Crash Tackle: Robert Craddock’s likes and dislikes from NRL Round 10
The Courier-Mail chief sportswriter Robert Craddock calls for the Broncos to break the bank chasing a big name and marvels at the endless energy of an evergreen Maroons star.
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EACH week, The Courier-Mail’s chief sportswriter Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of rugby league.
This week, Crash calls on the Broncos to break the bank chasing a big name and marvels at the endless energy of an evergreen Maroons star.
DISLIKES
THE CHERRY ON TOP
DALY Cherry-Evans has force-fed the Broncos a brutal truth — it’s time to break the bank and chase one of rugby league’s biggest names.
Not Cherry-Evans but wonder boy Nathan Cleary.
To see Cherry-Evans steer Manly around like wartime general on Saturday was to note the contrast in game management skills between he and Broncos duo Kodi Nikorima and Anthony Milford who admittedly were hamstrung by a modest pack.
The Broncos should do a very un-Bronco thing and offer a multimillion-dollar package to the exceptional Cleary who is off-contract next year.
Penrith’s Clearly may be expected to join his father Ivan at Wests Tigers but remember Ben Hunt was also expected to stay at the Broncos.
Money doesn’t talk in rugby league. It swears.
BAD FORM
CAMERON Smith has been a godsend for rugby league — but he’s not perfect.
Smith’s wishbone tackle on Kevin Proctor on Saturday night was a bad look for the game.
The Australian captain is facing a one match ban which is about right for an incident which was not the crime of the century but not something you want to see again.
FAN FURY
FANS will forgive their team for a lot of sins but never for falling victim to a the dreaded “O’’ word ... out-enthused.
This is why Broncos supporters were so incensed by the side’s timid performance against Manly on Saturday.
When I asked fans for feedback for today’s column on social media yesterday the full force of their anger came through in a performance in which Darius Boyd admitted his team were “out-enthused’’ by Manly.
Everyone from coach Wayne Bennett to veteran Sam Thaiday copped it.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
James Roberts should take embattled recruit Jack Bird out to lunch.
Roberts is the embodiment of Bennett’s theory that players often take a year to settle into the Broncos, a club which brings all sorts of special pressures.
Just as Roberts looked lost in his first year so does Bird now. Even his on-field body language tells us that.
Bird is coping it from everywhere — on $800,000 a year that’s fair enough — but it cannot be easy fronting up with a sternum injury because he does not want to let the team down by heading to the sidelines.
THE INVISIBLE MAN
Bryce Cartwright’s days in first grade must surely be numbered after his stunning “no tackle’’ against the Storm.
Whether an injury, a brain fade or — even worse — a brazen lack of commitment prompted him not to put his body on the line and attempt to tackle Cameron Munster as he surged to the line is yet to be proved.
But how could his teammates trust him to aim up under pressure after such a glaring error?
LIKES
CAST FROM STEEL
WE salute the incredible courage of rugby league’s men of steel.
I’m struggling to find another sport in the world where you would see sights like Cowboy Shaun Fensom trying to play on after dislocating an elbow against Wests or Bronco Payne Haas doing the same after he popped his shoulder on Saturday night. Incredible.
WHAT A WASTE
Wayne Bennett’s anger at time-wasting in the NRL was an example of how rugby league’s biggest voices can play a crucial role in lancing boils which are festering in the game.
From scrums, to dropouts, goal kicks and ref back chat, the fans have had enough of the stop-start nature of rugby league and have been near united in supporting Bennett.
The NRL must take note.
OLD MAGIC
Darius Boyd is not at his best. As the weeks roll by it is hard to see how he will deny either Valentine Holmes or Corey Oates a hotly contested State of Origin wing spot.
And that could mean no Broncos in the Origin opener. But there are still selected moments where Boyd reminds us of how tactically brilliant he is.
Boyd had three Manly players coming at him at full pelt and somehow, instead of tackling the man with the ball, Jake Trbojevic, decided on gut instinct to launch the high risk play of ignoring the man and simply knocking down his pass. He did too. Outstanding work.
ONE TO WATCH
JUSTIN Hodges is not one to get carried away with potential but he knows a future star when he sees one.
Hodges has been singing the virtues of new Titans five-eighth Alexander “AJ’’ Brimson since he coached the youngster in the Queensland Under-20s and after a robust debut against the Storm on Saturday night we can see why.
STILL THE ONE
Is Billy Slater really 34?
Just loved the way he made two tackles in the one Gold Coast raid at Suncorp on Saturday. His determination remains dauntless.
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