NRL snapshot: Manly mentality back; Rabbitohs and Panthers flying

WE’RE two rounds into the season and some familiar storylines are emerging — Manly winning with backs to the wall, the Rabbitohs roaring. Check out our wrap of all 16 teams.

MANLY V STORM

WE’RE two rounds into the season and some familiar storylines are emerging — Manly winning with backs to the wall, the Rabbitohs roaring and Panthers purring.

Check out our around the grounds run-down of all 16 teams.

1. PENRITH PANTHERS

Fullback Matt Moylan put his hand up for Blues selection with a classy performance against the Titans.

Jamal Idris was devastating for the Chocolate Soldiers and scored a hat-trick. Rave reviews also went the way of hooker James Segeyaro who is giving Queensland Origin selectors a lot to think about. It’s a problem coach Ivan Cleary is now all too happy to gloat about.

“Sounds like everyone now thinks we’ve got some players who can play,” Cleary said.

“If that comes (Origin selections), that’s a good problem because it means the boys are playing well for the Panthers and that’s what we want them to do. But we’ve only played two games. It’s a long, long way to go. We’ve got a huge game next week against the Roosters. We’ll look at that for the moment.”

It’s not quite all good news at the foot of the mountains, however, with in-form five-eighth ruled out for up to six weeks following minor back surgery.

Match report: PANTHERS THRASH TITANS 40-0

Jennings dropped: BROTHERLY BATTLE PUT ON ICE

2. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

The list of superlatives describing Gerg Inglis’ footy exploits could be as long as his highlights reel. The superstar fullback setup in a four-pointer that is already a contender for try of the year in the Rabbitohs’ defeat of the Roosters.

Coach Michael Maguire will be looking to address his side’s lapse in concentration when Adam Reynolds was taken from the field with a head knock. The Roosters posted three tries in seven minutes, leaving the Bunnies stunned.

Reynolds was named to face the Tigers despite the concussion he suffered during the Roosters clash.

Match report: GI GIVES BUNNIES MASTERCLASS

Video: INGLIS SETS UP TRY OF THE YEAR CONTENDER

3. WESTS TIGERS

Blues coach Laurie Daley is facing a selection headache at No. 1 — but it’s a good kind of selection headache as James Tedesco became the latest fullback to enter the Origin frame.

The 20-year-old was in fine touch and had a hand in all of his side’s try-scoring plays. Tedesco’s combination with Luke Brooks is beginning to blossom and the Tigers look to be building towards becoming one of the most exciting attacking sides in the competition.

Match Report: SHINING STAR TEDESCO PUTS DRAGONS TO THE SWORD

4. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

The Knights made it two wins from two in 2015 against the Cowboys in Townsville. Joey Leilua was instrumental for the Knights, and the powerhouse centre keeps getting better.

Rick Stone’s men were lucky to get away with their heavy-handed tactics during the match. Beau Scott escaped suspension for his late hit and tackle on Cowboys playmaker Johnathan Thurston.

Match report: KNIGHT BREAK COWBOYS’ HEART

Tactics: JT TACKLE AN ‘ACCIDENT’: STONE

5. SYDNEY ROOSTERS

The Roosters were up 16-12 when Shaun Kenny-Dowall dropped the ball cold on the tryline. But coach Trent Robinson was adamant that moment did not impact the result.

“That wasn’t the significant moment for us. We had enough moments ... they just won a few more than we did,” he said.

After returning from the half-time break four points ahead they were unable to withstand the Rabbitohs’ second-half surge as the Bunnies ran in three tries in the final 30 minutes of the game.

Off the field, the club announced it had re-signed prop Jared Waerea-Hargreves.

Match Report: RABBITOHS SINK ROOSTERS IN EPIC CLASH

Player news: JWH RE-SIGNS WITH THE ROOSTERS

6. CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

New fullback Brett Morris was once again a standout for the Bulldogs in their win against archrivals the Eels.

Morris scored two of his side’s six tries and come up with a great try-saving tackle on Eels flyer Semi Radradra. His performance has coach Des Hasler convinced he’s a genuine candidate for the Blues No. 1 jersey.

On the injury front, playmaker Josh Reynolds says he is confident of making an early return from an arm injury.

Match Report: B. MOZ SHOULD BE NSW NO. 1: HASLER

Injuries: REYNOLDS PLANNING QUICK RECOVERY

7. PARRAMATTA EELS

Parramatta’s loss was compounded by their growing injury list. Out of the defeat, Fijian winger Semi Radradra suffered a medial ligament injury and Beau Champion could be out for the season with a knee injury.

Halfback Chris Sandow also hobbled off the field with an ankle complaint.

Of course a lot of the injury talk was overshadowed by the announcement that Kieran Foran would be flying the coup from Manly to join the Eels in 2016.

Revealed: FORAN NEARLY BACKED OUT OF EELS DEAL

Match Report: BULLDOGS TOO GOOD FOR BITTER RIVAL PARRA

Casualty ward: EELS TRIO STUCK DOWN WITH INJURY

8. MELBOURNE STORM

“I’m not allowed to comment” — was Craig Bellamy’s response post-match to Young Tonumaipea’s wrongly disallowed try when the score was 6-all against Manly.

Replays showed the winger had actually grounded the loose ball to score and had not knocked on.

Instead of being 12-6 up the Storm quickly found themselves 24-6 down after Daly Cherry-Evans took control of the game to put the Sea Eagles ahead.

A disappointed Bellamy blamed his side’s loss on that period of play rather than on that no-try call.

“We basically threw it away in the last 10 minutes of that first half,” he said.

“That lost us the game.”

Match report: STORM LOSE TO MANLY 24-22 IN A THRILLER

9. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

The Warriors earned a gritty three-tries-to-one win on the road against the Raiders. Skipper Simon Mannering led galanty from the front and fullback Sam Tomkins showed glimpses of his best form. Tomkins did look to struggle with a leg strain in the dying stages of the match but should be clear to face the Eels.

The same can’t be said for halback Shaun Johnson who is in doubt for the clash with an injury to his left forearm. He has since been named for round three.

Match report: RAIDERS ROLLED BY GRITTY WARRIORS

10. CANBERRA RAIDERS

The Raiders went down to the Warriors in the nation’s capital but they showed they would not be the NRL’s easybeats in 2015.

Canberra had conceded a massive 158 points to the Warriors in their last three matches, so for the Green Machine to hold on and not let the contest blow out was a “line-in-the-sand moment” for the side.

Jeremy Hawkins is facing a one-week ban for a dangerous throw on Manu Vatuvei.

Jarrad Kennedy and Luke Bateman have taken early guilty pleas for dangerous throw charges and will escape suspension.

Match report: BRAND NEW RAIDERS GALLANT IN DEFEAT

11. BRISBANE BRONCOS

After being demoted to the bench, Sam Thaiday made his case to be reinstated to the starting side by producing the play that would prove to be the matchwinner in Brisbane’s scrappy 10-2 victory over the Sharks.

Despite his efforts Wayne Bennett intends on leaving Thaiday on the bench to keep the pressure on the off-contract 29-year-old.

Winger Daley Copley, who was a late withdrawal for the Sharks clash, will miss another week due to a calf injury.

Match report: BRONCOS WIN BUT BENNY HAS WORK TO DO

Team News: THAIDAY WON’T BE REINSTATED TO STARTING SIDE

12. MANLY SEA EAGLES

It was classic Manly at Brookvale Oval against the Storm. With their backs against the wall, Daly Cherry-Evans inspired his side to a 24-22 victory. Special mention to veteran fullback Brett Stewart who also starred for the Sea Eagles and reminded Blues coach Laurie Daley exactly what he has to offer, scoring two brilliant tries.

But again, the headlines were to be dominated with news of player movements. Playmaker Kieran Foran announced he would be joining the Eels for the next four years from 2016.

Match report: SNAKE LORD OF THE TRIES AS EAGLES SOAR

Kieran Foran: FORAN ANSWERS THE TOUGH QUESTIONS

13. CRONULLA SHARKS

The Sharks posted two points in the form of a penalty against the Broncos and questions are being raised about Ben Barba’s credentials as a five-eighth. It’s clear Barba is out of form, he looked out of sorts as he tried to direct Cronulla’s attack.

“Ben isn’t in the best of form ... but he isn’t the reason we got beat,” Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said after the game.

“What I need is for him to get his hands on the ball more. Without going backwards too far, our previous five-eighth used to get his hands on the ball and run it a fair bit.”

Luke Lewis returned to training on Monday and has been named as 18th man for the Storm clash. He’s expected to pish for inclusion in the final squad to face the Storm.

Match report: FLANAGAN ADMITS CONCERNS OVER BARBA

14. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

After some poor defensive efforts, the Knights were able to snatch 16-14 victory in Townsville — making it two losses in a row for the Cowboys.

Kyle Feldt attempted to save his side from defeat with a 57m penalty kick right on the death but while he made the distance he pushed the ball wide.

The main talking point from this match was the rough treatment dished out to star playmaker Johnathan Thurston. He was a marked man and has the bruised face to prove it.

Match report: KNIGHTS STEAL VICTORY IN TOWNSVILLE

JT shots: KNIGHT DODGE BANS OVER JT CHEAP SHOTS

15. ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Once again the Dragons only managed to score four points against their opposition and the lack of tries has coach Paul McGregor questioning the predicitbilty of his side’s attack.

The Dragons made 198 tackles in the opening 40 minutes and McGregor said the workload left his team “gassed” and unable to fire in attack.

Fullback Josh Dugan missed the clash with an ankle injury and hasn’t been named to face former club the Raiders

Match report: TIGERS PUT DRAGONS TO THE SWORD

Video: NIGHTINGALE PLAYS THE BALL ... TO HIMSELF

16. GOLD COAST TITANS

The Titans have reinstated the five players embroiled in the club’s drugs scandal. The decision comes after the Gold Coast suffered a 40-0 flogging at the hands of the Panthers. The loss has them anchored at the bottom of the table. Greg Bird, Dave Taylor and Beau Falloon have been named to face the Knights.

Players reinstated: EXILED TITANS PREPARE TO BE SLEDGED

Match Analysis: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED AGAINST THE PANTHERS

Originally published as NRL snapshot: Manly mentality back; Rabbitohs and Panthers flying