NRL Magic Round Tackle: Fatima Kdouh reveals her likes and dislikes from Suncorp Stadium
Two heavyweight Sydney clubs clash in round 12 in what could shape as a possible wooden spoon showdown following horror Magic Round losses. FATIMA KDOUH’s likes and dislikes from Magic Round.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Another Magic Round is in the books and FATIMA KDOUH reveals her likes and dislikes from the showpiece event of the NRL regular season.
MAGIC ROUND DISLIKES
SPOON SHOWDOWN
They’re two Sydney powerhouse NRL clubs that should in the finals mix, but instead Parramatta and South Sydney go head to head in what is shaping up as a potential wooden spoon battle.
A loss for the Eels against Souths would heap more pressure on coach Brad Arthur after they were lapped by Melbourne in Magic Round, slumping to a fourth straight defeat.
The Eels folded against a resurgent Storm side that was able to overcome the shock of loosing five-eighth Cameron Munster, likely long term, to injury.
The 48-16 scoreboard is rough viewing, and worse still is the fact the Eels are now anchored in the wrong half of the ladder.
It could get worse for the Eels, with Sunday’s star performer Blaize Talagi yet to trigger the player option in his favour for 2025, putting the struggling club at risk of losing the local junior.
“They can’t let him go, he is too important for their future,” Fox League commentator Mick Ennis said.
He’s right, Talagi is vital to their future, and other young guns at the club are likely looking closely at what the teenager decides to do.
Talagi made a game-high 145m for the Eels, had two linebreaks assists and two try assists. Losing Talagi to a rival club would be a bitter pill to swallow for Eels fans.
DES COMPASS OFF THE MARK
Des Hasler sprayed the Bunker, and even NRL’s general manager of elite football Graham Annesley on Saturday night, but the Titans coach’s anger should be directed elsewhere – his own side.
Hasler has bigger worries than the Brian Kelly no-try, and the veteran coach has been around long enough to know as much.
It is now consecutive weeks the Titans have failed to score a try in the second half.
But what should really anger Hasler is the side’s missed tackle count.
The side missed a whopping 47 tackles on Saturday, and those kinds of numbers make it hard to win football games regardless of the Bunker.
Then there’s the matter of the penalty try given away by prop Moe Fotuaika, gifting the Knights the lead late in the second half.
Hasler should be angry about those efforts, not the Bunker.
It doesn’t get any easier for Hasler or the Titans this week when they come up against title contenders, the Broncos.
The talk bottom-placed sides get dudded in contentious calls is nothing new. But with the Titans facing a monumental task against the Broncos, Hasler can’t afford that negative line of thinking seeping through to his playing group, not this week anyway.
Hasler let rip in the post match press conference, calling the Bunker ‘crazy’ after the video review official overturned a try to Kelly with four minutes left of the clock, and the Titans trailing by as many points.
He wasted no time in getting on the blower to Annesley to voice his displeasure at the ruling.
Referee Gerard Sutton had awarded the try, only for the Bunker to review it the put down and determine that indeed there was separation between Kelly’s arm and the ball.
Replays showed that a Newcastle defender helps pry the ball away from Kelly’s grip and he bobbles the ball in the process on putting it down.
No try.
It didn’t stop Hasler from teeing off.
“Try, every day of the week,” Hasler said.
“The Bunker, that’s crazy. Hand didn’t come away from the ball, and if it did then it’s a penalty — one-on-one strip isn’t it? They don’t know, they don’t know.
The rules state: “If there are two or more defenders effecting the tackle and the ball is stolen a penalty should
be awarded, except if the player in possession is attempting to ground the ball for a try.”
The Bunker officials cop a lot of heat and are rarely praised when they get it right. On Saturday, the Bunker did it’s job.
The brilliant lead-up play from Jojo Fifita to keep the ball in play with a stealth pat back had commentators quickly declaring the Titans had been robbed of one of the best tries of the year.
It was actually one of the better Bunker calls all year.
The match would have ended in contentious circumstances if the try had been awarded and the Titans went on to claim victory. The Knights would have been the side ‘robbed’.
BULLDOGS LACK BITE
Last week we rightly praised Canterbury’s much-improved defensive attitude but this time the side’s attack is under the spotlight.
The Bulldogs initially made the most of having the two-man advantage after Jordan Rapana and Josh Papali’i spent time in the sin bin at the same time. But they could not find the cohesion, polish and direction to execute when it mattered most.
By the end of the game, the Bulldogs had been tackled 36 times in their attacking 20, dwarfing Canberra’s 12 tackles in their own red zone.
In the second half, they were tackled 23 times in the red zone while Canberra still had two in the sin bin early on but scored one try in the period.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo conceded the attack was clunky, but the question now is if not Drew Hutchison in the No.7 jersey, then who?
The Bulldogs need spark and some direction, and with both Blake Taaffe and Toby Sexton at his disposal, Ciraldo should have to make a call.
The NSW Cup outfit is second on the ladder and Sexton has been in the kind of form that is hard to ignore.
MANLY’S TURBO PROBLEM
Manly coach Anthony Seibold was right, the penalty against Jaxson Paulo that led to Jock Madden kicking the winning field goal for Brisbane was “soft”.
On the flip side, the Sea Eagles had a huge call go their way too.
Haumole Olakau’atu’s ball to Reuben Garrick that led to a try was hardly a line ball – it was forward.
But what is soft for Manly at the moment is the side’s record without superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic. Seibold’s men had already lost two in a row before Trbojevic succumbed to another long-term hamstring injury.
It’s now three in a row after the first round without him at the back, and could soon become four straight losses, with Melbourne up this week.
According to Fox Sports Lab, Trbojevic has now missed 53 games for the Sea Eagles since 2020, and the club has only a 33 per cent winning record in his absence.
The Sea Eagles averaged six points more, and let in seven points less, when Trbojevic was in the side.
If Seibold can’t find a way to win without his key cog, Manly’s season of promise will turn into another missed finals series.
KICK PRESSURE BACKDOWN?
Has the NRL backed down from its focus on protecting kickers?
The governing body has been guilty in the past of being reactionary.
Harry Grant’s sin-binning after making contact with the leg of Daniel Atkinson was overwhelming derided by fans, and the judiciary’s decision to wipe his $1000 fine after he was charged with grade one dangerous contact was widely celebrated as a victory for common sense.
So it was hardly surprising to see NSW Sky Blues playmaker Corban Baxter only escape with a warning after she collected the leg of Maroons halfback Zahara Temara.
Jordan Rapana’s attempted charge-down of a Reed Mahoney kick morphed into a trip on the Bulldogs hooker but the Canberra fullback only copped a fine for the contact. Again, no one is advocating for easing kick-pressure on playmakers. But putting an onus on the defender to get the timing and technique right is crucial to protecting the kicker from injury.
OBSTRUCTION
The obstruction rule continues to create confusion. Just ask Roosters fans. Late in the first half of Saturday night’s blockbuster clash against Cronulla, Nat Butcher was taken out of the defensive by Cronulla forward Tuku Hau Tapuha.
Hau Tapuha makes contact with Butcher as he is retreating in the defensive line trying to shift sideways in the same direction of the ball. Butcher looked close enough to the play to be impeded by Hau Tapuha’s run. Match officials disagreed and again left many fans asking exactly what is and is not an obstruction in 2024.
MAGIC ROUND LIKES
HOT PROPERTY
How does Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien leave David Armstrong out of his side when superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga returns from injury?
The Knights have not lost a game since Armstrong replaced Ponga four weeks ago, and with each performance, the 23-year old is becoming a hotter commodity on the player market.
The 23-year old is still unsigned for next year and would be a certain starter at a club looking for either a fullback or winger, like Shane Flanagan at St George Illawarra.
Armstrong is unlikely to come with a hefty price tag and is an astute signing, regardless of where he ends up.
He has amassed 23 tries from 28 games in reserve grade for the Knights. He’s proven too good to be stuck in reserve grade and if O’Brien can’t find a place for him in his side, another NRL coach will.
Armstrong is just as prolific on the wing, where he has spent some time at NSW Cup and could end up there in the NRL side.
Ponga is a lock at fullback when he returns but wingers Greg Marzhew and Enari Tuala have been put on notice. Marzhew is locked in until the end of 2026 but Tuala is unsigned beyond this year. Armstrong just might be Newcastle’s X-factor on the wing.
The Knights let Jacob Kiraz slip through their fingers – fans won’t want the club to make the same mistake with Armstrong.
LUAI’S ORIGIN AUDITION
Jarome Luai is no longer the forgotten man in the NSW halves conversation.
The three-time premiership winner has one hand well and truly on the Blues No.6 jumper, after he was unceremoniously axed last year.
Luai gave Wests Tigers fans a glimpse of what he has in store for his new club but also put himself well and truly in the mix for Origin game one.
Luai played with intent on Sunday, and was heavily involved, going after the contest with authority.
His skill, speed, strength and footwork were on full display against the Warriors in the first half at Suncorp Stadium.
And after Nicho Hynes’ strong performance for the Sharks the night before, the Cronulla No.7 and Luai should be Michael Maguire’s halves for game one in Sydney on June 5.
Then there’s the issue of centre.
The list of probable NSW Blues centres is getting smaller every round.
Just when the injury crisis for Maguire could not get any worse, incumbent centre Bradman Best is the latest star to go down with a hamstring injury. Maguire can’t catch a break.
Alarm bells would have started ringing for Maguire when Best failed to return for Newcastle in the second half of Saturday’s clash against the Titans.
Best, who was impressive during his Blues debut in game three last year, was the frontrunner to replace Tom Trbojevic at centre.
Best’s hamstring is described as minor but Maguire is reluctant to bring anyone into camp who isn’t 100 per cent fit.
Matt Burton is edging closer to selection and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is mounting a strong case but Jesse Ramien should be the frontrunner. The powerful Sharks centre is having a huge season, averaging almost 150m per game, making 32 tackle breaks and racking up five try assists.
If form is what Maguire is looking for, then Ramien is his guy.
Now attention turns to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Matt Burton, Kotoni Staggs and Jesse Ramien.
Burton is edging closer to selection and Suaalii is mounting a strong case but Ramien should be the front runner. The powerful centre is having a huge season, averaging almost 150 metres per game, has made 32 tackle breaks in total and had five try assists.
If form is what Maguire is looking for, then Ramien is his guy. Roosters centre Suaalii also made a strong case on Saturday night with a collection of powerful runs out of yardage and hard hitting defence.
His defection to rugby is not a good enough reason to exclude him from the conversation.
But Ramien’s form has been consistent over the opening 10 rounds of the season and should be the front runner.
MADDEN MAGIC
The man to replace halfback Adam Reynolds is staring Brisbane coach Kevin Walters in the face, and it isn’t Coby Black.
Right now, it’s former Wests Tigers fringe first grader Jock Madden. Black is a super talented rising prospect that is viewed as the Broncos’ long term option at No.7 but Madden, who is signed until the end of 2027, wants that same mantle.
While the Broncos have high hopes for Black, the teenager is still at least a year away from being ready for the NRL.
With Reynolds out for three months and Madden showing early signs he can keep Brisbane’s premiership campaign on track, Black could suddenly find himself below Madden on the halfback pecking order.
Madden showed plenty of composure to nail the winning field goal in Brisbane’s thrilling win against the Sea Eagles.
But also controlled the game with confidence and his combination with Ezra Mam will only continue to get better with each game.
FAMILY MATTERS
The stoicism Brisbane powerhouse Payne Haas has shown in the face of unthinkable adversity on the family front is truly remarkable.
Haas was rocked by the news that his father is potentially facing the death penalty in the Philippines after being arrested on alleged drug smuggling charges just 24 hours before Brisbane’s win against Manly on Friday. His mother is also currently facing alleged manslaughter charges.
The Broncos have pledged to support Haas through this difficult period.
But on top of everything Haas has to shoulder on the family front, he is also the man to carry Brisbane’s title charge and lead the side’s engine room.
He’ll carry a similar burden for the NSW Blues come Origin time.
One thing is certain, the shoulders of Haas are broad but just how much can the Brisbane prop shoulder?
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL Magic Round Tackle: Fatima Kdouh reveals her likes and dislikes from Suncorp Stadium
Sport Con: Joey’s shock take on Newcastle great
The Newcastle Knights lost the match but Kalyn Ponga won high praise from NRL Immortal Joey Johns who anointed the star fullback with an incredible honour.
Sport Confidential: Bennett’s Cobbo, RCG signing admission
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett says the club “can’t afford” to make a play at the two hottest free agents in the NRL.