Matt Russell's Toyota Cup preview

After a weekend of upsets in the Toyota Cup, who knows what's going to happen in Round 11? Parramatta will hope the upsets continue when it hosts Cronulla on Saturday. The other television game looks closer on Sunday, Warriors v South Sydney. Fox Sports commentator Matt Russell previews both games as part of his weekly look at the Toyota Cup.<br><br><b>Shut the gate? No OPEN them!</b><br><br>I've been needing to get this off my chest for some time.<br><br>Can we please open the gates at all Toyota Cup venues in time to let spectators find their seats.<br><br>I have seen Toyota Cup teams take to empty stadiums this season because the gates have only just opened.. or not been opened at all!<br><br>If we are going to promote, build and respect an Under 20's competition, then we have to encourage spectators, not deter them.<br><br>Don't blame costs when the difference between getting it right and wrong can be 15 minutes.<br><br>Further to that, why can't we return to the "good ol' days" where there is a day of rugby league entertainment - ie three games.<br><br>When I have seen it done this year - at Cronulla and Newcastle for example - the results have been good. A consistent buildup throughout the day and a decent atmosphere for all games.<br><b><br>Stepping Up.</b><br><br>The promotion of players from Toyota Cup to NRL is set to intensify during the State of Origin period.<br><br>This weekend you can see Joel Romelo play his first game for the Bulldogs after a standout Toyota Cup career at Penrith, that led to three NRL appearances for the Panthers.<br><br>Canberra's consistent Sam Mataora is back in the top grade for the first time since his Round 8 debut.<br><br>Nathan Gardner will make it back to back NRL appearances after a try on debut for Cronulla last week.<br><br><b>Who'll be next?</b><br><br>Not there by chance.<br><br>North Queensland continues to impress as a Toyota Cup leader.<br><br>The Cowboys latest result was a 24-16 win against the Warriors in New Zealand.<br><br>They led 20-0, held their nerve after the home team fought back to 20-16, and sealed it at the death.<br><br>Coach Kristian Woolf labelled it a "tough win" - exactly the sort of performance that will be needed come finals time.<br><br>Future NRL star Jason Taumalolo (yes, I'm impressed) did well in front of family and friends, as did his New Zealand countrymen Wayne Ulugia and John Koko.<br><br>They'll enjoy a well earnt bye and two free points this weekend.<br><b><br>Bounce back.</b><br><br>The Warriors will look to rebound from the North Queensland loss against a South Sydney side also chasing redemption.<br><br>The Warriors were on a four-week winning streak before last weekend.<br><br>South Sydney had gone five games without defeat before falling to Wests Tigers.<br><br>The concern for Rabbitohs coach David Kidwell will be his side's failure to keep a halftime lead.<br><br>At the SCG last Sunday they fought their way to a 13-0 advantage but were rundown 24-13.<br><br>It's not the first time. In Round 3, they led Cronulla by six at halftime but lost 22-16.<br><br>It will be a testing trip for the Rabbitohs, who must have had their confidence rattled by the SCG result.<br><br>Tune in to Fox Sports 2 from 11.45am EST on Sunday.<br><br><b>Can't work 'em out.</b><br><br>Newcastle has been a punting nightmare in the Toyota Cup because it's been as predictable as a 2-year-old on red cordial.<br><br>The Knights have five losses, including a 62-10 abomination against Melbourne.<br><br>They also have five wins, like Saturday's 34-4 win against the Roosters.<br><br>Coach Garth Brennan hopes his side can make it three straight wins for the first time in Toyota Cup history against Wests Tigers on Friday.<br><br>Yes, Newcastle's Under 20's have scored back to back wins seven times.. but never three straight.<br><br><b>Two Tigers caged.</b><br><br>Newcastle might meet Wests Tigers at a good time, after the Tigers lost both wingers to injury against South Sydney last weekend.<br><br>Sama Sauvao left the field with an achilles injury and Faleula Finau was forced off with a shoulder.<br><br>Together they've scored 19 tries this season.<br><br>Still, Limoni Kamuta showed he can step up with two tries against Souths and the Tigers are listed to get pointscoring fullback Jake Mullaney back from tonsillitis this week.<br><br>The Tigers are on a seven game winning streak - the hottest team in the league.<br><br><b>Upset of week.. or season?</b><br><br>Who picked the win by second last placed Gold Coast against top eight team Brisbane on Friday?<br><br>The silence is deafening.<br><br>The Coast were seven games without a win, conceding 50 in two of their last three games.<br><br>The Broncos were on a five game winning streak.<br><br>The result: Gold Coast 30 Broncos 28.<br><br>Must be in the scoreline.<br><br>There was also an upset win for Canterbury against St George Illawarra.<br><br>The Dragons, fresh from victory against Manly, led 28-20 with four minutes to play.<br><br>Two tries and a difficult conversion from Aiden Sezer after the siren saw the Dogs home 30-28<br><br>It means Canterbury has now gone back to back after starting with seven winless weeks.<br><br><b>The West awakens.</b><br><br>Like Canterbury, Penrith has also gone back to back after starting with seven disappointments.<br><br>The Panthers beat Cronulla, which this week hosts Parramatta.<br><br>The Eels remain the 2010 disappointments but at least showed some promise against Manly when beaten 24-18.<br><br>The helped one punter convert a Monday night multi - $20,000@ $3.51 (Parra U20's +20.5 / NRL Under 37.5 Pts).<br><br>This week Parra chases just its second win of the season when it hosts Cronulla.<br><br>In the corresponding game last season, Parra won 52-4.<br><br>Albert Kelly ran amok that night and scored three tries.<br><br>He's since switched clubs an is playing for the Sharks.<br><br>Is AK47 going to fire again?<br><br>Watch Fox Sports 2 from 2pm EST for Super Saturday and all the Toyota Cup action.<br>