Crash Tackle: Robert ‘Crash’ Craddocks likes and dislikes from NRL round 22

THE Broncos are suddenly struggling to make the finals but the powerbrokers in Brisbane will be comfortable with that scenario, according to Robert Craddock, who gives his likes and dislikes from the last week of the NRL.

Based on current form, Broncos powerbrokers don’t need to worry too much about Wayne Bennett leading Brisbane to this year’s premiership. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

WITH the finals drawing near, Robert “Crash” Craddock gives his likes and dislikes from the last week of the NRL.

GAGGED: Broncos banned from Bennett talk

ERA OVER?: Bennett’s termination could be accelerated

JACK BIRD: Under-fire centre eyes shock comeback

DISLIKES

SEPARATION BLUES

WAYNE BENNETT could exit the Broncos this year for the same quirky reason Anthony Griffin was hastily axed by Penrith.

The clubs cannot afford for them to succeed.

Based on current form, Broncos powerbrokers don’t need to worry too much about Wayne Bennett leading Brisbane to this year’s premiership. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

With some justification, Griffin reckons his bizarrely timed exit from Penrith came because the club was fearful he would win a title this year and they would be stuck with him.

Bennett’s situation has similar threads. Imagine if Bennett is told at this season’s end he can see out the last year of his contract next season but must leave after that.

What if his team, which has a group of blossoming young forwards, dominates next year’s competition?

Would the club really want Bennett spending a season answering questions about whether he felt hard done by for not getting a contract extension and responding with “why don’t you go and ask the board?’’

Not likely.

TOO MANY CHIEFS

The fallout of Griffin’s sacking may ensure one future option regarding Bennett does not make it off the tarmac.

Panthers general manager Phil Gould is a great coach, but is that the problem for Penrith? Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

There have been suggestions Bennett could stay on at Red Hill as a coaching mentor-recruiter-high performance guru.

Griffin found life a nightmare at the Panthers having the meddling Phil Gould above him. Having an experienced voice hovering in the shadows sounds great in theory. Does it ever work?

CHANGING WORLD

Beneath the sparks flying between Bennett and the powerbrokers at Red Hill lies the sadness that the club’s greatest servant will end his relationship with the Broncos on a sour note.

Bennett and the Broncos are like an old married couple who have stayed together too long. It’s gone and the sooner the split happens the better.

Bennett critics say he never quite adjusted to not having the massive power he had in previous decades long before the club spread its wings and became a public company.

ASH TO ASHES

Ash Taylor seems to have flatlined as a player in a season when the Titans hoped he would be spreading his wings.

Taylor’s game management appears patchy and so does his defence.

He looks like a player who could use a decent mentor, someone like Gold Coast-based Scott Prince, who currently helps the Broncos.

Ashley Taylor has had an inconsistent season with the Titans. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

DRAGONS

It will be a long time before Dragons fans get excited about their traditional spring loaded start to the season again after another dramatic collapse.

Bookmakers have eased them to $25 chances for the title after they were flogged by the Eels, their fourth loss from five starts.

LIKES

HOOK’S HOOKS

Anthony Griffin showed you don’t have to be a media star to be a star media performer last week.

With subtle doses of strength, humility and an absence of the waffle and nastiness showcased by the man who sacked him, Phil Gould, Griffin may have lost his job but somehow emerged with an enhanced reputation by carrying himself with admirable poise in his most testing week.

Kyle Feldt’s 55m penalty goal gave the Cowboys a halftime lead against the Broncos. Picture: Evan Morgan

THUNDER FOOT

Goal kicks are rarely talking points but Kyle Feldt’s sweetly struck 55m bomb which comfortably cleared the crossbar against the Broncos was something else.

The fact that it wasn’t even a close thing surprised none of his Cowboys teammates who have seen him pot them from 60m at training.

POISE UNDER PRESSURE

While a rugby league tornado swirled around them, father and son Ivan and Nathan Cleary behaved with dignity under crushing pressure last week.

Ivan proved there is such a thing as a solid contract in rugby league by staying loyal to the Tigers while Nathan fronted up at a press conference at the Gold Coast on Saturday to speak maturely about his future.

Nathan Cleary was happy to answer questions despite the storm swirling around his club and his father’s future. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

THE FINAL WHISTLE

FOR once a group of rugby league players have surrounded a referee with nothing but good intentions.

Well done to the Warriors for forming a guard around referee Matt Cecchin and congratulating him on his career after Friday’s game against the Knights. Cecchin retires at the season’s end.

BEN’S BACK

Ben Barba has blotted his copybook more times than a primary school student with a leaky biro yet there’s no doubt his return to the NRL will give the competition a timely lift.

With so many greats retiring the competition needs personality players and Barba is certainly that.

Originally published as Crash Tackle: Robert ‘Crash’ Craddocks likes and dislikes from NRL round 22