NRL Tackle: Will Kennedy earns rave reviews; Cody Walker X-factor; Nathan Cleary critique
They are the players where little was expected but plenty has been delivered. But who has been the most influencial? Vote now! Dislikes and likes for every match played in round 15.
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Our rugby league writers reveal their likes, dislikes and players of the game for round 15.
And now that the Dally Ms have gone behind closed doors for the rest of the season, News Corp’s NRL experts will do their own 3-2-1 votes for every game with a composite scoreboard at the bottom of the story.
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If Cody Walker stays fit, the Rabbitohs have the playmaking X-factor to challenge for the premiership, despite falling victim to the deathknell statistic that any team that has conceded 50 points in the regular season has not gone on to win the grand final. Melbourne and Penrith are the obvious standouts but if Walker has the hot hand in the finals, Souths will take some stopping. His understanding with Latrell Mitchell is potent. The Rabbitohs would be mad to lose off-contract Dane Gagai, who amassed 228m and nine tackle busts in a superb centre display. And Souths are building formidable depth via forward young guns Hame Sele and Keaon Koloamatangi, who charged for a combined 323 metres in a brutal display of power-running.
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The Broncos will need to find an entirely new playmaking spine and a back-row alliance next season. Back-rowers Tevita Pangai Jnr (permission to leave) and skipper Alex Glenn (tipped to retire) are unlikely to be at the club next season, while Tesi Niu, Karmichael Hunt and Tyson Gamble won’t be Brisbane’s first-choice playmakers in 2022. Adam Reynolds and Kotoni Staggs will be the halves but Brisbane coach Kevin Walters is under pressure to find a consistent fullback. Defensively, the Broncos’ structures are a mess. There is no communication and if Brisbane don’t tighten up in defence next season, it will cost Walters his job.
- Peter Badel
Player of the Year points: 3 Cody Walker, 2 Dane Gagai, 1 Cameron Murray
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Rugby league is going through the golden age of fullbacks, and it won’t be long until people add Will Kennedy to the list of premier No.1s in the competition. His coach is clearly a fan, telling reporters he deserved to be considered an elite fullback, and Josh Hannay isn’t alone in his views. Kennedy has been a shining light during what’s been a turbulent year in the Shire, and he was at his brilliant best again on Friday with a couple of huge defensive efforts to go with an in and away that few could have pulled off to set up a try.
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It’s the issue that’s more divisive than the colour of a dress on social media, and we are still none the wiser on high contact after another controversial sin bin. With three minutes to go, and with all the momentum, Reece Robson lined up to hit Aiden Tolman around the waist, only for the Sharks forward to drop a metre before contact. Robson caught him high, but there were mitigating circumstances. Unfortunately, the officials didn’t see it at that way, and the Cowboys hooker was sent for 10 minutes. Accidents happen, and players can’t be marched for something like this, especially when worse tackles go unpunished.
-Martin Gabor
Player of the year points: 3 Will Kennedy, 2 Toby Rudolf, 1 Valentine Holmes
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The only person not heaping praise on Penrith’s Nathan Cleary, after what was described as a masterclass against the Sydney Roosters, was the Panthers halfback himself. “I felt involved in the game and I was pretty pumped up as well, but I think I had a few lapses, too, especially in the second half, I threw a few bad passes,” Cleary said. Cleary’s take on his own performance backs up coach Ivan Cleary’s take on his son’s development, that the 23-year old is “three to four years” away from his best. Which must make Cleary’s opposition shudder at the thought.
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Trent Robinson was very vocal about the contentious sinbinning of forward Siosiua Taukeiaho, but even the coach must concede his side’s response to the call did not display the ‘Roosters way’. Letting in 14 points in 10 minutes, even with a man down, would have surely left Robinson less than impressed with his side, one that would normally pride itself on defense and resilience during a period of the game like that on Friday night.
- Fatima Kdouh
Player of the year: 3 Nathan Cleary, 2 Liam Martin, 1 Brian To’o
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Matches played in monsoonal conditions often come down to a couple of key moments and Saturday’s tussle at McDonald Jones Stadium proved no exception. Knights hooker Jayden Brailey showed once again why he is such a key piece of the Newcastle puzzle. The co-captain is renowned for his tireless work rate, but he clearly has wheels as he showed to great effect when he chased down Warriors youngster Reece Walsh to deny what would have been the opening try of the afternoon. He may not be a local boy but the former Shark sure plays like one, and it’s easy to see why he’s quickly become such a fan favourite during his time at Newcastle.
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It was never going to be easy to score points in the wet, but the Warriors let themselves down badly in attack. The New Zealand halves asked no questions and failed to take advantage of a gale at their backs in the first half. Instead, it was left to Walsh to do everything in attack. He may be supremely talented, but it’s grossly unfair to expect so much of a kid who is just 18 years of age and has played only seven NRL games. Walsh ended up making several errors against the desperate Knights, but no one can question his effort in the wet when those around him were happy to let him do the heavy lifting.
Fox Sports key stats: Daniel Saifiti cracked 200 running metres and made 30 tackles for the first time in his career in regular time. It was just the fifth time he has run for over 200 metres .
— Martin Gabor
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St George Illawarra gave a glimpse of their future by unearthing teen sensation Tyrell Sloan at fullback. While the uproar surrounding Matt Dufty’s imminent departure was intense, those calls should have died down now after Sloan impressed in the most trying conditions. The wind was howling at WIN Stadium but the fullback more than held his own, scoring a try just weeks after playing in an SG Ball decider. He looked sharp in attack when he chimed in the backline and has the physique to indicate he will be the Dragons’ long-term No.1.
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The Raiders are really becoming the faders. Their second-half performance was insipid and in line with what has happened too many times this year. They fail to close a game out. Their eight-point lead with a breeze behind their back was never going to be enough, but they needed to do better in the second half. They lack concentration and execution. Too many times this season the clutch pass has not stuck. If they are to salvage anything out of this year, they need to find a way to make that stick.
- Michael Carayannis
Player of the year: 3 Jack Bird, 2 Ben Hunt, 1 Josh Papalii
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Warhorse lock Dale Finucane is the spiritual leader of the Melbourne Storm and half Jahrome Hughes one of the game’s most improved and best players. Finucane scored a try, set one up, didn’t miss a tackle and exposed the insipid Tigers pack with his barnstorming charges. That was just another day in the office. Off contract, surely every club in the NRL would have him on their shopping list. Hughes, who scored a double, is now as dominant as Cameron Munster in Melbourne’s attacking structures with his elusive running game and composed direction. A late bloomer, at the Storm he has become one of the game’s top playmakers.
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The toothless Tigers are a defensive rabble and their forwards must get some mongrel, and quickly. Coach Michael Maguire, in his post-mortem presser after Saturday’s shocking capitulation, talked about players needing to use their shoulders and show effort in defence. For a team that has now given up more than 30 points in nine of its 10 losses this year, and for a club with historic defensive flaws, that is a complete embarrassment for all concerned. The Tigers are stuck in Groundhog Day.
— Joel Gould
Fox Sports key stats
In losing 66-16, the Tigers conceded the highest number of points in a game in the joint venture’s history. This loss equalled the points they gave up in 2001 in a 66-12 loss to the Eels.
Player of the year: 3 Jahrome Hughes 2 Dale Finucane 1 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
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Although this wasn’t Parramatta’s most polished first-half performance, Brad Arthur’s team continue to go about their business with a minimum of fuss. And it doesn’t get the credit it deserves that this no-frills outfit is sitting third on the ladder behind only Melbourne and Penrith, and has only one Origin representative in Junior Paulo. And you could argue there hasn’t been a better buy this year than the rampaging former Warrior Isaiah Papali’i (pictured) who continued his outstanding season, charging for 194m that included 11 tackle busts.
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The Bulldogs absolutely shot themselves in the foot again with a comical stuff-up that would have made Moe, Larry and Curly proud. But while it would’ve made a schoolboy footy coach cringe, you’re entitled to wonder what’s the excuse for something this silly at NRL level. After bravely clawing their way to a 10-6 lead, Jake Averillo threw the game away in the blink of an eye when he meant to hit Brandon Wakeham with a pass for a clearing kick but instead threw it straight into an unsuspecting Dylan Napa. From there Wakeham gave up a penalty try for a professional foul and it all just fell to pieces for the Bulldogs as the Eels ultimately raced in 30 unanswered second-half points.
— Paul Crawley
Fox Sports key stats
Sean Russell scored two tries on debut – the first Eel to do so since Bureta Faraimo in 2014. This was the third straight win for the Eels – all have been by more than 25 points.
Player of the year: 3 Isaiah Papali’i 2 Clint Gutherson 1 Mitchell Moses
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Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic sets standards that others only dream about matching. He has it all and it was another 10 out of 10 display by the NSW Blues champion in the stunning comeback win over the Titans. Four try assists, a hat-trick of tries and a presence on the field that swamped the opposition. When Tommy Turbo put his foot down in the second half, there was no stopping Manly. It is a storyline you can put your house on. That said, Titans rookie fullback Jayden Campbell has a big future in the game and his first-half attacking display was as good as you could hope to see from a rookie. Campbell scored from a kick and also laid on another in a promising showing.
Dislike
In a horror 40-minute period for the Titans on Sunday, they became the first team this season to concede nine tries in one half of football. Their defensive frailties were once again exposed while missing 37 tackles as the Sea Eagles ran riot in piling on 48 unanswered points. The Gold Coast’s demise, after leading 24-8 at halftime, just shows how overrated completion rates can be as a statistical marker. The Gold Coast completed 33 of 34 sets over the match but were unable to make a dent in Manly after laying on five tries in the first half. The Titans just didn’t have the defensive clout to force errors when their opponents got on a roll. It is a lesson they must learn if they want to succeed.
Fox Sports key stats
Trbojevic notched his third career hat-trick for Manly. He took his season tally to 11 tries in just eight games and now has nine tries in seven games against the Titans.
Player of the year: 3 Tom Trbojevic 2 Daly Cherry-Evans 1 Jayden Campbell
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Originally published as NRL Tackle: Will Kennedy earns rave reviews; Cody Walker X-factor; Nathan Cleary critique
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