NRL Tackle Round 12 likes, dislikes: Brandon Smith may be regretting Sydney Roosters move after benching
Star recruit Brandon Smith may be regretting his move to Roosters after spending so much time on the interchange bench in his sides’ loss to the Dragons. See all the Round 12 likes and dislikes.
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It’s rotten luck for Brandon Smith that the star Roosters recruit is likely to sit out up to eight weeks with a broken thumb.
But at least it may save Smith from getting more splinters in his bum after spending so much time on the interchange bench during the shock loss to the Dragons.
It’s mind blowing that the Roosters would have chased so hard to bring Smith to this star-studded roster on top coin – some estimate it could be close to $1m a season – when he is being used to play second fiddle to Jake Turpin who was bought as a back up.
But watching Smith sit idle for the first 30 minutes on Friday night was gobsmacking.
When he finally entered the game he certainly made a difference before he was forced off with his injury. In that period the Roosters went from 14-0 down to trailing 14-12.
I just wonder if Smith might be regretting his decision after turning down offers from almost every other NRL club.
DISLIKES
‘MUG’ ANTICS REVEAL READY-MADE ORIGIN VILLAIN
Maybe it’s time for Wayne Bennett to sit down Queenslander-in-waiting Tom Gilbert and tell the backrower there is nothing tough about acting like a mug.
Gilbert, 22, certainly wouldn’t have won too many friends for what was a poor look when he stood over the top of Justin Olam screaming when the Storm centre was pushed into touch to save a try.
If it was Jarome Luai doing that to anyone, Queenslanders would be calling for his blood.
And while Dolphins fans love the fact Gilbert wears his heart on his sleeve, maybe it’s time he pulled his head in.
At least Blues fans now have a ready-made public enemy No.1 heading into Origin even if Kaufusi is rubbed out.
BAD BOY DOLPHINS SHOULD LOOK IN THE MIRROR
What about the Dolphins’ former Storm players losing the plot in their showdown at Suncorp.
Felise Kaufusi pretty much cost his team the game when he was sin binned in the second minute for the high shot on Christian Welch that will cost him his Queensland jumper.
And there is no argument the Dolphins enforcer deserves a suspension after receiving a grade two careless high tackle.
But again, three matches for that as opposed to Dolphins teammate Kenny Bromwich who gets a $1800 fine for what could have been a disastrous forearm to the head of Nick Meaney is just ridiculous.
If anything Bromwich’s brainsnap was far worse because it was not a tackle gone wrong, that was just a fair dinkum grubby act.
Again, I understand in Kaufusi’s case it was his third and subsequent offence, whereas for Bromwich it was only strike two.
But seriously, which tackle was the most dangerous?
How Bromwich wasn’t so much as sin binned when Kaufusi was defies belief.
Only two minutes in, and Kaufusi has been sent to the sin bin for this dangerous tackle.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 20, 2023
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Suspected broken thumb for Brandon Smith, scans to assess in coming days. If break confirmed often return to play range is 4-6 weeks (can vary with fracture type/specific location). If surgery is required doesn’t always mean maximum recovery time, can speed up early rehab
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 19, 2023
STAR BUNNIES AND COWBOYS TAKE A WEEKEND OFF
We saw some players turn up for their games on the weekend with their heads obviously already in Origin camp.
But the Rabbitohs and the Cowboys were the worst of them.
As good as Parramatta and Wests Tigers were in their respective wins, you couldn’t help but notice the lack of intent from their opposition.
Latrell Mitchell for instance finished Indigenous Round with five runs for 29m that included one tackle bust and one try assist.
In the Cowboys’ embarrassing loss where they missed a combined 56 tackles, it was incredible to see the job young Starford To’a did on Queensland’s strike centre Valentine Holmes.
And that’s taking nothing away from To’a, who had a career-defining game with his 13 runs for 193m including two tries, a try assist, 15 tackle busts and five line breaks.
We always knew when To’a was coming through the system at the Knights that he was a special talent. But on the back of that performance he could go on to be anything from here.
IS PONGA REALLY READY FOR ORIGIN?
A week after Kalyn Ponga all but knocked Reece Walsh out of the Queensland fullback debate with his tremendous second half against the Titans, the Knights captain went off the boil in the 26-6 loss to the Sharks.
After copping an early head knock that forced him off for the mandatory HIA, Ponga returned but like a few others obviously had his mind on other things.
How else could you explain the gobsmacking incident when he blew up at a wayward pass from dummy half. But in the very next incident Ponga forgot to play the ball when his team still had a tackle to go.
It was one of the more bizarre moments you will ever see on an NRL field. It certainly made me again question if Ponga is ready to be thrown back in the Origin cauldron.
TINO’S ORIGIN HOPES TEETERING AMID DUBIOUS REF CALLS
Under-fire NRL match officials have come under more scrutiny after two dubious calls went against the Bulldogs in their controversial 20-18 comeback win over the Titans.
First up Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney was placed on report but not sin binned for a tackle on Moe Fotuaika that was just not a hip drop, even though it was reviewed by the bunker and penalised.
Then almost immediately after that Mahoney was smashed while attempting a tackle on Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, where the Titans skipper clearly lifted his forearm into Mahoney’s head but this was not penalised.
While Mahoney was forced from the field for a head injury assessment, Michael Ennis said on Fox League: “You can’t do that … I’m bewildered that was not a penalty.”
It then caused a halftime blow up between Fox experts Greg Alexander, Corey Parker and Braith Anasta.
NSW selection advisor Alexander was certain action should have been taken: “Well it was a forearm to the head. He knocked him out. Are you allowed to do that?”
Queenslander Parker responded: “Every front rower in the game initiates contact. It’s not up to Tino to then determine where Reed Mahoney puts his head.”
But Anasta cut in: “He looked him in the eye.”
Parker continued: “You saw him look him in the eye? That will do me.”
With Fa’asuamaleaui a certainty to be selected in Billy Slater’s Queensland team, now it’s over to the NRL’s match review committee to see what if any action is taken.
RADLEY ‘HUNG OUT TO DRY’ BY DOUBLE STANDARD
How in the hell is Victor Radley facing a three-match ban for a half-baked headbutt when Jarome Luai escapes with a $1800 fine for pushing a touch judge?
While it seems no one around the game wants to say it publicly, everyone is privately laughing about the fact it has yet again exposed ridiculous double standards at play when it comes to State of Origin every year and how players in contention for selection always seem to get the rub of the green.
Because I have no doubt which incident was more detrimental to the game’s image.
And in Luai’s case, it now sets a dangerous precedent of what is acceptable contact with match officials moving forward.
I have heard some commentary that this was a common sense decision by the NRL’s match review committee because it did not warrant a player missing a match as important as an Origin.
Yet in the past even making the most minor contact with a ref or a touchie almost always resulted in a suspension.
Sam Thaiday spoke about it on Channel 9 following the Panthers win over the Broncos how it cost him a game back when he was playing.
And Dragons fans will remember too well how Tyson Frizell was suspended for a game back in 2016 for accidentally brushing past a ref when he was simply trying to get back in the defensive line.
There has been a stack of other examples.
Meanwhile, Luai for some strange reason will be free to be named in Brad Fittler’s Blues team on Monday.
But, Radley, who was not in Origin contention, has been hung out to dry.
I know people are saying Radley is his own worst enemy and he does need to rein in his emotions because he is becoming a liability to his team.
But judging this incident in isolation, if you watch the replay you will see this was not an old fashioned Liverpool kiss because Radley mostly makes contact with Blake Lawrie’s chest, and in no way was it forceful contact.
Then compare it to last week’s cannonball tackle from Parramatta and NSW prop Junior Paulo on Canberra frontrower Joseph Tapine and seriously which one is more dangerous.
And even allowing for the fact this was Radley’s third and subsequent offence, no one on this earth will convince it warranted a three-match ban.
Not when Luai gets off with a fine for shoving a touchie in the back.
But if that is the system, then the system stinks.
LIKES
Tom Trbojevic has well and truly put up his hand for NSW selection with an eye-catching hat-trick in Canberra.
With Blues coach Brad Fittler naming his team on Monday, the champion fullback produced his most impressive effort of the season in the battle against Ricky Stuart’s inform Raiders.
Turbo scored Manly’s first with a powerful charge to bust through young Raider Matt Timoko with a type of run few in the game are capable of, while his second helped the Sea Eagles to a 16-8 halftime lead.
And just to put any doubts to bed, he raced away with his third try early in the second half.
There is no question Turbo has been well below his best all season and struggling to recapture his top speed.
But there was a noticeable difference from the get-go against the Raiders with a spark of confidence and energy we haven’t seen in ages.
Trbojevic is in a three-way battle with South Sydney’s Campbell Graham and Penrith’s Stephen Crichton for a spot in the centres or on the wing.
BROOKS CELEBRATES MILESTONE IN STYLE
Tim Sheens might just be right about Luke Brooks.
With the veteran coach convinced the much maligned halfback could be looking at a new deal to keep him at the club beyond this season, Brooks produced his best performance in years in the record-breaking win over the Cowboys.
And there wouldn’t have been a rugby league fan on this earth who didn’t feel happy for Brooks as he celebrated his 200th match in such style.
Across the park there were so many standout performances for the Tigers. Up front David Klemmer and Stefano Utoikamanu were enormous, while Api Koroisau was tremendous at dummy half. As were backrowers John Bateman and Isaiah Papali’I, while Joe Ofahenguae was rewarded with a try in what’s likely to be his last game for the club with a pending move to Parramatta.
Then you go through the backs and from fullback Jahream Bula to Starford Toa and young winger Junior Tupou, it was like they just all came of age on the same afternoon to race away with the biggest win in the joint venture’s history.
But back to Brooks.
His interview after the game with Fox Sports’ James Hooper almost brought tears to your eyes as you watched a bloke who has been bashed from pillar to post for so long speak with such humility.
It was one of those occasions where Brooks could have easily told everyone to go and get stuffed for the lack of support.
But he handled the occasion with grace.
There is no doubt you can look back on the fact Brooks has been in the game a decade and is paying for the fact he has never played finals footy, as much as the huge pay packet he has been earning.
But there is also no question a lack of support over the years has impacted his confidence as much as anything else.
At least now he has coach who not only believes in him but is backing him.
DRAGONS UPSTAGE NEW COACH-IN-WAITING
After the week that was following Anthony Griffin’s axing, it was a hell of a way for Dragons players to show new coach-in-waiting Jason Ryles that the future at St George Illawarra might not be as grim as their results so far this year have indicated.
Up against an equally desperate Roosters who have Ryles as their defensive coach, the Dragons had to fight to the very last play in an enthralling edge-of-your seat 24-22 victory.
You had to feel for Roosters skipper James Tedesco who could not have done more in the second half to try and get his team home, including that incredible one-on-one steal on Moses Suli.
But to their credit the Dragons just would not give up and that final try to Mat Feagai had to be up among the moments of the season so far.
And good on young caretaker coach Ryan Carr who put on a memorable performance of his own sitting beside an equally excited former Dragons great Shaun Timmins as they rode every moment like they were on the winner of the last at Randwick.
EELS SHOW SEASON IS NOT LOST YET
Now that is the Parramatta team we remember from last season. Fighting to basically keep their finals hopes alive for this year, Brad Arthur’s team produced a stunning turnaround from what they dished up against the Raiders to upstage the Rabbitohs 36-16.
Dylan Brown was phenomenal with 10 runs for 111m which included a try and a try assist, while Junior Paulo led the way in the middle with 17 runs for 171m.
And what about this big unit Wiremu Greig who racked up 19 runs for 160m?
While the Eels still have a long way to go, this was definitely a performance that showed what they are capable of when they get it all together.
SHARKS UNSUNG HERO UPSTAGES ORIGIN VETERAN
Nicho Hynes again stole the spotlight in the Sharks’ comprehensive 26-6 win over the disappointing Knights.
But the unsung hero who deserves a mention is the ever-reliable Connor Tracey who did a job on Queensland’s Origin veteran Dane Gagai.
After starting out his career at Souths, the now 26-year-old Tracey has had to overcome a stack of adversity including three ACL knee recons in three years.
But every time he gets his chance Tracey just never gives anything but his best. And as he showed here lining up against Gagai, his best is good enough against any opposition. It’s amazing he’s still so fast.
BRONCOS FAR FROM EMBARRASSED
We know the Panthers are the team beat and they showed again in their 15-4 win over the Broncos how tough and talented they are across the park.
But Broncos fans should go away from that result knowing there is still a lot to look forward to.
Without Adam Reynolds they really played tough and in no way were they embarrassed by a gun team who were again led superbly by their champion captain Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards who clocked up 25 runs for 245m.
In fact, at 14-0 down with half an hour to go that game could have easily got away from Broncos, especially knowing how the Panthers can really put their foot on the throat when they know a team is there for the kill.
Although, for the positives, it was still stunning to see Payne Haas finish a game with only 11 runs for 97m.
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