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NRL live round 14: SuperCoach analysis from Storm v Knights, Panthers v Sea Eagles

Tommy Talau scored four tries and Brian To’o three, but the big SuperCoach talking point from Sunday action was a brilliant debut by a Newcastle 18-year-old.

Tom SangsterTom SangsterNRL SuperCoach Editor
@TomSangsterSC
7 min read
June 9, 2024 - 7:52PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
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FULL-TIME: PANTHERS 32 DEFEAT SEA EAGLES 22

Tom Sangster wraps the winners and losers from Sunday’s action.

WINNERS

* Brian To’o (166) - Three tries and a massive 13 tackle busts in a huge performance.

* Tommy Talau (144) - FOUR tries in an incredible evening for left wingers.

* Daine Laurie (116) - Produced a very believable Dylan Edwards impersonation at the back including 26 runs and two try assists.

* Reuben Garrick (86) - The kicking radar was off (only one from five) but still produced a very respectable score.

* Ben Trbojevic (73) - Plenty were relying on Burbo today given limited numbers and he did the job with a try assist and a heap of work.

Final SuperCoach scores from Panthers v Sea Eagles.
Final SuperCoach scores from Panthers v Sea Eagles.

* Liam Henry (81) - Exactly 21,703 SuperCoaches still own Liam Henry and this is why! Crossed for a try and got through 25 tackles.

* Tyran Wishart (121) - Best game in the NRL from the fill-in five-eighth for Cameron Munster. Won’t be a fill-in for much longer, other clubs will come knocking. Two tries and a try assist.

* Jahrome Hughes (113) - Came into the game as the third most purchased player this week and produced the goods on demand. Try, try assist and two try contributions.

* Nick Meaney (105) - Two tries and 20 points in goals. Delivering as a Super-POD.

* Dylan Lucas (106) - Made an impressive fist of a switch to centre. Constant running threat with two tries, although he also conceded one early.

* Dane Gagai (93) - Had spiders on him in the second half with seven tackle busts and a try.

* Fletcher Sharpe (69) - Very lively on debut in place of the injured David Armstrong (quad). Will Armstrong regain his spot?

Fletcher Sharpe scores a try on debut.
Fletcher Sharpe scores a try on debut.

LOSERS

* Daly Cherry-Evans (22) - Backing up from a man-of-the-match performance in Origin but just couldn’t get into this game.

* Tolutau Koula (15) - Returning from injury at centre and barely troubled the scorers.

* Haumole Olakau’atu (12) - Came off with a calf injury that has his Origin spot in doubt.

* Harry Grant (47) - Played reduced minutes backing up from Origin but saved his score with a try assist.

* Sua Faalogo (48) - Ironed out by a big hit and somehow missed the big attacking stats. Will still make bulk cash given the BE of -16.

* Joe Chan (17) - Good and bad here. Created an extra number for many on a tough round, but didn’t get much game time.

67TH MIN: TURUVA’S SECOND HAS PANTHERS SET FOR VICTORY

The Panthers have taken a near-unassialable lead after Sunia Turuva crossed for his second.

Penrith now lead 32-16 and it would take a brave man to bet against the three-time premiers.

59TH MIN: HENRY CROSSES IN HUGE SUPERCOACH BOOST

Exactly 21,703 SuperCoaches still own Liam Henry and this is why!

The Penrith prop barged over when it mattered most on a bye round and has taken his score to 78 and counting.

And it’s not only points we are counting, it’s cash given his BE of -26.

51ST MIN: TURUVA STARTS AND FINISHES TRY

After being severely tested by the Sea Eagles in the first half, the Penrith machine is now rolling.

Sunia Tururva has got the Panthers to a 22-12 lead, starting a finishing an attacking raid.

HALF-TIME: PANTHERS 16 LEAD SEA EAGLES 12

SUPERCOACH WINNERS

* Brian To’o (145) - Three tries and a massive 12 tackle busts. It’s got to be close to the highest single-half score ever.

* Tommy Talau (106) - Also has a hat-trick in an incredible half for left wingers.

* Ben Trbojevic (47) - Plenty were relying on Burbo today given limited numbers and he’s done the job so far with a try assist.

SUPERCOACH LOSERS

* Haumole Olakau’atu (12) - Came off with a calf injury that has his Origin spot in doubt.

39TH MIN: ORIGIN SCARE AS MANLY ACE LIMPS OFF

Haumole Olakau’atu is off in what could be a huge blow for the Blues.

With Liam Martin potentially out, Olakau’atu was set for an increased role in Origin 2.

But he’s limped off with a calf injury.

The Sea Eagles are being coy on the severity but the current line is that he hasn’t been ruled out of the match just yet.

36TH MIN: TO’O TRIPLE EQUALS TALAU

When was the last time we saw two players from opposite sides score first half hattricks?

I have no freakin idea but it can’t be often.

Where is David Middleton when you need him?

Brian To’o has now equaled Tommy Talau with three tries in this game, two off magical passes from Paul Alamoti.

22ND MIN: TALAU TRIPLE STUNS PANTHERS

This isn’t meant to happen.

Even with a host of players out, the Panthers don’t concede many tries at BlueBet Stadium.

And certainly not three tries in the space of eight minutes to the same player.

Tommy Talau now has a hattrick and it’s 12-4 to Manly.

14TH MIN: TO’O NOTCHES FIRST POINTS OFF FREAKISH FLICK

The Panthers have capitalised on 70 per cent possession to notch the first try, set up by freakishly quick hands by centre Paul Alamoti.

Brian To’o was the tryscorer but the big play was Alamoti’s pass under pressure.

Alamati is also kicking goals with Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards out, and could be set for some big SuperCoach scores.

FULL-TIME: STORM 34 DEFEAT KNIGHTS 28

It was an absolute try-fest and SuperCoaches are the big winners.

With four tons and potentially more on updates, the scores from this one are LARGE.

WINNERS

* Tyran Wishart (121) - Best game in the NRL from the fill-in five-eighth for Cameron Munster. Won’t be a fill-in for much longer, other clubs will come knocking. Two tries and a try assist.

* Jahrome Hughes (113) - Came into the game as the third most purchased player this week and produced the goods on demand. Try, try assist and two try contributions.

* Nick Meaney (105) - Two tries and 20 points in goals. Delivering as a Super-POD.

Storm v Knights final SuperCoach scores.
Storm v Knights final SuperCoach scores.

* Dylan Lucas (106) - Made an impressive fist of a switch to centre. Constant running threat with two tries, although he also conceded one early.

* Dane Gagai (93) - Had spiders on him in the second half with seven tackle busts and a try.

* Fletcher Sharpe (69) - Very lively on debut in place of the injured David Armstrong (quad). Will Armstrong regain his spot?

LOSERS

* Harry Grant (47) - Played reduced minutes backing up from Origin but saved his score with a try assist.

* Sua Faalogo (48) - Ironed out by a big hit and somehow missed the big attacking stats. Will still make bulk cash given the BE of -16.

* Joe Chan (17) - Good and bad here. Created an extra number for many on a tough round, but didn’t get much game time.

54TH MIN: COATES SCORES (SECOND) BEST TRY OF YEAR

Poor old Xavier Coates.

He just scored one of the tries of the year but has been criticised by commentators for being “not as spectacular” as his all-time try earlier in the season.

In all seriousness, it was probably the second best put-down of the year, bettered only by his own.

It’s an absolute try-fest here with the Storm completely dominating the Knights 32-16.

Tyran Wishart and Nick Meaney both have doubles and multiple players are set to notch SuperCoach tons.

HALF-TIME: STORM 18 LEAD KNIGHTS 12

Crazy end to the half with the Storm running in two tries in 90 seconds.

Jahrome Hughes scored the first before creating the second for Nick Meaney, who now has a double.

After leading by six points, the Knights suddenly trail 18-12 in the blink of an eye.

32ND MIN: KNIGHTS YOUNG GUN CROSSES ON DEBUT

Lovely moment here with Fletcher Sharpe in for a try on his NRL debut.

It could easily have been double for Sharpe after an earlier bombed try.

Sharpe was a late inclusion in place of SuperCoach cheapie David Armstrong (quad), who may now find it hard to get back into the side.

23RD MIN: KNIGHTS MR FIX-IT GOES FROM ZERO TO HERO

Knights revelation Dylan Lucas has experienced the best and worst of rugby league within a matter of minutes.

Firstly, Lucas was burned by Storm centre Nick Meaney, who crossed for the Storm’s first.

Lucas was simply done for pace after being forced to fill in at centre following a late change.

Moments later, Lucas made up for the mistake by scoring under the posts after Jackson Hastings pounced on a Storm mistake.

It’s 6-all.

17TH MIN: POTENTIAL CHEAPIE BOMBS TRY

Fletcher Sharpe was a late inclusion for the Knights in place of the injured David Armstrong (quad).

And he’s been very lively early, creating serious spark for the Knights against one of the NRL’s most staunch defences.

But he’s bombed a try here.

One off the ruck and after a quick play-the-ball from Leo Thompson, Sharpe merely needed to get low and fall over the line.

But get low he did not, eventually held up by a great Storm tackle led by Tyran Wishart.

15TH MIN: FORWARDS LEAD THE WAY

It’s scoreless so far as the forwards go at it in a softening up period. Tui Kamikamica (21) points leads the action with Jacob Saifiti (16) and Tyson Frizell (16) also getting through plenty of work.

FINAL TEAMS: GRANT BENCHED AMID MASS CHANGES

Harry Grant will back up for the Storm but off the bench

Meanwhile, SuperCoach cheapie David Armstrong has been ruled out for the Knights.

See final teams below.

STORM v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 2pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. Grant Anderson 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 10. Tui Kamikamica 14. Bronson Garlick 13. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 15. Trent Loiero

Bench: 8. Christian Welch 9. Harry Grant 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Joe Chan

Reserves: 19. Jack Howarth

Players cut: 17. Alec MacDonald 20. Young Tonumaipea 21. Kane Bradley 22. Dean Ieremia

Late mail: Harry Grant backs up but from the bench with Bronson Garlick to start at hooker.

Joe Chan comes onto the interchange at the expense of Alex McDonald.

Trent Loiero is also promoted from the bench to starting lock, followed by Josh King who moves to prop, while Christian Welch will make his impact felt from the bench.

Harry Grant is set to back up. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Harry Grant is set to back up. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Knights

22. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 12. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 14. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Kai Pearce-Paul 16. Tyson Frizell 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 9. Jayden Brailey 17. Brodie Jones 19. Mathew Croker 21. Jack Hetherington

Reserves: 4. Krystian Mapapalangi

Players cut: 1. David Armstrong 15. Daniel Saifiti 18. Thomas Cant 20. Will Pryce

Late mail: Fletcher Sharpe has replaced an injured David Armstrong at fullback. Daniel Saifiti (ankle) is replaced on the interchange bench by Jack Hetherington. Jayden Brailey drops to the bench with Phoenix Crossland to start at hooker. Dylan Lucas will play centre with Tyson Frizell coming into the back row and Krystian Mapapalangi dropping to 18th man.

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Originally published as NRL live round 14: SuperCoach analysis from Storm v Knights, Panthers v Sea Eagles

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