NRL Lowdown Round 24: Who’s on the cusp and who’s on the block at your club?
WHO’S on the cusp and who’s on the block at your club? Get all the latest team news in the Round 23 edition of the NRL Lowdown.
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WHO’S hot, who’s not, who’s on the cusp and who’s on the block?
Get all the latest team info in the Round 24 edition of the NRL Lowdown.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Who’s hot:Luke Page joined the Dragons earlier this season from the Raiders and despite playing just one first grade game since, the Papua New Guinean international has continued to develop well in the NSW Cup.
The 2014 Queensland Cup player of the year might still be a pre-season or two away from playing consistent NRL football but his wrecking ball style could make him an effective interchange weapon in the future.
Who’s not: The offensive troubles that plagued the Dragons earlier in the season have reared their ugly head again as they struggled to make an impression in the 32-6 loss to Brisbane.
The Red V seemed content to swing the ball from sideline to sideline, offering little in the way of punch in the middle or consistent threat on the edge of the ruck.
Despite enjoying a wealth of quality field position, the Dragons simply could not muster any attacking threat and if they’re to rebound and make the finals they must find some spark.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Who’s hot: Centre Brent Naden returned to the Panthers under-20s side over the weekend and immediately made his presence felt with a scorching performance out wide.
Naden ran for 238 metres from 14 carries, set up a try and crossed for the match-sealing four-pointer in the final moments.
One of the most highly rated juniors among a score of promising Panther youngsters, Naden will push for a first grade spot in 2016.
Who’s not: Penrith have been well and truly torpedoed by injury this season but they showed against the Warriors that when they have an even break, they have one of the most talented nucleases in the NRL.
It was hard to pick a bad player for the mountain men with Tyrone Peachey, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Josh Mansour all playing their finest matches of the season and the overall performance will leave Panther fans cursing what might have been.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Who’s hot: He’s attracted criticism from many for his struggles at the end of the South Sydney backline, but Joel Reddy was one of North Sydney’s best in the Bears 52-20 win over Newcastle in the NSW Cup.
Reddy scored three tries in the victory, but with the return of Kirisome Auva’a his chances of appearing in first grade again this season appear slim and given his performances in the top grade this season, the off-contract Reddy seems long odds to claim a regular NRL position elsewhere.
Who’s not: South Sydney produced their finest performance since the early rounds of the season in their win over the Cowboys by finally embracing for what has so long been their strength — their gargantuan forward pack.
The Burgess twins have endured an average season thus far but the duo were among the red and greens best while Tim Grant and Chris McQueen also enjoyed good days on the stat sheet.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Who’s hot: What Corey Thompson lacks in physical ability he more than makes up for in hustle and competitiveness, but the winger from last year’s grand final has found first grade opportunity hard to come by this season and will head to Super League club Widnes Vikings in 2016.
With Curtis Rona starring on the left wing and Sam Perrett seemingly locking down the right flank, Thompson is the odd man out.
The 25-year old has scored 15 tries in 35 matches since making his debut in Round 1 of 2014.
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Who’s not: The Bulldogs took care of business against the Titans, but a few of the defensive tendencies of winger Sam Perrett will give Des Hasler cause for concern.
Perrett’s opposite number, Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa, ended up with a double with both tries being directly applicable to the defensive decisions of the former New Zealand international.
For the first try, Perrett was found out of position by a crafty Aidan Sezer kick while for the second he mindlessly ambled in-field and allowed Greg Bird to float a long pass which allowed Fai-Fai Loa to dot down in the corner.
Considering the defensive struggles Perrett had against the Roosters the week before, the ongoing issues could be an area for opposition teams to exploit.
CRONULLA SHARKS
Who’s hot: The Sharks have had an uneven year in the under-20s but the form of Brad Deitz goes some way to making it all seem worthwhile.
Deitz was a force of nature in the Sharks’ 28-all draw with the Storm over the weekend, scoring three tries and setting up another to nearly deliver Cronulla an impossible win.
Trailing 28-4 with 15 minutes remaining, the Sharks scored four tries in 11 minutes with Deitz at the heart of the attacking firestorm. The Cabramatta junior showed a level of skill uncommon to this tier of the game and is one of the best prospects coming through the Shire system.
Who’s not: Here’s the thing with Cronulla — they’re tough and committed and gritty, but when push comes to shove and they need some points desperately, there’s nobody they can turn too.
That’s not to say they don’t have attacking talent — the likes of Luke Lewis, Jack Bird, Wade Graham and Valentine Holmes have shown that time and again this season — it’s just that they don’t have anyone that can consistently create attacking opportunities.
While Michael Ennis and Jeff Robson are honest grinders, they aren’t exactly the kind of attacking sparkplugs that can win a game with their creativity.
While the men from the Shire are a dangerous and willing side, an inability to score quick points might be their achilles heel in a push for a maiden premiership.
WESTS TIGERS
Who’s hot: Delousie Hoeter had a taste of first grade earlier in the season and looks to have benefited greatly after starring in the NSW Cup in recent weeks.
A willowy winger or centre, Hoeter scored a try in the Tigers’ 20-16 defeat to the Warriors on Saturday and is in the box seat to claim the vacant backline spot in the NRL side next season following the departure of Pat Richards.
Who’s not: Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses have enjoyed more good moments than bad in 2015 but one area of their game which has come under fire is their inability to close out tight matches.
The defeat to Newcastle was more of the same with the talented duo failing to capitalise on scores of good field position and possession.
Moses and Brooks are the future for the Tigers for better or for worse and their continual struggles in this area are just part of their evolving first grade experience, but the tendency will not be lost on coach Jason Taylor.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Who’s hot: David Fusitu’a made a return from injury in the NSW Cup last weekend and was typically impressive in the centres as the Warriors managed to outlast the Tigers 20-16.
Despite his undoubted ability, Fustiu’a has played just three top-grade matches this season with Andrew McFadden preferring to play Jonathan Wright.
While Fusitu’a is still raw and doesn’t yet have the polish one expects in a consistent first-grader, his physical ability is off the charts and he’s progressed beyond the point of NSW Cup.
With the Warriors’ season all but over, it is difficult to see a downside in playing Fusitu’a.
Who’s not: Dominique Peyroux is a tough player who is perfectly capable of holding down a back-row position in the NRL and can cover out wide if required.
That being said, Peyroux should not be played in the centres in first-grade unless injury strikes. Moreover, he is leaving the Warriors at the end of the season.
With all these factors considered, why would Andrew McFadden opt to start Peyroux ahead of Konrad Hurrell? What possible gain could there be for such a move? Who does it benefit?
McFadden has expressed dissatisfaction with Hurrell’s defensive abilities — how is he meant to get any better if he’s not playing 80 minutes in the centres?
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Who’s hot: Gideon Gela-Mosby has been close to unstoppable all season in the under-20s and the 18-year old created his own slice of history against the Rabbitohs when he crossed for three tries.
Gela-Mosby now has 31 tries from just 20 matches in 2015 and has already broken the competition record for most four-pointers in a season, set by Jake Mullaney in 2009.
In his last eight games alone, Gela-Mosby has scored 16 tries and given the Cowboys’ winning ways and their near certainty to make a deep run into the playoffs there’s no knowing just how high his tally will reach.
Who’s not: Jason Taumalolo has been around the NRL since 2010 which makes it easy to forget that he’s still only 22 years old, which is especially relevant given his role as one of the forward leaders at the Cowboys.
With James Tamou in the midst of a real form slump, it’s fallen to Taumalolo and Matt Scott to shoulder the load for the Townsville club and the Kiwi lock struggled in the defeat to South Sydney.
On several occasions Taumlolo was bumped off by the Burgess twins and his lack of mobility was exploited around the ruck.
Paul Green’s use of Taumalolo continues to raise eyebrows — the big unit essentially plays the first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes of each match — and while his stats remain strong, he hasn’t quite had the venomous impact we’ve come to expect.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Who’s hot: The hottest prospect in the Roosters under-20s is fullback Latrell Mitchell and he was imperious again against the Eels, scoring three tries, breaking 15 tackles and kicking five goals for a personal tally of 22 points.
He was ably supported by five-eighth Connor Watson, who also grabbed a treble. The diminutive Watson has been a real sparkplug for the Tricolours this season and had two try assists and two linebreaks to go with his four-pointers.
Who’s not: It is impossible to explain the prolonged bouts of malaise that seem to dog the Roosters during matches.
Nine wins in a row is impressive in any context, but the defensive frailties on show by the Triclours in the last few weeks will be frustrating Trent Robinson to no end.
Before they kept the Eels scoreless in the second half of their win on Saturday night, the Roosters had conceded 68 points in two and a half matches, an unthinkable total for a team who so prides themselves on defence.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Who’s hot: Jordan Drew has become a mainstay in the Broncos under-20s side and the young gun is clearly a player whom Brisbane hold in high regard.
Blessed with strong footwork and a good turn of pace, Drew actually made his first-grade debut in 2013 at 18 and acquitted himself well, scoring a try in Brisbane’s 26-24 win over the Dragons.
Shots at the top have been hard to come by, but he’ll be a contender to replace retiring skipper Justin Hodges at right centre.
Who’s not: Jack Reed has enjoyed his most consistent year of NRL footy since his rookie campaign in 2011 but in recent weeks he’s definitely been trending down.
While Reed remains a strong defender, his attacking output has dried up considerably in recent weeks and Wayne Bennett will be hopeful he can reforge the attacking combination he had with Anthony Milford earlier in the season.
GOLD COAST TITANS
Who’s hot: Kevin Gordon has been out of favour all season at the Titans with the eccentric winger playing just six matches in 2015.
The Sawtell junior has been told by the Titans he is free to ask for a release but given his hefty contract, such a move seems unlikely unless another NRL club can offer him a shot in first grade.
Still only 25, Gordon has a lot of footy left in him and could be a smart purchase for several clubs at the right place.
Who’s not: Part of the reason Josh Hoffman left the Broncos was a desire to get a regular shot at fullback and in that regard his first year with the Titans has been a mixed bag.
The former New Zealand international has shifted between his preferred position, the centres and the halves in a tough season for both Hoffman and the team.
No doubt Hoffman would have preferred some stability in the halves which would allow him to produce a greater attacking impact
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Who’s hot: Mark Nicholls returned to the top-grade this season after over two years out of the NRL and the bulky prop has shown great promise in limited opportunities, impressing with his mobility and footwork.
The 25-year old has played five NRL matches off the bench this season but has been in reserve grade since Round 9 and he’s put together a fine season for the Raiders’ finals-bound feeder club Mounties.
However, Nicholls seems certain to leave the Green Machine at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to Melbourne.
Who’s not: The cruel dichotomy of David Shillington continues for the Raiders with the veteran prop again offering a mix of the good, the bad and the mindless in the narrow defeat to Manly.
Shillington’s value on the offensive side of the football cannot be disputed and he’s excelled with ball in hand for much of the season — he gained more than 150 metres on the weekend and has been on a serious offloading tear — but he’s been exposed a number of times defensively.
Not the most mobile of front-rowers, more than once Shillington has been exposed by late footwork around the ruck.
Some truly horrific penalties, including several late in the tackle count, have resulted in Shillington becoming one of the most frustrating players in the Raiders line-up.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Who’s hot: Back-up Manly half Jack Littlejohn has fallen out of favour on the peninsula this season but he continues to do good things for the Sea Eagles NSW Cup side and was a vital cog in their 26-12 win over Canterbury.
Tough and skilful, Littlejohn will link up with the Tigers in 2016 as a back-up behind established pair Mitch Moses and Luke Brooks.
Who’s not: The Sea Eagles managed to escape GIO Stadium with a victory but the performance of their forwards left much to be desired. Time and again the Raiders were able to roll down the field easily and were it not for a series of poor last-tackle options they would have run over the top of the Silvertails.
With Jake Trbojevic in doubt for the match against Parramatta with concussion, Geoff Toovey must find some of the line speed and defensive intensity that has been a trademark of Manly’s game for the past few years.
PARRAMATTA EELS
Who’s hot: Cody Nelson impressed when thrown into the deep end at hooker earlier this season but despite the Eels struggles the tough-tackling utility has yet to be seen in the NRL again.
A consistent performer for the struggling Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Cup, Nelson has shown he’s a first-grade quality footballer when given the opportunity.
However, given the depth the Eels enjoy in the back-row and with the impending arrival of Beau Scott it seems unlikely he’ll get significant game time in his preferred position in the foreseeable future.
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Who’s not: Like the rest of his teammates, Tepai Moeroa enjoyed an excellent start to the season before falling off the precipice and struggling to stay consistent.
Moeroa has all the physical tools required to be a top-class rugby league forward and his loss of form is to be expected as the rigours of a full NRL season wear heavy on the 19-year old.
MELBOURNE STORM
Who’s hot: Flying winger Tony Tumusa continued his excellent form in the under-20s by snagging three tries within the opening half of the Thunderbolts’ 29-all draw with Cronulla.
Tumusa ran for 221 metres, broke seven tackles and made four linebreaks in one of the best individual displays of the season.
One of a number of Victorian juniors in the Melbourne system, Tumusa is expected to push for a place in the top squad for 2016.
Who’s not: Lock forward Dale Finucane is expected to miss a fair chunk of the remainder of the season with an arm injury in what could be a sneaky blow to Melbourne’s title hopes.
The hardworking lock forward took some time to fit into the Melbourne system but in recent weeks has played some of the best football of his career and his workrate around the middle of the field will be sorely missed.
The experienced Ryan Hinchcliffe is a more than adequate replacement and Craig Bellamy may relish the chance to inject exciting youngster Nelson Asofa-Solomona and returning big man Jordan McLean, but Finucane is a genuine loss for the Storm.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Who’s hot: The only one of the Mata’utia brothers yet to play first grade, Pat Mata’utia has put together another solid season in the NSW Cup.
Like his brothers, Mata’utia is a centre or winger but has the bulk to push into the pack if need be and has been one of the Knights most consistent players in the second tier competition.
With a major clean-out on the cards in the Hunter, Mata’utia will be hopeful of snagging an NRL deal for next season or he may have to opt for a change of clubs.
Who’s not: The embattled Knights clawed their way to a win on Saturday afternoon in what was a highlight of a dismal overall season for the Novocastrians.
Chief among the disappointments has been the form of Tariq Sims, who joined the club from North Queensland amid much fanfare and high expectations but has failed to truly fire a shot.
Highly rated by the New South Wales Origin brains trust, Sims has not justified the price tag or the hype in his first season with the Knights.
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