Crash Tackle: NRL’s silent war runs deep

Melbourne’s rivalry with Brisbane has embedded its tentacles deep into the souls of both clubs — Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of the NRL.

There is no love lost between the Storm and Broncos. Picture: AAP

• Drama: Broncos’ big victory comes at a heavy cost

• Casualty Ward: Double blow leaves Roosters reeling

Each week, The Courier-Mail’s chief sportswriter Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of the NRL, including a long-running rugby league rivalry, the competition’s great pretenders and Brisbane’s unsung star.

ONSIDE

RAGING STORM

Rugby league is rightfully celebrating the bitter rivalry between Melbourne and Manly but there’s a silent war that runs even deeper.

It’s the Storm’s rivalry with Brisbane which has embedded its tentacles deep into the souls of both clubs as opposed to the Manly-Storm stink which is very much on-field.

The Broncos have always felt the Storm rode to glory off their coat-tails by pinching their old boys to be their club founder (John Ribot), first chief executive (Chris Johns) first premiership captain (Glenn Lazarus) and iconic coach Craig Bellamy who the Storm stole and the Broncos have been unable to lure back.

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There is no love lost between the Broncos and Storm. Picture: AAP

The Storm also signed Queensland talent Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, and Cooper Cronk in a century in which the Broncos are yet to recruit a long-serving champion.

The Storm’s obsessive desire to beat Brisbane, fuelled by a grand-final loss to the Broncos in 2006, is so deep-seated it has driven them to become the club who averages more points and concedes less against the Broncos than any rival, with a strong record against Brisbane (31 wins from 45 games).

Brisbane for decades took great pride in being the NRL powerhouse — the club every other club wanted to be.

Then along came the Purple metre-eaters. This is why the Broncos’ rematch with the Storm at Suncorp Stadium on Friday is not just another game.

Brisbane v Melbourne will have plenty of feeling. Picture: AAP

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UNSUNG STAR

The Baby Broncos are growing up fast.

While the big wraps have been reserved for Matt Lodge, Payne Haas and David Fifita,the unsung star has been benchmark Pat Carrigan, whose effort to make 158m off the pine against the Titans reinforced his rating as a player with a huge future.

FLIP OF THE COYNE

MARK Coyne made the right call in resigning from the ARL commission in the wake of his clash with a taxi driver and police in Singapore.

Good fellow that he is, you cannot pound the pulpit about player behaviour and let a senior executive get away with committing such an act and then keep it a secret for six weeks.

THE GREATEST?

The sad passing of Jeff Fyfe, who kicked the field goal that propelled Easts to a 16-15 win over Valleys in the 1972 BRL grand final, has refocused attention on that classic game.

I highly recommend the 14-minute highlight package on YouTube. Watch the non-stop drama and the sheer madness of having a sellout crowd spilling on to the playing surface and you appreciate why this match was considered one of the most enthralling games locals have ever seen.

CHERRY RIPE

Daly Cherry-Evans has done a wonderful job as Manly captain this year steering his bits-and-pieces squad towards the finals.

Cherry-Evans slotted his 20th NRL field goal to sink the Storm in extra time — great for Manly but a tease for Maroons fans who lament he decided it was not worth a late pot shot in the final Origin game.

Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates after kicking the winning field goal for Manly. Picture: AAP

OFFSIDE

DON’T BE SO RECKLESS

There’s a fine line between being a young enforcer trying to make a mark and a loose cannon whose reckless ways cost your side dearly.

Tevita Pangai Jr was both of these on the Gold Coast on Saturday and had the look of a man searching for the big hit against the Titans.

His blatant shoulder to the head of Titans winger Phillip Sami has meant he rightfully copped a one-match ban for the far more testing challenge of the Storm at Suncorp on Friday. Silly stuff.

NO TICKER

It does not matter who is the next coach of the Titans — Justin Holbrook or Kevin Walters. If the players don’t start applying themselves in defence, the new man might as well just bring a towel and board shorts and head to the beach. My lord they are a soft team.

SILENT KNIGHTS

They’ve got us again … Newcastle, the great pretenders.

The winter does not officially start until papers arrive with form guides filled with predictions about how the Knights are going to explode up the ladder and make the finals and then they produce timid performances like their loss to Wests Tigers on the weekend.

The Knights have hit the wall and Kalyn Ponga’s form has plateaued under the grind of being their targeted go-to man.

You wonder whether he would have been better served joining a stronger club where he does not have to be the Minister for Everything.

The Knights have hit the wall. Picture: Getty Images)

BROWNS COWS

The struggles of the Broncos and Titans this season have masked the fact it has been another disappointing winter for the Cowboys.

To be virtually out of finals contention in the last week of July is well beneath a pass mark and the northern side needs urgent replenishment of their backline stocks if they are to threaten next year.