The Tackle: Decisions to be made for Trent Robinson at Roosters, Michael Maguire’s real Broncos test to come against Canberra

The Roosters’ demolition at the hands of the Broncos has put the spotlight, and pressure, on coach Trent Robinson who faces some major selection calls in crucial positions. FATIMA KDOUH has that and more in The Tackle.

Fatima Kdouh reveals her likes and dislikes from round one of the NRL 2025 season.

DISLIKES

ROOSTERS IN FOR ROUND 2 PLUCKING

The Roosters have lost the last 10 clashes against Penrith and going by Brisbane’s nine-try rout of Trent Robinson’s men, that record is about to be more dismal.

It’s been 10 years since the Roosters last needed a rebuild – after finishing second last in 2016 – and all signs point to the club being in a similar predicament.

It will put the spotlight, and pressure, on every move Robinson makes from recruitment and retention – like the decision to let Terrell May leave the club – to even weekly team selections.

Like, where does Robinson go to in the halves while halfback Sam Walker recovers from an ACL injury?

Chad Townsend didn’t set the world alight on his Roosters debut. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Chad Townsend was supposed to be a stopgap until Walker returned to take over and lead a finals charge. By the time Walker returns in late May, the Roosters could be playing for nothing more than pride. Both Towsend and Sandon Smith offered little in attack and struggled defensively against Brisbane.

The problem is that Robinson has no immediate halves fix.

Connor Watson is an option, which would see Zach Dockar-Clay, who injected some energy from the bench, start at hooker. He does have impressive rookies Jake Elliott and Toby Rodwell waiting in the wings but calling on either would be a baptism of fire against the four-time premiers.

Rookie Toby Rodwell is a halves option for the Roosters. Picture: Adam Wrightson Photography

Not too dissimilar to the selections of rookie forwards Salesi Foketi and Blake Steep on the bench in Round 1. Both struggled to make a dent against a ferocious Broncos pack led by Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan. So did Lindsay Collins (45 run metres), Naufahu Whyte (59 run metres) and Siua Wong (24 run metres).

Robinson lost almost 1300 games of NRL experience after the exits of Luke Keary, Jared Wearea-Hargeaves, Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

But Roosters fans were still optimistic given the side still boasted plenty of star power in the likes of James Tedesco, Angus Crichton, Spencer Leniu (suspension, Rd 3) and Victor Radley – who is out of the Penrith clash due to concussion.

For fans of a club where being a finals force is the expectation, that optimism is waning … and will dissipate completely if the Roosters suffer another heavy loss this week against Penrith.

PIE THROWER SHOULD BE HIT WITH BAN

The NRL is working with the Dragons to determine whether Red V fans seen throwing a meat pie at a Bulldogs supporter at Saturday’s sellout at Netstrata Jubilee Oval have breached the game’s Spectator Code of Conduct.

If the alleged culprits are found to have breached the code the NRL should ban the fans from future games.

If they are members of the Dragons, their membership should be revoked.

There’s nothing funny about the behaviour of the Dragons fans – which was shared widely in a video on social media showing a man in a Dragons jersey asking a food server “would that (the pie) look good on a Bulldogs supporter?”.

The same video then also shows a man in a Dragons jumper throwing the pie into the crowd.

The Bulldogs fan who was hit with pie could be seen confronting the Dragons fans in the video after the incident.

It’s the type of situation that could have easily spiralled into a physical altercation in the stands.

It could also have caused serious injury if the pie thrown was hot, potentially causing burns.

The Dragons condemned the behaviour in the “strongest terms” and apologised to the Bulldogs fan in a statement.

Police also spoke to a number of fans over the incident but no arrests were made.

ILIAS RABBITOHS REDEMPTION

If nerves got the better of Lachlan Ilias against the Bulldogs on Saturday, then the Dragons halfback is in for another tough night against his former side South Sydney this week.

Ilias insisted he was a better player now than during his time at the Rabbitohs, but the 24-year failed to live up to that claim in Round 1.

Lachlan Ilias has a tough afternoon against the Bulldogs. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

His long kicking game, especially on the last tackle, did little to put the Bulldogs on the back foot coming out of territory.

Then there was the untimely knock on, also on the last tackle, with five minutes left on the clock and the Dragons’ trailing by eight points.

Shane Flanagan has backed Ilias and is likely to persist in the short-term with his new halves combination. But he did name rising playmaker Lyhkan King-Togia in reserves for the Bulldogs clash. If Ilias struggles to take ownership of the side, King-Togia could force his way into Flanagan’s starting side.

TALES OF OLD TIGERTOWN

The Wests Tigers have a wooden spoon hangover that not even four-time premiership winner Jarome Luai can immediately remedy.

Benji Marshall fielded a new-look side with six off-season recruits including Luai in the no.7 jumper against the Knights.

Jarome Luai couldn’t inspire the Tigers to a win on debut. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Luai did his best to direct his troops around the field, and he did set-up the side’s only try, but struggled to stamp his authority on the match. Halves partner Lachlan Galvin’s short kicking was off the mark.

Other than a single try, the Tigers’ attack offered little.

Worryingly, the Tigers missed a whopping 55 tackles and conceded seven linebreaks.

Tigers fans would have been feeling the Tigers of old were still in the building after much pre-season hype, some which even suggested Marshall’s men could sneak into the finals.

Luai came to Concord to own this team, a bounce back against arch rivals Parramatta this weekend will prove he has what it takes to be the general the Tigers desperately need.

LIKES

PAPS POISED TO GET PAID

If Melbourne isn’t willing to open the cheque book to lock in Ryan Papenhuyzen long term, plenty of NRL rivals will be lining up to splash the cash on the superstar fullback.

Melbourne tabled a reduced money three-year deal last year, which Papenhuyzen described as a hit to the ego.

Ryan Papenhuyzen was electric for the Storm. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

With the Bulldogs and the Eels, who the 26-year old helped dismantle on Sunday, sniffing around at the time Papenhuyzen only agreed to a one-year extension until the end of 2026.

He’ll come on the market again in November, and do so possibly with a second premiership ring.

That title success could be enough to sway Papenhuyzen to take on another challenge at a rival on a mega deal.

Papenhuyzen was one of the best on field in Sunday’s 56-18 thrashing of the Eels. He finished with two tries, eight tackle busts, three line-breaks and two linebreak assists.

The Storm have the bye next week, but Papenhuyzen’s from sets up a scintillating round three grand final replay against Penrith’s Dylan Edwards.

It also shapes as the first battle between the custodians in the race to the NSW no.1 jumper in 2025.

MAGUIRE’S REAL BRONCOS TEST TO COME

Michael Maguire’s biggest Broncos test so far will be this weekend in the nation’s capital against Ricky Stuart’s resurgent Raiders.

Brisbane passed the footy test in a big way at Allianz Stadium against the Sydney Roosters – Maguire’s men were clearly well conditioned and well coached.

It should put any doubts about Maguire’s so-called militant training methods to bed.

But will the Broncos pass the mental test, specifically the ‘rockstar mentality’ test, this week?

When this masthead asked NRL fans “what is Michael Maguire’s biggest issue at the Broncos?”, a staggering 72 per cent of the almost 16,000 respondents said the side’s rock star attitude had undermined the club.

Can Michael Maguire contain the hype train?

The accusations of a rockstar mentality at Redhill, helping to lead to the demise of the Broncos last year, will rear their ugly head again, and fast, if the Broncos take the Raiders too lightly on Saturday night.

Therein lies Maguire’s challenge, not only this week but all season long.

His side can play football and is looking every bit a genuine title contender but Maguire’s biggest task will be to keep the heads of his young and very talented side squarely on their shoulders.

Given Canberra will be without powerhouse forward Joseph Tapine and x-factor strike weapon Xavier Savage, there is only more pressure on the Broncos to get the job done at GIO Stadium.

Fed-up Broncos fans will be expecting as much.

Taking an understrength Raiders outfit, coached by a man that thrives under a siege mentality, will be at Brisbane’s peril.

Maguire knows this all too well, having been Stuart’s assistant at the Raiders in 2023 before taking the NSW Blues head coach job last year.

He also knows Stuart will be plotting an ambush, and feeling confident enough of pulling it off after a spirited win in Las Vegas against the Warriors.

There was no love lost between the two coaches when Stuart blasted the Blues last year for the way the axing of backrower Hudson Young from the NSW side was handled, labelling it ‘disgraceful’.

After sharing the coaches box in 2023, Maguire and Stuart, two very passionate and emotional coaches, will be in opposing boxes on Saturday night.

It will make for as much fireworks in the stands as in the middle of the field.

SEA EAGLES SOAR

Manly has entered the race, alongside Melbourne, as a genuine threat to Penrith’s premiership dynasty.

Are Manly a genuine title threat in 2025? Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

A listless Cowboys might not be the best litmus test to Manly’s premiership credentials but Anthony Seibold has the right ingredients to be a title dark horse.

Barnstorming backrower Haumole Olakau’atu was an absolute beast on the right edge. When he wasn’t steam rolling the Cowboys, he was helping to set up tries and saving them in defence.

Veteran halfback Daly Cherry-Evans had a field day playing behind Olakau’atu and Manly’s big forward pack including big man Taniela Paseka.

Superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic also looked back to his menacing best. If he can stay fit and on the field, Manly will be a tough proposition in 2025.

The win has seen the Sea Eagles shorten as $10 favourites for the title, leap frogging Cronulla and Canterbury.

The Warriors should be easy work this week but Manly will get an early test of their title credentials when they take on the Storm in Round 5 and Penrith in Round 8.