The Tackle: Latrell Mitchell and Spencer Leniu return, Dragons’ jersey gaffe, Kasey Badger criticism reeks of blatant sexism
Round 10 will see the return of polarising Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell, as well as Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu for the first time since his round one racial slur. Fatima Kdouh reveals that and more in The Tackle.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fatima Kdouh reveals her likes and dislikes from round nine in The Tackle.
LIKES
POLARISING STAR RETURN
Two of the NRL’s most polarising players, Spencer Leniu and Latrell Mitchell, return to the field this week after lengthy suspensions.
For the Roosters, it’ll be the first time former Penrith prop Leniu, who has spent eight weeks on the sideline for a racial slur against Ezra Mam, will run out alongside Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after the enforcers famously locked horns last year.
The clash against the Warriors will also double as Waerea-Hargreaves’ 300th game for the Roosters but also as the long-awaited glimpse into the changing over the guard at Bondi in real time.
As for Mitchell, his good deed of visiting axed coach Jason Demetriou at home last week must be backed up with a performance that restores some pride in the famous South Sydney jumper.
Jai Gray’s injury (ankle) means Mitchell will likely avoid a switch into the centres, and Saturday’s clash against St George Illawarra is no better chance to silence his fullback detractors. South Sydney’s finals hopes appear dead, but it’s on Mitchell, the side’s most influential player, to keep honour in the Rabbitohs jersey alive. With skipper Cameron Murray (hip) out long term, it’s now on Mitchell rise to the leader he says he wants be.
PENRITH’S TRUE MEGA MIND
There are few things better in rugby league than the joy this champion Panthers side goes about its business. Like when Brian To’o couldn’t help but pat the bald head of Dylan Edwards after the star fullback split open a lazy Rabbitohs defence on the back of a 20-metre restart, which lead to a length of the field try for Taylan May.
Turns out the joyous moment was also an inside joke between teammates. Two weeks ago To’o had praised Edwards as a ‘mega mind’ in a post match Fox League interview much to the delight of the panel.
He doubled down on the compliment on social media after Edwards delivered another huge performance that included 180 metres, seven tackle busts and two linebreaks.
“The real mega mind,” To’o captioned a story post of the moment on Instagram.
KATOA KEY TO DOLPHINS TITLE
Wayne Bennett’s legacy at the Dolphins will be that he was the club’s inaugural coach but prodigious talent Isaiya Katoa is on track to create an even bigger one at Redcliffe.
Katoa’s form has been impressive since the mastercoach showed the youngster some tough love and left him out the season opener.
Week after week, the 20-year old displays skill, poise, physicality in defence and vision well beyond his two seasons in the NRL.
Fox League expert Cooper Cronk, who is a four-time premiership winner, believes Katoa will lead the Dolphins to their first ever title.
“Jeez he’s impressive. He’s becoming one of my favourite players to watch the way he goes about his business,” Cronk said.
“If he keeps going on the same trajectory he might be the reason the Dolphins win a premiership at some stage. They need to keep this kid attached to the club, you might see some great things ahead.”
NO HOME HEROES
It’s hard to believe clubs are not lining up to secure a resurgent Angus Crichton. The Roosters backrower is back to the kind of form that earned him Origin selection, but is still without a deal for 2025. There is talk Crichton could be headed to French rugby but surely the list of potential NRL suitors is growing by the week, putting pressure on the Roosters to make a call over his future at the club.
Canberra’s Nick Cotric is a similar boat and is still unsigned for 2025. The outside back has spent most of 2024 in NSW Cup but was one of Canberra’s best in their hard fought win over Manly, proving he’s too good to be stuck in reserve grade.
SAMI’S BUNKER SURPRISE
Even Titans winger Phillip Sami couldn’t believe it. Sami’s hilarious, but honest reaction, to the Bunker awarding him a try in the 35th minute that appeared to have been bounced over the try line rather than properly grounded, said it all.
In the end, it didn’t determine the result, with the Storm winning 22-20, but it has reignited the debate over what constitutes a legal put down.
Tigers’ hooker Api Koroisau was denied a try against Brisbane after the Bunker detected a slight separation before he appeared to get his hand back on the ball as he grounded it. The regather was deemed illegal. The NRL won’t reconsider that rule due to the risk of added a grey area to the rule. But it might be time reconsider the downward pressure rule.
SHARKS TO SWIM IN THE DEEP END
Cronulla have finished round nine at the top of the NRL ladder but the real litmus for the competition leaders is only just beginning.
After disposing of local derby rival St George Illawarra on Sunday evening, the Sharks are headed to AAMI Park this week to take on Melbourne.
It doesn’t get any easier with another road trip to Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round, where they take on a red hot Sydney Roosters followed by reigning premiers Penrith at home in round 12, then a struggling Parramatta outfit before facing the Broncos in Brisbane.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s men have had an arguable soft-ish draw to start the season but now have the chance to prove their premiership credentials over the next five weeks.
DISLIKES
LET’S GONE DARGONS
Poor old St George Illawarra just can’t take a trick at the moment.
Shortly after their local derby loss to Cronulla, social media went into meltdown over an unfortunate typo on the jersey the club presented Jack Bird to commemorate his 150th NRL game against his former team.
Written in bold capital letters on his chest was “Dargons” instead of Dragons.
Milestone games are always memorable but this will be something Bird definitely won’t forget.
REYNOLDS LOSS HURTS BRONCOS
Adam Reynolds’ three-month bicep injury will dent Brisbane’s top four hopes, and in turn their premiership chances.
More concerning for Brisbane is Reynolds’ longevity. The halfback wants to play on for another season but his body is telling another story.
Kevin Walters isn’t guaranteed to have Jock Madden, who is sidelined with a rib injury, back this week against Parramatta, an outfit with their own injury woes and at the mercy of constant speculation over coach Brad Arthur’s future.
It leaves Walters to partner Tristan Sailor alongside Ezra Mam in the halves.
Brisbane are grooming young gun Cody Black as Reynolds’ long-term successor. Pulling the strings for Burleigh Bears, Black, 17, orchestrated a 130-0 belting of Wide Bay Bulls in the Mal Meninga Cup, which included a 46-point personal haul. Black will turn 18 this year making him eligible for NRL, it might be time for Walters to expedite his plans for the Broncos halves long-term.
BURGESS BEHAVIOUR A BAD LOOK
If Sam Burgess’ time at Warrington is shaping as an audition for the head coaching role at South Sydney, his altercation with Hull FC director of rugby Richie Myler would have only hurt his chances.
Burgess was caught on camera appearing to shove Myler in a post match spat over what is believed to be a dispute around the Wolves coach naming a player not in the original 17, costing the side coach an interchange.
Souths legend Burgess claimed Myler made a “smart comment” as he walked past.
Burgess and Myler. @hullfcofficial@WarringtonRLFCpic.twitter.com/4Q1nsOAUQZ
— What would Brian Bevan say? 🇺🇦🎙🎧 (@WhatBevan) May 3, 2024
“He really doesn’t need to do that,” Burgess told Sky Sports.
“I get he is new in the job — so am I. But the game is done, it’s done now. Let’s move on.”
Burgess has been making a decent fist of his first-time role as a head coach with the Wolves second on the Super League ladder. A successful stint in England will only strengthen Burgess’ NRL coaching credentials.
As soon as Jason Demetriou was sacked calls for the South Sydney great – who walked away after calling out what he thought was the preferential treatment of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell – to return to the club as Wayne Bennett’s eventual successor came loud and fast.
But getting into a scuffle in the tunnel with a senior executive of a rival club is not a good look, and undoubtedly the kind of incident that Rabbitohs officials won’t take too kindly.
‘DOOZY’ CALL DENIES PENALTY TRY
A Bunker ‘doozy’ has left fans scratching their heads after New Zealand Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was denied a penalty try against Newcastle.
Knights winger Greg Marzhew was penalised for tackling Watene-Zelezniak in the air as the Warriors flyer won a contest for a high ball as he attempted to score a try right on half time.
It appeared as though the illegal tackle from Marzhew stopped Watene-Zelezniak from being able to ground the ball cleanly, despite the Warriors winger winning the aerial contest.
Even the Bunker ruled Watene-Zelezniak won the ball cleanly but did not rule beyond a penalty for the illegal tackle.
“It looks like it should be but it’s not. So it’s the right call. But it’s just stunning … it should be a penalty try because he had a clean pick up of the ball,” Fox League Michael Ennis said at half time.
“Our game throws up some doozies and this is one of them.
“The Bunker said Dallin takes a clean catch, but he was tackled in the air and unable (to get a clean put down of the ball)
“Not sure how that is not a penalty try in this day and age.
When the Warriors tried to question the Bunker decision, the most that referee Chris Butler could offer was: “we never give penalty tries for that”.
It’s a response that is unlikely to satisfy the Warriors, and most NRL fans.
NRL MUST BACK BADGER AGAINST SEXIST ONLINE TROLLS
The social media pile on of referee Kasey Badger is not only unacceptable but reeks of blatant sexism.
Some of the social media commentary is filled with well-worn, and tiresome hot takes, of Badger being nothing more than a diversity hire that isn’t up to NRL standard.
Of course, that’s all a load of rubbish. No one is arguing that a referee, regardless of gender, is beyond reproach, but criticism tied to Badger being a woman is uncalled for.
You never hear the gender of a male referee offered up as the reason for any howler or blunder they make.
The behaviour of veteran Wests Tigers forward David Klemmer and Alex Seyfarth towards Badger has no doubt contributed to the vitriolic social media abuse.
Seeing Klemmer’s on-field dissent – which Badger rightfully sin binned him for – only gives licence to those on social media to treat Badger the same way.
Klemmer was remonstrating over what he thought was an escort on Jahream Bula by Blake Taaffe after a Charlie Staines kick on the last play.
But there’s no hiding from the fact that seeing Klemmer, his emotions spilling over, as he towers over Badger made for uncomfortable viewing.
Klemmer should have known better, and all NRL players should know better than to charge at a referee every time a call doesn’t go their way.
It’s becoming commonplace in the game, and the NRL needs to stamp it out. But the most Klemmer got was a $3,000 fine after he was charged with contrary conduct over the incident. A ban would have sent a stronger message.
@BuzzRothfield The Kasey Badger pile on is pretty intense. Bateman was at her all afternoon. And Klemmer needs a ban. Misogyny and bullying in my book.
— Nath White (@RadioNowhere75) May 4, 2024
The way the players treat her is appalling. She suffers such disrespect
— Andrew Smith (@DeSchmidtty) May 4, 2024
Never seen such a pile on over a simple club game in #NRL. Kasey Badger makes errors, but every ref does. What I have noticed is she lets the players talk to her far too much. Make the call, send them on their way or it just emboldens them to talk more..
— The Strangest Timeline (@DavidStacka) May 4, 2024
Kasey Badger should be done as an NRL referee. Lost complete control again
— Pharaoh Iro (@SupercoachGuns) May 4, 2024
There’s bagging refs and there’s the Kasey Badger pile on.
— Mike (@PantherMike182) May 4, 2024
No refs , no game.
Someone people on here need to rein it in a little. Poor form. 👎#NRL
Badger lost control.
— All Things Opinionated ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ (@ATOpinionated) May 4, 2024
But the teams were being incredibly disrespectful to her.
I commend her for sending Klemmer after warning the Tigers that she wouldn’t tolerate abuse. #nrlbulldogstigers
Let’s be honest, Touch Judge Drew Oultram & The Bunker both let Kasey Badger down today. Specifically, the non sin binnings of both Sezer & Mahoney were Bunker calls. #NRLBulldogsTigers
— Al Dente (@WorimiFella) May 4, 2024
Badger should have also sent Aidan Sezer to the bin for his hip drop tackle on Josh Curran. Reed Mahoney should have also spent time off the field for running in and escalating the scuffle between Seyfarth and Viliame Kikau.
But the expectation that Badger has to be perfect 100 per cent of the time is not only unfair but also unreasonable.
Where was the Bunker in all of this? The Bunker should have intervened both times, but didn’t.
Two weeks ago the NRL claimed Badger was “rested” after calling the match between Titans and the Raiders. Badger missed Chevy Stewart’s offside run to charge down a Kieran Foran field-goal attempt.
The NRL’s decision only served to further undermine Badger and fuel her very vocal detractors.
This week, the NRL needs to show some spine and back Badger.
BAD DOG MAHONEY
There’s passion and sticking up for your mates, and then there’s Reed Mahoney’s constant attempts to get under the skin of opposition players.
It’s a fine line and Mahoney is now treading on the wrong side of it.
The diminutive hooker was lucky not to be set to the bin after running in to escalate a push and shove between Alex Seyfarth and Viliame Kikau. If there’s any player that doesn’t need a bodyguard, it’s powerhouse backrower Kikau. Mahoney doesn’t seem to see the wrong of his ways, declaring: “I think people get big man syndrome because they don’t like little people talking up to them. Maybe that’s their fault, not mine.”
Mahoney was lucky to get away with just a $1800 fine for his role in the Seyfarth altercation. The hooker was also fined $2500 for a dangerous throw on Solomon Alaimalo.
Mahoney was sin-binned two weeks ago for sparking a melee that lead to an altercation with Jack Hetherington in the tunnel. Mahoney’s temper didn’t cost Canterbury competition points, on either occasion, but it’s only a matter of time before it does.
NRL’S BURGEONING INJURY LIST
There has really been an opening to a season that has seen so many stars sidelined at the same time with serious long-term injuries.
NRL Physio pointed out the carnage over the weekend after Reynolds (bicep), Cameron Murray (hip flexor) and Ryan Papenhuyzen (leg) joined the list of superstars that already included the likes of Kalyn Ponga (foot), Mitchell Moses (foot) and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (ACL). It’s an area the NRL must examine. Is this season an anomaly or a symptom of something more sinister?
OBSTRUCTION CONFUSION
Plenty of eyebrows were raised when Brisbane’s Pat Carrigan clearly took Roosters prop Lindsay Collins out of the defensive line in the lead-up to Jordan Riki’s try. Given referees are seemingly awarding obstruction penalties for a decoy merely interrupting a defensive line, Carrigan’s run warranted a second look. Under what feels a new interpretation of the obstruction rule this year, where a runner merely has to stop an inch too soon on a decoy run, Carrigan’s hit on Collins was surely an obstruction.
PANTHERS STAR’S ILL DISCIPLINE
Very few rising players in the NRL have a ceiling as high as Penrith’s Izack Tago but his discipline in recent weeks is uncharacteristic of the youngster and something coach Ivan Cleary must keep in check.
According to Fox Sports Stats, Tago is the most penalised player in the NRL with 10 indiscretions, ahead of J’maine Hopgood (9), Sam Walker (9), Reed Mahoney (8) and Aidan Sezer (8).
Tago is facing one week on the sidelines for a hip drop tackle that left South Sydney’s Jai Gray with an ankle injury. He’s lucky the NRL did not come down any harder after Aidan Sezer was slapped with a 4-5 week ban for a hip drop on Josh Curran. It comes on the back of two head high penalties given away against North Queensland, the week before. He wasn’t charged by the match review committee. Tago is capable of the kind of performances that should put him squarely in Origin discussions, not the kind that leave him sweating ahead of a judiciary charge sheet.
Ex-NRL star’s impressive heavyweight KO
Alex Leapai Jr, a promising NRL front-rower before making the switch to boxing, has impressed with a dominant knockout.
Bulldogs ramp up Hunt chase after missing out on Storm star
The Bulldogs are set to turn their attention back to Ben Hunt, after Canterbury supremo Phil Gould failed in a secret last-ditch attempt to poach Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen.