NRL 2021 The Tackle: Likes, Dislikes and best players from round 23
Articulate, lucid, and personal, Corey Waddell presents as an intelligent man – so it is hard to explain his stupidity on the football field. Likes, Dislikes and votes from every match in round 23.
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Our rugby league writers reveal what caught their eye — good and bad — in Round 23 of the NRL.
Like: The Storm’s big guns are back in business with Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen hitting their straps at the right time of the season. Munster has been below his best since suffering a foot injury in the lead-up to State of Origin. He has lacked the spark that made him one of the game’s most dangerous players, but that returned in the second half of the Titans demolition. When Munster is on song the Storm are next to unstoppable and he will only be aided when halfback Jahrome Hughes returns from concussion. Papenhuyzen has been tentative in his comeback from a serious concussion but he is also finding the confidence that has made him one of the game’s most dynamic ball-runners. If Papenhuyzen gets back to 100 per cent for the finals it will be incredibly difficult for anyone to stop the Storm from clinching back-to-back premierships.
Dislike: David Fifita is quickly becoming a $1.2 million mistake for the Gold Coast Titans. While he has scored 14 tries this season, Fifita has gone missing more than he has fired for the Titans. He is either unstoppable or completely ineffective, with the latter becoming more common as opposition defences figure out how to limit his impact. Fifita only managed seven runs against the Storm and his defence was woeful. Coach Justin Holbrook has to find a way to get Fifita involved in games more given the huge chunk of the Gold Coast’s salary cap that is devoted to an edge back-rower. Fifita could be a real weapon for the Titans as they chase a drought-breaking finals berth or he could be a total flop and finish the season on a massive low. If the Titans don’t make the finals in this season’s weak competition then they will not have improved from last year.
Fox Sports key stats: Thirty straight wins in Queensland for Melbourne, seven straight against the Titans. The ninth time this season the Titans have conceded more than 30 points – an equal club record set in 2017.
Player of the year: 3 Cameron Munster 2 Harry Grant 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
– Travis Meyn
Like: There’s a lot of debate over who would be the Kangaroos halfback if a Test match was played at the end of the year. Nathan Cleary is an obvious choice for the future, but you’d be brave to ignore incumbent Daly Cherry-Evans. The Sea Eagles skipper was the difference on Friday night when he potted yet another field goal to add to his overflowing CV. He kicked the Raiders into submission when Canberra’s halves were conceding seven tackle sets, and it has Manly well placed to finish in the top four after picking up a crucial win without Turbo. Moses Suli also deserves a rap. He has struggled for opportunities this year and has been linked with a move to the Dragons, but his powerful carries out wide got Manly back into the contest.
Dislike: Bench rotations are vital in the modern game, and the jury is out on whether the Raiders nailed theirs on Friday. It seemed odd to have both Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Matt Frawley on the bench, especially when the in-form Jordan Rapana had to make way for the returning fullback to come on in the second half. It wasn’t the reason they lost, but it didn’t help the narrative of the Canberra Faders after they blew another handy halftime lead as Manly’s big men overpowered them. It leaves the Raiders outside the top eight with two rounds to go, and their finals destiny is now in the hands of other teams.
Fox Sports key stats:
Player of the year: 3 Daly Cherry-Evans, 2 Haumole Olakau’atu, 1 Moses Suli
– Martin Gabor
Like: Trailing 12-0, when Panthers half Nathan Cleary sensed that Souths had relaxed mentally he went in for the kill. Two games back from a shoulder injury, Cleary took control. His soaring torpedoes gave Josh Mansour and Latrell Mitchell nightmares. It was a masterclass that said everything about why the Panthers can win the comp with Cleary on board. The Panthers have the forward leaders like Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin to win any physical battle, which they also did. The win was a mental victory for Penrith over their likely week one semi-final opponent. Souths did a lot right with the kicking of Adam Reynolds, including one memorable 40/20, a feature. Rabbitohs lock Cameron Murray was outstanding even when his teammates started to waiver.
Dislike: Wayne Bennett said he was ‘bewildered’ by a downtown penalty against Mark Nicholls that cost his team dearly. It was the other 10 penalties that Bennett was displeased with because Souths had the game by the throat and let themselves down with poor discipline. The Rabbitohs have been outstanding in that area all year, but they must learn their lesson quickly as a repeat performance in the finals will prove terminal. The Rabbitohs relaxed when they had the Panthers under the thumb and must regain the ruthless edge that had been the hallmark of their previous 10 wins in a row. Penrith will hope Jarome Luai can rediscover his running game. He was hardly sighted in that department but the Panthers will need him to be red hot in that area come September.
Fox Sports key stats: Souths have conceded 23 penalties in two games against the Panthers this season. Twelve last game and 11 this game (the most and equal second most of any team this season). The 15th time this season Penrith have conceded 12 points or less.
Player of the year: 3 Nathan Cleary 2 Isaah Yeo 1 Cameron Murray
– Joel Gould
Like: The loss of Shaun Johnson was meant to spell the end of Cronulla’s finals chances. Instead, it’s unleashed a pairing that could carry them into the eight. Braydon Trindall had four try assists, while rookie Luke Metcalf must keep his spot in the starting side after a best-on-ground performance in Rockhampton. Metcalf played a lot of his junior footy at Cronulla before he switched to Manly, but he’s made the most of his return to the Shire and could keep veteran Matt Moylan on the bench for the rest of the season. He scored a double and set up another try as the Sharks roared back into the top eight thanks to some brilliant attack from their spine.
Dislike: Ronaldo Mulitalo has endured a tough year and it was heartbreaking to see him in tears after the game with what looks to be a season-ending broken jaw. This all comes after he had his State of Origin debut taken away because of an eligibility debacle. He had been in fine form on Saturday, scoring two tries and unselfishly setting up another before he copped a stray elbow to the face. He was shattered but still gave his boots to a fan after the match. As for the Tigers, their season is over. They gave their fans a glimmer of hope with some unconvincing wins, but all of their shortcomings were brutally exposed in Rockhampton as their finals drought extends another year.
Fox Sports key stats: Only the seventh time Cronulla has cracked 50 points in a game and the first time since defeating Newcastle 62-0 in 2016. First time the Tigers have conceded 50 plus points twice in a season since 2016. They have conceded 30 or more in all but two of their 14 losses.
Player of the year: 3 Luke Metcalf 2 Braydon Trindall 1 Will Kennedy.
– Martin Gabor
A suspected broken jaw for Ronaldo Mulitalo after he copped an accidental elbow while attempting a tackle. Horribly unlucky, scans to confirm severity. Would be facing at least 4-6 weeks recovery if fracture confirmed pic.twitter.com/BmPSG31Emy
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 21, 2021
Like: David Klemmer might just have earned himself a Newcastle reprieve by turning back the clock to produce a man-of-the-match performance. While, admittedly, he did not have a lot of competition as the Knights limped their way to a six-point win over the Bulldogs, the former Australian prop made the most of his promotion to the starting team. Having sat on the bench for most of the season, Klemmer fired up for the clash against his former club by running a chart-topping 210m. Linked to rival clubs and reportedly on the outer, the prop also made 34 tackles to help stop the Bulldogs from causing what would have been the upset of the year. Jayden Okunbor also deserves a mention for scoring what Fox commentators declared “one of the great tries.” Catching a towering kick in his fingertips while diving, the Bulldogs winger managed to plant the ball just millimetres from the dead ball line in a minor miracle that ultimately amounted to nothing as the Knights hung on.
Dislike: Articulate, lucid, and personal, Corey Waddell presents as an intelligent man – so it is hard to explain his stupidity on the football field. “My finger was stuck,” Waddell pleaded after being penalised for the dogish act of head slamming Kaylan Ponga by way of headgear.
Sticking four fingers into the air-holes of the Newcastle star’s headgear, Waddell hooked Ponga’s head into the ground with brutish force. The Bulldogs back rower then came up with the ridiculous excuse of a stuck finger after being penalised and placed on report. Waddell had already given away a penalty for a needless late shot and would later go on to give away possession with the world’s laziest play the ball. Still Waddell won’t win the award for stupidity at the Bulldogs end of season awards. Lachlan Lewis is shoo-in for his UFC style halftime takedown on Cody Walker.
Fox Sports key stats: Newcastle have won all five games with the halves combination of Mitchell Pearce and Jake Clifford. The Bulldogs secure their first wooden spoon since 2008.
Player of the year: 3 David Klemmer 2 Jake Clifford 1 Mitch Barnett
– James Phelps
Like: Mitchell Moses took it upon himself to win the game for the Eels and reboot their season. He now has 25 try assists this year and his destruction of the Cowboys showcased his running, passing and kicking game at its best. The Eels were still pedestrian in areas, but Moses was brilliant. Clint Gutherson came up with a try saver on his line, a cracking captain’s challenge that led to a try and was an attacking threat. He was vocal and passionate. It was a flawed display by Parramatta but just getting the win will do wonders for their confidence. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow showed enough to once again make his case as the Cowboys long-term fullback. Val Holmes looks a far better player on the wing.
Dislike: The Cowboys have now lost 10 games on the trot and have gone from a top eight side to easybeats. Giant forward Coen Hess should be dominating the NRL by now but instead he has the odd good game and then comes up with defensive howlers like the one that allowed Shaun Lane a saloon passage to the line. Half Tom Dearden has just not fired since joining the club. He has no rapport with Scott Drinkwater who is trying his best but not gelling with his new halves partner. The Eels won the match but will get walloped by the Storm and Penrith if they make the crazy handling errors they did in this clash.
Player of the year: 3 Mitchell Moses 2 Clint Gutherson 1 Waqa Blake
– Joel Gould
Like: James Tedesco’s outstanding performances this year deserve far more credit than they’ve got. And if you had to hand in your votes for Dally M captain of the year right now the Roosters skipper would surely be the standout after producing another masterclass in the 40-20 victory over St George Illawarra. Tedesco finished with 21 runs for 250 metres that included 10 tackle busts, two linebreaks, three linebreak assists and four try assists. Yes, there’s no disputing Tom Trbojevic has been magnificent and the season’s standout fullback. But it still doesn’t make Teddy’s inspirational leadership week in, week out, any less significant.
Dislike: With their season on the line you would have thought the Dragons could have mustered up a bit more energy than what they did before capitulating late in Toowoomba. They certainly weren’t terrible but they just play in patches – and some of their hair-brain mistakes just let them down at crucial times.
You have to give them credit for at least making a game of it when they fought back to put their noses in front in the second half. But with the game on the line the injury-ravaged Roosters blew them away. It went to the core of what these two teams have been about all season. Whether it is a bewildering blunder with the ball in hand or a rotten read in defence, the team that has not won a game since Barbecue-gate have sure mastered the art of shooting themselves in the foot.
Fox Sports key stats: Roosters warhorse Jared Waerea-Hargreaves didn’t shy away from hard work, running 157m from 18 hit-ups, with an impressive 70m in post-contact ground gained.
Player of the year: 3 James Tedesco2 Daniel Tupou1 Sio Taukeiaho
– Paul Crawley
Like: Much of the spotlight was on Anthony Milford after Brisbane’s 24-22 win over the Warriors but special mention should go to forward leaders Payne Haas and Tom Flegler. Haas was described as a “genetic freak” by former NRL enforcer James Graham on Triple M radio and there’s probably no better description of the Brisbane forward. The 21-year-old made 194 running metres – with 94 post contact metres – and four tackle busts to help Brisbane charge down the field. His forward teammate Flegler also put in a powerful performance – running for 122m off 12 carries. His bruising defence also helped build momentum for Brisbane to record their sixth win of the season.
Dislike: The Warriors decision to put Chad Townsend at starting halfback has hurt their chances of playing finals footy. Townsend was pitchforked into the team on Sunday in place of Sean O’Sullivan – a decision that may come back to bite the New Zealand side. O’Sullivan was the Warriors regular halfback in their previous three games, which they were able to win, as they eyed a dream run to the finals. Throwing Townsend in at starting half against the Broncos, in what was just his fourth game for the Warriors and his first since round 19, has resulted in a loss. It has left the Warriors two points outside the top eight, facing an uphill battle to play finals footy.
Fox Sports key stats: Warriors’ seventh loss this season by six points or fewer – if they had won two of those games they would be outright eighth. Fifth loss this season after scoring 20 points or more.
Player of the year: 3 Anthony Milford2 Payne Haas 1 Peta Hiku
– Chris Honnery
Originally published as NRL 2021 The Tackle: Likes, Dislikes and best players from round 23
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