NRL mid-season report: The game must scrap seven-tackle set rule, Ethan Strange for rookie of the year | Good, bad and ugly
We’re halfway through the NRL season and MICHAEL CARAYANNIS breaks down the good, bad and ugly in 2024, naming Ethan Strange as the man well on his way to a rookie of the year award.
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As the NRL season reaches the midway point Michael Carayannis dissects the good and bad of what 2024 has brought.
There are some shock selections in his team of the year while reflecting on some of the biggest issues that have taken place since the season kicked off in Las Vegas.
This is obviously not the best team in the NRL – it’s a team only picked on form from the first half of the season. That’s why you see the likes of unheralded trio Eliesa Katoa, Isaiya Katoa and Mitch Barnett in the mix.
The fullback spot was the hardest to select with Edwards’ just getting the nod over Walsh. James Tedesco and Scott Drinkwater were also a shot with Walsh edging out Drinkwater for a bench spot. Even Kodi Nikorima, Ethan Strange, Matt Burton and Connor Watson made cases for an interchange position.
Isaiya Katoa’s spot is contentious but the Dolphins rising star has been irresistible so far this year. His performances have him ahead of Strange, Burton and Ezra Mam.
The Bulldogs have three players in Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Jacob Kiraz.
Hooker was probably the position I agonised most over with Harry Grant getting the nod just because the Storm sit on top of the premiership ladder even though he hasn’t been at his best. Reed Mahoney went close too.
The Broncos have the most with four players. The bottom four teams – Parramatta, Gold Coast, Wests Tigers and South Sydney – do not have a player in the squad.
TRY OF THE YEAR
Xavier Coates
The engraver put his name on the trophy the second he dotted down the match winning try against the Warriors in March. It was dubbed the most athletic try in rugby league history and few could argue given the Storm flyer leaps from five metres out to get the ball down.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Wayne Bennett has his Dolphins side firing and unlike last season where they had a mid-season implosion they are now well set-up to make the finals in just the second year in charge.
Bennett has done it while losing two crucial players to his forward pack in Tom Gilbert and Tom Flegler. Their depth has already been put on show and so far survived the test.
Ricky Stuart is mounting a strong case considering I had the Raiders as a bottom four side coming into the season but he has unearthed some young talent and is showing great faith in them. While Cameron Ciraldo (Bulldogs) and Shane Flanagan (Dragons) are also having better than expected seasons and if either of their sides qualify for the finals that would be a remarkable coaching performance.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dylan Edwards continues to be ever reliable for Penrith at fullback. Suffered a cruel twist of fate when he was injured on the eve of his Origin debut. Is the Dally M leader when the competition went behind closed doors. The likes of Nicho Hynes, Payne Haas, Reece Walsh, Cameron McInnes have also had outstanding seasons for their clubs.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The emergence of Ethan Strange for Canberra has been a revelation. Defensively he is outstanding and he is helping guide a Canberra side into finals contention. He played one game last year but remains eligible to take out the rookie of the year award.
Other rookies who have had decent seasons include Blaize Talagi and David Armstrong. Lachie Galvin has had a great year for the Tigers and if they were winning more games he would be competing for this gong.
However, Strange has easily been the most impressive youngster. So much so that his name was bandied around as a potential Origin players
The likes of Sam Hughes and Samuela Fainu played five games last year which makes them ineligible as is Englishman Kai Pearce-Paul.
BUY OF THE YEAR
Stephen Crichton. Not only has he arrived with a winning mentality he has taken over the captaincy duties at Canterbury. It is hard stepping out of the Penrith shadow but Crichton has been sensational since stepping foot into Belmore.
He took a while to kick into gear on the field but is now finding his rhythm and building a great combination on Canterbury’s potent left-edge.
English duo Pearce-Paul and Morgan Smithies have been outstanding. Other solid purchases include; Josh Curran, Luke Brooks, Paul Alamoti and Kyle Flanagan.
BAD BUY
The Tigers are already trying to move on Jayden Sullivan just months into his four year deal. While he has attracted some interest from the Super League he is reluctant to make that move.
It remains to be seen if he will be able to find his third NRL club in as many years or if the Tigers will be forced to keep him. Other underwhelming purchases so far this year include Will Pryce and Morgan Harper.
SURPRISE OF THE YEAR
The performance of Canberra. I totally got this one wrong. I thought with their patched together spine that they would really fall towards the bottom of the ladder. Especially after experienced halfback Jamal Fogarty was injured.
However, Stuart has worked marvels with his side this year and the youngsters are thriving under his leadership. Their forwards including Smithies, Joe Tapine and Hudson Young continue to be their focal point but Jordan Rapana is getting better with age at the back. Would be a great effort to finish in the top eight.
MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM OF THE YEAR
The easiest topic to discuss. South Sydney. Most had them as a top four team but now they face the real prospect of trying to avoid a wooden spoon.
Their season has been plagued by injuries and poor performances from some of their biggest stars. Jason Demetriou was the first coached sacked. Interim mentor Ben Hornby is doing a good job trying to steady the ship ahead of Bennett’s arrival next season.
BIG SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON FOR …
Benji Marshall and the Wests Tigers. No one anticipated the Tigers to suddenly become premiership favourites but most expected them to avoid a third straight wooden spoon. There was plenty of goodwill surrounding their improvement in the opening few months of the season but that has faded as they struggled to notch wins.
Marshall is in his first season in charge and with a host of players expected to be moved on at the end of the season he faces a challenge to keep an underperforming side motivated.
Their playing roster is also under fire with Jake Simpkin (Manly immediately) and Isaiah Papali’i (Penrith in 2025) among those to be moved on. They also have an up-hill battle to keep Stefano Utoikamanu.
The Knights finished last in three consecutive years – 2015-17. The Tigers are desperate to avoid a similar situation.
BACKFLIP OF THE YEAR
David Fifita takes the cake. After deciding between Penrith or the Roosters, Fifita opted to sign a rich deal with the Roosters. However, Fifita then started to get cold feet and left the Roosters at the altar and instead remain a Titans player as he took full advantage of the NRL’s cooling off period.
HIT OF THE YEAR
Liam Martin goes WHACK 💥#Originpic.twitter.com/54xkOGkdID
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2024
Liam Martin’s bone-rattling tackle on his former teammate J’maine Hopgood in Origin I. Martin rushed out of the line to whack Hopgood in a copybook tackle.
THE GOOD
Las Vegas. Watching it from home you couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the week that was and what an experience it would’ve been like to be in the US for the historic event. The jury is still out if there is any longevity in the NRL’s experience but I won’t knock them for giving it a crack. Let’s hope it continues.
THE BAD
Seven tackle sets. Please amend the rules! Nothing worse than a player dropping the ball over the try line in an attempt to score and then being penalised for a seven tackle set. The rule was brought in to stop teams from booting the ball dead. My solution? Scrap seven tackle sets and award a change over from wherever a ball is kicked dead from outside the 20 metres. Simple. If it’s inside the 20 metres then a usual 20 metre tap is taken.
THE UGLY
All the injuries to some of the game’s best players. The likes of Nathan Cleary, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Tom Trbojevic, Cameron Murray, Kalyn Ponga, Tom Gilbert are among the best players who have spent too long on the sidelines this year. It is a shame because they are among the best in the competition.
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