NRL Tackle: Parramatta show worrying signs in second-half collapse against Bulldogs
Whether it was complacency or lack of killer instinct, Parramatta showed some worrying signs against the Bulldogs. Our rugby league experts reveal what caught their eye in Round 12 of the NRL.
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Welcome to The Tackle, where our rugby league writers reveal what caught their eye — good and bad — in Round 12 of the NRL.
DRAGONS v RABBITOHS
Like: South Sydney fans were more than entitled to freak out when Adam Reynolds went down with a neck injury early.
The halfback is arguably the Rabbitohs most important player and their chief on-field organiser. But five-eighth Cody Walker rose the occasion magnificently in Reynolds’ absence – not only was he the attacking spark for Souths, he steered them around the park expertly.
It was Walker’s best game of the year and reminiscent of the form that earned him Origin selection last season.
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Dislike: Because St George Illawarra had such a tough start to the season they cannot afford to drop too many more matches if they’re to make the finals.
Dropping this one to the Rabbitohs, one of their main rivals for a place in the lower half in the eight, would have been a hammer blow at the best of times but given they were up 16-0 in as many minutes it’s an especially bitter pill to swallow for coach Paul McGregor.
Fox Sports key stats: Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston had a storming match, scoring three tries, making three linebreaks and running for almost 300m.
– Nick Campton
TIGERS v WARRIORS
Like: The scenes from the Warriors’ dressing room after this win were so heartening – Todd Payten’s men had to write the words to the team song on a whiteboard because a lot of them didn’t know it.
They celebrated like they’d won a semi-final with Blake Green busting out moves best saved for nightclub dancefloors. You love to see it.
Much has been written about the extraordinary circumstances the Warriors are facing this year, but it bears repeating just how tough it must be for the players to be away from home for so long.
Just being competitive is a victory for the Warriors and nobody would have blamed them for chucking in the towel but they’ve refused to lay down and still fight hard just about every week.
Dislike: If the Tigers want to be a top eight team they have to win the games they are supposed to win.
They don’t need to take down the Panthers or Eels or Roosters to make the finals, they just need to beat all the teams below them on the ladder.
The valiant losses to the good sides don’t mean anything if they don’t get it done in matches like this, where they lead 8-0 in even time but collapsed badly through the rest of the match. There might not be the words to describe Michael Maguire’s anger afterwards, and he was right to be aggrieved.
Fox Sports key stats: The Tigers have a pattern of losing matches they seem to be in control of. This one was the third time this season they have lost scoring 20 points or more.
— Nick Campton
BRONCOS v SHARKS
Like: The Baby Sharks rolling off the production line will warm the hearts of any Cronulla fan.
Missing a host of big guns including Andrew Fifita, Josh Dugan, Matt Moylan and Jesse Ramien, Cronulla’s posse of rookies inspired an epic defeat of the Broncos.
Jackson Ferris and Braydon Trindall made their debuts with the former scoring his maiden try and terrorising the Broncos all night with his pace at right centre.
Rookie halfback Connor Tracey posted the winning try in the 75th minute and 100kg wrecking ball Siosifa Talakai scored one himself steamrolling Brisbane players from close range. There is no shortage of ticker at the Sharks.
Dislike: The Broncos’ defensive patterns are awful and they are on track to become the worst defensive side in Brisbane’s proud history.
Ivan Henjak’s class of 2009 leaked 566 points at an average of 24 per game but Seibold’s class of 2020 are hurtling towards an unwanted record.
They have conceded 373 points in just 12 games at a dismal average of 31 per match.
With upcoming games against Souths, Canberra, the Roosters, Penrith and Parramatta, there could be some cricket scores looming.
Brisbane players try hard individually but their lack of understanding and communication as a defensive unit is alarming.
Fox Sports key stats: While Brisbane’s slump is no secret, their tendency to fall apart at the end of matches is particularly noticeable. In this one they led 26-18 after 70 minutes but still lost by 10 points. In fact, Brisbane has been outscored 130-12 in the final 20 minutes of matches this season.
— Peter Badel
ROOSTERS v TITANS
Like: The Titans are showing plenty of positive signs under new coach Justin Holbrook.
A former assistant to Trent Robinson, Holbrook showed he knows how to come up with a game plan.
Obviously having studied hours of video and also knowing a thing or two about Saturday’s opposition, Holbrook ordered his team to attack the Roosters on the edge.
He went hard at the right side and had plenty of success with Anthony Don’s try a highlight.
The Titans coach must also be a good man manager.
A mission impossible for some, he has Ash Taylor looking like he actually wants to be on the field. The Titans are shaping as a real force for next year following a string of big name signings.
Dislike: James Tedesco should have been sin-binned.
The referees got the call right but while their decision was correct the rule is wrong.
Why should a player stay on the field just because a try was scored? If a player commits an offence that is worthy of the bin then they should be sent to the bin, regardless of what happens next.
The Titans ended up losing a player for an offence that wasn’t half as bad as Tedesco’s because a try wasn’t scored. They probably would have preferred keeping the player and losing four points.
Fox Sports key stats: The Roosters have won 11 of 13 at the SCG in 2019-20 and they have conceded 12 points or less in all 11 wins.
– James Phelps
COWBOYS v RAIDERS
Like: The Captain’s challenge can seem farcical when a fired-up front-rower demands a review in the first few minutes, only for the replays to show a blatant knock-on in the play the ball.
But when done right, it’s one of the most powerful tools in the NRL.
Leading by two points, the Raiders were penalised late in the contest when Dunamis Lui was ruled offside from a blocked kick.
Skipper Jarrod Croker calmly challenged and the decision was reversed in seconds and they hung on for victory.
The challenge system is designed to eliminate the howlers, not scrappy ruck infringements that could go either way. As the Raiders showed on Saturday, it can be a game-changer when used properly.
Dislike: The quality of the playing surface at Queensland Country Bank Stadium is not up to standard.
The venue itself is a thing of beauty, but the turf doesn’t do it justice. Players were slipping from the opening minutes on a field that was patchier than a teenager’s beard after his first attempt with a shaving kit.
Lottoland has come under intense scrutiny in the past and the same should happen to the new Townsville stadium. The NRL must step in before someone suffers a serious injury.
Fox Sports key stats: No strangers to a close game, this was the Raiders’ eighth straight game decided by single figures, and the sixth straight by six points or less.
– Martin Gabor
SEA EAGLES v PANTHERS
Like: The form of Nathan Cleary. Ivan Cleary summed it up best when the Panthers coach said his son was in career best form. And who could argue?
Nathan was again sensational for the high flying Panthers finishing with a 16 point haul. He scored a try, laid on another and kicked a 40/20.
Cleary just looks composed and at ease with his performances this year. He has turned matches defensively at times but it was his attack on Saturday which helped set up the Panthers win.
Dislike: Manly’s growing injury ward. The Sea Eagles are going to battle to put a competitive side together before playing the Warriors on Friday night.
Dylan Walker’s six week lay-off from an ankle injury lasted just 10 minutes.
Des Hasler said Brad Parker (concussion) is highly unlikely while Curtis Sironen has a knee injury.
Tom Trbojevic is still missing for at least another two weeks. The injuries could cruel what shaped to be a very promising season for the Sea Eagles.
Fox Sports key stats: Panthers winger Charlie Staines became the first player since Don Manson for the Rabbitohs in 1937 to score six tries in his first two games.
– Michael Carayannis
BULLDOGS v EELS
Like: How could you not admire the Bulldogs? No head coach, no chance of playing finals footy and given no chance of winning.
Yet Canterbury kept coming at Parramatta in true Bulldog style. The Bulldogs scored three successive tries to almost pull one of the season’s biggest upsets. Parramatta wasn’t great but good sides find a way to win – and that’s exactly what the Eels did.
Dislike: Parramatta led 18-0 and should have demolished Canterbury. Whether it was complacency or a lack of killer instinct, Parramatta fell away badly in the second half.
Brad Arthur claimed his side wasn’t professional enough. He knows a listless half of football will see his side kicked straight out of the finals campaign.
The Eels won – but they have to be better.
Fox Sports key stats: The Eels’ starting props both had big performances. Regan Campbell-Gillard ran for 190m and made 31 tackles without missing one, while Junior Paulo set up a try with one of his four offloads, ran 175m and made 27 tackles without missing one.
– Dean Ritchie
STORM v KNIGHTS
Like: Titans-bound Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. The 20-year-old is looking more and more comfortable in first grade and showed just how dangerous he will become.
Only in the infancy of his NRL career, Tino ran for 185m and busted through six tackles.
His mammoth effort was topped off with a try at the back end of the game to help seal the 26-16 win over the Knights. The Titans will be licking their lips after that performance, knowing they’ll have his services in 2021.
Dislike: Newcastle’s attack has not been up to scratch in the past fortnight. Held to just 12 points against the last-placed Bulldogs in round 11, the Knights could only post 16 points against the red-hot Storm.
Bradman Best showed plenty of promise in the first half but was hampered by an ankle injury for the rest of the game and didn’t pose much threat to Melbourne’s defensive line.
The impact of injured duo Andrew McCullough and Connor Watson showed on Sunday night but coach Adam O’Brien was pleased with his side’s performance. It is worth noting the club is missing seven of its main players due to injury.
Fox Sports key stats: Melbourne’s overall record in Queensland is impressive, winning 14 straight games and 19 of 21 games since 2015 — over 90 per cent — easily the best record of any team over this period. Newcastle on the other hand has now lost 11 of its past 12 matches in Queensland.
– Chris Honnery
Originally published as NRL Tackle: Parramatta show worrying signs in second-half collapse against Bulldogs