NRL Lowdown: How is your team faring after Round 3?
WHO starred, who’s on the fringe, who passed, who failed? Get the very best analysis from our team of experts in the Round 3 edition of the NRL Lowdown
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WHO starred, who struggled, who’s on the fringe, who’s on the outer, who passed and who failed?
Get the very best analysis from our team of experts in the Round 3 edition of the NRL Lowdown.
YOUR SAY: How do you think your team is faring? Have your say below — the best reader comment for each club will be published in the Tuesday update
STORM
HOW THEY FARED
The Melbourne juggernaut rolled on with a victory over the Warriors best summed up by a word that describes so many Storm wins: clinical.
The Storm kept a spirited Warriors outfit at arm’s length for much of the afternoon at Mt Smart Stadium and even when they did eventually fall behind to Jono Wright’s try with less than 20 minutes to go, refused to panic and got home on the back of the “big two” — their terrific trio having been reduced following Billy Slater’s season-ending injury.
Cameron Smith’s penalty goal levelled the scores heading into the final 10 minutes and Cooper Cronk then iced the game with a field goal, before Marika Koroibete rounded out the win with a runaway try on full-time.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Jesse Bromwich returned to the land of his birth to show why he is regarded by many as the best front-rower in the game, rumbling through the giant Warriors pack for more than 160 metres and throwing four offloads. The Kiwi Test star showcased his not inconsiderable skills when he threw a sharp final pass for Cameron Munster’s try.
While Bromwich was always in the thick of the action, his fellow Kiwi Tohu Harris struggled to get involved for the Storm out on the left edge.
INJURY WARD
Billy Slater (shoulder, season), Matt White (calf, indefinite)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
Nelson Asofa-Solomona might be eyeing a switch to rugby, but the Kiwi giant is still making his considerable presence felt in rugby league, scoring a try for Sunshine Coast Falcons in their upset Queensland Cup win over Burleigh Bears.
REPORT CARD
A: Craig Bellamy’s side remains the only team with a perfect record in the competition, barely missing a beat following last week’s news that Billy Slater will miss the rest of the season. They’ve yet to face any of the competition heavyweights though, so next week’s trip to Cronulla shapes as a good test of just how well they’re travelling.
— Dominic Burke
RAIDERS
HOW THEY FARED
Considering they were again without both of their first choice halves, a draw away from home could be a good result for the Raiders. However, the inability of the team to hold the lead against the Knights, the lack of forward intensity once the chips were down and the failure to close out the game despite numerous chances makes this a game Canberra should have won. Having said that, they’re outright second on the ladder and one of only two teams still unbeaten.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Josh Hodgson was again excellent, helping to create a try for Sia Soliola and kicking another brilliant 40/20 while Elliot Whitehead acquitted himself well in the unfamiliar position of five-eighth with two try assists.
INJURY WARD
Shannon Boyd is the sole injury concern for the Raiders with the big prop sustaining a concussion. He is expected to be fit for the Round 4 match with the Titans.
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Lachlan Croker did a fine job in the NSW Cup after being dropped on the day of the game. Fresh off a difficult first grade debut, Croker scored a try as Mounties downed the Knights 42-18 in a replay of last years grand final.
REPORT CARD
B-: Canberra had more than enough chances to close out the match and their defensive frailties are still cause for concern, but the Raiders remain unbeaten and given the injuries to Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer that’s a pretty good result.
— Nick Campton
RABBITOHS
HOW THEY FARED
Tough conditions in the wet and a host of injuries saw South Sydney lose a match to the Dragons that could have gone either way. The 8-6 score line didn’t change after half time with torrential rain appearing to take the fire out of the Rabbitohs attack.
WHO STARRED WHO STRUGGLED?
Paul Carter was pretty much everywhere. The Bunnies second rower was solid in defence, ran the ball out of his own danger zone and was denied a late try. Meanwhile, Luke Keary may as well have not been on the field. The South Sydney No.7 failed to get involved when needed and didn’t keep things organised when his team was pushing forward.
INJURY WARD
Sam Burgess (neck, indefinite), Damien Cook (concussion, indefinite).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
Chad O’Donnell had a solid afternoon with the boot for the NYC Bunnies. His side went down 26-24 to the Dragons despite him calmly slotting four from four attempts.
REPORT CARD
B-: The Rabbitohs weren’t necessarily poor against the Dragons but they definitely lacked the attacking flair that has been a cornerstone of their first two rounds. The Bunnies were solid through the middle but saw wet weather dampen the effectiveness of both wings while Cody Walker and Luke Keary struggled throughout.
— David Campbell
COWBOYS
HOW THEY FARED
The Cowboys made it two wins from the opening three rounds of the season when they thumped a depleted Roosters outfit 40-0 in Townsville on Thursday night.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Johnathan Thurston and Lachlan Coote were in fine touch. Off-contract fullback Coote set
up tries for Kane Linnett and Antonio Winterstein before scoring the 50th of his career to make it 18-0 at the break.
INJURY WARD
Jake Granville (concussion)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
The Cowboys will likely field the same 17 against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night that created history by winning the club’s first title last year. Hooker Granville should be fine to play.
REPORT CARD
B: North Queensland had some polished moments during the seven-try demolition and found the performance they had been searching for to kickstart their premiership defence albeit against a struggling Sydney side.
BRONCOS
HOW THEY FARED
Coach Wayne Bennett questioned his team’s mental strength after the Panthers engineered a brilliant second half comeback against Brisbane on Saturday, fighting back from 22-12 at half time to win 23-22.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Anthony Milford scored two tries and set up a third in the first half alone as he stepped Penrith players into a daze. Milford is the in-form five-eighth of the competition after three rounds. Centre James Roberts is a concern for the Broncos. He hasn’t scored a try in the past six games. He hasn’t broken the line this season.
INJURY WARD
Jack Reed (eye, TBC)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Greg Eden was solid filling in for injured hulk Corey Oates but Broncos winger Tom Opacic sent Bennett a timely reminder of his talent, racking up a hat-trick as Redcliffe thumped Wynnum-Manly 38-6 at BMD Kougari Oval in the Intrust Super Cup.
REPORT CARD
C: The Broncos were average and must regroup quickly for Good Friday’s grand final rematch against premiers North Queensland. A crowd of 51,000 is predicted for the Suncorp Stadium clash but for revenge to be taken, captain Corey Parker says the team needs an attitude adjustment.
TITANS
HOW THEY FARED
The Titans remain unbeaten at home with a 30-18 win over the previously undefeated Wests Tigers. Overturning a 10-0 deficit and running roughshod over such a dangerous attacking side was a great sign for the developing Titans, who play with a grit and willingness to attack that should make them tricky opponents all season.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Ryan James was excellent off the bench and his switch back to the middle after spending last season on the edge has paid real dividends. Josh Hoffman was defensively frail at centre, but made up for it with a try in the second half.
INJURY WARD
The impressive Nathan Davis was ruled out before the match with a shoulder injury and his return date remains unknown. Greg Bird went off with a concussion but should be back next week.
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
The Titans Under 20s side defeated the Tigers by the same score as their first grade counterparts and they can thank an excellent performance from five-eighth Josh Rogers, who set up two tries.
REPORT CARD
B+: They might be unfashionable but the Titans will be anything but easybeats this season. Two wins from three is a great result considering the tumultuous off-season they endured.
— Nick Campton
BULLDOGS
HOW THEY FARED
There may have been controversy around a no-try that referee Matt Cecchin incorrectly referred to the bunker, but the Bulldogs simply didn’t score enough points or have enough to match the Eels as a defensive effort that finished with 35 missed tackles contributed to their 14-point loss.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Will Hopoate continues to be strong at the back for the Bulldogs and he scored their only try with three minutes to go in the match, adding some respectability to the scoreboard. While Aiden Tolman was his usual toiling, hardworking self and ran the most metres for the Dogs’ forwards with 124.
Josh Reynolds had a quiet game and may have been carrying an injury from last week’s match but his position in the halves is by no means assured and will need to take more control of the attack in coming weeks.
INJURY WARD
Brett Morris (knee rd 16), Michael Lichaa (knee Rd 6), Adam Keighran (shoulder, indefinite).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
The 20s went down 30-20 to the Eels but second-rower Jayden Okunbor scored a double. But in NSW Cup Matt Frawley and Dane Chisholm starred in a thrilling two-point loss to Manly and could — Chisholm especially — put some pressure on the first-choice halves pairing should they not generate more scoring options.
REPORT CARD
C: Lacked the grit from the win over the Panthers and missing the flair they had in their Round 1 win. The potential is there for the Bulldogs but that issue with consistency seems like it’s still going to be a problem in 2016, if their first three efforts are any indication. Next week doesn’t get easier with the Rabbitohs on Good Friday.
— Fiona Bollen
TIGERS
HOW THEY FARED
For the first 15 minutes the Tigers were brilliant but like last week’s win over Manly they faded in the back end of the first half — and this time they couldn’t make up the distance. It looks to be an ongoing problem for the Tigers, who lack consistent application through the 80 minutes.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Kevin Naiqama has been playing very good footy for the season and a bit he’s been at the Tigers but his last two matches have been close to the best of his career. He scored three tries and saved another with a fabulous chase on David Mead. With the exception of Sauaso Sue and Aaron Woods, the forwards failed to aim up when the hammer came down, which will continue to cause concern for Jason Taylor.
INJURY WARD
Naiqama winded himself scoring his third try of the match but is not expected to miss any time.
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
JJ Felise and Junior Tatola form a deadly front row combination for the Tigers Under 20s and were in fine form against the Titans despite going down 30-18. Felise ran for 137 metres while Tatola churned out 142 metres as they dominated the exchanges in the middle of the field.
REPORT CARD
C+: The Tigers are still a team in development and these kind of swings and roundabouts are to be expected. Increased minutes for Sue, who leads their defence and line speed from the middle of the field, would go a long way towards fixing their issues.
— Nick Campton
EELS
HOW THEY FARED
Despite all salary cap drama hanging over the club, the Eels once again managed to move past the constant speculation and deliver on the field. In another gutsy performance, Parramatta claimed a well-deserved win against one of the form team of the competition in the Bulldogs. Their unheralded froward pack stood up to be counted against one of the most dominant packs in the competition.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Winger Semi Radradra returned to his barnstorming best and had a huge impact on the match. Two tries in the second half to the flying Fijian all but secured victory for the Eels. He also had two line breaks to his name and of course, there was the freakish no-look try assist that put Michael Jennings over to score.
Kieran Foran also rates a mention, with the halfback finding his running game. He controlled the game nicely and gave the Eels direction in attack.
INJURY WARD
Beau Scott (shoulder/hip, TBC), Nathan Peats (dislocated elbow, round six), Anthony Watmough (knee, indefinite), John Folau (hamstring, indefinite), Cameron King (sternum, indefinite)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
It’s unlikely coach Brad Arthur will tinker with his side too much. Backrower Beau Scott could see some time on the sideline after playing the match with a busted shoulder. This opens up an opportunity for young Kelepi Tanginoa, who was solid for Wenworthville against the Panthers in the NSW Cup.
REPORT CARD
B+: First they knocked off the reigning premiers, now they’ve handed Bulldogs their first loss of the season. The Eels have started the season with the steel needed to grind out tough wins and this is being perfectly complimented in attack by the halves combination of Foran and Norman — which, to the delight of Parramatta fans, is gelling very nicely.
— Fatima Kdouh
SHARKS
HOW THEY FARED
Cronulla continued their poor record at Brookvale Oval. There were positive signs early, the Sharks dominated possession and were the first to post points. It was 10 minutes before Manly even touched the ball. Despite the glut of possession they struggled to post any points and were kept scoreless for 60 minutes before Valentine Holmes crossed in the 65th minute.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Forward Andrew Fifita put in another powerhouse performance despite being on the losing side. He churned out 200 metres from 24 hit-ups and even lead the tackle count for his side with 31.
Ben Barba continues to repay the faith show in him by coach Shane Flanagan, The fullback was enterprising in attack and was solid under the high ball.
Valentine Holmes was once again had a quiet game. He did score a try but beyond that struggled to get involved. Flanagan must be-rethinking his role in the side, there is no doubt someone with the talent of Holmes is wasted on the wing.
INJURY WARD
Jack Bird (concussion, round four) Paul Gallen (knee, round five), Tracey Connor (ACL, season), Kurt Capewell (knee, round four), Matt McIlwrick (eye, round four)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Forward David Fifita dropped out of the side after a reshuffle in the forwards, but he could make a return to the bench in favour over Joseph Paulo. In NSW Cup, outside back Mitch Brown was decent in Newtown’s loss to the Warriors.
REPORT CARD
C Once again, Cronulla’s inability to post points is hurting them. Despite enjoying a mountain of possession they were unable they struggled to convert opportunities. A big part of this is down to opposition sides effectively shutting down James Maloney — who himself looks to be off his game. The lack of spark in attack also isn’t helped by the fact strike weapon Holmes is stuck out on the wing waiting for scraps to come his way.
— Fatima Kdouh
PANTHERS
HOW THEY FARED
Penrith managed to bounce back from last week’s narrow loss against Canterbury with a nail-bitting win against grand finalists, the Broncos. It would have been extra sweet for coach Anthony Griffin who was sacked by Brisbane in 2014 in favour of Wayne Bennett.
Te Marie Martin had a stunning debut for the club and lived up to the pre-season hype. The rookie nailed a field goal in the 77th minute, ultimately handing his side the win.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Backrower Bryce Cartwright showed exactly why he needs to be a permanent starter. The 21-year-old stamped his authority on the match, in an influential performance that included the try assist to set up Martin’s try that levelled the scores in the 69th minute.
At the other end of the scale, fullback Will Smith had a mixed day at the office. He struggled with his handling and missed five tackles. But he did stand up to the pressure under the high ball in the latter stages of the match.
INJURY WARD
Trent Merrin was late withdrawal against the Broncos with a virus. It’s expected he’ll return for round four. Dean Whare (calf, round seven), James Segeyaro (broken arm, round seven), Matt Moylan (back, round four), George Jennings (shoulder, round four), Viliame Kikau (ankle, indefinite), Sione Katoa (knee, round four), Brendan Atwood (arm, indefinite), Waqa Blake (cork, TBA).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Matt Moylan should make is long-awaited return from a back injury with Will Smith the person likely to make way for the fullback.
REPORT CARD
B: There were worrying signs early with the Panthers going into half-time trialling by 16 points. To their credit, they bounced back to score 17 unanswered points and in the process unearthed a young gun who has all the makings of a future NRL star in Te Marie Martin.
— Fatima Kdouh
SEA EAGLES
HOW THEY FARED
The Sea Eagles notched up their first win of the season in what would have been a huge morale boost for the side and in particular new coach Trent Barrett.
The Prince of Brookvale, Brett Stewart, made his return to the side and the influence he brings in invaluable. While they weren’t brilliant, Manly showed signs of what they are capable of, especially when Daly Cherry-Evans is in control. They were also stoic in defence and kept Cronulla from scoring for about 60 minutes despite the Sharks enjoying a bulk of the position in the first half.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Star halfback Daly Cherry-Evans finally stood up to be counted and answered all his critics perfectly. He was dominant and looked dangerous when he ran the ball and his combination with Dylan Walker is continuing to show glimpses of its potential. He did have a minor brain explosion when he failed to find touch after kicking to the long side of the field, much to the displeasure of Manly fans.
Again, the Trbojevic brothers, Jake and Tom, were impressive. Forward Jake is a no-frills type of player who goes about his business with plenty of commitment. Tom is a genuine strike weapon and ran for 200 metres and crossed for a try.
Backrower Tom Symonds made a return to the NRL side but didn’t have a huge impact.
INJURY WARD
Jayden Hodges (ACL, season), Jamie Buhrer (broken jaw, round four), Isaac John (hamstring, round four)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Another powerful performance from Martin Taupau was soured after he was placed on report for an ugly hit on Jack Bird. He faces a week on the sidelines after being charged by the match review committee. This could earn backrower Blake Leary a recall after he impressed in the NSW Cup, crossing for two tries. Jamie Buhrer is also set to return from a jaw injury in round four.
REPORT CARD
C+ A much improved Manly side finally jagged their first victory of the season, and if you believed all the pre-season hype it was a well overdue win at that. The Sea Eagles were good without being outstanding but the two points is sure to return some much-needed confidence.
— Fatima Kdouh
DRAGONS
HOW THEY FARED
The Dragons toughed out their first win of the season against South Sydney in torrential rain. The low-scoring affair saw the joint venture club come away with an 8-6 win that could have gone either way in the wet. Defence proved to be the key to Red V success.
WHO STARRED WHO STRUGGLED?
Josh Dugan returned to the No.1 jersey and shook off some early rust before making some key runs and catches for the Dragons and being far more involved in the game than he had been at centre for Rounds 1 and 2. Leeson Ah Mau didn’t exactly struggle but had a far quieter game with less impact than that of his fellow forward pack members.
INJURY WARD
Dylan Farrell (back, indefinite), Mose Masoe (ACL, season), Kurt Mann (ankle, round 4).
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
NYC prop Luciano Leilua was instrumental in the young Dragons 24-26 win over the Bunnies. Also their first win of the season, the NYC Dragons saw Leilua bag two tries. His last try, right on the siren, was a solo effort where he barged past Rabbitohs defenders to ground the ball.
REPORT CARD
B: It wasn’t pretty but the Dragons got the job done ahead of a tough run of fixtures in Queensland. Yet while they came away with the two points there were again inconsistencies in attack. The Red V looks lost when they get a full set in the opposition 20. They need a plan and they need one now.
— David Campbell
KNIGHTS
HOW THEY FARED
It was a much improved and seemingly inspired Knights side that took to Hunter Stadium this weekend. Lead by Newcastle stalwart Jarrod Mullen they clawed back a 16-0 deficit to grind out a draw in gutsy effort. Coach Nathan Brown even called out the “keyboard warriors”, saying it was time for Novocastrians to show up support their side on the back of their efforts on the field on Saturday.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Five-eighth Jarrod Mullen put a forgettable 12 months behind him to steer the Knights to a hard-fought draw. In his 200th NRL game, Mullen was heavily involved and had a hand in three of Newcastle’s four tries.
Teenage debutant Cory Denniss started his NRL career in the best fashion possible. In a busy performance he scored two tries, made try-saving tackle and even made two linebreaks.
Despite running for 167 metres, fullback Dane Gagai struggled in patches during the game and missed four tackles — one of which led to the Raiders try that levelled the match.
INJURY WARD
David Bhana (ankle, round 10), Chanel Mata’utia (knee, round eight), Tariq Sims (suspension, round six), James McManus (concussion, season), Jake Mamo (ankle, indefinite), Akuila Uate (shoulder, TBA), Daniel Saifiti (knee, TBA)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Micky Pea or Pauli Pauli both came into the side after the withdrawals of Daniel Saifiti and Aukila Uate caused a reshuffle. Saifiti’s return in round four could see Micky Pea drop back on to an extended bench.
REPORT CARD
C+: After a hapless start to the season the Knights managed to get themselves off the bottom of the table, albeit with a draw but one that displayed the passion and commitment that had eluded them in the opening two rounds.
— Fatima Kdouh
WARRIORS
HOW THEY FARED
The Warriors slumped to their third loss of the season, and 11th straight overall, but at least they didn’t go down without a fight.
The under-fire New Zealanders led the unbeaten Storm heading into the final 15 minutes thanks to a Jono Wright four-pointer, only to see victory slip through their hands as Cooper Cronk’s field goal and Marika Koroibete’s late try consigned them to a 21-14 defeat.
The effort was much improved, but the execution — particularly when the game was there to be won in the final 10 minutes — was lacking.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Jazz Tevaga was a late call-up for injured hooker Issac Luke and impressed with his toughness on his NRL debut. With the injured Luke (knee) no certainty to return this weekend, the talented youngster could be in line for more gametime.
Shaun Johnson’s struggles continued though. He was better than the opening two rounds but with the game on the line the Warriors’ main man unable to steer his side home.
INJURY WARD
Sam Lisone (shoulder, indefinite), Ben Henry (knee, indefinite), Thomas Leuluai (ACL, round five), Henare Wells (hamstring, round four), Ligi Sao (dislocated shoulder, indefinite), Sione Lousi (round four), Sipley Toafofoa (round four), Mason Lino (round four), Issac Luke (leg, TBA), Manu Vatuvei (ribs, indefinite), Nathaniel Roache (ankle, TBA)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE
Ali Lauitiiti is doing everything in his power to seal a fairytale comeback to the NRL. The veteran forward scored two tries to seal a comeback NSW Cup win for the Warriors against Newtown Jets. Both tries were set up by Ata Hingano, earmarked as Shaun Johnson’s long-term partner in the halves. The young playmaker has impressed in NSW Cup so far this year — could the future arrive early for the Warriors?
REPORT CARD
D: Andrew McFadden’s men have shown signs of improvement the past two weeks, without doing quite enough to get over the line. With a similar effort this weekend, they should be confident of pushing for their first victory of the year against the winless Knights.
— Dominic Burke
ROOSTERS
HOW THEY FARED
It was another dismal showing by the Roosters, who are now setting records for their poor start. Two tries in eight minutes set the tone for their 40-0 thumping by the defending premiers up in Townsville. They completed at just 65 per cent and ran a huge 700 metres less than their opponents. Morale continues to take a hammering for the tricolours.
WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED?
Shaun Kenny-Dowall had another solid performance and with Dale Copley out for a number of a weeks now he’ll likely shift back to centre as cover, which could boost the Roosters with more involvement from him after he finished the game with 10 tackle-breaks, two line-breaks and 138 metres, the most in his team.
It was a night to forget for Blake Ferguson as he shifted back to his usual centre position after training much of the summer and playing the first round at fullback. A couple of errors at key moments and he failed to have the impact we’ve come to expect from him.
INJURY WARD
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (ACL, indefinite), Boyd Cordner (pectoral, round 8), Dale Copley (pec, indefinite), Ian Henderson (broken leg, indefinite), (Vincent Leuluai (knee, indefinite)
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
It wasn’t a much better evening for the Under-20s who went down 34-16. Reuben Porter and Shaquai Mitchell were among the scorers and the reserves were on the end of a heavy loss too, going down 44-16 to Wests Tigers. Joe Burgess could earn a recall to a wing spot with Copley out now though.
REPORT CARD
C-: There’s a spirit and commitment missing from the team with so many of their big stars sidelined and the pre-season disruption appearing to have affected them more than most anticipated. Three consecutive losses to start 2016 at a total scoreline of 103-30 makes for sad reading and with so many of those stars still weeks away from a return it’s hard to see how things will improve much.
— Fiona Bollen
Originally published as NRL Lowdown: How is your team faring after Round 3?
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