The Tackle: Dragons’ spine fires; Bulldogs unearth ‘Tom Dearden-like’ half; Joe Ofahengaue reprimanded for sideline antics

The Dragons have been installed as early favourites to run last in 2025 but Sunday’s trial against the Roosters showed Shane Flanagan’s new spine can fire. Plus, Trent Robinson drops a long-term fullback hint. FATIMA KDOUH’s likes and dislikes from the Pre-Season Challenge.

Fatima Kdouh reveals her likes and dislikes from week two of the Pre-Season Challenge, revealing Joe Ofahengaue was reprimanded by Parramatta bosses, while Nathan Cleary took a major step in lining up in Penrith’s round 1 side in Las Vegas.

PRE-SEASON DISLIKES

EEL DACKED

Parramatta forward Joe Ofahengaue has personally apologised to Fox League’s Eloise Sohier for ‘dacking’ Zac Lomax during a live cross, in a childish incident that has gone down like a lead balloon with coach Jason Ryles and club bosses.

It’s understood Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill moved quickly after the match to handle the sideline incident, when Ofahengaue told O’Neill he was intending to reach out to Sohier and apologise.

Ofahengaue then contacted Sohier, who handled the incident with composure, over the weekend with an apology for his behaviour. This masthead understands Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos even reached out to Fox Sports managing director Steve Crawley to express his regret over the incident, which happened during Friday’s trial match against Newcastle.

While the governing body is unlikely to take its own action, Ofahengaue’s inappropriate and immature actions should be a warning to other NRL players.

Joe Ofahengaue's dacking of Zac Lomax on live TV has caused a stir.

Like it or not the football field is a workplace, like any other, where professionalism is expected and where that sort of behaviour is likely to land you in some serious trouble.

We’ve heard all pre-season about the re-set of standards and work ethic Ryles has attempted to install at Parramatta since joining the club.

And by all accounts, Ryles was as unimpressed by Ofahengaue as Parramatta’s senior management.

Thankfully for the Eels, Lomax wasn’t left exposed in a family friendly timeslot, which would have left club bosses with a far more serious incident on their hands.

It’s not the first time Eels players have found themselves in the spotlight over similar inappropriate behaviour. In 2023, the NRL integrity unit was made aware of Eels players making animal sounds during a media session while being interviewed by reporters only hours after star Dylan Brown appeared in court on sexual touching charges.

Back then, former skipper Clint Gutherson showed leadership in stepping in to stop the childish behaviour.

OPPORTUNITY MISSED

The All Stars fixture should be in New Zealand next year in a Warriors pre-season double header to capitalise on the wave of support for the ‘Wahs’.

The NRL is working hard to wrestle more Kiwi eyeballs away from rugby union to league and should seize on the fixture’s growing stature as a cultural exhibition.

The stirring Maori Haka and Indigenous War Cry don’t just leave fans glued to the screen but are worth the price of admission alone.

The All Stars game has only been played once across the ditch since the concept changed to include the Maori side back in 2019.

Indigenous star Josh Kerr also suggested there is talk of the fixture being scrapped after the game on Saturday.

The Tackle understands the NRL has no plans to get rid of the All Stars but is undetermined about the best time to play the fixture in a congested calendar.

FA’ALOGO FALTERS

Sua Fa’alogo made a mockery of anyone who suggested the Melbourne youngster should be in the conversation to usurp Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback.

Fa’alogo’s speed and footwork make him a strike weapon in attack but his unhappy outing in defence on Saturday against the Warriors would have alarm bells ringing for coach Craig Bellamy.

The 21-year-old, who is signed until 2028, came up with a bad miss on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the ninth minute and provided little resistance as the last line of defence when the Warriors mounted attacking raids down the edges.

Until his defensive deficiencies are dealt with Bellamy is unlikely to turn to Fa’alogo, even as an X-factor utility any time soon.

Given Papenhuyzen is only locked in until 2026 and has expressed a desire to test the market, Bellamy will need to deal with Fa’alogo’s defensive woes quickly.

Sua Fa’alogo was comfortably handled by the Warriors. Picture: NRL

PRE-SEASON LIKES

SPINAL TAPS

The Dragons have been installed as early favourites to run last in 2025 but Sunday’s trial against the Roosters showed Shane Flanagan’s new spine does not look like wooden spooners.

Hooker Damien Cook was effective from dummy half, fullback Clint Gutherson looked refreshed and threatened with ball in hand, while halfback Lachlan Ilias kicked well and didn’t shirk his responsibilities in defence. Even five-eighth Kyle Flanagan was in fine touch, setting up tries and scoring of his own.

Trent Robinson shifted Mark Nawaqanitawase into fullback after a 40 minute stint at centre, in a strong indication the coach could turn to the rugby convert if custodian James Tedesco is unavailable during the season. Robinson had ready made successors for Tedesco before the exits of Joey Manu and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii but now Nawaqanitawase has emerged as a long term option.

Schoolboys whiz-kid and playmaker Toby Rodwell played direct and with confidence when he came onto the field, after an underwhelming first half from new halves pairing Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend.

Kyle Flanagan was solid at No.7 for the Dragons. Picture: NRL Photos

SIXES AND SEVENS

Canterbury halfback Toby Sexton is unsigned beyond 2025 but the solution could be right under Cameron Ciraldo’s nose in “Tom Dearden like” Joseph O’Neill.

That huge comparison to the Cowboys and Origin star came from none other than four-time premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk, as O’Neill took control of Sunday’s trial match and poked holes through the Wests Tigers line with his passing and running game.

Mitchell Woods is viewed as the future in the No.7 jumper but he is still only 18 and O’Neill, a development list player, is proving a worthy option while the boom rookie is developing in the lower grades.

His second halves partner Cassius Tia also capped off an impressive outing with a 40/20.

Young wingers Ratu Rinakama and Jonathan Sua also caused plenty of headaches, putting new signing Marcelo Montoya, who is expected to start in round 1, on notice.

Joseph O’Neill could be Canterbury’s answer at No.7. Picture: NRL Images

PANTHER PROWLS

Penrith champion Nathan Cleary has cleared a major hurdle over the weekend putting him on track to take the field against Cronulla at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on March 2.

Cleary got through an in-house scrimmage against the club’s NSW Cup side unscathed, where he played enough minutes to put his shoulder to the test.

While Cleary got through the hit out without any issues, the Panthers general has been training with a heavily strapped shoulder.

The halfback, along with new recruit Blaize Talagi and fullback Dylan Edwards, had off-season shoulder surgery, while hardman Liam Martin managed an AC joint injury over the summer.

Martin confirmed to The Tackle last week he was cleared for Round 1, and has since also overcome a minor toe complaint.

The Panthers had scheduled an opposed contact session against North Sydney Bears last Saturday but had to resort to their extended squad when feeder club Melbourne pulled a number of senior players out of the scrimmage.

Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary with his heavily strapped shoulder. Picture: Instagram

PAPALII POUNCES

You can’t keep them all but fullback Joash Papalii could be about to leave Canterbury ruing the day they let the Bulldogs local junior slip through their fingers to join western Sydney rivals Parramatta.

While Connor Tracey has been commendable at the back, he turns 29 this year and is no stranger to serious injury.

Joash Papalii is a special talent. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Papalii, on the other hand, is still only 20 and showed in Parramatta’s trial that he has the talent to cut it at NRL level. Papalii might be behind Isaiah Iongi as first choice fullback at the Eels but has emerged as a livewire utility option from the bench. After replacing Iongi against the Knights, he ran riot making two line breaks, five tackle busts, scoring a try and setting up two others.

Originally published as The Tackle: Dragons’ spine fires; Bulldogs unearth ‘Tom Dearden-like’ half; Joe Ofahengaue reprimanded for sideline antics