Siosiua Taukeiaho stakes claim for best prop in the world | NRL Tackle

Our rugby league writers reveal what caught their eye — good and bad — in Round 9 of the NRL, plus check out the Dally M votes from every game and full leaderboard.

Welcome to The Tackle, where our rugby league writers reveal what caught their eye — good and bad — in Round 9 of the NRL.

DRAGONS v SEA EAGLES 

Dally M votes: Ben Hunt 3, Paul Vaughan 2, Cameron McInnes 1. Judge: Andrew Ryan

LIKE: Mikaele Ravalawa. What a brute. The Fijian powerhouse terrorised Manly in defence. He poleaxed Jorge Taufua, belted Cade Cust and then ambushed Brad Parker. It was among the most lethal defensive efforts by an individual this season. Saints’ spine – with Ben Hunt at dummy half and Cameron McInnes at 13 – is finally taking shape. Hunt’s kicking game out of dummy half was highly effective.

Mikaele Ravalawa was a brute for the Dragons. Picture: Grant Trouville, NRL Photos

DISLIKE: Manly’s defensive effort late in the game was horrible. The Sea Eagles are down on troops, no doubt, but conceding six tries against the 15th-placed side isn’t good enough. Manly missed 14 tackles and committed 11 errors. Daly Cherry-Evans had an unfortunate night with his handling. Des Hasler denied the Addin Fonua-Blake drama impacted on his side’s preparation but a week of unsavoury headlines wouldn’t have helped.

— Dean Ritchie

KNIGHTS v EELS 

Dally M votes: Nathan Brown 3, Reagan Campbell-Gillard 2, Reed Mahoney 1. Judge: Brett Kimmorley

LIKE: Many have already pencilled in Harry Grant for the Queensland dummy-half spot, but don’t write off Reed Mahoney’s chances. Mahoney was outstanding again for the Eels, creating a try for Ryan Matterson via a nice short ball and kicking well from dummy half. He also churned through 48 tackles in a fine all-round display. The crispness of Mahoney’s passing allows the Eels to play with tremendous width, and is an underrated component of their high-octane attacking style, and he’s underrated as a running threat.

Reed Mahoney was outstanding for the Eels. Picture: Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

DISLIKE: Just getting on the field was a victory for Knights centre Tautau Moga, who has been ravaged by knee injuries throughout his career. Despite making his debut all the way back in 2012, this was just his 71st NRL game and his first since August last year. It was an unhappy return for the Queenslander — his carries were strong but he dropped the ball over the line twice and was caught out by Clint Gutherson for Maika Sivo’s try. In a match where points were so hard to come by, it proved to be a fatal blow. Moga will no doubt be better for the run, but it was a tough outing for the 26-year-old.

— Nick Campton

RAIDERS v STORM

Dally M votes: Ryan Papenhuyzen 3, Cameron Smith 2, Jack Wighton 1. Judge: Greg Alexander

LIKE: The way Jarrod Croker responded to yet another blunder from the video referee. Just two days after Addin Fonua-Blake was fined $20,000 for his attack on officials, the Canberra captain showed his class by simply telling Grant Atkins that a controversial call to send Bailey Simonsson to the sin-bin was “harsh”. With the 1500 Canberra fans that were allowed into GIO Stadium for the match out for blood, Croker kept a cool head and got on with the game. The NRL also deserves credit for admitting to its mistakes after referee’s boss Graham Annesley declared Ben Galea got it wrong.

DISLIKE: It is clear that Jesse Bromwich suffered a legitimate injury but a recent spate of on field strapping occurrences that have slowed down

matches need to be examined. While no fault lies with the Storm or the other teams that have stopped matches to treat players, holding up a

match to strap a player is not a good look. Surely the players could be taken from the field and treated on the sideline for a leg injury.

The rule, designed for player safety, could be exploited to give tired teams a rest and the NRL has to re-examine stoppage rules after doing

such a great job speeding up the game with ruck changes. One solution may be to make it mandatory for a player that causes a stoppage to

leave the field following treatment.

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— James Phelps

SHARKS v PANTHERS 

Dally M votes: Dylan Edwards 3, Charlie Staines 2, James Fisher-Harris 1. Judge: Luke Lewis

LIKE: How could you not take great delight in a debutant who scores four tries? Charlie Staines couldn’t hide his smile after the game when the 19-year-old declared he was living out his childhood dream. The Forbes product had a host of family and friends in the stand who cheered on his every try. He scored in the first half and set up another before crossing for a treble in the second half. The Panthers production line continues with another one who has been dubbed the Ferrari by his teammates.

Charlie Staines scored four tries on debut for the Panthers. Picture: Phil Hillyard

DISLIKE: Cronulla’s left-edge defence. It was woeful, particularly in the early stages. All but one of the Panthers’ five first-half tries came as a result of poor defence as Wade Graham, Chad Townsend, Bryson Goodwin and Nene Macdonald struggled. It wasn’t just the tries which badly exposed the Sharks, the Panthers made linebreaks at will. The concerning aspect for the Sharks was that at different stages it was different players making the poor reads. It prompted coach John Morris to tell his players to take a “good hard look at themselves”.

— Michael Carayannis

BRONCOS v BULLDOGS 

Dally M votes: Tevita Pangai-Junior 3, Anthony Milford 2, Tesi Niu 1. Judge: Paul Whatuira

LIKE: Broncos coach Anthony Seibold should consider moving Tevita Pangai Jr from the back row to prop permanently. Pangai Jr was outstanding in the midfield, terrorising the Bulldogs with six offloads, including two which led to Broncos tries. He then capped a superb game when he showed desperation to toe ahead a loose ball and score. TPJ is a menacing sight on the edges as a back-rower but a midfield role tends to simplify his game. He is at his best when he just trucks it up the middle, Jason Taumalolo-style, and creates second-phase with his dangerous offloads.

Tevita Pangai Jr was outstanding for the Broncos. Picture: Scott Davis/NRL Photos

DISLIKE: The lack of cohesion in Canterbury’s offensive shapes. The Bulldogs are the worst attacking team in the league with 94 points from nine games and their failure to put together crisp backline movements is unacceptable for a professional NRL team. Coach Dean Pay doesn’t have the strongest roster in the game but Canterbury’s coaching staff can surely implement structures that enable the Bulldogs to average more than 10 points per game. They need to find points quickly or it will cost Pay his job.

— Peter Badel

RABBITOHS v TIGERS 

Dally M votes: Adam Reynolds 3, Dane Gagai 2, Josh Aloiai 1. Judge: Justin Hodges

LIKE: Adam Reynolds had an off night with the kicking tee, uncharacteristically missing all four try conversions, but his general kicking in play helped the Rabbitohs dominate the territory battle in the first half. The halfback is beginning to find some attacking form too and was dangerous with ball in hand during South Sydney’s 18-10 over the Tigers. Reynolds finished the match with two try assists, two linebreak assists, one linebreak and four tackle busts. His turn in form couldn’t come at a better time with fullback Latrell Mitchell facing time on the sidelines.

Adam Reynolds has found form for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Brett Costello

DISLIKE: Wests Tigers playmaker Josh Reynolds and Rabbitohs superstar Mitchell will both spend two weeks on the sideline for their roles in a fiery incident on Friday night. Reynolds has taken the early plea on a dangerous contact charge for kicking Campbell Graham as he attempted to grab the ball. Mitchell also opted for the early plea on his striking charge for retaliating with a swinging arm that collected Reynolds on the jaw. The ban could not have come at a worse time for both players. Reynolds had just found his way back into Michael Maguire’s 17, while Mitchell had begun to silence his fullback detractors and was improving with every game.

— Fatima Kdouh

TITANS v WARRIORS 

Dally M votes: Corey Thompson 3, Tyrone Peachey 2, Moeaki Fotuaika 1. Judge: Corey Parker

LIKE: The young halfback Jamal Fogarty at the Titans. Playing in just his ninth NRL game in four years, the 26-year-old pulled off the match-winning play to hand the Titans their first win at home in more than a year. Not only that, in the following set from the kick-off, Fogarty managed to boot an inch-perfect 40/20 to settle the nerves of the home team. And all this was done while the club’s million-dollar man Ash Taylor was off the field receiving na HIA assessment. Fogarty has been a real shining light for the Titans this year and is growing in confidence each game as he starts to find his feet back in the NRL.

DISLIKE: Both of these sides’ ball-handling skills. Put simply, it was woeful. There were 26 errors across the entire 80 minutes on Friday night and conditions could not be blamed. Both clubs were playing at 68 per cent completion rate, which meant any pressure that was beginning to build was doused by a costly error. The game wasn’t pretty to watch — likewise was the Warriors’ new kit — and the Titans managed the win through sheer determination. The Titans have a frightening road ahead, against the Storm, Panthers and Roosters, and their completion rate will need to be as close to perfect to have any chance of a win.

— Chris Honnery

COWBOYS v ROOSTERS 

Dally M votes: Matt Ikuvalu 3, Angus Crichton 2, Luke Keary 1. Judge: Wally Lewis

LIKE: Siosiua Taukeiaho. Might he be the best prop forward in the world? Incredibly, he may not even be the best prop at his own club. Regardless, if the Roosters are to achieve a historic threepeat this year, much will depend on the powerhouse wrecking ball who gives the reigning premiers so much go forward. Taukeiaho is the bedrock on which the Roosters’ headline grabbers — think James Tedesco and Luke Keary — rely. He is in outstanding form.

Siosiua Taukeiaho leads the way up front for the Roosters. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Taumalolo’s Cowboys predicament an absolute sin

DISLIKE: There are few rugby league crimes worse than Jason Taumalolo having to play with the North Queensland Cowboys right now. Truly, could you imagine the big unit with premiership contenders like, say, Parramatta? Or Newcastle? Yet rather than be involved in the finals series — or even any games that really matter — the Tongan powerhouse is left to fight almost alone in a side whose defence against the Roosters was atrocious.

— Nick Walshaw

DALLY M LEADERBOARD ROUND 9

Clinton Gutherson 12

Harry Grant 11

Jason Taumalolo 11

Shaun Johnson 11

Cameron Smith 10

Nathan Cleary 9

Tom Trbojevic 9

George Williams 8

Apisai Koroisau 7

Jack Wighton 7

James Tedesco 7

Luke Keary 7

Moeaki Fotuaika 7

Ryan Papenhuyzen 7

Benji Marshall 6

Cameron Munster 6

Daniel Saifiti 6

David Klemmer 6

Jahrome Hughes 6

Josh Hodgson 6

Matthew Dufty 6

Mitchell Moses 6

Tohu Harris 6

Victor Radley 6

Cameron McInnes 5

Dane Gagai 5

Kodi Nikorima 5

Reed Mahoney 5

Tim Glasby 5

Will Hopoate 5

Adam Reynolds 4

Angus Crichton 4

Ben Hunt 4

Braden Hamlin-Uele 4

Cameron Murray 4

Curtis Sironen 4

Elliott Whitehead 4

James Fisher-Harris 4

Josh McGuire 4

Latrell Mitchell 4

Blake Green 3

Bradman Best 3

Brett Morris 3

Cody Walker 3

Corey Thompson 3

Daly Cherry-Evans 3

Damien Cook 3

David Nofoaluma 3

Dylan Edwards 3

Herman Ese’ese 3

Isaah Yeo 3

Jake Clifford 3

Jarome Luai 3

Jayden Brailey 3

Jesse Bromwich 3

Jesse Ramien 3

Josh Jackson 3

Josh Morris 3

Josh Papalii 3

Ken Maumalo 3

Liam Knight 3

Maika Sivo 3

Matt Burton 3

Matt Ikuvalu 3

Mitchell Pearce 3

Payne Haas 3

Ryan Matterson 3

Siosiua Taukeiaho 3

Tui Kamikamica 3

Zac Lomax 3

Aaron Woods 2

Anthony Milford 2

Brodie Croft 2

Charlie Staines 2

Dale Finucane 2

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2

Jai Arrow 2

James Tamou 2

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 2

Josh Mansour 2

Josh Reynolds 2

Junior Paulo 2

Luciano Leilua 2

Luke Brooks 2

Michael Jennings 2

Mitchell Barnett 2

Paul Vaughan 2

Paul Vaughan 2

Reagan Campbell-Gillard 2

Scott Sorensen 2

Tyrone Peachey 2

Valentine Holmes 2

Viliame Kikau 2

Waqa Blake 2

Aiden Tolman 1

Andrew Fifita 1

Ashley Taylor 1

Bryce Cartwright 1

Coen Hess 1

Dylan Brown 1

Eliesa Katoa 1

Euan Aitken 1

Jarrod Croker 1

Josh Aloiai 1

Reece Robson 1

Scott Drinkwater 1

Sione Katoa 1

Suliasi Vunivalu 1

Tesi Niu 1

Tex Hoy 1

Wade Graham 1

Xavier Coates 1