rower scored his first try of the season in Round 18 against Manly.<br><br>Then against Cronulla in Round 20 he collected three more, including the game breaker.<br><br>The Green Machine hopes his purple patch continues against Melbourne on Sunday.<br><br>While the Storm sits second last, the Melbourne boys did shock Penrith last week 46-16.<br><br><b>Wheel in the hookers...</b><br><br>Mitch Rein and Cameron King are back for the Dragons and with them, the Dragons may yet play finals football.<br><br>The Red V sits 10th in the Toyota Cup but only three points out of the top eight.<br><br>With Rein and King returning from injury, St George Illawarra beat the Gold Coast 34-12.<br><br>It's their biggest win since Round 4.<br><br>The Titans had been on a six-game winning streak.<br><br>Now they are clinging to eighth by a point.<br><br>The Dragons have an important game on Sunday against Brisbane.<br><br><b>Now is the time..</b><br><br>Like the Dragons, Newcastle can't afford another loss at the moment.<br><br>They are at home on Monday night and at full strength.<br><br>If they beat the Sea Eagles, they will move to the edge of the eight.<br><br>Lose and they could fall five points behind.<br><br>Expect the Knights to be fired up.<br><b><br>Super Saturday...</b><br><br>Parramatta's Under 20's will enjoy the television spotlight this weekend when they host the Roosters.<br><br>The Eels endured a 12-match losing streak earlier this season but have come good recently with wins against Brisbane and Penrith and a draw with North Queensland.<br><br>They nearly beat the Bulldogs on Friday but blew a 22-0 lead.<br><br>The Roosters are camped in the top four and are still a chance of the minor premiership.<br><br>However, they needed two tries in the last 10 minutes to beat Brisbane on Monday, not to mention Brad Murray's 6/6 with the boot.<br><br>Unfortunately for Parra, Daniel Cross has been moved to Wentworthville's NSW Cup team this weekend after his three tries against the Dogs.<br><br>It's a move that suggests Parramatta's coaching staff has high hopes for Cross.<br><br>Join myself and Ben Hannant for all the action as part of Super Saturday on Fox Sports 2.