Crash Tackle: Robert Craddock’s wrap of the week in rugby league

Each week, The Courier-Mail’s chief sportswriter Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of the NRL. This time Crash asks if Jai Arrow’s game surpassed Jason Taumalolo’s.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 11: Jai Arrow of the Titans is tackled during the round 22 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Penrith Panthers at Cbus Super Stadium on August 11, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Each week, The Courier-Mail’s chief sportswriter Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of the NRL.

OFFSIDE

NO WAY

Of all the crazy things in rugby league the most dumbfounding of all is the “we knew nothing’’ card used in salary cap scandals.

There it was again when News Corp exclusively revealed the names and amounts in third party payments to the Cronulla Sharks.

Again, there is no suggestion players or agents had any suspicion the payments, including some of $25,000 in cash, were illegal.

But in our increasingly cashless society, a man turns up with a brown paper bag with $25,000 in it and, as a manager or player, you don’t even ask whether this is above board?

We warn all players about trying that one on a tax inspector… honestly, he’d laugh you out of the building.

Any manager who is not smart enough to know that a $25,000 cash payment needs to be reported should be sacked on the spot. And any player who takes it deserves to be heavily punished as well.

GET HIM BACK

On behalf of the fans can I be selfish for a minute?

One of the reasons Kalyn Ponga’s move to five-eighth for Newcastle is a disappointment is we don’t get to see the man with the game’s most magical feet returning clearing kicks.

It’s like inviting David Copperfield to a backyard bash but saying “no disappearing elephants thanks’’.

Ponga has struggled at five-eighth so far this season. AAP Image/Brendon Thorne.

PAINFUL WAIT

At least three experienced rugby league players are understood to be living in fear that sex tapes in which they feature will be leaked to social media.

They gain some comfort by the knowledge that threats of legal action may stem the tawdry tide but are still nervous in the knowledge social media is an unruly lawless beast.

NO CHERRY ON TOP

This is the halfway year in Daly Cherry-Evans eight year $10-million contract with Manly.

It was a fascinating trade-off ... financial security for life but a rugged, extended sentence with a club tortured by backroom brawls, modest facilities and an average playing staff.

Cherry-Evans is now halfway through his deal. AAP Image/Steve Christo.

EXPAND OR CONTRACT

Rugby league’s expansion debate has become the game’s Y2K virus.

Years are spent fretting over it yet despite constant predictions our world will change nothing happens.

People who want to relocate Cronulla to Brisbane forget they aren’t even that popular in Sydney so how do you reckon they would rate up here?

ONSIDE

WHAT A GAI

The first thought after watching Tevita Pangai Junior’s rampage at Suncorp Stadium against the Cowboys was that you would not have wanted to run into Tevita Pangai Senior.

He could become one of the Broncos best signings and looks on course to become one of the game’s outstanding forwards – sadly for NSW.

THE CONJURER

Watching Souths playmaker Adam Reynolds handle a football is like watching a baker knead dough.

His kicking game is a work of art.

Chips, bananas, grubbers, swirling bombs and cross field curlers – he has the full buffet and any young playmakers should study his deeds.

Reynolds is a kicking wizard. Picture by Phil Hillyard.

ARROW ENERGY

ALL things considered, Jai Arrow’s 299m game for the Gold Coast against Cronulla may have been a better performance than Jason Taulomolo’s epic 301m stormer the week before.

Given that is a smaller man in a team being well beaten away from home, Arrow’s effort which included 28 runs, a line-break, seven tackle breaks, four off-loads and 27 tackles in 70 minutes was simply staggering.

Just to prove himself the complete professional, he also had the fastest play-the-balls of any Titans player.

THE REFS

Letting the game flow has been a major winner this year.

Barely noticed their presence. Well done.

DIAMOND JIM

For the same reason that Gorden Tallis’ most admired player was Geoff Toovey you have to admire James Maloney.

A small man in a land of giants, he’d just an old-fashioned gravel voiced footy star who’s not flawless but his match-saving tackles for Penrith against Newcastle typified his ability to conjure something when it’s most needed.

Originally published as Crash Tackle: Robert Craddock’s wrap of the week in rugby league