NRL Tackle: Likes and dislikes from round 14
After conceding 50 points twice recently, Souths have swapped their renowned flair for a more pragmatic approach. Dislikes and likes for every match played so far in round 14.
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Our rugby league writers reveal their likes, dislikes and players of the game for round 14.
And now that the Dally Ms have gone behind closed doors for the rest of the season, News Corp’s NRL experts will do their own 3-2-1 votes for every game with a composite scoreboard at the bottom of the story.
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Like: By his own admission, Daly Cherry-Evans had a poor game in the State of Origin series opener. But unlike some of his Queensland teammates, he decided to do something about it. The Maroons skipper put the disappointment behind him as he racked up four try assists in a best on ground performance to show why he’s the incumbent Kangaroos captain. He then fronted the media and gave an honest appraisal of the craziness of the past 48 hours. He’s a champion on and off the field, and is set to bring up NRL game 250 this week against, you guessed it, the Titans.
Dislike: Just when people started buying into the North Queensland hype, the Cowboys showed us all that they are still a long way off the pace. They missed 38 tackles on Friday night and defended like it was optional against a team missing the best attacking weapon in the world. They undid a lot of the hard work they’d achieved leading into the bye, and Tom Dearden didn’t do himself any favours as he auditions for the halfback role in 2022. He offered little in attack and looked lost in defence as North Queensland’s right edge collapsed like an underdone souffle.
Fox Sports key stats: Second time in a month the Sea Eagles have scored 50 points. First time since 2007 they have done so twice in a season. First time since 2010 the Cowboys have conceded 50 points or more. First time against the Sea Eagles.
Player of the year points: 3 Daly Cherry-Evans, 2 Reuben Garrick, 1 Martin Taupau
– Martin Gabor
Like: Two months ago Cronulla were a club in crisis. An ugly break-up with coach John Morris, and the way the club handled the sacking, dominated headlines. Even with the respected Craig Fitzgibbon secured as the side’s new coach in season 2022, the club couldn’t seal the deal with veteran halfback Adam Reynolds. But the tide has turned for the shire club under the helm of interim coach Josh Hannay, and after three-straight wins and with a comfortable draw over the next month, the Sharks are building nicely as a potential dark horse in the finals series.
Dislike: Sharks coach Josh Hannay was incredibly measured on Friday night when asked about Viliame Kikau’s suspected leg injury in the second half when Cronulla were in an attacking position and with all the momentum. With the score level and the Sharks on the attack, Kikau stayed on the ground inches from the right sideline getting assistance from a trainer for an injury. Eventually the Panthers powerhouse was taken from the field but by that point all the momentum had been halted from Cronulla’s attacking charge. “Yeah I do (have a view on it), but I probably won’t share it … it is ridiculous,” Hannay said. “I thought the rule was for serious injuries play would be stopped, but if it is not serious play would go on.
“It kind of looked like it wasn’t a serious injury and we probably could have put the game away there if the game was allowed to flow.” While Hannay stopped short of accusing Kikau of feigning injury, there is no doubt staying down to gain an advantage, whether a penalty or to simply slow down the game, is slowly creeping into the game.
Fox Sports key stats: Matt Burton scored the third double of his career and set up the other Panthers’ try. Sharks snap a four-game losing streak against the Panthers.
Player of the year points: 3 Shaun Johnson, 2 Aaron Woods, 1 Matt Burton
– Fatima Kdouh
Like: Roosters sensation Sam Walker stepped up and proved you don’t need to be experienced to have class when he won the game for Sydney with a clutch field goal. Walker left the field in the second half with a shoulder injury but returned to win the game for his team, at the age of 18. Despite playing only his ninth NRL game, Walker has shown he is a star of the future and not afraid of the big moments. That comes naturally and he is only going to get better with more games under his belt. The 80-minute performance of Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in his 250th NRL match was also a matchwinner. JWH produced 199m from 20 carries and made 44 tackles to set the standard for his team in a brilliant individual effort.
Dislike: The Titans are now in the bottom four on the NRL ladder and have been the greatest disappointments of the 2021 season. For a team that promised so much, the Titans have barely fired a shot. They showed some guts to fight back from a 30-4 deficit to draw level at 34-all, but it is always going to be tough to beat a team like the Roosters when you give them an 18-nil lead. The Titans have a soft attitude to defence and don’t cope well with expectation. They only started playing well when the Roosters had such a big lead that the Gold Coast was expected to lose. It was the same case last year when they won five games at the end of the season after they were out of finals contention. As soon as there is some pressure and expectation applied, the Titans wilt and that is a huge problem for coach Justin Holbrook.
Fox Sports key stats: In game 250, JWH played 80 minutes for just the fourth time in his career (and in back-to-back games for the first time in his career, with the bye in the middle). Most points the Roosters have ever conceded in a win. Previous most was 32 points on three occasions.
Player of the year points: 3 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 2 Joey Manu, 1 Jamal Fogarty
– Travis Meyn
Like: For all the praise the Rabbitohs get for their attacking brilliance, it was their grittiness which dominated this game. Their defence on their kick chase bashed Newcsatle out of the game and is what premierships can be built around. The Knights struggled to get out of their own end and that was largely because of what South Sydney did on play one. They pushed hard and whacked Newcastle’s kick returners. Back-rower Keaon Koloamatangi is developing into an elite player and quickly becoming one of the most improved players in the competition.
Dislike: It is almost like one in, one out for the Knights. Their horror injury run continues – this time with centre Bradman Best facing an extended stint on the sideline with an ankle injury. The Knights have been unable to put their first string spine together all season and again it seems like that may not happen again this week. The injury curse continuing coach which prompted coach Adam O’Brien to label the latest setback as “heartbreaking”.
Fox Sports key stats: Souths’ Alex Johnston scored the seventh three-plus try haul of his career. Ninth loss of the season for the Knights – their past seven all by 14 points or more.
Player of the year points: 3 Cody Walker, 2 Keaon Koloamatangi, 1 Latrell Mitchell
– Michael Carayannis
Like: Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii is the one forward who could save the series for Queensland in Origin II. Returning from suspension, Papalii showed the Maroons what they sorely missed in Origin I with a barnstorming display against the Broncos. The Raiders hit man charged for 147 runs from 18 runs and capped a fine display when he crashed over in the 53rd minute to sink the Broncos at 26-10. If Papalii has a monster of a game in Origin II, he might inspire a Blues boilover. He was ably supported by Bailey Simonsson, who amassed 207 metres, four tackle busts and two try assists in a sublime fullback display.
Dislike: Broncos coach Kevin Walters looks confused. He is making so many changes to his team on a weekly basis his head must be spinning. Every successful team needs continuity and while injuries are a factor for every side, Walters is tinkering like a mad scientist searching for the perfect formula. Exhibit A is his halves. The Karmichael Hunt-Tyson Gamble pairing against Canberra was their seventh scrumbase union this season. Brisbane’s defence is awful. They are leaking 31 points per game this season and in danger of a second consecutive wooden spoon.
Fox Sports key stats: Canberra’s Bailey Simonsson ran for 200 metres for the first time in his career. Kobe Hetherington becomes the first Bronco sent off since Ben Walker in 1999 (Also at Canberra Stadium).
Player of the year points: 3 Josh Papalii, 2 Bailey Simonsson, 1 Matthew Timoko
– Peter Badel
Like: They’ve been without a host of stars for most of the season, but the Storm juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down. They’ve now won 11 on the trot and have scored 40 points on eight occasions; the record is nine. They look unbeatable when Harry Grant and Brandon Smith are on the field, and their attack will only get better when Ryan Papenhuyzen returns in a few weeks. It was also great to see the Warriors put on a show for their fans with the band Dragon performing before the game, while there was also a stirring Haka in the crowd before kick-off.
Dislike: Cameron Munster is one of the best players in the world, but he has to address a glaring flaw in his game. He was placed on report for lashing out with the boot to kick Roger Tuivasa-Sheck just days after he was slapped with a fine for a similar incident in the Origin opener. The incidents wouldn’t hurt a fly, but they will hurt his team if he continues to do it and misses a big game due to suspension. He plays on emotion and often produces awe-inspiring plays on the back of it, but he needs to rein it in when he gets frustrated.
Fox Sports key stats: Ken Maumalo scored the second hat trick of his career – both against Storm this season in his final game for the club before joining Wests Tigers. Eighth time this season Storm have cracked 40 points, a club record. Just five teams have achieved this. The most ever in a season is nine by the Eels in 2001 and Broncos in 1998.
Player of the year points: 3 Harry Grant, 2 Brandon Smith, 1 Jahrome Hughes.
– Martin Gabor
Like: Nathan Brown can be beauty and the beast in the one game and that was never better illustrated than during a five-minute period in the first half. After flattening Adam Doueihiwith a high shot and getting himself placed on report, firebrand Brown turned into sublime Brown to set up Parramatta’s first try. He engaged the Tigers’ defence close to the line before producing a flick out the back for Clint Gutherso to cross out wide. The lock also popped up late in the game to help seal the deal, skipping across the defensive line before clearing a path for Gutherson to score Parramatta’s sixth try.
Dislike: Despite their best attempts at self-sabotage, Wests Tigers were a chance to get back in this contest when they scored just before halftime. At one stage staring at a 20-point deficit, the Tigers were somehow only down by eight. However, it all fell apart in a dramatic 10 minutes after the break. With Shawn Blore in the bin, Parramatta ran wild to score three tries and put the game to bed. Yes, the Tigers were down a man, but you must show better resilience than that if you want to consistently mix it with the big boys in this competition.
Fox Sports key stats: Gutherson scored the ninth try double of his NRL career. He has 12 tries for the season, a career best.
Player of the year points: 3 M Moses 2 N Brown 1 J Lussick.
– Adam Lucius
BULLDOGS V DRAGONS
To come...
COMPOSITE PLAYER OF THE YEAR LEADERBOARD
21: N Cleary 17: R Tuivasa-Sheck 16: J Fisher-Harris 15: T Trbojevic 14: L Mitchell 12: D Cherry-Evans, W Kennedy, J Tedesco, R Papenhuyzen, B Hunt
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