The Tackle: Ugly player behaviour mars exciting round
On first look, it appears an out-of-character performance. But was the Titans capitulation against Manly an ugly sign of things to come? Plus check out the Dally M votes and full leaderboard.
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Our rugby league writers reveal what caught their eye — good and bad — in Round 6 of the NRL, plus check out the Dally M votes from every game and full leaderboard.
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BRONCOS v PANTHERS
Dally M votes: James Fisher-Harris 3, Nathan Cleary 2, Payne Haas 1. Judge: Andrew Johns
Like: While Nathan Cleary rightly stole plaudits with his magnificent playmaking performance, it is hard to miss the tackle-busting brilliance of Brian To’o. The 22-year-old amassed a staggering 262 metres from 24 runs with 10 tackle busts and they are numbers which suggest he is ready for a NSW State of Origin debut. To’o’s physicality would be perfectly suited to the Origin arena. For the Broncos, their forwards finally had a crack. Matt Lodge produced his best game in two years and showed he can be the chief engine-room enforcer the Broncos are craving.
Dislike: The Broncos will not hit back as a bona fide finals force until they find a dominant playmaker. After Anthony Milford was dropped, halves Brodie Croft and Tom Dearden showed great commitment and courage in defence, but in attack they still lacked cohesion. When Penrith were on the ropes, neither Croft nor Dearden could deliver the killer punch as coach Kevin Walters begged for someone to steer Brisbane home. The Broncos must sign Souths champion Adam Reynolds immediately. If the Broncos had Nathan Cleary in the No.7, they would have prevailed.
Fox Sports key stats: Penrith winger Brian To’o busted 11 tackles in this match — a new career high. He also ran for almost 250 metres, the fourth best tally of his career. Only the sixth time in 2020-21 Brisbane has conceded 20 points or less — and just their fourth loss by a single figure margin.
- Peter Badel
KNIGHTS v SHARKS
Dally M votes: Kalyn Ponga 3, Chad Townshend 2, Tyson Frizell 1. Judge: Darren Lockyer
Like: It can’t be overstated how important this game was for Newcastle. Over the next three weeks they face the Panthers, Roosters and Raiders and had they not got up against the Sharks, they could have been staring at a seven-match losing streak. Given the amount of injuries they’ve sustained, matching three of the competition’s big guns back-to-back-to-back is still a tall order, but when Kalyn Ponga is playing like he did on Friday night anything is possible for this side.
Dislike: If the Knights had lost they would have had a right to be aggrieved after two questionable decisions went against them in the lead up to Cronulla tries. The Mawene Hiroti try in particular was a strange one, especially given it was initially sent up to the video referee as “no try”. It appears that even after six weeks there’s still plenty of uncertainty around the new video referee process and what constitutes enough evidence to overturn, or confirm, a try.
Fox Sports key stats: Since 2015 there have been 13 mid-season coaching changes, with the new coaches winning just four times. Kalyn Ponga scored two tries (including the match winner) and set up two others — just the third time in his career he has had four direct involvements in a match.
- Nick Campton
STORM v ROOSTERS
Dally M votes:Cameron Munster 3, Ryan Papenhuyzen 2, Harry Grant 1. Judge: Wally Lewis
Like: The Storm one-two punch. There’s a decent chance Harry Grant will be wearing the No.9 jersey on Anzac Day. Although, regardless of whether it is Grant or Brandon Smith who starts at dummy-half, the one-two punch looms as a major weapon for Melbourne this season. We saw that against the Roosters, with the two players on the field together during the second half. At one point, Grant went for a run and was tackled close to the Rooster’ line. Smith quickly moved from loose forward to hooker and had the wares to put Ryan Papenhuyzen over for a try. It looms as a deadly combination in 2021.
Dislike: The Roosters’ injury list. The Chooks have lost star front rowers Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Jared Waerea-Hargeaves to rib and shoulder injuries respectively. It is a big blow, but after initial fears of long-term injuries, both may have avoided the worst outcomes. Taukeiaho has rib cartilage damage, and while painful he should be back in one to three weeks. While Waerea-Hargreaves will have scans after a shoulder injury limited him to just three minutes in the second half against Melbourne. Fingers crossed for the big Kiwi.
Fox Sports key stats: Trent Robinson has won just seven of 18 against Storm as coach — the only team he does not have at least a 50 per cent record against. Harry Grant scored a try, set up another, ran for over 70 metres and made 25 tackles after coming off the bench.
- Nick Smart
SEA EAGLES v TITANS
Dally M votes: Tom Trbojevic 3, Keiran Foran 2, Josh Aloiai 1. Judge: James Smith
Like: Tom Trobjevic not only coming through unscathed but producing a world-class performance in his first game for the season. He had a hand in three of the Sea Eagles’ four first half tries, scoring one of his own. He allayed any fears about his troublesome hamstrings when he raced away in full stride to score a try. Trobjevic finished the match with a game high 202 metres with two line breaks, two try assists and nine tackle busts to lead the Sea Eagles to back to back wins.
Dislike: The Titans were scarily bad. Their coach, Justin Holbrook, sensed a performance like this was coming because of how inexperienced his team is. But there is little to excuse such an ill-disciplined display. They were off the pace from the beginning. They kicked out on the full from a restart, ran out on play one from a scrum and made errors playing the ball. They were a shadow of the side that started the first five weeks. The test for the Titans is to show this was just a one-off.
Fox Sports key stats: In the past two seasons, the Sea Eagles have won 75 per cent of their matches when Tom Trbojevic has taken the field (15 of 20) compared with a less than one in three record (9 from 32) when he has been sidelined. Titans biggest loss since round 10 last season (42-6 v Storm).
- Michael Carayannis
RABBITOHS v TIGERS
Dally M votes: Latrell Mitchell 3, Cameron Murray 2, Tom Burgess 1. Judge: Corey Parker
Like: It’s been a difficult start to the season for the Tigers but they can take solace in the fact they’ve come very close to locking in their spine of the future. Fullback Daine Laurie, five-eighth Adam Doueihi and debutant hooker Jake Simpkin were arguably their three best players in what was the club’s best showing of the year despite the agonising defeat. Doueihi in particular was impressive, he’s fast become a go-to man for the Tigers in the attacking 20.
Dislike: It’s a tremendous shame Latrell Mitchell will likely be serving a suspension over the next few weeks. The Rabbitohs fullback deserves to spend some time on the sidelines for his high tackle on David Nofoaluma, but Mitchell has added so much to his game this season — he ran for 184 metres from 15 carries on Saturday, two numbers that seemed unimaginable for him this time last year. All that can stop Mitchell his is own temper, which can still get the better of him sometimes as evidence by his three citations against the Tigers.
Fox Sports key stats: Adam Reynolds kicked his second two-point field goal in as many weeks to level the scores at 14-all. Wests Tigers have won just five of 20 golden point matches, only the Knights have a poorer record (3 wins from 15).
- Nick Campton
RAIDERS v EELS
Dally M votes: Mitch Moses 3, Isaiah Papali’i 2, Clint Gutherson 1. Judge: Greg Alexander
Like: It’s not always fun being a Parramatta No.7 — just ask the 359 halfbacks who have tried to fill Peter Sterling’s boots since the early 90s. Mitchell Moses has emerged as arguably the best of them, improving year on year and imposing himself on matches like all good halfbacks do. Moses was brilliant against the Raiders, stalling the Green Machine’s progress time and time again with an inch-perfect kicking game. He also handled three times for a wonder try to Shaun Lane that ended any faint hope of a Canberra revival. Cooper Cronk says Moses should use this game as the benchmark for the rest of his career.
Dislike: Forget Viking Clap — try the Viking Crap. In Ricky Stuart’s words, Canberra embarrassed themselves with a second half disintegration before a disbelieving crowd at GIO Stadium. The Raiders boss accused some of his men of pulling on an NRL uniform but only masquerading as first grade players. Reminds us of transport cops. Stuart’s anger was well warranted. Canberra was right in the game after 40 minutes but surrendered meekly in the second half in a performance which lacked intensity and commitment. Expect a strong response in Townsville on Saturday night.
Fox Sports key stats: Eels forward Isaiah Papali’i scored the first try double of his career — and has now scored in three straight games. Canberra has won just two of their past nine games against last season’s top four — the past three losses all by 20 point or larger margins.
- Adam Lucius
DRAGONS v WARRIORS
Dally M votes: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 3, Tohu Harris 2, Kodi Nikorima 1. Judge: Paul Whatuira
Like: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s vintage performance and game-winner, his response to Matt Dufty’s individual challenge, and the Warriors’ near-flawless completion rate. Dragons mid-season signing Josh McGuire also looks a good fit after one game, racking up 130 metres and 33 tackles to be their best forward on Sunday. The possible return of Ben Hunt for the Anzac Day clash.
Dislike: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck one game closer to leaving the NRL, the luckless Peta Hiku dislocating his shoulder six minutes into his return from a knee injury, and Trent Merrin’s meagre 25-metre output as a starting front-rower. The time taken for the bunker to review captain’s challenges are also beginning to grind on commentators and fans.
Fox Sports key stats: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck cracked 200 metres for the 4th time this season. He ran for almost 240, made two linebreaks, scored a try and busted 7 tackles. Dragons first loss in five games, just the second time this season they have conceded 20 points (32 v Sharks in round one).
- Matt Encarnacion
COWBOYS v BULLDOGS
Dally M votes: Reece Robson 3, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2, Jake Granville 1. Judge: Gary Belcher
Like: Valentine Holmes is slowly warming to the task of becoming one of the games premier fullbacks. The former NFL-convert was one of the most lucrative signatures in the game when he joined the Cowboys on a six-year seven-figure deal. But he has struggled to find consistency at the back through a disrupted campaign last season, and was not Todd Payten’s first choice in Round 1. But he is quickly proving the coach wrong with his performances, setting up a try and making four tackle breaks in a 196m performance against the Bulldogs. While the Cowboys attack looked clunky and directionless at times, Holmes looked crisp every time he had the ball.
Dislike: Trent Barrett must be ready to pull out his hair. There has been a roster overhaul mooted for the Bulldogs next season, and there is no points for guessing why. The Bulldogs were their own worst enemy by the end of the contest, with poor handling in the first half, poor discipline and even a scrum clock penalty. Canterbury almost brought themselves back into the game with only 12 men left on the park in the final minutes — but were again brought undone by careless mistakes. The Bulldogs still completed at better than 80 per cent — a level that should win games — but it was the time and place of the dropped ball that really killed the visitors.
Fox Sports key stats: First time since 1964 the Dogs have started a season 0-6. They won just one game (with one draw) that season. The last team to go through a season winless was the Roosters in 1966.
— Matthew Elkerton
DALLY M ROUND 6 LEADERBOARD
Latrell Mitchell 13
Ryan Papenhuyzen 12
Nathan Cleary 10
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 10
James Fisher-Harris 8
Reed Mahoney 8
David Fifita 7
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 7
William Kennedy 7
Brett Morris 6
Cameron Munster 6
James Tedesco 6
Kodi Nikorima 6
Adam Doueihi 5
Ben Hunt 5
Chad Townsend 5
Cody Walker 5
Daniel Saifiti 5
Mitch Moses 5
Clint Gutherson 4
Damien Cook 4
Hudson Young 4
Jarome Luai 4
Paul Vaughan 4
Viliame Kikau 4
Bradman Best 3
Brian To’o 3
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 3
Corey Norman 3
Daly Cherry-Evans 3
Isaiah Papali’i 3
Jamayne Isaako 3
Jared Warea-Hargreaves 3
Jarrod Wallace 3
Josephe Tapine 3
Josh Aloiai 3
Josh Papali’i 3
Junior Paulo 3
Kalyn Ponga 3
Reece Robson 3
Scott Drinkwater 3
Tom Burgess 3
Tom Trbojevic 3
Zac Lomax 3
Adam Clune 2
Addin Fonua-Blake 2
Angus Crichton 2
Cameron Murray 2
Christian Welch 2
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2
David Klemmer 2
Felise Kaufusi 2
George Williams 2
Jayden Brailey 2
Keiran Foran 2
Lindsay Collins 2
Luke Brooks 2
Maika Sivo 2
Matt Burton 2
Matthew Moylan 2
Nathan Brown 2
Tariq Sims 2
Tohu Harris 2
Tom Eisenhuth 2
Valentine Holmes 2
Xavier Coates 2
Adam Elliott 1
Alexander Brimson 1
Anthony Milford 1
Ashley Taylor 1
Benji Marshall 1
Daine Laurie 1
Dane Gagai 1
Daniel Alvaro 1
Dylan Edwards 1
George Jennings1
Harry Grant 1
Jack Bird 1
Jake Granville 1
Jordan Rapana 1
Josh Hodgson 1
Josh Mansour 1
Justin Olam 1
Marata Niukore 1
Mark Nicholls 1
Mikaele Ravalawa 1
Payne Haas 1
Reuben Cotter 1
Sam Walker 1
Sean O’Sullivan 1
Toby Rudolf 1
Tyrone Peachey 1
Tyson Frizell 1
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