Monday Bunker: Kalyn Ponga problem for Maroons, Eels need attitude fix

THE problem holding back Parramatta, grizzled old Sharks are circling and is James Maloney the answer for NSW — check out the talking points from Round 11.

Kalyn Ponga on the charge for the Knights.

With Round 11 of the competition now done and dusted, our team of rugby league writers analyse the NRL’s talking points in the first edition of the Monday Bunker.

IS MALONEY THE ORIGIN ANSWER FOR NSW?

Maloney has been in top form for Penrith.

PENRITH 16 WESTS TIGERS 2: Panthers pair push State of Origin claims

Does James Maloney tackle well enough for a NSW Origin jersey?

Suddenly, this is the question.

For Maloney. And Blues coach Brad Fittler.

An entire State, too.

Thought to be guaranteed a NSW gig only days ago, Maloney suddenly finds himself fighting to justify a place in Fittler’s squad — with questions being asked about his tackling style.

And sure, against Wests Tigers last weekend, the Panthers No. 6 missed only one.

Which you would think gets him in, right?

Or close.

Afterwards, however, it was suggested that given the Tigers threw so little in attack at the Panthers, and Maloney, that figure couldn’t really count for much.

And so all eyes turn to this weekend: Penrith versus St George Illawarra.

Given the Dragons lead the NRL competition, there is no doubting Maloney will have plenty thrown at him.

Certainly enough to count.

On Sunday in Mudgee, the Red V ran backrower Tariq Sims time after time at Canberra five-eighth Blake Austin, who defends on the right edge.

So this weekend they will likely switch to attack the Panthers left edge — and Maloney.

It’s an intriguing one.

Knowing in Maloney, you have a guaranteed winner. A bloke who plays tough, orchestrates tries and knows how to get the best out of those around him.

But is that enough for Fittler? And if not, is Luke Keary the answer?

And so we wait.

— Nick Walshaw

ATTITUDE THE ISSUE WITH POOR PARRAMATTA

Eels players look on after a Warriors try. Picture: Brett Costello

PARRAMATTA 14 WARRIORS 24: Arthur, Eels have run out of time

Parramatta is a club in desperate need of an attitude overhaul.

Last week we questioned the club’s culture in the wake of the Kenny Edwards drama that has come on the back of their disastrous start to the season.

Of course, the players were quick to deny it was the issue.

But then we sat down and watched them during warm up before the match on Friday night.

Yes, it is easy to say this in hindsight.

But the contrast in attitudes between the Eels and the Warriors was as noticeable as their respective first-half performances.

While the Parra players, as a group, looked as though they were going through the motions in their pre-match drills, the Warriors were bouncing with energy and intent.

And on the back of that, the Eels came out with an error-riddled first half that was no great surprise.

Then Brad Arthur gave them a rocket at half-time and they turned it around.

But it came too late.

Surely they should have been up for this game given they were basically playing for the flicker of hope that remained for them making the finals.

Blake Green actually said after the game that he noticed from the moment the Warriors turned up to ANZ Stadium that they came ready to play.

And that was obvious to anyone who was watching.

Brad Arthur obviously cares deeply about his players and the last thing he wants to hear is criticism directed at them.

But it has to be said and, more importantly, addressed.

It is not talent holding this team back, and it is not coaching.

It is attitude.

The players can deny it all they want.

But there is an element within this team that you can just see thinks it is too cool for school.

It has been evident in their performances all season, as it was again on Friday night.

— Paul Crawley

FITTLER’S CONUNDRUM AS STRIKE CENTRES STAR

Latrell Mitchell flies high for the Roosters.

BRISBANE 28 SYDNEY ROOSTERS 22: Roberts sparks Broncos in thriller

JAMES Roberts and Latrell Mitchell have continued to press their claims for an Origin debut, after a stunning battle between the two centres on Friday night.

NSW coach Brad Fittler has been given plenty to think about it following the performances of the duo.

In a tale of two halves, Mitchell dominated in the first stanza, setting up two tries for playmaker Luke Keary.

But Roberts responded in fine style in the second 40 minutes, playing a key role in Brisbane’s comeback.

He first brushed past Mitchell to set up winger Jamayne Isaako in the corner and then, with just seven minutes left on the clock, he raced 70m and beat five defenders to equal the scores at 22-all.

It was a game-changing moment for the Broncos and is being hailed as one of the tries of the season — one that many believe only Roberts could have scored.

It presents a headache for Fittler, who also has Dragons centre Euan Aitken in contention, as well as Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic.

However, Roberts believes there is room for both him and Mitchell, in what would make an electric backline combination.

They will both have one more chance to impress this weekend.

— Rikki-Lee Arnold

CAN MAROONS FIND A SPOT FOR PONGA?

Kalyn Ponga on the charge for the Knights.

GOLD COAST 33 NEWCASTLE 26: Brimson the hero as Titans pip Knights

KALYN Ponga can do no more to earn a State of Origin debut — but where do the Maroons fit him in?

Ponga was once again sensational in Newcastle’s 33-26 loss to the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday.

The 20-year-old split the Titans apart with a 95m solo try and busted nine tackles as the Gold Coast struggled to contain him.

Ponga has been a revelation at fullback for the Knights, but there is no way Queensland will drop Billy Slater for him.

The Maroons wing berths appear to be locked up by Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai while Michael Morgan is the favourite for the utility spot.

Ponga looks destined to be 18th man for Queensland in Game One at the MCG on June 6.

But he will not get to spend the entire week in Origin camp if that is the case as Newcastle play Parramatta on June 2.

Ponga is destined to be a long-term Maroons player, but he may have to bide his time and sit out Game One.

The Blues will be thanking their lucky stars if that is the case.

— Travis Meyn

COWBOYS NEED TO SORT OUT THEIR SPINE

Johnathan Thurston runs the ball for the Cowboys against the Rabbitohs.

NORTH QUEENSLAND 19 SOUTH SYDNEY 20: Cowboys’ nightmare continues

It is sad to say, but Johnathan Thurston’s farewell season is likely to end in tears.

The Cowboys may yet produce a gutsy fightback to make the finals, but on current evidence, they are no hope of giving the legendary ‘JT’ a premiership send-off.

The Cowboys were courageous on Saturday night but they need to get their playmaking spine sorted to have any chance of mounting a late-season surge.

The Cowboys need to win 10 of their last 13 games to make the playoffs and the jury is out on whether Michael Morgan, shifted to fullback, belongs in the No. 1 jumper.

Morgan set up two tries from fullback but the Cowboys haven’t paid him $5 million to play a supporting role from the backfield. Morgan showed in last year’s grand-final charge that he is most dangerous when he is consistently playing on-the-ball in the halves.

North Queensland also need to fix their lazy marker defence to compete with Melbourne this Friday night. Souths, meanwhile, are building ominously and have the potential to be a top-four team.

Coach Anthony Seibold has their attack firing and Damien Cook has to be considered for a NSW Origin debut after carving up the Cowboys around the rucks.

— Peter Badel

STORM STUMBLE IN ERROR HORROR SHOW

It was a tough 80 minutes for the Storm.

MELBOURNE 4 MANLY 24: Royal rymble! Storm v Sea Eagles stoush explodes

THE fact Craig Bellamy elected not to deliver a post-game spray goes to show how bad Melbourne Storm actually played.

He would have had a lot to say. Make no mistake about that, starting with poor completions, 16 errors and 13 penalties culminating in the 24-4 loss to Manly Sea Eagles at AAMI Park.

It was that bad, they didn’t need to be told.

A forensic analysis of the game begins today at Storm headquarters but the onus is on the players — not the coaches — to “fix it”.

The recipe for success is no secret.

Hold the ball, put pressure on the opposition, and score points.

Storm did none of those things last Saturday night.

Manly deserves all the credit. They were simply better and hungrier for longer. They didn’t allow Storm to build any sort of momentum let alone scoreboard pressure.

Shattered Billy Slater could not hide his disappointment after the game.

“It lacked a lot of things,” Slater said.

“There were some real dumb plays, some irresponsible plays — we just didn’t have any responsibility with the football.

“At times we were courageous defending on our tryline but as soon as we got the ball, we’d turn it back over.

“It’s hard to beat anyone when you do that.”

— Gil Gardiner

COUNTRY FOOTY PROVES A WINNER YET AGAIN

They packed out the stands in Mudgee.

DRAGONS 25 RAIDERS 18: Dufty shines as Dragons scorch Raiders

Another NRL game taken to the country, another raging success.

The game must take note, as Mudgee showcased rugby league at its finest on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

The sun was shining for over 8,000 fans from around the region with Glen Willow Oval immaculately prepared for the occasion.

To the NRL’s credit, they’re taking more games out to the bush every season.

It’s spectacles like the Raiders-Dragons clash out west that should ensure rural areas continue to get the NRL’s best in their own backyard.

And the players certainly did their part in the event.

A host of players had an opportunity to push their case for an Origin call up, and pretty well all involved delivered under pressure.

Jack de Belin and Cameron McInnes were outstanding for the Red V, while Nick Cotric continually shows why he’s in the frame as a Blues bolter.

Josh Papalii has surely dispelled doubts surrounding a recall to the depleted Queensland forward pack after being dropped for games two and three last year.

The clash went down to the wire, with the class of St George proving the difference in the latter stages of the game.

It’s matches like these that will help usher in the next era of the game and the continual growth in the all-important country areas.

— Tim Williams

FIVE IN A ROW AND GRIZZLED SHARKS ARE CIRCLING

The Sharks did the job yet again in the only way they know.

SHARKS 22 BULLDOGS 16: Look out, here come the Sharks

Don’t look now, but Cronulla are a win off the top four.

Five wins in a row has the Sharks, with their -7 differential, two wins off top spot in the competition.

They aren’t playing pretty by any means, but that’s never been a problem for the Sharks.

Tight, hard-nosed footy was the backbone of the 2016 premiership and Cronulla have embraced that again — their total winning margin over the last five weeks is 18 points.

Cronulla are by no means a flashy footy team and they might not even be as good as their current ladder position indicates — their attack can still leave something to be desired and errors still cruel them at the worst times.

But they’re winning, and that’s all that matters. Their attack might never be top shelf, but they’re showing incremental signs of progression from week to week — Matt Moylan is still finding his feet in the halves, but his kick for Valentine Holmes was tremendous.

Because of their style, the Sharks can drag anyone in the competition into a forward-based battle and that’s the kind of game they excel at winning.

The book seems to be written on Canterbury — they toil hard and can make metres in the middle of the field, but lack their own attacking spark to capitalise.

Moses Mbye is their most damaging attacking player but is still learning the art of fullback play and can struggle to get himself involved on a consistent basis.

Their entire attacking game plan should be geared around getting Mbye the football in good positions, because at present the anaemic play of Kieran Foran and Matt Frawley isn’t doing the job.

— Nick Campton

Originally published as Monday Bunker: Kalyn Ponga problem for Maroons, Eels need attitude fix