Pressure needs to be applied to Seibold and Arthur, Fifita working his way back into Origin
Anthony Griffin lost his job this week - a sacrifice that has delivered for two of his fellow coaches, while one former Maroon is making an undeniable case for Origin return.
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Anthony Seibold and Brad Arthur should be thanking their lucky stars that St George Illawarra’s week from hell has taken the blowtorch off Manly and Parramatta this week.
Since the Sea Eagles’ brutal 18-8 round 7 win over the Storm, they’ve basically selfdestructed.
They scraped home 22-16 against the Tigers before crashing to the Titans, Broncos and Sharks in succession, conceding 78 points in 3 games for just 30 scored.
Another loss to the Raiders in Canberra and they will finish the round in 13th spot if the Cowboys beat the Tigers.
Meanwhile, last year’s grand finalists Parra are currently 14th and just one win ahead of the last placed Tigers and Dragons going into Friday night’s against the Rabbitohs.
MUST RESPECT FIFITA’S BODY OF WORK
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive.
But it’s the level of consistency we are seeing in NRL Superman David Fifita this season that gives the best insight into his obvious growing maturity.
With the now 23-year-old’s form making him all but a must-pick for Billy Slater’s Queensland squad that will be named after this weekend’s round, the supremely talented back rower gets one final chance to cement his spot when the Titans take on the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
It was phenomenal watching Fifita power away for a near length-of-the field try in last round’s clash against the Knights showing the speed of an outside back.
But it’s the workrate on show this year that has been most impressive.
Fox Sports Stats show Fifita is averaging career-high figures for his run metres (152), minutes played (78) and tackles made (25).
Back in 2021 it was Fifita’s explosive power that was all the talk when he raced in 17 tries for the season with 22 linebreaks in as many games.
In a year where he started the season coming off contract and under huge pressure, the barnstorming forward has taken his game to another level on the back of work ethic rather than just raw potential.
Fifita is actually leading the comp in the Code Power Rankings the last five weeks.
WILL WALSH HANDLE THE PRESSURE
Reece Walsh has a prime opportunity to put himself back in the Origin conversation after Kalyn Ponga’s breathtaking performance last round when the Broncos take on the Panthers on Thursday night.
Up until Ponga cut loose in the Knights’ win over the Titans, many were thinking it would close to impossible to leave the brilliant Broncos’ fullback out of the Queensland team for game one.
But that debate has flipped on its head after Ponga’s performance, and it’s now up to Walsh to show how he stands up under the pressure.
He’s probably no hope of getting picked for the game in Adelaide, but you never know how the series will unfold.
It’s also a good opportunity for the Broncos to show what they are made of without Adam Reynolds.
Remember, the Broncos beat the Panthers 13-12 on the premiers’ home turf back in round 1 when Reynolds nailed the match winning field goal.
While it’s certainly not a must win here, the focus will be on how well the spine holds up without Reynolds’ game management.
IS RYLES REALLY THE DRAGONS’ MESSIAH, OR JUST ANOTHER CON JOB?
Jason Ryles might be the next Craig Bellamy or Trent Robinson. Then again, he might be the next Adam O’Brien.
In no way is that intended as a slur on O’Brien. It is simply explaining that O’Brien and Ryles had an almost identical apprenticeship working under both Bellamy and Robinson.
But the fact is while O’Brien is coaching to the best of his ability at Newcastle, the Knights have hardly set the world on fire throughout his three and a half seasons in charge like Bellamy and Robinson did in their early coaching years at strong clubs with successful structures already in place.
The point here is there is no guarantee being a good assistant under a great head coach automatically guarantees anyone the same success when they get their shot at one of the struggling clubs.
So what is it that has led to Ryles being talked up as something of a coaching messiah that the Dragons should move heaven and earth to sign before they at least do their due diligence on every single contender in the mix to take over from Anthony Griffin?
That Ryles seems a formality to be appointed as the Dragons next coach sooner rather than later, providing the troubled club meet Ryles’ management’s extraordinary demands.
And the sting in the tail is that Ryles is apparently seeking a five-year contract similar to what Cameron Ciraldo was given at the Bulldogs to try and guarantee Ryles does not become the next Dragons coach who is hung out to dry.
Seriously, has anyone stopped for a moment to digest all the bullshit?
At least in Ciraldo’s case he was coming off back-to-back premierships at the Panthers, where he also had sustained success graduating through the junior representative ranks.
From what we know about Ryles’ coaching resume so far he worked as an assistant under both Bellamy and Robinson at the Storm and Roosters respectively (as O’Brien did), while he also had a stint with under Eddie Jones with the England Rugby team.
But most recently during Ryles’ time in charge of the Roosters defence since Craig Fitzgibbon’s departure, it’s fair to say the Chooks have gone through some tough times.
In fact, many rate the loss of Fitzgibbon to the Sharks as significant as the retirement of champion co-captains Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend.
Again, that is not meant to be a knock on Ryles, it’s simply stating the obvious.
I just hope the Dragons are not being hoodwinked into racing into a decision that they could live to regret, because five years is a long contract to be offering any rookie coach if things end up not working out as expected/hoped.
THE OTHER CONTENDERS
Ben Hornby is the current Rabbitohs assistant who controls an attack that is humming like a Ferrari at the minute.
Sure, the Dragons 2010 premiership winning halfback has some talented players to work with at Souths. But as is also the case with Ryles at the star-studded Roosters, you can only judge him on what you see.
Dean Young is another contender who doesn’t seem to be getting much media space.
What I admire about Young in this situation is how he did not allow his name to be linked to the job until after Griffin was officially gone. It’s a sign of respect you rarely see in the game today.
Young was also one of the Dragons’ 2010 grand final heroes who previously worked under Paul McGregor before switching to be the Cowboys’ defensive coach, finishing last season with the NRL’s second least points conceded behind premiers Penrith.
OTHER OPTIONS
Des Hasler, Shane Flanagan and Michael Maguire are all previous premierships winning coaches. How they do not at least all warrant serious consideration astounds me.
WHY THE RYLES RUSH?
Given the Dragons have waited this long to move on Griffin, why is there a rush to sign Ryles before they have at least done their homework on every available option?
We all knew as far back as the end of last season Griffin was on borrowed time. Yet here we are 11 rounds into the new season and suddenly there is no time to waste.
At least putting caretaker Ryan Carr in place gives the Dragons breathing space to go out and do their due diligence.
It can be done relatively quickly, but it certainly has to be thorough.
My fear is the media commentary is almost hijacking the conversation to the point where the Dragons may feel pressured into signing Ryles before someone else snaps him up.
It’s madness when you take a step back and look at the reality.
For the past few weeks there was all this talk Ryles was the coach-in-waiting to take over from Bellamy at the Storm, until we found out this week that Bellamy was staying on for at least another season, and who knows how long after that.
Now it’s emerged the Storm really want Billy Slater to be Bellamy’s long term replacement, and it makes you think this apparent campaign to get Ryles the Dragons job could be a strategic con job.
The Dragons board and administration should look back on some of the mistakes they have made in the past decade and be very careful they don’t leave themselves open to ridicule next time round.
In the 11 seasons since Wayne Bennett’s exit the Dragons have played in just three finals all under Paul McGregor for one win in 2018.
They have since gone backwards under Griffin.
It is absolutely disgraceful that a brand this famous is now in a predicament where it is almost being portrayed as all but begging to get a rookie to agree to coach them, providing he gets a five-year deal.
Ryles may well end up being the best man to lead the club into the future.
But unless the Dragons have researched every available option, how will they ever know they are actually getting the best credentialed coach?
FIFITA’S NEW SUPER POWER
Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive.
But it’s the level of consistency we are seeing in NRL Superman David Fifita this season that gives the best insight into his obvious growing maturity.
With the now 23-year-old’s form making him all but a must-pick for Billy Slater’s Queensland squad that will be named after this weekend’s round, the supremely talented back rower gets one final chance to cement his spot when the Titans take on the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Sunday.
It was phenomenal watching Fifita power away for a near length-of-the field try in last round’s clash against the Knights showing the speed of an outside back.
But it’s the work rate on show this year that has been most impressive.
Fox Sports Stats show Fifita is averaging career-high figures for his run metres (152), minutes played (78) and tackles made (25).
Back in 2021 it was Fifita’s explosive power that was all the talk when he raced in 17 tries for the season with 22 linebreaks in as many games.
In a year where he started the season coming off contract and under huge pressure, the barnstorming forward has taken his game to another level on the back of work ethic rather than just raw potential.
Fifita is actually leading the comp in the Code Power Rankings the last five weeks.
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