BATTLE OF THE FORWARDS IN NRL PRELIMINARY FINALSCRONULLA VS NORTH QUEENSLANDNorth Queenslands forwards are an average of five kilograms bigger than their Cronulla opponents, and they know it. Theyre no fuss, no frills, but they get the job done. Theyve out-run their Sharks opponents by 43 metres per game this season, despite taking eight less runs than them per match.Relying on sheer power, they bend the oppositions defensive line with brute strength, making on average 9.62 metres per run. Both Scott Bolton and Matt Scott average exactly 10 metres per run, while wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo has gone at 10.9 per metres per carry, busting through 78 would-be tacklers along the way.In comparison, Cronullas forwards offer plenty for their team close to the line. Theyve produced 197 offloads this year, 108 more than their Cowboys opponents. They also have the ability to break the line open, busting through an average of 13.65 tackles per match, four more than the North Queensland big men.KEY STAT LEADERS:Metres per game: 169 - Jason Taumalolo (NQ)Runs per game: 22.1 Paul Gallen (CRO)Metres per run: 10.9 - Jason Taumalolo (NQ)Tackles per game: 33.4 - Michael Ennis (CRO)Offloads: 63 - Andrew Fifita (CRO)Tackle busts - 87 - Andrew Fifita (CRO)PACK VS PACK - AVERAGE MATCH STATS:Metres: CRO 862 - NQ 905Runs: CRO 103 - NQ 94Metres per run: CRO 8.38 - NQ 9.62Offloads: CRO 10 - NQ 4Tackle busts: CRO 14 - NQ 9Tackles: CRO 218 - NQ 220Average size (kg): CRO 101 - NQ 106MELBOURNE V CANBERRAA Canberra forward onslaught awaits Melbourne in Saturday nights preliminary final at AAMI Park.While both packs make near-identical number of metres, the Raiders have broken some 60-more tackles than their Storm opposition this season. Queensland enforcer Josh Papalli leads the way with 51 tackle busts but its Ricky Stuarts bench that will have Craig Bellamy worried. Joseph Tapine makes more than 10 metres a run, while Paul Vaughan contributes a team-high 118m per match.For the Storm, prop Jesse Bromwich is a cut above the rest. The New Zealand international makes more runs (14.7) and metres per game (139) than any other forward in the team, to go with 43 offloads and 41 tackles busts for the year. Fellow Kiwi Tohu Harris looms as a danger on the fringe, having scored eight tries in 2016.In the battle of the hookers, English import Josh Hodgson has set up 17 tries, the same number as halves Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer combined.Cameron Smith isnt far behind with 15 try assists but the Raiders will need to be wary of the Storm skippers boot. Smith tops the NRL for 40/20s, with five.KEY STAT LEADERS:Metres per game: 139 - Jesse Bromwich (MEL)Runs per game: 14.7 - Jesse Bromwich (MEL)Tackles per game: 38.1 - Cameron Smith (MEL)Offloads: 43 - Jesse Bromwich (MEL)Tackle busts: 51 - Josh Papalii (CAN)PACK VS PACK - AVERAGE MATCH STATS:Metres: MEL 822 - CAN 826Runs: MEL 91 - CAN 90Metres per run: MEL9.03 - CAN - 9.18Tackles: MEL 239 - CAN 220Offloads: MEL 134 - CAN 116Tackle busts: MEL 215 - CAN 280Average size (kg): MEL 105 - CAN 103* Stats courtesy Fox Sports Stats Wholesale Vans Shoes For Sale . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Buy Vans Shoes Wholesale . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. http://www.cheapvanswholesale.com/ .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Vans Shoes Sale Cheap . PAUL, Minn. Cheapest Vans Shoes Online . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. ATLANTA -- Matt Wislers recent difficulties have taken another turn for the worse.The Braves right-hander is headed to the minor leagues to see if he can rediscover his slider.I didnt pitch very well the last month and a half, so I definitely know Ive earned the demotion, Wisler said. I know theres nothing they can do about that. Its on me. So Ive got to go fight, go back down there and try to work my way back up.Maikel Franco, Aaron Altherr and Tommy Joseph homered off Wisler in Atlantas 7-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.Wisler (4-11) has allowed nine homers in his past four starts and 16 in his past 10 starts. Its a big decline for a pitcher who opened the season as the No. 2 starter behind Julio Teheran.He has struggled to make pitches from the stretch and too often hangs his slider over the plate.The big thing for me will be focusing on the stretch and getting guys out in the stretch, Wisler said.Altherr was activated from the disabled list after missing the first 103 games of the season with a broken left wrist. He went 3 for 4 with two RBI.The Phillies took a 5-0 lead in the first on Francos 19th homer, a three-run shot, Josephs 14th homer and a run that scored on second baseman Jace Petersons fielding error.Altherrs two-run shot in the fifth made it 7-0.Atlanta, with the worst record in the major leagues, dropped to 14-37 at home.The Braves cut the lead to 7-3 in the bottom half of the fifth on Freddie Freemans RBI double, Adonis Garcias RBI single and Anthony Reckers sacrifice fly.Philadelphia closer Jeanmar Gomez earned his 27th save in 30 chances, but it was a shaky appearance. The first two batters reached. Erick Aybar grounded into a double play, but Gordon Beckham followed with an RBI single to make it 7-5.Gomez struck out Peterson to end it with a runner on firrst.ddddddddddddNola (6-9) gave up eight hits, three runs, three walks and struck out five in five innings. He began the game 0-5 with a 10.61 ERA in his previous seven starts before snapping a career-high, five-game losing streak.Nola didnt exactly inspire confidence in manager Pete Mackanin.Hes not the same guy, Mackanin said. Hes just struggling with command once again. Hes not dotting his fastball like he normally does. And his curveball is erratic. He needs to get back on track.Wisler allowed seven hits, two walks and seven runs -- six earned. He struck out three.Over his past 10 starts, Wisler is 2-6 with a 7.71 ERA and 16 homers allowed. Wislers 11 losses are second-most in the NL behind Philadelphias Jerad Eickhoff.Once he goes down there and attacks hitters and makes that breaking ball go down and away instead of down the middle, hell be back here with a vengeance, Freeman said.Garcias RBI double in the sixth off David Hernandez cut the lead to 7-4.The Phillies have won five in a row against Atlanta.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: Altherr took OF Peter Bourjos spot on the 25-man roster. Bourjos was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right shoulder.Braves: Interim Braves manager Brian Snitker said RHP Arodys Vizcaino, on the disabled list with a strained oblique, is playing catch but still hasnt thrown off a mound. There is no immediate timetable for the closers return.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Vince Velasquez (8-2) has faced the Braves once, giving up six hits and four runs in a no-decision on May 12.Braves: RHP Tyrell Jenkins (0-2) struggled in his first start Sunday at Colorado, but the rookie has a 1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings of relief against Philadelphia. ' ' '