NRL Lowdown: How is your team faring after Round 15
WHO starred, who struggled, who’s on the fringe, who’s on the outer, who passed and who failed?Find out in the Round 15 edition of the NRL Lowdown.
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WHO starred, who struggled, who’s on the fringe, who’s on the outer, who passed and who failed?
Get the very best analysis from our team of experts in the Round 13 edition of the NRL Lowdown.
STORM
HOW THEY FARED
The Storm defended stoutly and were in the game for as long as possible but didn’t have the firepower to score points and went down 20-10 to the Dragons.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Jesse Bromwich did everything he could to try and drag Melbourne to victory, carrying the ball strongly and taking a more active role in terms of ball-playing. Dale Finucane was also good while Suliasi Vunivalu’s try-scoring prowess has become downright spooky.
Tohu Harris is a wonderful player and has been the best backrower in the NRL this season, but he didn’t quite have the touch to play five-eighth.
INJURY WARD
Billy Slater (Shoulder, Season), Will Chambers (Fractured foot, Round 19), Cameron Munster (Ankle, Round 16)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Prop Matt White was singled out for praise in Easts Tigers’ 26-6 loss to fellow Storm feeder club Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup. Tony Tumusa was again on the scoresheet for the Falcons, the outside back scoring his second try in three games. The Storm’s under-20s fought back from 38-6 down to eventually fall 38-30 to the Dragons, with forward Josh Kerr among the tryscorers.
VERDICT
B: Yes they lost, but the Storm were without their entire spine and still controlled the middle of the field and defended their line for long periods. They’re still in the hunt.
— Nick Campton
EELS
HOW THEY FARED
Parramatta managed to eke out a gritty 30-12 win over the Rabbitohs.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED
Semi Radradra and Bevan French provided the flash with three tries between them but this was a tremendous team effort by the Eels.
With Kenny Edwards deputising in the halves their creativity was limited but they managed to grind their way to victory through sheer willpower. It’s a shame they won’t get a crack at finals football.
No players had an out-and-out bad performance but Isaac De Gois struggled at dummy half. The injury to Kaysa Pritchard means the Portuguese international will retain his spot but the line speed and clean ball of Nathan Peats have been sorely missed.
INJURY WARD
Luke Kelly (ACL, Season), Tim Mannah (Shoulder, Round 17), Kepeli Tanginoa (Ankle, Round 25), Bureta Faraimo (Fractured eye socket, Round 16), Mitch Cornish (Knee, Round 20), Kieran Foran (Shoulder, Season), Brad Takairangi (Hamstring, Round 18), John Folau (Fractured wrist, Round 21), Kaysa Pritchard (Shoulder/neck, Indefinite), Anthony Watmough (Knee, Season).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
With the Eels halves stocks as thing as they’ve ever been, the club might take a look at elevating under-20s halfback Troy Dargan. Dargan was one of Parramatta’s best in their 22-16 win over the Rabbitohs last week, setting up a try and controlling proceedings well.
VERDICT
B: The Eels managed to grind out another tough, hard-fought win all their brave efforts look set to be for nothing. The NRL’s salary cap punishment is lurking.
— Nick Campton
TITANS
HOW THEY FARED
The Titans dominated Manly in their 30-10 victory and in doing so looked like a finals team.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED
Ryan James continued his stellar season with a try, a try assist, a line break, 16 carries for 129 metres and 38 tackles. In a curious twist of fate, James is playing far better football than last season or the season before when he was touted as a State of Origin bolter.
Ashley Taylor didn’t have his best game of the season but that’s to be expected of a rookie. The grind of the NRL season takes its toll on the best of players and the Titans halfback is still the favourite for Rookie of the Year.
INJURY WARD
Kane Elgey (ACL, Season), Matt Srama (Knee, Season), Daniel Mortimer (Hamstring, Season), John Olive (Broken collarbone, Round 20), David Mead (PCL, Round 19), David Shillington (Pectoral, Round 17), Konrad Hurrell (Calf, Round 19).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
The Titans under-20s ripped through Manly for an easy 54-18 win with winger Jordan Birch scoring a treble. With star turns from promising prospects Brian Kelly and Jed Cartwright the Titans led 54-6 with 25 minutes remaining and could have broken some records but took the foot off the gas inside the final quarter.
VERDICT
A: After a below-par effort against the Eels in Darwin the Titans have managed to claw their way back into the top eight. They are a playoff team through and through and given the off-field dramas the club has endured over the last 18 months that is a fantastic result.
— Nick Campton
DRAGONS
HOW THEY FARED
The Dragons played their second and final big bye round of the season. Once again they played a top-four team and once again they pulled off a win against an Origin-depleted side. The men in the Red V notched a 20-10 win over the Storm to secure much-needed competition points.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Jason Nightingale continued his solid form as a fill-in fullback. He was error-free all night and had 17 runs for 135 metres. No player stood out as a struggler but the squad is struggling in general.
INJURY WARD
Dylan Farrell (back, indefinite), Mose Masoe (ACL, season), Yaw Kiti Glymin (hamstring, indefinite), Ben Creagh (knee, indefinite), Josh Dugan (elbow, round 16).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
NYC winger Reuben Garrick scored a hat-trick in the Dragons’ 38-30 win over the young Storm outfit. The first grade side needs a lesson in producing points. Maybe they can check Garrick out.
REPORT CARD
C: The Dragons might have won but — at the risk of sounding like a broken record — their attack was woeful. The Dragons enjoyed a mountain of possession against a weakened Storm and managed just three tries to two. It has been said all year: The Dragons’ attack is awful. The problem is we are 15 rounds into a season and the issues that presented in round one remain. Nothing has changed or looks likely to.
— Dave Campbell
WARRIORS
HOW THEY FARED
The Warriors beat the Roosters 12-10 in one of the strangest games of the year.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Shaun Johnson was clearly struggling with an ankle injury but managed to conjure the match-winning play in the final minutes courtesy of a brilliant dummy and run. Simon Mannering was the best player on the field though, the former skipper led from the front and tackled like a demon throughout the match.
Ben Matulino’s indifferent season continued with the Kiwi Test prop producing a display well below his capabilities.
INJURY WARD
Roger Tuivasa Sheck (Knee, Season), Ben Henry (Knee, Indefinite), Manu Vatuvei (Hamstring, Round 17), Sione Lousi (ACL, Season).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
Eiden Ackland was a late inclusion for the Warriors under-20s and took full advantage, scoring a hat-trick in their 40-20 win over the Roosters. Ackland’s inclusion at five-eighth saw Erin Clark move to lock, and the Samoa international — just 18 — capped a fine game with a nice hit-and-spin move for a try. Mason Lino scored a try in the Warriors’ disappointing 38-6 NSW Cup loss to Newtown.
VERDICT
C: The Warriors won and showed some resilience in doing so but the time is running out for them to click and become a real finals threat.
— Nick Campton
RABBITOHS
HOW THEY FARED
The Rabbitohs went down 30-12 against the Eels as they continue to struggle for answers to their ailing 2016 campaign. The Bunnies played without their Origin stars but welcomed John Sutton back from injury. South Sydney showed some signs of life but the Eels ultimately waited them out before striking the killer blow.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Alex Johnston has always looked shaky when filling in at fullback for the Rabbitohs. Not on Friday night though. Johnston scored a try and created most of South Sydney’s attacking flair. Sam Burgess continues to look poor. The big man dropped the ball twice and made 12 runs for just 77m. That’s less than 7m a run. What’s doing, Sam?
INJURY WARD
Zane Musgrove (wrist, indefinite), Angus Crichton (groin, indefinite), Hymel Hunt (pectoral, season), Michael Oldfield (hamstring, round 17), Samisoni Langi (ACL, season), George Burgess (groin, round 21), Bryson Goodwin (arm, indefinite), Kyle Turner (hamstring, indefinite), Siosifa Talakai, ankle, indefinite), Paul Carter (suspension, round 17).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
The NYC Bunnies had a 22-16 loss to the young Eels after going scoreless before the break. Suffice to say there aren’t exactly any young guns banging down Michael Maguire’s door for a first grade call up.
REPORT CARD
D: The Rabbitohs have the squad and attack to go places but just can’t sort themselves out. The men from Redfern have been searching for answers for months to no avail and that slide down the ladder just keeps on going.
— Dave Campbell
SEA EAGLES
HOW THEY FARED
Poorly. The Sea Eagles were listless, lifeless and terrible in nearly all aspects of their 30-10 loss to the Titans.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED
Tom Trbojevic looked likely when he got clean ball but was hampered by an ankle injury. Similarly, Pita Godinet showed some real spark when given the chance.
Most of the Sea Eagles, especially the forwards, were flat out terrible. Even Jake Trbojevic, who has been their best player all season, had a night to forget. The team seems to have completely given up on their season and on coach Trent Barrett.
INJURY WARD
Tim Moltzen (Knee, Season), Jayden Hodges (ACL, Season), Daly Cherry Evans (Ankle, Round 19), Steve Matai (Neck, Season), Brenton Lawrence (Pectoral, Season), Nate Myles (Knee, Round 20), Matt Parcell (Hamstring, indefinite), Liam Knight (ankle, season).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
Manly’s NSW Cup side has struggled for much of the season but they scored a wonderful upset win over ladder-leading Mounties. Nathan Green scored a double for the battling Sea Eagles.
VERDICT
D: For a team with so much hype and so many hefty purchases this season has been a flat out disaster so far for Manly.
— Nick Campton
ROOSTERS
HOW THEY FARED
In one of the strangest games of the season, the Roosters out-scored the Warriors two tries to one but went down 12-10 in Auckland.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Shaun Kenny-Dowall returned from injury and didn’t miss a beat, running for 174 metres and breaking eight tackles. He also shut down Solomone Kata effectively but did have one unfortunate moment when he made a break late in the game but failed to find his support, instead sending his pass over the sideline. It was perhaps the most SKD moment of his long career.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves looked rather underdone in his third match back from a knee reconstruction, managing just 73 metres on eight carries. In fact, most of the Chooks starting forwards left a little to be desired offensively with Sam Moa and Kane Evans the only big men to run for more than 100 metres.
INJURY WARD
Boyd Cordner (Foot, Round 17), Ian Henderson (Broken leg, Indefinite), Mitchell Pearce (Calf, Round 16)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
The Roosters Holden Cup side went down 40-20 to the Warriors but Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck continued his strong return from injury on the wing. Stockier and more of a power runner than his superstar older brother, Tuivasa-Sheck could be in the frame for a NRL debut in the final rounds of the year should injury strike the Roosters again.
VERDICT
C: There was certainly an improvement in effort for the Roosters but they lacked the attacking composure to convert pressure into points. While Trent Robinson will be pleased with the defensive effort the Tricolours let this one slip away.
— Nick Campton
Originally published as NRL Lowdown: How is your team faring after Round 15
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