Welcome back to our weekly series reviewing the NRL round by round.
In Round Five we saw even more upsets including a long overdue win for the Sharks and the return of a forgotten man for the Raiders.
Theme of the Round: Upsets
No, really this time. So it’s possible that this column went off a little early by calling last week the upset round. The Raiders, Cowboys, Dragons and especially the Sharks all beat the odds and expectations over the course of the long weekend.
Whilst the Sharks’ (more on them below) win was rousing it is the Dragons who have produced the most remarkable turnaround. After posting only 16 points and conceding 52 through the first 200 minutes of the competition, the Dragons have, since half time in Canberra in Round 3, now produced 39 points and conceded only 6. Questions still remain about the team’s ability to score points but if they can maintain the sort of stifling defence they have produced recently they will give themselves every chance to win.
For the Cowboys, a team that entered the year with plenty of expectations, it may simply be a return to the mean over the last two rounds. Three rounds into the season and they looked dead in the water but a team with an all-Origin front row and the halfback of his generation shouldn’t stay down for too long.
For the Raiders it was a case of welcome returns as Sisa Waqa returned from injury, Shaun Fensom returned to form and Sam Williams returned from exile in Wollongong and France to lead the team to a solid win over a beat up and dispirited Sea Eagles.
More on Sam Williams below but Sisa Waqa was particularly impressive playing in the unfamiliar role of right centre. He added a level of professionalism and experience that the young backline has lacked at times recently.
Team of the Round: The Sharks
It has been a long, long wait for Sharks fans, but finally on Sunday afternoon they recorded a win. How long had it been? A mere 258 days and ten competition rounds since the team defeated the Panthers in Round 20 last season. That the breakthrough win occurred against the powerhouse Roosters was somehow entirely appropriate after the salary cap-related innuendo directed at that team last week.
The Sharks win was built on an energetic performance from their forward pack, including usual suspects Paul Gallen and Andrew Fifita. However they also go an outstanding performance from converted back rower Chris Heighington who had 15 powerful carries of the ball for 127 metres in only 36 minutes on the field.
But it was the contribution of the Sharks’ youth brigade that will be most pleasing for fans. Whilst Jack Bird deservedly soaked up a lot of the praise for his impressive debut in the number six jersey, the contribution of Valentine Holmes in his preferred position of fullback was also critical. Holmes made 194 metres on 15 carries and added six tackle busts and a line break as he validated coach Shane Flanagan’s decision to move him to fullback at the expense of veteran Michael Gordon. Flanagan has maintained faith in the kids with Holmes and Bird both retained despite the return of Ben Barba.
Next up for the Sharks is a home game at Remondis Stadium where they haven’t won since Round 8 last year. It is a measure of just how long it’s been since the Sharks won at home, that the team that did so featured Todd Carney.
Personnel Move of the Round – Sam Williams replaces Mitch Cornish for the Raiders
After four largely disappointing rounds to start the season, Ricky Stuart did what he does best and dropped his starting halfback.
On Saturday night in Albury Mitch Cornish was replaced with once and (maybe) future Raiders saviour Sam Williams. In 2012 Williams, along with Josh McCrone and Josh Dugan led the Raiders to the second week of the finals (where they were obliterated by the Rabbitohs) and looked set to be the club’s halfback of the future alongside the returning Terry Campese.
However Campese struggled to regain fitness and Williams’ shambolic defence alongside Joel Thompson and Jarrod Croker on the Raiders left edge convinced the club to let him to walk away at the end of 2013.
After an unsuccessful stint at St George (where it should be noted he played on the right edge rather than his preferred left) he moved to the Catalan Dragons and led that club on a successful run into the Super League finals.
On Saturday night however Williams returned to the Green Machine with a flourish guiding the Raiders to an upset win against former heavyweights Manly. Williams’ kicking game in particular was superb as he repeatedly found ground allowing his team’s kick chasers to put early pressure on the Eagles back three. He also laid on two tries with kicks, one a perfectly placed cross-field chip for Sisa Waqa and the other a cheeky grubber that was collected by captain Jarrod Croker.
Raiders fans will be hoping that Williams will make a better fist of NRL defence in his second go around with the club. Certainly having the experienced Sia Soliola next to him should help. Joel Thompson, whilst an outstanding player in many respects, also had a tendency to rush out to try to put a big hit on the ball carrier. When it worked it was spectacular but as often as not it simply left Williams and Croker on an island and outnumbered.
Meanwhile, Williams’ successful return in no way closes the door for Mitch Cornish. He remains a talented player who it is worth remembering beat out Luke Brooks for the Junior Kangaroos halfback spot only a couple of years ago.
Moreover at 22-years-old he is still only now the same age as Daly Cherry-Evans was when he broke into the NRL and Cherry-Evans had the advantage of coming into a team that included six Origin players plus a New Zealand international in Kieran Foran. Jamie Soward was another who didn’t become a first grade regular until his mid-20s and who has built an excellent career largely on the back of an exceptional kicking game.
How Cornish responds to his demotion will be key. If he can contribute for the Raiders’ currently undefeated NSW Cup team Mounties then it is likely that the club will persevere with him. If not he may join a long list of super talented young halfbacks who couldn’t quite make the jump to first grade.
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