NRL live round 12: Sunday SuperCoach action, Broncos v Titans, Warriors v Dolphins
This week’s most popular cheapie produced some questionable defence but also some scintillating attack and has emerged as a SuperCoach target for round 14.
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Tom Sangster analyses the best and worst from Sunday’s SuperCoach action.
SUNDAY WINNERS
* Herbie Farnworth (118) - Herbie’s best game for the Dolphins so far notching a try, try assist, three linebreaks and 10 tackle busts.
* Te Maire Martin (117) - Popular early-season money maker is still in nine per cent of teams and rewarded owners with a try and two try assists.
* Josiah Karapani (70) - This week’s most popular cheapie produced some questionable defence but also some scintillating attack including a try assist and two linebreaks. Option for round 14, pending the injury to Kotoni Staggs.
* Jamayne Isaako (84) - Not his usual base but scored two tries and two linebreaks.
* Euan Aitken (73) - Pure base including 47 tackles. With dual CTW/2RF positioning and available for all three big byes, he should be in far more than two per cent of teams.
* Keano Kini (129) - The young gun’s best game in the NRL so far. Three try assists and kicked goals.
* Reece Walsh (112) - Brilliant first half but only ran the ball four times in the second. Still produced some big stats including five linebreak assists and two try assists.
* Payne Haas (100) - Notched an early try and got through his usual work including 37 tackles.
* David Fifita (79) - Played centre for much of the game so the work rate was down. But he made up for it with barnstorming attacking, setting up a crucial try and getting a try contribution. Came off late with a HIA.
* Beau Fermor (82) - Popular SuperCoach forward switched to centre on game day due to injuuries at the Titans and notched a try and try contribution.
SUNDAY LOSERS
* Jeremy Marshall-King (47) - Not quite what we were looking for from the guy trumpeted by many (myself) as the best replacement for Harry Grant over Origin.
* Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (39) - Incredibly low score given he scored a try. Base was almost non-existent.
FULL-TIME: WARRIORS 24 DEFEAT DOLPHINS 20
The Warriors have pulled off a famous win against the Dolphins.
Down 10 regular first graders - including four ruled out since the team was announced on Tuesday - the Warriors have ground out a huge victory in front of their home fans.
A late try to Jamayne Isaako set up a thrilling final few minutes but it was too little too late for the Dolphins.
66TH MIN: NIUKORE GIVES WARRIORS COMMANDING LEAD
The Warriors are on the verge a brilliant win against the Dolphins, surging to a 24-16 lead thanks to a try to Marata Niukore.
It will be tough for the Dolphins to come back from here.
57TH MIN: DWZ GETS WARRIORS TO LEAD
The stand-in fullback following host of late outs, DWZ charged over one off the ruck from a quick play-the-ball.
The Warriors were rocked pre-game with the withdrawals of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (illness), Taine Tuaupiki (birth of child), Addin Fonua-Blake (stood down) and Rocco Berry (hand), while stand-in hooker Paul Roache has been ruled out for the game.
But they have shown serious fight and plenty of flair to take the lead 18-16.
DWZ gets over and things are heating up here! 👀
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 26, 2024
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HALF-TIME: DOLPHINS 16 LEAD WARRIORS 12
* Herbie Farnworth (84) - Try, try assist, two linebreaks and seven tackle busts in his best game for the Dolphins so far.
* Te Maire Martin (69) - Popular early-season money maker is still in nine per cent of teams and rewarded owners with a try and try assist.
* Jamayne Isaako (58) - Got in on the attacking footy with a try and two linebreaks.
* Euan Aitken (41) - Pure base. With dual CTW/2RF positioning and available for all three big byes, he should be in far more than two per cent of teams.
* Jack Bostock (12) - Big early-season money-man has hit a plateau.
20TH MIN: DOLPHINS START FAST
Tries to Herbie Farnworth and Jamayne Isaako have the Dolphins ahead 10-nil against the understrength Warriors.
Andrew Webster’s team had four key players ruled out pre-game and their team is a patchwork quilt, with the Phins taking full advantage.
LATE MAIL: MASS CHANGES FOR WARRIORS
The Warriors have been forced into significant changes with four genuine first graders ruled out – Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (illness), Taine Tuaupiki (birth of child), Addin Fonua-Blake (stood down) and Rocco Berry (hand).
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is the new fullback, while Moala Graham-Taufa will debut at centre.
Edward Kosi comes onto the wing and Chanel Harris-Tavita into the halves.
The Dolphins have pulled their now customary switch of Felise Kaufusi moving to prop, Connelly Lemuelu onto the edge and Mark Nicholls to the bench.
Warriors (Aotearoa)
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 5. Marcelo Montoya 4. Adam Pompey 23. Moala Graham-Taufa 22. Edward Kosi 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 10. Bunty Afoa 18. Paul Roache 17. Marata Niukore 11. Jackson Ford 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Dylan Walker
Bench: 9. Freddy Lussick 14. Tom Ale 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Jacob Laban
Reserves: 21. Zyon Maiu’u
Cut: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 6. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 8. Addin Fonua-Blake
Dolphins (Turrbal, Yuggera, Ningy Ningy, & Kabi Kabi)
1. Hamiso Tubuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 17. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Max Plath
Bench: 10. Mark Nicholls 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kenny Bromwich 16. Ray Stone
Reserves: 18. Oryn Keeley
Cut: 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jarrod Wallace 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Trai Fuller
TITANS V BRONCOS: TOP SUPERCOACH PERFORMERS
* Keano Kini (129) - The young gun’s best game in the NRL so far. Three try assists and kicked goals.
* Reece Walsh (112) - Brilliant first half but only ran the ball four times in the second. Still produced some big stats including five linebreak assists and two try assists.
* Payne Haas (100) - Notched an early try and got through his usual work including 37 tackles.
* David Fifita (79) - Played centre for much of the game so the work rate was down. But he made up for it with barnstorming attacking, setting up a crucial try and getting a try contribution. Came off late with a HIA.
* Beau Fermor (82) - Popular SuperCoach forward switched to centre on game day due to injuuries at the Titans and notched a try and try contribution.
* Josiah Karapani (70) - This week’s most popular cheapie produced some questionable defence but also some scintillating attack including a try assist and two linebreaks. Option for round 14, pending the injury to Kotoni Staggs.
FULL-TIME: TITANS DEFEAT BRONCOS 36-34
Did David Fifita just play his way back into an Origin jersey?
All the chat coming into the game was that Fifita needed a blinder against the Broncos to retain a spot in the Maroons’ 17 for game one.
And that’s exactly what Fifita produced with a try, try contribution, seven tackle busts and 19 runs.
Playing centre for much of the match due to injuries at the Titans, the only dampener was a late HIA.
The injury-hit Titans refused to go away against their far classier local opponents.
“This is one of the Titans’ greatest victories,” said Corey Parker in Fox Sports commentary.
60TH MIN: NAILBITING FINISH TO COME AS PALASIA SCORES AGAINST OLD CLUB
The Titans are putting up a serious fight here with Keenan Palasia the latest to score, against his former side no less.
The Broncos lead 30-28 and we are set for a stunning finish.
52ND MIN: EZRA GOES THE LENGTH, BRONCOS LEAD 30-22
Ezra Mam has scored one of now-customary breakaway tries to get the Broncos ahead by eight points.
Mam fielded a Titans kick and found himself with no-one in front of him, racing 90 metres to score.
Earlier, the Titans scored the first points of the second half through a try to Chris Randall.
EZRA MAM GOES ALL THE WAY. 💨
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 26, 2024
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HALF-TIME: BRONCOS 24 LEAD TITANS 16
Reece Walsh is leading the way and a host of SuperCoach studs are firing.
It’s a dry, open and high-scoring clash and SuperCoaches are cashing in:
- Reece Walsh (69) - Copped an early knock to the nuts but has been brilliant since with a try assist, two linebreaks and two linebreak assists.
- Payne Haas (64) - Usual big workrate and notched an early try.
- Beau Fermor (64) - Switched to centre and crossed for a try.
- Josiah Karapani (46) - Most popular cheapie of the week has started well with a try assist and three tackle busts.
- David Fifita (32) - Hardly a disastrous half but work rate is down after spending plenty of time at centre. due to injuries at the Titans.
26TH MINUTE: FERMOR MAKES UP FOR MISTAKE
Beau Fermor has scored for the Titans just moments after his over-jealous defence cost his side a penalty try.
Fermor caught the Broncos snoozing close to the line and crossed almost untouched.
It’s 18-12 to the Broncos and we have a serious game on our hands.
20TH MIN: MARINER AWARDED PENALTY TRY
Deine Mariner can’t stop scoring tries.
This time it’s a penalty try with the Bunker ruling he was taken out by Beau Fermor just before he had an opportunity to catch and ground the ball.
17TH MINUTE: CHEAPIE LIGHTS UP SUNCORP
Josiah Karapani came into the round as the most popular SuperCoach cheapie and boy did he just deliver.
The former Rabbitoh busted a heap of tackles and notched a line break before getting the try assist for Corey Oates in the corner.
He’s shot out to 41 points.
Payne Haas was the other scorer for the Broncos, barging over from close range off a Billy Walters pass.
It’s 10-6 to the Broncos.
Haas crashes over to get the Broncos on the board early!
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 26, 2024
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12TH MINUTE: MORE MAROONS WORRIES AS CARRIGAN ON REPORT
Queensland certainty Pat Carrigan has been placed on report for a high shot.
It was hardly the biggest contact, but Broncos and Maroons fans will no doubt be monitoring the match review committee’s findings on Monday morning.
2ND MIN: EARLY WALSH SCARE
Superstar fullback Reece Walsh has sent and early scare through Broncos and Maroons camp.
Walsh went down clutching his groin after pulling off a trysaver in the opening moments.
“He just copped a bit of a whack in the crown jewels,” said Corey Parker in commentary.
LATE MAIL: BRONCOS TRIO CLEARED
Final teams are in for the Broncos v Titans derby and the news is good for the Broncos with star trio Reece Walsh (knee), Billy Walters (wrist) and Payne Haas (toe) all cleared.
The Broncos are 1-17.
The news isn’t as good for the Titans who have lost Jojo Fifita (pectoral).
Beau Fermor switches to the backline with Keenan Palasia joining the starting pack and Jacob Alick-Wiencke joining the bench.
Kieran Foran (hamstring) also failed in his fitness bid after being named on the extended bench.
Kick-off is at 2pm.
BRONCOS v TITANS
Sunday, 2pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos (Yuggera & Turrbal)
1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Josiah Karapani 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan
Bench: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Jack Gosiewski
Reserves: 18. Joshua Rogers
Cut: 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Blake Mozer 21. Martin Taupau 22. Jaiyden Hunt
Titans (Yugambeh)
1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 12. Beau Fermor 5. Tony Francis 6. Chris Randall 7. Thomas Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Josiah Pahulu 11. David Fifita 13. Klese Haas 14. Keenan Palasia
Bench: 15. Isaac Liu 16. Erin Clark 17. Joe Stimson 18. Jacob Alick-Wiencke
Reserves: 22. Jaylan De Groot
Cut: 4. Jojo Fifita 19. Kieran Foran 20. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 21. Arama Hau
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