NRL Tackle: All the likes and dislikes from Round 19 of the NRL 2020
They’ve struggled to score points for nearly two months, now ‘the King’ Clint Gutherson has reignited the Eels struggling attack ahead of finals. Our rugby league writers reveal what caught their eye — good and bad — in Round 19 of the NRL.
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Our rugby league writers reveal what caught their eye — good and bad — in Round 19 of the NRL.
KNIGHTS V DRAGONS
Like: Newcastle supporters have proven themselves to be right up with the most loyal in rugby league over some tough years.
But right now you can’t help but feel happy for Knights fans who finally have a reason to celebrate.
Having not played finals football since under Wayne Bennett in 2013, the big win over St George Illawarra means the Knights are in the box seat to host a home final in two weeks.
The irony is that match is likely to be against their old coach Bennett’s team, South Sydney. On Sunday in Newcastle, it was Old Boys Day and the current Knights did their club proud.
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Dislike: St George Illawarra members would be within their rights to be demanding their money back for what their side has dished up this season. And what occurred in Newcastle on Sunday would have to rank up with their saddest performances in recent years.
It wasn’t that the Knights were that brilliant, it’s just that the Dragons were that awful. With Paul McGregor long gone and Dean Young heading out the door at the end of the season, it’s time for the players to take ownership.
They are paid professionals, but aside from a few, the standard of performances just isn’t good enough.
Fox Sports key stats: Knights star Kalyn Ponga scored a try, set up two others, ran for over 100m and busted five tackles. For the Dragons, Zac Lomax scored two tries. Nine of his 12 tries this season have come against top-eight sides.
- Paul Crawley
RAIDERS V WARRIORS
Like: Ricky Stuart described Elliott Whitehead as the most underrated player in the competition. He’s not wrong.
The Englishman has been a model of consistency since he came to the NRL in 2016, and his versatility was on show on Sunday as he turned the contest with a couple of moments of magic.
Whitehead switched from left back row to the right where he had to play in the halves following a head knock to George Williams. He’s always shown class with deft touches, and that continued with two perfect kicks to set up a Hudson Young try late in the first half.
He then rushed out to take an intercept which led to another try after the break. He sometimes flies under the radar given the big names at the club, but he deserves plenty of plaudits for everything he’s done in the game.
Dislike: Rugby league is the greatest game of all, but it has one major downside: injuries. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s iced-up hammy was the final nail in the coffin for what’s been a brutal year for the Warriors.
His season is now over, and unfortunately, it’s not on his terms. His leadership has been unrivalled in 2020, and hopefully that’ll be rewarded on Dally M night when they give him the Captain of the Year award.
The electrifying fullback has been separated from his young family but has soldiered on valiantly. It would have been great for him to lead his side out one more time, but if there’s a silver lining, he’s one day closer to seeing his kids again.
Fox Sports key stats: This was the 13th win of the season for the Raiders, the eighth by a double-figure margin. The Green Machine has won eight of 10 games since round 10. A win next week will give the Raiders their best regular season in terms of win percentage since 1995.
- Martin Gabor
ROOSTERS V SHARKS
Like: If a New Zealand side was named today, Joey Manu would be one of first names written down. One of the best centres in the game, Manu shifted to fullback on Saturday night as James Tedesco enjoyed a week off.
It’s no easy task filling the shoes of the best player in the world, but the Roosters youngster did a brilliant job. He ran for 148 metres and notched eight tackle-breaks, as well as assisting Mitchell Aubusson for the opening try of the night. He’s found a home in the centres but don’t be surprised to see him wearing number one again in the future.
Dislike: It’s never a good look when a team scores while their opponents are a man down due to injury.
That’s what happened on Saturday night. With Cronulla centre Josh Dugan lying on the ground with a knee injury for quite some time, referee Ben Cummins failed to stop the game, allowing the Roosters to score through Luke Keary.
Cummins later told stand-in Sharks captain Andrew Fifita that he didn’t see Dugan, nor received the trainer’s call to halt play.
Fox Sports key stats: Cronulla are 0-7 against other top-eight sides this season. If they lose and Canberra this week they will be the first team since North Sydney in 1995 to go into the finals not having beaten any of the other finalists.
- Michael Blok
STORM V TIGERS
Like: The Storm have hit their straps with the ball, racking up 50 points with ease against a Tigers outfit that seemed to crack every time Melbourne went near their try-line.
Wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu are in top try-scoring touch and big man Nelson Asofa-Solomona was devastating in the middle, charging for 169m in one of his best games of the year.
The Storm are looking good at the right time of the season. Benji Marshall showed he still has the touch to be a force in the NRL as he auditions for a new club for 2021 and Harry Grant was sensational at hooker.
Dislike: The Tigers are a soft team defensively and were exposed too easily by the Storm. But Melbourne does have some defensive deficiencies on the eve of the finals.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy was filthy at his side leaking 22 points against a team like the Tigers and Melbourne will have to improve to challenge for this year’s premiership. If they don’t get their defence right, the Storm could be exposed in the finals and blow a top two finish for the season.
Fox Sports key stats: Melbourne are six from six on the Sunshine Coast and have won 18 straight games in Queensland. Three seasons in a row Wests Tigers have conceded 50 points in a match.
- Travis Meyn
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SEA EAGLES V TITANS
Like: Alexander Brimson again proved himself to be one of the NRL’s exciting players. While he doesn’t get Ryan Papenhuyzen or James Tedesco like wraps, “AJ” scored two tries to outshine Tom Trbojevic as the Titans went on a romp.
Considered just a touch-footballer who didn’t make a rugby league representative side until he was 16, Brimson has had a remarkable rise since making his debut in 2018. Finding a home at fullback, he has taken his game to another level under new coach Justin Holbrook.
At just 22, the Gold Coast junior has a bright future ahead of him. We can’t wait to see what he produces next year playing behind a new look Gold Coast pack featuring the likes of Andrew Fifita and Tino Faasuamaleaui.
Dislike: Tom Trbojevic blew another turbo. While the shoulder injury that forced him off the field will not require surgery, Trbojevic is in danger of becoming an injury prone player in the mould of Kieran Foran.
While we are hoping that it has just been a case of bad luck, Trbojevic’s stunning career has been stalled by a spate of injuries. Brother Jake was almost in tears after the loss as he spoke about his fears for Tom. Both Manly and rugby league need a fit and flying Tommy T.
Fox Sports key stats: A loss next week will give Des Hasler his worst ever season (in terms of win percentage) as a coach. The Titans’ equal highest all time score - third time they have scored 42 points, second time against Manly (Rd 23, 2018).
- James Phelps
EELS V BRONCOS
Like: The King. Unthinkable a few years back, when booed on the Parramatta wing, Clint Gutherson is now the No.1 player in an Eels’ side looking to end that greatest of premiership droughts.
Against Brisbane, the skipper scored two tries, orchestrated a third, made five tackle busts, two offloads and a linebreak. Better, he is finding a consistency known only by the genuine stars of the NRL.
The difference between King’s best and worst games is now minimal. The captain also brings an energy and leadership to his sidevisible even from the cheap seats.
Dislike: Pat Carrigan having to play for the 2020 Broncos. Put simply, he deserves better. If you were asked to choose a footballer to play for you life, this bloke has to be in the conversation.
After all, look how much he gives to a Brisbane side that gives so little back. Against the Eels, Carrigan was everywhere. In attack, he ran for 134m — the most of any Bronco and fourth best anywhere.
Then in defence he made a whopping 50 tackles. Missed one. Bloke deserves better.
Fox Sports key stats: Parramatta’s third straight win over the Brisbane - first time since 2001-02 while it was the Broncos’ 10th straight loss, extending the worst losing streak in club history.
- Nick Walshaw
COWBOYS V PANTHERS
Like: Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai might be in the infancy of their careers but the pair are already forging a formidable halves partnership, one which is on course to deliver the Panthers its first title since 2003.
While all the talk has been about Cleary’s Dally M form, Luai has been brilliant and has stepped out of the halfback’s shadow. On Friday night, the five-eighth set-up a try and had almost 100 metres from nine runs in another performance that took pressure off Cleary.
Penrith’s back five were again outstanding, scoring four out of the six tries. Only Dylan Edwards missed out but the fullback set-up his winger Brian To’o in the first half.
Dislike: After 248 games for the Cowboys, stalwart and club legend Gavin Cooper deserved to farewell Townsville as a winner.
Unfortunately for the backrower, his side was completely blown off the park in the first half, ending any hope of an upset win against the ladder leaders. The win for the Panthers could turn into a huge blow for SuperCoaches with coach Ivan Cleary conforming he’ll look at resting some of his stars — all who are SuperCoach relevant.
Fox Sports key stats: Viliame Kikau had a monster performance. He scored a try, set up another, ran for almost 140 metres, busted six tackles and made 25 tackles of his own. Cowboys’ 15th loss of the season - almost half of those have been by 16 points or more.
- Fatima Kdouh
RABBITOHS V BULLDOGS
Like: The cynical ones among us might say there’s not a whole lot of a difference between two wins and three and sneer at the Bulldogs celebrations after the match.
It’s been a miserable year for Canterbury, even worse than the last few and they weren’t exactly a great time either. So who cares if the Bulldogs will only finish one spot ahead of last, who cares if South Sydney will still make the finals well ahead of them?
When the wins are this scarce you need to take them, and enjoy them, as they come.
Dislike: It’s been a while since we saw Damien Cook do some of the things that made him the NSW and Australian hooker.
Cook hasn’t had a bad season and he didn’t play poorly in this one, but he didn’t dominate either. That’s not all his fault — the Rabbitohs pack is solid rather than spectacular, and that can limit Cook’s chances to run — but after this dour loss, the Bunnies need a spark heading into the semis.
Cook’s track record will keep him in the Blues Origin side, but a few big games to finish the year wouldn’t hurt given the season Api Koroisau has enjoyed at Penrith.
Fox Sports key stats: Canterbury’s second most points scored this season, and 20 of those were inside the first 30 minutes. South Sydney completed just 72 per cent of their sets - they have not cracked 75 per cent in the past three weeks.
- Nick Campton
Originally published as NRL Tackle: All the likes and dislikes from Round 19 of the NRL 2020