NRL Tackle: Dylan Brown sparks Eels revival, Round 13 likes and dislikes

The State of Origin period was always going to be the make-or-break period for Parramatta, and Dylan Brown is standing tall to make sure it’s a succes. Check out all the Round 13 likes and dislikes.

Kalyn Ponga shakes off head knock in Knights win over Manly. Picture: Getty Images.

Brad Arthur has Parramatta well and truly back in the finals hunt on the back of two standout performances from electric five-eighth Dylan Brown.

Following up from his man of the match effort in the shock win over the Rabbitohs, Brown produced another top shelf effort highlighted by that tremendous try saving tackle on Chad Townsend that again showcased his blistering speed.

Dylan Brown produced one of the try-savers of the year, coming out of nowhere to stop Chad Townsend just metres out from the try-line. Picture: NRL Imagery.

The young Kiwi finished with 32 tackles and 10 runs for 94m that included a try assist and two linebreak assists.

We said two weeks ago this Origin period would be the making or breaking of the Eels’ season.

They now have the bye before the Bulldogs in round 15 followed by the Sea Eagles minus their Origin players.

Paul Crawley runs the rule over Round 13 of the NRL season, revealing his Likes and Dislikes in The Tackle column.

DISLIKES

SEVEN TACKLE STUFF UP NOT ACCEPTABLE

In a $1 billion sport with all the modern technology it is just unacceptable that a try scored on the seventh tackle gets awarded – and all the excuses in the world from referees boss Jared Maxwell won’t make it right.

It came after Jack Bird crossed for an illegal try in just the fifth minute to go 6-0 up after referee Adam Gee lost count after a previous no try bunker review two tackles earlier went against Talatau Amone.

While Maxwell has since came out and said systems will be put in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again, why weren’t the systems in place previously?

I know human error can happen from time to time.

But here we’re talking about a tackle count, not splitting the atom.

The NRL are lucky the Dragons didn’t win, after Jack Bird scored a try on the seventh tackle.

The NRL can thank their lucky stars it didn’t decide the match.

But imagine the fallout if this occurred in Origin when a try is often the difference between winning and losing?

We’d be talking about it for years to come, not just allow it to get swept under the carpet as if it was no big deal.

WARRIORS CAN’T BLAME REFS FOR THIS BRAIN SNAP

After the recent blow-ups from Warriors sponsors and fans that they don’t always get a fair go from the refs, they had nothing to whinge about here.

And Adam Pompey has only himself to blame for his mind-boggling brain-snap in a heart-stopping finish against the Broncos.

What a ridiculous play after a remarkable finish where the Warriors fought back from trailing 26-10 with just over six minutes to go.

They’d scored two tries and had a chance to steal victory when Marcelo Montoya crashed in the corner for the Warriors’ third try in five minutes.

But it was rightfully disallowed because Pompey had pulled at Deine Mariner’s jumping and denied him a fair chance to try and tackle Montoya.

The Warriors only have themselves to blame, after an Adam Pompey brain explosion cost his side a shot at a comeback victory. Picture: Getty Images.

That would have locked it up at 26-all with a kick from the sideline to win it.

At the very least it would have pushed the match into golden point.

There’s every chance Montoya would have still scored without Pompey’s interference, but we’ll never know.

It was also a show of class from Warriors coach Andrew Webster who took it on the chin and pointed to other errors throughout the match that cost also his team.

ORIGIN IN ADELAIDE INSULT TO NRL’S RUSTED ON FANS

It was a ridiculous decision to start with taking the State of Origin series opener to Adelaide.

And the NRL is getting its pay back with the thousands of empty seats that will stick out like a sore thumb when the players from NSW and Queensland take the field on Wednesday night.

I understand the desire to keep growing the game in states where rugby league is not the No 1 winter code.

But if you’re going to go there surely the NRL should stick to a club match, not the game’s showcase event that belongs in either NSW or Queensland.

Playing State of Origin Game 1 at the Adelaide Oval is an insult to rusted on NRL fans, writes Paul Crawley.

And it’s just a slap in the face to the millions of rusted on fans who support the game on a weekly basis.

We understand there is a massive financial incentive to do it.

But is it really worth selling your soul when the game won’t be a sellout?

EXPOSED DRAGONS NO JOB FOR ROOKIE COACH

St George Illawarra’s comprehensive loss to the Dolphins has again exposed why taking over from Anthony Griffin is no job for rookie coach.

With the Dragons expected to finalise the deal to bring in Jason Ryles in the coming days, this is not an attack on Ryles who by all reports is a hugely talented assistant with a promising career ahead of him.

But I just don’t see how this is a challenge for Ryles to try and tackle first up.

Especially when you look at what the Dolphins have been able to do in their first season under the game’s most experienced coach Wayne Bennett, in a set up that also includes one of the game’s most experienced recruitment chiefs Peter O’Sullivan.

Yes, the Dragons lacked Ben Hunt’s leadership in the 26-12 loss to the Dolphins on Thursday night.

The Dragons were exposed by the Dolphins. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

But let’s not forget the Dolphins were also without their injured first choice halfback Sean O’Sullivan as well as the suspended Felise Kaufusi and Queensland Origin stars Tom Gilbert and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Yet if not for the stuff up that allowed Jack Bird a try on a seven tackle set the scoreboard would have looked even worse.

There is no question the Dragons players tried hard on the night.

But they were still convincingly beaten to slump to their seventh loss in their past eight games.

Now they take on reigning premiers the Panthers next round.

From what we saw against the Dolphins, this could end in a bloodbath.

And it’s likely to come in the same week the Dragons appoint a rookie coach as their answer to try and fix the mess that has been a decade in the making.

Like I said, Ryles might end up being a great coach in the years to come.

But I have serious concerns that the board and management are digging an even bigger hole by not going after an experienced coach like a proven premiership winner in Des Hasler, Shane Flanagan or Michael Maguire.

Let’s face it, as good as the Dolphins are playing this year, does anyone seriously believe they would have had the success they did so far without Bennett’s experience?

LIKES

PONGA’S MESSAGE AFTER ORIGIN OMISSION

Kalyn Ponga was left out of Billy Slater’s Queensland team because of fears a head knock suffered last round could be an ongoing concern.

But the Newcastle fullback certainly showed a stack of courage to fight back from a series of further head knocks in the 28-18 win over the Sea Eagles.

Ponga copped two early when he was hit first in a high shot, while he also got his in a bad position attempting a tackle.

Then in the second half Tolutau Koula was sin binned for another high shot on Ponga.

But to his credit Ponga bounced off the deck on each occasion, never once indicating he was in any trouble.

While it wasn’t Ponga at his brilliant best, it was certainly a statement about his frame of mind.

Kalyn Ponga has responded to his Origin axing, shaking off a series of head knocks to lead the Knights to a win over Manly. Picture: Getty Images.

DOLPHINS’ REJECTS ON THE RISE

Jamayne Isaako should be inspiration for every battling player out there who is not ready to give up on his NRL dream just because one club - or two in Isaako’s case - deemed you weren’t up to it.

We’ve heard the story plenty of times of how Isaako was unwanted by the Broncos and Titans.

But the 26-year-old continues to show why both clubs made a mistake with another wonderful performance in the win over the Dragons.

Unwanted by the Broncos and Titans, Jamayne Isaako has found a new lease on life at the Dolphins. Picture: NRL Imagery.

This time he picked up two more tries and kicking five goals to continue on his charge as the season’s top point scorer.

It’s further confirmation the confidence a player can get in an environment where the coach believes in your talent.

On that note Anthony Milford also showed why he isn’t finished with a terrific performance at five-eighth, with Kodi Nikorima also impressive at fullback in Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s absence.

Who would have thought a makeshift spine that also includes 19-year-old halfback Isaiya Katoa and a dummy half let go by the Bulldogs in Jeremy-Marshall King would be have the Dolphins travelling so well at the halfway point of the season?

BRILLIANT BRONCO KEEPS WINDING BACK THE CLOCK

No wonder Adam Reynolds is contemplating playing on beyond his current contract which expires at the end of next season.

The champion halfback was sensational in his return from that nasty head knock with a great show of leadership in the win over the Warriors.

He set up a terrific try and finished with 10 runs for 82m, while landing five conversions.

It’s starting to sound like a broken record because so many people keep saying it.

But I can’t remember the now 32-year-old ever being in better form than what Reynolds has shown in his time at the Broncos.

Despite his side missing a host of Origin stars, Adam Reynolds just keeps stepping up for the Broncos. Picture: Getty Images.

And what about try saving play from young Tristan Sailor to deny Rocco Berry what looked to be a certain try, only for Sailor to miraculously get his hand under the ball just before it was grounded.

It was one of the plays of the season so far.

DID PAPA RETIRE FROM REP FOOTY TOO SOON?

In the week Josh Papali’i called time on his rep footy career, the veteran Queenslander showed he’s also far from past his best in the Raiders’ win over the Rabbitohs.

The 31-year-old front rower was enormous finishing with 18 runs for 189 metres and 27 tackles.

Fellow Queenslander Corey Horsburgh was also on a mission despite after he was overlooked for the Origin opener.

Maybe Billy Slater might have to send an SOS if the Maroons pack doesn’t aim up on Wednesday night.

Just weeks after calling time on his Origin career, Josh Papali’i produced a monster effort in the Raiders win over South Sydney. Picture: Getty Images.

SHOW OF CLASS IN HORRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES

We saw one of the great shows of sportsmanship with the Raiders and Rabbitohs players coming together to provide a shield of protection around Corey Harawira-Naera.

As awful as it was to see the Raiders forward suffer an onfield seizure, the respect by the players to provide some privacy while the medical staff worked on Harawira-Naera was first class.

Rabbitohs and Raiders players ought to be commended for their classy display of sportsmanship, after forming a protective shield around Corey Harawira-Naera after suffering a seizure. Picture: Getty Images.

In the end the incident understandably overshadowed what was a gutsy fightback from the Raiders to secure a vital win that keeps them in the top eight.