The Tackle: Bunker gets contentious Manly call correct, Tigers breathe life into Leichhardt Oval, James Tedesco rockets up Dally M leaderboard

A vintage James Tedesco performance has shaken up the Dally M standings after round 3, plus why the Bunker got a contentious Manly call correct.

Mitch Kenny's 'moving screen' from dummy half buys Nathan Cleary some protection from would be tacklers.

Dean Ritchie is back once again to dive into the highs and lows of round three of the NRL.

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BUNKER GETS IT RIGHT

Sorry Manly fans, it wasn’t a try.

The rules are clear that if a decoy runner stops in the defensive line then it is an obstruction.

It’s point A in the NRL’s laws and interpretation around obstruction.

Sadly there isn’t any common sense in rugby league when it comes to the bunker.

It’s either black or white and Jake Trbojevic stopped in the line, impeding Parramatta’s Luca Moretti. Moretti was buggered and wouldn’t have gotten near a runaway Tom Trbojevic but that doesn’t matter. Tom cut back through the hole created by Jake.

Jake’s decision simply gave the bunker a chance to intervene and deny the try.

And that’s exactly what they did. Decoy runners are told to either stop short or push through the defensive line. The decision ruined Manly’s comeback but, when you peel back all the motion, it was the correct call.

The obstruction call in the Parramatta-Manly game. Picture: Fox League

TEDDY ROCKETS UP THE CHARTS

Two tries, six tackle breaks and three line break assists were just the highlight of James Tedesco’s stellar game against the Rabbitohs.

The Roosters fullback is back near the top of the Dally M standings along with a selection of the game’s top fullbacks.

LEICHHARDT OVAL: MAD, BAD AND FUN

Abandon Leichhardt Oval?

Try telling that to the 16,000 people who packed the venue on Saturday night to hopefully see Wests Tigers take their first confident steps along the comeback trail. Leichhardt Oval does that.

It tugs at the heartstrings of supporters like no other ground in the premiership.

Critics say going to Leichhardt Oval is rugby league’s answer to being on the TV show Survivor. Sure traffic can be a nightmare and queues form for toilets and food but so what?

Tigers fans celebrate their teams win over the Sharks. Photo: Tom Parrish

You want a life of chauffeur-driven cars and unlimited and unaudited expenses then become a politician. Million-dollar fitness centres and multimillion dollar renovations have their place in the modern game but so do nostalgia and romance.

Leichhardt Oval is now the oldest regularly used ground in the premiership. It’s a picturesque reminder of the traditions and fortitude that hallmarked rugby league in its early days.

Tiger supporters know shinier, more sophisticated venues abound but five times a year they bask on the Wayne Pearce Hill and remember when Keith Barnes was kicking goals, Paul Sironen, Benny Elias and Steve ‘Blocker; Roach were carving up the rucks and the great Larry Corowa was flying down the wing.

Who needs access to a toilet when you can’t get a beer anyway? Picture: Tom Parrish

Lines or the bars stretched to extreme lengths at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night. Picture: Tom Parrish

The Tackle sent a photographer to Leichhardt on Saturday night to capture all the madness, hassle and fun at the famous old ground in Mary Street.

It was challenging – one fan was in the beer queue so long he gave up – but rugby league cannot lose its connection with the past. We don’t want to become the AFL where all Melbourne games are played at two giant, soulless stadiums.

“The scenes here (at Leichhardt) are terrific,” former Test player Corey Parker told Fox League.

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne added: “The 16,000 fans at Leichhardt Oval can testify to the fact that it continues to have the best atmosphere of any suburban ground.”

Mind you, charging fans $55 to sit on the Wayne Pearce Hill was a disgrace.

Despite the lack of toilets and the lines for beer Leichhardt Oval is still a great place to watch footy. Picture: Tom Parrish

TEDDY FLYING HIGH

So where does James Tedesco rank among the best fullbacks this century?

Tedesco’s form this year has been simply sublime, a gentle reminder of his skills and resilience for the critics who shot him down last year. He scored two tries, ran 19 times for 160 metres, logged one line break, three line break assists and a try assist against Souths on Friday night. So where does he sit in the finest fullbacks since 2000?

It’s a first class field including Kalyn Ponga, Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell, Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Darren Lockyer, Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis, Anthony Minichiello and Brett Stewart. Tedesco would hold his own against all these champions.

I’d have ‘Teddy’ equal fourth alongside Stewart but behind Slater, Lockyer and Inglis. Slater is No.1.

James Tedesco. Picture: NRL Photos

COWS TOP DOGS IN QLD

Brisbane reached last year’s grand final but the Cowboys are ready to snatch back the mantle as Queensland premier team. And that could be confirmed as early as this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium. North Queensland is now 3-0 to start the season compared to 1-2 for Brisbane, who are without injured stars Payne Haas (eight weeks), Reece Walsh (4 weeks) and Adam Reynolds, his return date to be confirmed.

North Queensland was behind 18-4 against St George Illawarra on Saturday before piling on 42 unanswered points to post a remarkable win.

The unbeaten Cowboys have certainly slipped past Brisbane in the Queensland pecking order this season with the inconsistent Dolphins and hapless Gold Coast running third and fourth.

Scott Drinkwater. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane and North Queensland play on Friday evening with the Cowboys ready to heap pressure on Kevin Walters’ Broncos. It’s North Queensland’s first 3-0 start in 17 years.

“I’m not going to say we’re back but we’re taking steps in the right direction,” said Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater.

Victory would give the Cowboys extensive bragging rights over their southern Queensland rivals. One win after four rounds would have Brisbane chasing hard for the rest of this season.

COOL HEAD PREVAILS FOR CIRALDO

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was rewarded for having faith in the playing group he gathered, nurtured and encouraged over summer. While other coaches panicked after two rounds and dropped playmakers, Ciraldo stuck solid with two of his spine – halfback Drew Hutchison and fullback Blake Taaffe – despite criticism of the pair. And Ciraldo’s loyalty was recognised with his side’s first win of the season. Perhaps other coaches should display the same patience and tolerance.

ANY REGRETS FOR POMMY VIC?

Does Sydney Roosters champion Victor Radley regret pledging allegiance to England?

More importantly, will the NSW Blues? Radley has been in career-best form and the born-and-bred eastern suburbs 26-year-old is built for Origin – but he can’t play Origin. With an English father, Radley is eligible to represent the tier-one nation. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said in 2022. “This was a gut feeling that it’s what I want to do.”

What a shame.

OLAM STARTS WITH A BANG

Justin Olam was brought in to add some punch to the Tigers and boy did he deliver. The PNG star and Melbourne discard has become an instant Tigers’ crowd favourite will also add plenty of box office appeal to the Round 4, Easter Monday blockbuster against Parramatta at CommBank Stadium. If he delivers a performance anything like his club debut against the Sharks, then Parra better watch out. Olam ran for 187 metres from a team-high 18 runs, scored a try and had two linebreaks in a great first outing for the Tigers. No wonder he was mobbed by fans after his Leichhardt Oval heroics.

Justin Olam of the Tigers celebrates with fans at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Getty Images

DISLIKES

TURBO FLICKS WRONG SWITCH

He is among the best fullbacks in the game but Manly’s Tom Trbojevic was caught out badly against Parramatta. In the 32nd minute at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta had a first half scrum feed 10 metres from Manly’s tryline. Trbojevic packed into the scrum at lock with Parramatta shifting quickly to their left side with NRL debutant Blaize Talagi crashing over the top of Manly’s fullback to score out wide. Trbojevic desperately scampered from the scrum to defend a try but it was too little too late for the Manly star. We’re not sure why Trbojevic wasn’t in the defensive line. Players move everywhere around a footy field these days and it’s not the first time an outside back has packed into a scrum but this was a costly defensive blunder.

Tom Trbojevic packs down at lock. Picture: Fox League

Tom Trbojevic scrambles to get across the field. Pic: Fox League

Tom Trbojevic nearly pulled off a great tackle despite being out of position. NRL Imagery

RTS TO NO.1 PLEASE

The Warriors need to switch Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to fullback.

‘RTS’ logged 21 runs for 299m against Canberra, including three tackle busts, a line break and try. He switched to the back when rookie Taine Tuaupiki failed a HIA.

Regular Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is due back in round five from a hamstring injury but Tuivasa-Sheck is world class. “That’s a headache for coach Andrew Webster now about whether Tuivasa-Sheck gets a full-time home in the fullback position,” Fox League analyst James Graham said.

WAL DELIVERS GOLD

Fox Sports Lab analyst Aaron Wallace produced the best line of Round 3.

‘Wally’ tweeted: ‘The Warriors can open a pig farm as they already have three hogs running around.’ And he was right. The Warriors bombed three certain tries when Addin Fonua-Blake, Rocco Berry and Jackson Ford all failed to pass to support players with tries looming.

The Warriors can open a pig farm as they already have three hogs running around

— Aaron Wallace (@wallyscr) March 22, 2024

WHO’S NEXT IN THE FIRING LINE AT SOUTHS

Souths coach Jason Demetriou dropped Lachlan Ilias and started Damien Cook from the bench. Maybe Demetriou’s problems go far deeper than a halfback and dummy half.

The Rabbitohs’ defence is shoddy and ineffective. In the opening three games this season, Souths have conceded 36 points, 28 and then 48. That’s 112 points at an average of 37 points a game. The 112 points conceded is the equal second most points Souths have ever conceded over the opening three games with 114 in 1995 being the most and 112 in 1994. There were few positives for Souths in their loss to the Roosters other than the performance of backrower Keaon Koloamatangi, who logged a remarkable nine tackle breaks in the opening half.

Pressure is building on Jason Demetriou. Picture: NRL Imagery

THE CHAD MOMENT THAT SUMS UP DRAGONS

The Dragons should also shore up their defence in a hurry because right now it’s not NRL standard. Shane Flanagan’s side face Manly next Saturday having conceded 84 points in their past two matches, including a whopping 15 tries in a fortnight. And there has been no softer try conceded by the Dragons than the four pointer scored by the Cowboys’ Chad Townsend with 15 minutes to go at Kogarah on Saturday. The halfback carried lock Tom Eisenhuth and prop Ben Murdoch-Masila over the line from close range before Jack Bird and Tyrell Sloan arrived late to watch Townsend score the try while Jack de Belin looks on.

It promises to be an interesting video review session at the Dragons this week.

Chad Townsend carries the Dragons on his back. NRL Imagery

WHY WASN’T MAY BINNED?

I had multiple issues with the Reece Walsh injury drama on Thursday night.

Walsh came from the field, and did not return, after a heavy head clash with Panthers centre Taylan May.

* If it was a penalty, why wasn’t May sin binned?

* Why wasn’t May sent for an HIA test?

* Referee Gerard Sutton said May had a “duty of care to bend to make a tackle and he doesn’t bend.” Since when do we have to “bend” in tackle?

* And did I hear Panthers fans cheer when a bloodied Walsh came from the field? I hope not.

Should players be penalised for “lack of care” in a high-collision sport? May was cleared by the NRL match review committee.

Taylan May was put on report and penalised for foul play, but not sin-binned, over his role in an 'accidental' head clash with Reece Walsh. Picture: NRL Imagery

VIOLENCE AT GAMES NOT ON

Three separate videos of fans behaving badly at NRL matches is a bad look for the game. From the wild scenes at Allianz Stadium on Friday night when Roosters and Rabbitohs fans brawled to supporters being separated at Brookvale Oval to the bloodied face of a supporter in Las Vegas. There’s nothing wrong with the passion and enthusiasm of footy fans which we all love but violence can’t be tolerated. Everybody should feel safe at NRL games and not be worried about fights breaking out. These incidents should serve as a wake-up call for the game.

SNEAKY PENRITH TACTIC UNDER SPOTLIGHT

Rival coaches have blown up over a blocking tactic being employed by premiers, Penrith.

Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny appears to have been sprung discreetly blocking opponents from dummy half.

Kenny was captured at least three times following the ball after passing during Thursday night’s game against Brisbane and seemed to be judiciously impeding defenders.

The play is legal according to the NRL, who introduced a blocking rule to prevent defenders being obstructed by idle players lurking around the play-the-ball.

Penrith Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny acts as a blocker for Nathan Cleary.

Kenny crabs several steps sideways after his pass to block the would be tackler.

One rival NRL coach: “They are definitely trying to be a hindrance to the player chasing the kicker.

“You’re not allowed to hinder the direction of the runner who is putting pressure on the kickers to eliminate his time.

“Our hookers will be doing the same thing now next week. He will now pass and chase (like Kenny).”

Panthers teammates James Fisher-Harris and Isaah Yeo became synonymous with parking themselves next to the ruck on fifth tackles.

Kenny at dummy half with Pat Carrigan at marker.

Kenny again slides sideways after passing and becomes a ‘moving screen’ protecting Cleary.

NRL head of football, Graham Annesley wasn’t concerned.

“This example is simply the dummy-half following the play after he passes the ball,” Annesley said.

“It is not what we have been discussing with clubs at all.

“Blocking involves players unnecessarily placing themselves between the dummy-half and the kicker to deliberately obstruct defenders.”

Originally published as The Tackle: Bunker gets contentious Manly call correct, Tigers breathe life into Leichhardt Oval, James Tedesco rockets up Dally M leaderboard