How the coronavirus pandemic has impacted your NRL clubs
Find out how the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing rugby league layoff has impacted your NRL club, and what the team might looked like once the league returns.
Teams
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With rugby league set to return on May 28th, find out whether your club was a winner or loser from the pandemic shut down.
BRONCOS
RATING: A
R1: bt Cowboys 28-21; R2: bt South Sydney 22-18
Will benefit from the pause because of a growing injury toll. Allows captain Alex Glenn to recover from his niggling hamstring injury that kept him out of the opening two rounds. Matt Lodge may recover from a partial ACL tear in his knee to feature when play resumes. Star recruit Brodie Croft will also be fit to play after injuring his shoulder in R2. Kiwi international Jordan Kahu has recovered from shoulder surgery and a calf complaint and backup playmaker Sean O’Sullivan should be fit by June.
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PARRAMATTA
RATING: A
R1: bt Canterbury 8-2; R2: bt Titans 46-6.
Big winners with hooker Reed Mahoney’s injury. Skinny in rake ranks and Mahoney was facing three months on the sidelines with a foot fracture and Eels coach Brad Arthur was going to call upon Ray Stone to fill the void. Mahoney won’t be watching on for too long.
COWBOYS
RATING: A
R1: lost to Brisbane 28-21; R2: bt Canterbury 24-16
Weren’t decimated by injuries in the opening two rounds, so are ready to go. Fullback Valentine Holmes was only starting to find his stride back in rugby league. Captain Michael Morgan underwent shoulder surgery during the break but is likely to be back by May 28.
KNIGHTS
RATING: A
R1: bt Warriors 20-0; R2: bt Tigers 42-24
Faced a mammoth task to field anything near their full-strength line-up before the break, with Kalyn Ponga suspended, Mitch Barnett (neck; three months), Herman Ese’ese (ankle), Sione Mata’utia (knee), Bradman Best (fractured foot) and Phoenix Crossland (groin) either unavailable or in doubt. Year-ending ACL injury to hooker Jayden Brailey has crushed their chances.
RAIDERS
RATING: A
R1: bt Titans 24-6; R2: bt Warriors 20-6
“Back for round 3 then, it looks like.”
This is the Tweet Raiders forward John Bateman posted moments after the season was officially suspended. Let’s hope the Englishman is right. He had shoulder surgery in late February and was scheduled to return at the end of April. He’ll now be fit for the Raiders first game back. Suspended forward Hudson Young still has four matches to serve.
TITANS
RATING: A
R1: lost to Raiders 24-6; R2: lost to Eels 46-6
Captain Kevin Proctor (hamstring), winger Dale Copley (rib) and Tyrone Roberts (ankle) were injured in their final game before going into hibernation but have each been given the green light come May 28. AJ Brimson and Shannon Boyd — absentees from R1-2 — will return when the season resumes. Moeaki Fotuaika faces a one-match ban for his shot on Eels halfback Mitch Moses.
BULLDOGS
RATING: B+
R1: lost to Eels 8-2; R2: Cowboys lost to 24-16
Disrupted pre-season. Chris Smith (knee) should be fit, while Kieran Foran (shoulder) is also a chance to make his return. Joe Stimson needs shoulder surgery but that has now been delayed. Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera have been sacked. Marcelo Montoya and Kerrod Holland (both knee) are fit.
SHARKS
RATING: B+
R1: lost to Rabbitohs 22-18; R2: lost to Storm 12-10
Beset by injury to their most influential stars. Aside from Cam King (ACL), who is out for the year, Matt Moylan (calf), Josh Dugan (knee), Bronson Xerri (shoulder), Briton Nikora (knee) and Braden Uele (foot) were all set to miss between one and five weeks. Time off also be crucial for Andrew Fifita and his chronic knee problem.
TIGERS
RATING: B+
R1: bt Dragons 24-14; R2: lost to Knights 42-24
Gives halfback Luke Brooks chance to recover from his calf injury after he was expected to miss first five rounds. Skipper Moses Mbye will also be back from a knee injury, with hooker Jacob Liddle their only real concern. New recruit Harry Grant now has time to settle in.
SEA EAGLES
RATING: B
R1: lost to Storm 18-4; R2: bt Roosters 9-8
Have had the toughest opening to the year. Missing fringe players Taniela Paseka (ankle) and Jack Gosiewski, who will be back in time to play again.
ROOSTERS
RATING: B
R1: lost to Panthers 20-14; R2: lost to Sea Eagles 9-8
Looking a bit weary. Time away will allow Boyd Cordner to return fully fit, along with Nat Butcher. Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua will be right to return, with only centre Billy Smith sidelined when things kick off again. New recruit Josh Morris will have ample time to study team structures.
WARRIORS
RATING: B-
R1: lost to Knights 20-0; R2: lost to Raiders 20-6
No club has been impacted by the coronavirus more than the Warriors, who were isolated o the Gold Coast before heading back home. They are now able to regroup. Long-term injuries to Gerard Beale, Nathaniel Roach, Bunty Afoa, Taane Milne and Jackson Frei won’t change.
STORM
RATING: C+
R1: bt Manly 18-4; R2: bt Sharks 12-10
Did not need the season to pause and have lost all momentum. Unlike other clubs still tinkering with squads due to injury, the Storm were set to field a full-strength line-up in round three with the return of Brandon Smith (cheekbone). Clubs have now regrouped.
DRAGONS
RATING: C
R1: lost to Tigers 24-14; R2: lost to Panthers 32-28
The suspended season might just ensure under-pressure coach Paul McGregor sees out the final year of his contract in 2021. The absence of Jack de Belin (stood down) is also a key element, with his court case further delayed.
PANTHERS
RATING: C
R1: bt Roosters 20-14; R2: bt Dragons 32-28
Looked quite impressive in opening two games and would have loved to have kept playing. Largely injury free, with only Kurt Capewell (knee) and Dylan Edwards (ankle) sidelined. Both will be back on the park for the restart.
RABBITOHS
RATING: C-
R1: bt Cronulla 22-18; R2: lost to Brisbane 22-18
Didn’t need the break as they had a clean bill of health. Fringe player Patrick Mogo (pectoral) was the only one missing for the Rabbitohs. Needed to stay on the paddock to get some more match fitness into Latrell Mitchell at fullback.
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