Crawley Files dissects NRL’s 11 burning issues ahead of round 11

Anthony Seibold’s Manly tenure started with so much promise yet is in danger of imploding after less than three months of the season. Paul Crawley explains why in Crawley Files.

Will the bad blood between these two spill over?

Paul Crawley identifies 11 key talking points ahead of what is shaping up as a crucial round 11 in his weekly column, Crawley Files.

ARE SEIBOLD’S SEA EAGLES ABOUT TO IMPLODE?

Anthony Seibold looks like a man trying to act calm on the outside but you can clearly see nervous tension building in the expression on his face as the season rolls on.

From what we’ve seen so far you couldn’t say the Sea Eagles are in a better place now than they were with Des Hasler, who had to coach without Tom Trbojevic for the majority of last season.

Even though Turbo is clearly below his best, he’s already played more games this year (8) than last year (7).

Yet the Sea Eagles’ woeful performance when crashing 32-6 to the Broncos came on the back of their 26-10 defeat to the Titans in their last home game, and has really set up a hugely important game against the Sharks on Sunday at 4 Pines.

We saw how Wayne Bennett got shafted at the end of 2018 to make way for Seibold and how that initially worked out for the Broncos.

It makes you wonder if Manly have fallen into the same trap.

WHY ROBBO’S ROOSTERS LOOK CONFUSED

Trent Robinson is a great coach. A three-time premiership winner who achieved as much in his first seven seasons as Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy at the start of their illustrious careers.

But if Robinson does have a weakness, some say it’s that he can be too smart for his own good, and as a result can be guilty of overthinking on occasions.

And on that point the Roosters coach looks as confused as the rest of us right now as to what the best make up of his team should be.

But I was flabbergasted to hear this week’s excuses that the Roosters’ recruitment has led to their current woes.

To me it’s more a case of Robinson having too many toys to play with, and instead of it being a strength it’s become a liability.

I’ve said all along the situation relating to the halves is something that should have been sorted over summer.

It was plain as day Luke Keary and Sam Walker were too much the same to be sustainable as a long term combination.

But instead of getting it sorted in the off-season, it has led to Joey Manu being thrown into five-eighth eight rounds in, with Walker shunted to NSW Cup.

And we wonder why the Roosters attack still hasn’t clicked?

The fact is at the start of the season the Roosters were considered by many as the team to beat given their roster is clearly the best on paper.

But the 153 points they have scored so far is actually the fewest in nine games ever scored under Robinson, which is also the NRL’s second worst attack this season (only ahead of the last placed Tigers who have 136).

It certainly belies the talent in this team.

WHY RABBITOHS-TIGERS COULD EXPLODE

I wrote earlier this week that it seems the referees are petrified to take action against Latrell Mitchell when he steps out of line.

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see what the chemistry is like between Mitchell and David Klemmer if they come together when the high flying Rabbitohs take on the rejuvenated Tigers on Saturday.

We all saw what went on between the Rabbitohs superstar and Harry Grant last weekend. And how referee Adam Gee allowed Mitchell get away with his bully boy tactics without blowing so much as a penalty after Mitchell reacted angrily to a legitimate tackle from Grant.

What surprised me as much as Latrell escaping the scrutiny of the ref was that no Storm player other than Bronson Garlick offered Grant any support.

But the irony heading into the Tigers game is that there was a similar incident last year when Klemmer was playing for the Knights, and Latrell came charging in to defend teammate Daniel Suluka-Fifita.

Will the bad blood between these two spill over?

Knights fans would remember the fireworks kicked off when Latrell was put on report for a high shot on Dominic Young, before trying to drag the winger to his feet.

Klemmer initially exchanged words with Latrell, then later in the match almost went toe-to-toe with Keaon Koloamatangi, before the big prop was sent off for an elbow on Suluka-Fifita.

That’s when Latrell came racing in to spark the all-in melee.

My point here is that while NRL head of football Graham Annesley later conceded Klemmer should not have been sent off but sin binned, Annesley also said Latrell “could have very easily seen himself in the sin bin as well” for inciting the melee.

Although (surprise, surprise) he again escaped punishment.

It’s worth noting before that game Klemmer was binned for exactly the same thing the previous week.

No wonder people still scratch their heads that some players get away with more than others.

Latrell and Klemmer get heated on the siren 🔥

3 BIG HITS 👉 https://t.co/kTRTxQ0K0Cpic.twitter.com/jtwp4yJKeu

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 8, 2022

ARE BRONCOS A ONE-MAN BAND?

On the flip side of the Storm’s recent struggles, it’s time for the Broncos to stand up against their bogey team.

And the one man they will be relying on just as heavily as skipper Adam Reynolds is giant prop Payne Haas.

Heading into Magic Round, Cooper Cronk basically questioned if Kevvie Walters’ team were flat track bullies when pointing out how well they play on the back “of their power game and getting on the front foot”.

Cronk also asked: “But what are the Broncos like when they are on the back foot. That second half against Souths (in round nine) showed what they were on the back foot.”

That was when Haas was serving a one-match ban for a hip drop tackle when the Broncos were walloped 32-6.

But when Haas returned against the Sea Eagles he charged for 182m, easily the most of any forward, and on the back of that they ran roughshod.

By no means are the Broncos a one-man band because they have strike power across the park.

But make no mistake, to beat the Broncos you have to stop one man first and foremost.

Boo Bailey's Crawley Files cartoon.

BELLAMY RETIREMENT RETHINK

No wonder Craig Bellamy is having second thoughts about retirement.

How could a man who has done so much for Melbourne Storm be comfortable handing over the reins with his team currently struggling like they are?

We all know premierships aren’t won in May.

But with only two rounds before State of Origin teams are named, Bellamy’s once benchmark squad look more vulnerable than they have in years.

And we are going to find out exactly where they stand against the table topping Broncos on Thursday night.

Remember the Storm have beat the Broncos in their last 12 straight games.

The old Storm would be licking their lips at a challenge like this, especially coming off the shellacking they copped at Magic Round.

But the performance against the Bunnies was so far below Storm standards that you could clearly see the concern written all over Bellamy’s face.

He even conceded as much when he said it was like they had “13 guys who didn’t know each other … there just didn’t seem to be any communication or rhythm at all”.

Craig Bellamy should rethink retirement. Picture: Jason Edwards

It’s a huge statement when you consider we’re 10 rounds into the season.

Yet that is Bellamy telling it with the brutal honesty we have become accustomed to.

Not only are their star players Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant struggling to fire consistently (with Munster and Grant about to enter an Origin series), but their forwards were manhandled in the middle against the Rabbitohs, which was the same a few of rounds back against Manly, while their outside backs looked second-rate.

Yet it comes as any great surprise where they find themselves right now when you look at the names who have departed in recent years.

Headed by Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, throw in the Bromwich brothers, Felise Kaufusi, Brandon Smith, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Will Chambers, Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu.

Add to that Ryan Papenhuyzen who may never play again.

The Storm just don’t have the depth of talent they once did.

Yet that next-man-up mentality is the culture the Storm’s foundations were built on.

If Bellamy was to retire now, it would be like a carpenter leaving a rebuild before lock up.

PONGA ORIGIN HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD

The Newcastle Knights have copped a hammering for the decision to allow some players to head off for a holiday in Bali during the bye round.

I’d even question if the players’ pending departure led to that embarrassing 43-12 belting by Parramatta.

One player who didn’t go off for an early season siesta was skipper Kalyn Ponga who for obvious reasons would have more on his mind right now than sipping on a few cold Bing Tangs.

The reality is Ponga was so off the pace in the Knights last loss that there are genuine concerns the man of the match for Queensland in last year’s decider could be overlooked for game one this year.

If Ponga doesn’t show a significant improvement in Sunday’s clash against the Titans, it’s almost impossible to see how Billy Slater could pick him ahead of inform Bronco Reece Walsh.

It’s also getting to the stage where Adam O’Brien might also have to rethink if Ponga should stay playing five-eighth, or return to his former custodian role.

Kalyn Ponga’s grip on his Origin jersey is slipping. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

CAN HODGO HAUNT RAIDERS?

Josh Hodgson was one of the Raiders most loved players during his eight seasons in the nation’s capital.

The now 33-year-old returns to Canberra on Saturday with his place in the Parramatta team on thin ice.

Many believe Brad Arthur is trying to hold back the tide by not promoting young dummy half Brendan Hands ahead of Hodgson, though there is a feeling this match against his former club could be Hodgson’s last chance to save his spot.

But the concern for the Eels will be if the absence of Mitchell Moses leads to Hodgson overplaying his hand in a bid to make a statement against his former teammates.

Make no mistake, this was an issue when Hodgson was at the Raiders previously that it often frustrated teammates.

Even at the start of this year you could see Moses on occasions flair up when he thought Hodgson was not playing to script.

DRAGONS FANS ENTITLED TO BE ‘ROPEABLE’ OVER RYLES

It’s extraordinary that a rugby league brand as famous as the Dragons have slumped so low that they have basically been forced to go to Jason Ryles almost cap in hand to see if the Roosters assistant is willing to take over from Anthony Griffin.

Ryles met with St George Illawarra officials this week, after we were all led to believe he didn’t want the job, instead preferring to hold off to see if Craig Bellamy would leave the Storm.

But with it becoming increasingly likely Bellamy will stay on for another season, now we discover Ryles has apparently had a rethink, and is the leading contender ahead of fellow former Dragons players Ben Hornby (now assistant at Souths) and Dean Young (working under Todd Payten at the Cowboys).

However it ultimately works out, what we can safely assume is that Griffin is all but officially gone, and Ben Hunt’s 300th milestone against the Cowboys in Townsville might be Griffin’s last in charge.

If that turns out to be true fans are entitled to be ropeable why the tough decision wasn’t made in the off-season, when everyone knew Griffin was already on borrowed time. Instead another season at the Dragons goes down the drain.

Dragons in danger of blowing Jason Ryles play. Picture: NRL Photos

COWBOYS CAN’T TAKE A BACKWARD STEP

Cowboys fans can only hope what we saw from Todd Payten’s team at Magic Round is the start of their turnaround.

This is a squad that went within a try of playing in last year’s grand final, but started this season like success had gone to their heads.

However, the performance they put in to comprehensively beat the Roosters 20-6 was a clear statement of their intent, with a noticeable difference in their energy and desire.

If they can beat the Dragons they then take on the Tigers before the Origin teams are named.

After that they have a tough slog against the Eels, Storm, Panthers and Rabbitohs, which highlights why these next two games are so important.

NICHO TO SHOW HE’S ORIGIN READY

My admiration for Nicho Hynes went to another level this week with the support he gave to his mother Julia on the steps of the Downing Centre Local Court.

Hynes comes across as just a fair dinkum champion bloke and obviously one hell of a son.

But from a football perspective Hynes has said he can now put months of heartache behind him to take his game to another level.

And it has come just in time as Hynes and Penrith’s Jarome Luai prepare for one last throw at the stumps in the battle to be the NSW No. 6 this year.

While Hynes had a forgettable night against the Dolphins, Blues incumbent Luai put himself back in the box seat with his effort in the Panthers’ win over the Warriors.

The other option for Brad Fittler would be to name both with Luai starting and Hynes as the bench utility, although Matt Burton is the other contender who can’t be dismissed for that bench role.

Whichever way this works out, what we know is rugby league couldn’t have a finer role model than the Sharks halfback.

CLEARY’S FORMER ASSISTANTS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD

Who could have imagined at the start of the season Andrew Webster would be in the better position than the highly touted Cameron Ciraldo heading into this weekend’s battle between Ivan Cleary’s former Panthers assistants?

Taking absolutely nothing away from the job Ciraldo is doing at the Bulldogs (who have been decimated by injury), there is just no denying the season’s biggest surprise outside of the Dolphins charge into the top eight has been Webster’s reinvention of the Warriors.

Even though the Warriors are sitting 11th on the ladder (on 10 competition points), most expected the Bulldogs (15th on eight competition points) had more chance of success.

Originally published as Crawley Files dissects NRL’s 11 burning issues ahead of round 11