The Tackle: Rugby Australia needs 30 day money-back guarantee for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Rugby Australia should be looking for the receipt on their $5 million Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after his extremely disappointing effort at Magic Round, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
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Paul Crawley reveals his Magic Round likes and dislikes in his weekly column, The Tackle.
MAGIC ROUND DISLIKES
Rugby Australia should be looking for the receipt on their $5 million Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii investment to see if there is a 30 day money-back guarantee.
But let’s hope for the NSW Blues sake the ridiculous talk that the 19-year-old should be a walk up starter for State of Origin this year is put to bed straight away on the back of Suaalii’s extremely disappointing effort in the shock 20-6 loss to the Cowboys.
While there was no shortage of Roosters players who would have been looking for a hole to bury themselves in at Suncorp Stadium, just compare Suaalii’s numbers to those from fellow Roosters centre Billy Smith who was playing his first game back since July last year.
All up, Suaalii finished up with five runs for 31m with no tackles busts, no line breaks, two errors and three missed tackles.
Meanwhile, Smith had 16 runs for 167m, eight tackle busts and one line break.
Then you go to James Tedesco who had 18 runs for 203m, Corey Allan 14 fort 135m, and Jaxson Paulo 13 for 168m.
You dead-set had to look hard to notice if Suaalii was even out there.
We all know he’s a tremendous talent. But unless there was a mystery injury we don’t know about, you’re entitled to question where his mind was at in this game.
WHY IS LATRELL MITCHELL ABOVE THE LAW?
Latrell Mitchell is an absolutely brilliant footballer and his inspirational performance in the Rabbitohs’ comprehensive win over the Storm was one of the highlights of Magic Round.
But at the moment it is like the referees are petrified of the superstar fullback.
And fans from rival teams have a right to know why it seems Mitchell is above the law.
How he got away with that nasty incident involving Harry Grant and Bronson Garlick midway through the second half was absolutely mind blowing.
Grant was only chasing through on a kick and given Mitchell had placed one foot on the deck after catching the bomb he was fair game to be tackled
But not only did Mitchell raise his knee into Grant’s chest with an action that at best was questionable, but he then somehow took exception to Grant’s completely legal contact by shoving him in the head not once but twice, while he also gave Garlick one for good measure.
It certainly wasn’t a classic punch but it warranted at the very least a reprimand.
But to hear match referee Adam Gee say it was play on and not penalise Mitchell for his total overreaction was extraordinary.
I reckon it was almost a sin bin.
SCROLL DOWN FOR DALLY M LEADERBOARD AND MAGIC ROUND POINTS
Looked like Trel was preparing for origin last night, grubby tactics on Grant and Munster. You love to see it @NRLhttps://t.co/EDZH1Ucgdd
— Mr Potato Head (@MadgeBoy) May 6, 2023
In the previous match the Warriors’ Demitric Sifakula was sin binned for a push that was no worse than Mitchell’s reaction.
Many people don’t mind a bit of emotion and passion and they were cheering this.
And I have no beef with it either so long as the same rules apply for all players.
But this is where the lack of consistency makes fans so angry.
To top off Souths were then awarded a penalty soon after.
I just wonder how the referee might have reacted had it been big Nelson Asofa-Solomona going after Damien Cook or Lachlan Ilias the same way Latrell attacked Grant and Garlick.
THE SADDEST SIGHT OF MAGIC ROUND
The saddest sight in Magic Round was watching a desperate Anthony Griffin in the St George Illawarra coaching box as the Dragons slumped to their fifth straight defeat.
In the weeks since Griffin was basically said to have six weeks to save his job, the Dragons have gone down to the Titans, Raiders, Roosters, Bulldogs and Tigers - with their last win against the Dolphins back in round five.
It is not as if the players aren’t trying for Griffin.
But the 18-16 defeat to the Tigers means they will now finish round 10 equal last on the NRL ladder.
It has got to the point where it is hard to see how Griffin can continue to coach out the season.
At least for Tim Sheens the Tigers have now won back-to-back games for the first time since early last year, while the emergence of this talented young fullback Jahream Bula is especially exciting for their long suffering fans.
HOW WAS THAT NOT A SIN BIN?
Just because Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a big man who can handle a big shot doesn’t mean it should be open slather on him.
So why wasn’t Cowboys prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown sent to the sin bin for his first half high tackle on the veteran Sydney Roosters enforcer?
Waerea-Hargreaves stayed on the ground just long enough for the Bunker to review the incident before the Kiwi got up smiling and told referee Ashley Klein: “I’m happy to crack him, bro.”
But that is not the point.
The tackle was high and it was definitely forceful.
And if it occurred on a smaller playmaker we all know exactly what the outcome would have been.
Yet while the Roosters got the penalty and it was placed on report, Taunoa-Brown stayed on the field.
How was it not a sin bin?
"I'm happy to crack him, bro!" 👀
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 7, 2023
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is the last person you'd want to be cracked by! 😅
📺 Watch #NRLRoostersCowboys on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/AatFxsM0NY
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🔢 MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/gzzFeZzcqTpic.twitter.com/WiV5THXOJI
NRL NEEDS TO CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL RUGBY TACTIC
Rugby union has been in the news a lot more than a lot of NRL fans would prefer in recent times with the struggling code targeting the likes of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
But what we don’t need is this developing trend of players from the attacking team pushing their teammates along like it’s an old fashioned rugby maul.
We saw the perfect example of why it is giving teams an unfair advantage when Raider Zac Woolford pushed along Corey Horsburgh at one point giving his team about a 10 to 15 metre leg up.
The rule states if a player is being driven back a teammate can step in and lend their weight to avoid losing ground.
But as soon as this happens the ref is supposed to call held, not just stand back and watch it like they seem to be doing at the moment.
Surely it’s time for the NRL to knock this on the head.
Teams in the #NRL are ‘mauling’ more and more and the refs do nothing despite the laws being clear. Woolford drove this even when Horse had his feet off the ground. Give them a whack will ya @BuzzRothfieldpic.twitter.com/qLHgX4In65
— Rob Sutherland (@rob_sutherland3) May 5, 2023
BUNKER DOUBLE STANDARDS IS MADNESS
The double standards at play when it comes to when the Bunker can come in and correct mistakes is just madness.
Last round Wayne Bennett blew up that a knock on from Canberra’s Hudson Young that the Bunker was not allowed to act on ultimately led to Jamal Fogarty’s golden point field goal.
Well, this time it was the Raiders on the wrong side of another howler when the ball ricocheted off Jack Wighton’s head before a legitimate try to Xavier Savage was disallowed.
Even though the replays clearly showed the ref had made a blunder, the Bunker could not intervene because referee Chris Sutton didn’t refer it upstairs.
But minutes later the Bulldogs did have a bad call overturned when Hayze Perham was awarded a penalty try on the advice of the Bunker after Perham was taken out by Ata Mariota.
This time Atkins did ask for the Bunker’s verdict.
Why didn’t he just let the Wighton incident play through and get the Bunker to make the call?
I know you want to see refs act on instinct, but when it is a try scoring situation surely the Bunker should be allowed to overrule blatant mistakes.
IS THIS FINALLY THE DEMISE OF THE STORM?
Are we finally watching ‘the fall of Rome’ in respect to the Melbourne Storm’s recent struggles?
For years the Storm have been able to defy the departures of exceptional players like Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk to continue on as one of the game’s powerhouses.
But the loss this year of Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, along with the continued absence of the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen, have arguably left the Storm looking more vulnerable than at any time in Craig Bellamy’s distinguished coaching career.
Aside from big Nelson and Christian Welch they don’t have the experience or depth in the forwards anymore, while the lack of experience and pace in the outside backs is just as big a concern.
They are still sitting on 12 competition points and right up with the top eight teams.
But does anyone seriously think they can be a competitive force come finals time unless there are some drastic improvements from the likes of Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant, and they get Papenhuyzen back?
It was stunning vision on Fox League to see the Storm’s inner circle led by Bellamy and Billy Slater in the rooms after the game obviously discussing where they are at.
With Bellamy yet to make his announcement on whether he will coach on next season, their status would have to be weighing heavily on his mind as they prepare to take on Brisbane on Thursday night.
TURBO’S ORIGIN HOPES SUFFER ANOTHER SETBACK
While Tom Trbojevic continues to deny he is being hampered by injury, it was still a sad sight watching him give up the chase so easily on flying Bronco Selwyn Cobbo.
It came late in the game after the Bronco speedster latched onto a wayward pass from Turbo and set sail on an 80m run to the try line.
In the past you would have not only expected Turbo to go hard after Cobbo, but run him down.
But here all Turbo could do was put his hands on his head and look up to the night sky.
The poor bugger is clearly trying his heart out as his figures show.
He had 15 runs for 147m that included three tackle busts, four line break assists and a late try assist. It’s hardly embarrassing numbers.
But at the moment he is still clearly a long way from the player who has always been a walk up start for NSW whenever he is even close to his best.
Even though he continues to tell us that he is fully fit, on current form there is just no way you could put him in the Blues team ahead of South Sydney’s inform Campbell Graham.
SEIBOLD’S SCHUSTER SMOKESCREEN
What was Anthony Seibold talking about when he suggested questions about Josh Schuster’s attitude was coming from “commentary outside the building”.
Did Seibold forget who was sitting next to him at the media conference at Suncorp?
Because it Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans who first put this into the public forum when he delivered some home truths on the young five-eighth, suggesting “if you’re not willing to work hard enough, if you’re not willing to sacrifice, you just don’t last long”.
I know it’s a coach’s job to protect his players.
But seriously, when Cherry-Evans was sitting right next to him, surely he could have come up with a better diversion than basically blaming it on a media beat up.
MAGIC ROUND LIKES
BREAK THE RULES, MAKE BENNETT IMMORTAL
If the NRL is serious about honouring Wayne Bennett for all he has achieved they should start the process to make him rugby league’s first coaching Immortal.
I understand the Immortals concept was created for the players and not coaches but there is always an exception to every rule.
He is the rugby league equivalent of what Vince Lombardi was to American football, or Sir Alex Ferguson to England’s Premier League soccer.
It’s phenomenal that Bennett started his coaching career way back in 1973 at the Queensland Police Academy.
And here we are five decades down the track and not only is he still in the game at the highest level but arguably coaching as good now as he ever has.
To be at the top of his game at the age of 73 and still inspiring victories like the Dolphins’ shock upset over the Sharks at Magic Round is just astounding.
When Bennett missed out on being named rugby league’s Coach of the Century in 2008 there wasn’t a person in the game who didn’t think at that point Jack Gibson thoroughly deserved the honour because of the legacy he had left behind with his five premierships at the Roosters and Parramatta (even though at that point Bennett had already won six titles).
But we are now 13 years on from that and Bennett is still going strong, now with a Dolphins squad made up mostly of misfits and rejects that started the season as wooden spoon favourites but are now in the argument of being Bennett’s greatest achievement.
It just adds to the aura that already goes with the 10 previous grand final appearances and seven premierships, along with his achievements in the international game with Australia, New Zealand and England, as well as the many memorable moments coaching State of Origin including the historic against the odds series victory in 2020 with the side written off “as Queensland’s worst ever team”.
Don’t forget Bennett also represented Queensland and Australia as a player, although his career in coaching is what puts him in the Immortal debate.
Peter V’landys came out last week and said Bennett would have a job in the game for life beyond his current coaching gig, declaring: “There is only one Wayne Bennett. The guy is a rugby league genius.”
And while it was also a lovely touch seeing NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo present Bennett with a golden ball to mark his 900th milestone match, if we are going to be fair dinkum being inducted as an Immortal is the obvious next step.
There has only been 13 Immortals named in its history and it states on the NRL website it is widely considered “to earn the accolade (the individual) needs to have changed the game or had an impact beyond his career”.
In this instance it is now beyond any doubt what Bennett has achieved throughout his extraordinary lifetime will never be matched.
Which is why it is time his Immortal status was officially recognised.
WHY RAIDERS’ BIG RED LOOKS BORN FOR ORIGIN
Corey Horsburgh can’t do much more to push his case for State of Origin selection after another blinder in the Raiders’ win over the Bulldogs.
Sometimes you see players who have never faced the Origin blowtorch buckle under the pressure when their name gets brought up in the selection debate.
But this bloke is clearly lapping it up with the big red Queenslander just getting better by the week.
And he’s even now walking with a strut that makes him look like he belongs on the big stage, with an X factor and work rate that defies a body shape that doesn’t exactly fit the image of the muscle-bound modern NRL forward.
From his first run on Friday night Horsburgh’s intent was obvious as he bulldozed his way through the Bulldogs on his way to finishing with 147m from his 13 runs which was the most of any forward on the park.
Heroes and Villains. Which #nrl stars are loved by their club's fans , but vilified by rivals. Big red @RaidersCanberra Corey Horsburgh, who gives as good as he gets, is in the mix of the players who polarise. My art for Crawley files up now @telegraph_sport#canberraraiderspic.twitter.com/NNUSMxsIMP
— Scott Bailey (@BooBaileyTele) April 19, 2023
BIG PAYNE AS IMPORTANT TO BRONCOS AS REYNO
The Broncos again showed why they are a different team when Payne Haas is on the field.
The NRL’s best prop this year was outstanding in his return from his hip drop suspension, charging for 182m from his 22 runs that included 75 post contact metres.
And on the back of his rampaging charges the Broncos were unstoppable with the likes of Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo having a field day against a Sea Eagles side that was so far off the pace it was embarrassing.
There’s not many forwards in the game who have as big an impact as this bloke who is as important to the Broncos as Adam Reynolds.
And just on Reynolds, you can only take the little champion on his word that it was a cork that slowed him down and nothing more serious.
But it was still a bit curious why it was Kotoni Staggs and not Reynolds taking the first conversation of the night.
LATRELL’S DOUBLE BARRELLED SKILLSET ON SHOW
What about the skillset of Latrell Mitchell.
Did you spot that he set up the Rabbitohs’ first try with a deft right foot kick for Cody Walker.
Then he set up another try for Alex Johnston with a kick from his left foot, which is his preferred option given he kicks goals with his left as well.
But it’s the ease with which he can just react to opportunity and come up with the perfect execution that again highlights his freakish talent.
EVER RELIABLE PANTHER A NSW MUST
On a weekend where the class of the fullbacks was on show, it was the Panthers’ ever reliable Dylan Edwards who was my standout.
And that’s taking nothing away from the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who were all enormous.
But just look at the numbers from Edwards in the win over the Warriors where he again pushed the case for Brad Fittler to find a way to make room for this bloke in the NSW team this year.
Edwards finished with 23 runs for 244m including a try, six tackle busts, a try assist, a line break assist and two line breaks.
He just does it every week.
‘VAL’ MENINGA’S MAGICAL NIGHT
We’ve all seen some special debuts from some wonderful footballers over the years.
But what about the memorable effort from Dolphins debutant Valynce Te Whare who has now been christened ‘Val Meninga’.
And it was heart-warming stuff seeing the 22-year-old back up his tremendous first up performance with an impromptu haka with his family and supporters.
I remember seeing vision of the robust centre from his rugby union days when someone tipped to me about him being a rookie to watch out for this season.
I thought if he ever gets a go at NRL level it will be interesting to see how his blast-from-the-past type body shape matches up to the defensive intensity of top level rugby league.
Well, two tries later it’s safe to say we just witnessed the birth of a future star of our game.
And to do it on such a magical night in front of a sellout crowd at Suncorp that was also celebrating Wayne Bennett’s 900th game is a memory this young fella will cherish forever.
BONE-CRUCHING HITS
What about some of the bellringers we saw over Magic Round.
Usually it’s the tries and attacking brilliance that sends everyone home in awe.
But how intense was some of the defence, particularly in the Panthers/Warriors match where there were some huge shots.
How Stephen Crichton got back on his feet after being absolutely hammered by Warriors winger Edward Kosi defies belief.
But to then see Crichton come up with a hit almost as spectacular on Dylan Walker was just incredible. Then Walker responded with another thunderous shot on Zac Hosking.
But the king of the big hits remains Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi who delivered another bone cruncher on an unsuspecting Matt Moylan.
Forget about the crackdown on unnecessary shots on playmakers. This showed exactly why the game needs to be careful not to make playmakers a protected species.
Fans love this type of action as much as watching spectacular tries being scored.
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