Matt Orford for the Canberra Raiders (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
First up, round four of the NRL showed us that not all returning NRL stars are able to stroll through defences upon their return. Matt Orford is the talking point as his Canberra Raiders side struggles and he condemned the Raiders with a clumsy knock-on to gift possession away.
Buyer beware when it comes to former NRL stars
Former Penrith halfback Craig Gower says he wants to return to the NRL, but given what we’ve seen from Matt Orford so far, is it worth the risk?
Orford is struggling to make an impact in Canberra and calls for him to be dropped are growing louder by the day. In Orford’s defence, coming into a new team, off a limited pre-season was never going to be easy, but he’s a mile off the pace at the moment.
How many clubs will think the same is possible when it comes to Craig Gower? Yes, he’s a dual international, but this dual international is 32 and unlike Orford, who came off a stint in the English Super League, has been playing rugby union in Europe.
Gower is probably a better player than Orford, but the warning is there.
Money trumps momentum
Just what is the price of momentum? The Sharks played the Warriors in the North Island city of Taupo in New Zealand yesterday.
You may think it was a great initiative from the Warriors as they continue to grow their brand in the rugby mad country, especially in a year where New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup.
But, that’s where you’d be wrong.
This was the Sharks home game. A healthy, and much needed, financial incentive was behind the move. While they’ll come home with a big bag of money, two competition points were lost. They went down 26 – 18.
Players and club officials did a fair bit of promotional work in the community in the lead up to the game, but was it worth it from a football perspective?
This was a Sharks side coming off wins over the Dragons and Penrith. Would they have lost to the Warriors at Toyota Stadium?
You can never say for sure, but they would’ve stood a far better chance than they did in Taupo.
Being tackled and taken out in the air isn’t the same thing
The whistleblowers usually do a pretty good job when it comes to protecting players who’ve been tacked in the air, but yesterday wasn’t one of their best days. The game had its fair share of contentious calls; none more so than the opening try of the game.
Newcastle winger Wes Naiqama caught the ball near his own try line, but spilled the pill while in the air after St George Illawarra’s Jason Nightingale had ploughed into him. Soon to be ex-Dragons fullback Darius Boyd reacted quickest and grounded the ball.
Newcastle went on to lose 20 – 18 and coach Rick Stone raised a fair point after the match. “I’m a little bit bemused by it to be honest,” he said. “I thought Wes was put in a dangerous position. I’m not sure whether that should have been a penalty as far as protecting the player’s safety is concerned”. It should have been.
Sandow is proving the doubters wrong
Chris Sandow isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s developing into a dependable halfback. The little number seven was involved in everything the Bunnies did in their win over Manly on Friday night. The biggest indicator of his maturity was the quality of his kicking game.
Yes, it helps when the likes of Roy Asotasi, David Taylor, David Tyrrell and Ben Ross are rolling forward, but Sandow capitalised on their grunt work.
It raises the question, do we judge young halfbacks too early in their career?
Sandow has been much maligned since making his debut against the Warriors in round 13, 2008, but he’s only 22-years-old. His good performances could be due to the fact that he now feels at home playing in the NRL.
His talent was never in doubt, just his ability to produce on a consistent basis. Those doubts are being erased with every passing game in 2011. The Rabbitohs switching off at the 70-minute mark almost every week is another issue.
Blake Ferguson should be a Blues bolter
OK, first, forget the fact he dropped the ball without any help from a Titans player in the Raiders golden point extra time loss on Saturday night.
Blake Ferguson is star and NSW State of Origin selectors should be watching closely. The Raiders winger is capable of consistently creating something out of nothing.
Ferguson had turned in another fine display before his brain snap that led to a Greg Bird drop goal sealing the Gold Coast’s first win of the season. He’s more comfortable on the wing, but filled in well for Josh Dugan when the fullback limped off early in the match.
So, will he be in sky blue if this form continues? Brett Morris and Akuila Uate will also be in the mix, but at the moment, Ferguson must have his nose in front. Blues coach Ricky Stuart is also a huge fan of Ferguson following their time together at Cronulla.
Stormybill
Guest
Check out young Gareth Widdop with Cooper Cronk,by seasons end they will be the big names!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sandow had a blinder on Friday night but still needs to deliver consistently...he's always been capable of the big games / big moments but then goes missing. Are Sandow and Sutton hot and cold because Souths are, or are Souths inconsistent because that's how their halves play ? It seems the best way to get yourself in frame for Origin these days is to tell everyone that you should be playing Origin. Ferguson is also capable of brilliance but way too prone to brain explosions at the moment. With any combo of Hayne, Dugan, Morris, Uate, Gordon to pick for wing and fullback positions do you need to take the punt on Ferguson ?
jamesb
Guest
8. Halves For mine the roosters have the best halves combination in the comp with Pearce and Carney. Hornby and Soward are not the most brilliant but do keep things simple However there are many teams that have a dominant halve, that play alongside a lesser player, eg Thurston at the cowboys Tigers and Raiders could be formidable if they get the right halves combinations in place. At the tigers i like to see Marshall with Moltzen, while at the raiders I like to see Sam Williams get a go. If Williams proves his worth, I'd put him alongside Campese when he returns. Having the right halves combo could be vital to a teams success.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Good move by the Sharks,they made a fair bit of money over there and helped publicise a most beautiful part of the world ,drew a half decent crowd of nearly 15,000.Sold merchandise,established another recruiting ground ,for young league aspirantsThey could just have easily lost at Shark Park ,with a crowd less than 10,000 and lost money. Orford his actions say it all ,and Ferguson the Raiders winger known for his ego,was brought back to earth. Out of 4 games friday /saturday night..The Souths v Manly game an absolute bottler,edge of the seat stuff.Saturday by virtue of the Golden point raiders v titans was exciting and the Parra v Cowboys another to savour,from the intensity and closeness of the scores.The sharks v Warriors an enjoyable running spectacle.The intensity of the Dragons v Knights you could almost feel through the idiot box. The disappointments were the Panthers and a weakened Tigers,expecting Benji to pull a rabbitt out of the hat. As the saying goes the beautiful uncertainty of sport exposed,this no better being exemplified ,than the first 4 rds of NRL season.Only one team unbeaten so far,and every team to this date securing at least one win.
Willy
Guest
Six weeks apparently mate. Tigers are (incredibly enough) waiting for the back up hooker to get back from injury before they book him in. Hopefully it will co-incide with Origin when the Tigers would have lost Farah for three weeks anyway.
lopati
Guest
The refereeing of that game was bad, players from both sides walking off the mark for instance. They love getting the scrum right, but everything else the refereeing was like 2 years ago. I really hope Harrigan has a side chat with both Klein and Devcich because they were way off the standard. (A chat to the guys on the sidelines, all of them, is needed too.)
oikee
Guest
What about his eyesight, ? That playing up also. Mate every time the ball needed to go left, he threw it right, and then when it needed to go right, yes you guessed it, he threw it left. He should not be playing if he is injured. He is making the whole team look ordinary. Now Marshal has to create everything again. The Titans are playing a second grade hooker, they seem to be going alright. Hey Ken, any area near the queensland border is classed Maroon. That is how far queensland stretchers its border, go look on a map. NSW could not draw a straight line along the border, so now we just take any player living with-in a couple of hundred kilometres. Not our fault, they all think they are queenslanders, plus we make sure they play their 1st game just across the border. You can normally tell a queensland player, he has got Maroon blood. :)
skinner
Guest
Willy, I think this is a really good point. West Tigers are looking at 9 starters on the injury list Storm, Souths and Newcastle also have some problems with around 5 a starters out Canberra with out Campesy and Tounge are not the same side. I not sure what it is but there is a high injury toll this year, it good and bad. Good that it gives some opportunity to some lesser players but bad as the quality isnt the same. I have been watching the Broncos and it not pretty to watch but they are doing very well early in the season.
Ticker
Guest
NF - it was a fluke. How do the Raiders lose the game from being six points up with a scrum feed with 00:40 left on the clock? It was an inexplicable chain of events that got the Titans home.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
Hanzo, his groin is no good and needs surgery. Wouldn't be season ending, but close enough to it apparently.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
DB, Scott vs Mannah was one of the best forward contests i've seen since Spud and Chief went at it. Scott is an unbelievable worker.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
Could be massive concern for Farah. He'll play on because he's tough, but he was close to useless yesterday. Not his fault, because he's injured, but playing though the pain isn't always the smartest thing.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
Hot topic Martin Kennedy at the moment. What's everyone's thoughts on him being claimed by QLD. Absolute disgrace if they get away with another Inglis-like situation.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
G'day Ken, McManus, though never took his eyes off the ball either and also tried to jump for it. It's a 50-50 situation and i think if you've got a guy barrelled in mid-air it's enough to get a penalty. I see your point though.
Ken
Guest
Not a bad crowd considering i just looked up the population of Taupo and it was pegged (last year) at 22 300!
Ken
Guest
OK oikee, I'll bite, who would you drop from the QLD backline to put Ferguson in if he were a QLDer? :-) 'Maybe he should play for queensland, we will have him' No doubt, that's how you got Inglis and Folau in the first place!
Centrebet
Guest
He's not Martin kennedy
Hanzo
Guest
Any truth to rumours that Robbie Farrah is playing thru a potentially season ending hip injury? Any Roarers got the inside word? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
oikee
Guest
Yeah, its hard to really put your finger on one highlight, i did enjoy that front row battle. The real highlight for me was Sunday morning getting up and watching the Junior Warriors, who i just wont miss, they are fantastic to watch, and then the Warriors backing it up in a place called Taupo. What a great day that must have been for the people in this area of NZ. Plus they got both teams home. Makes you a little bit envious to see the Sharkies enjoying such a beautiful part of the world. Would like the Broncos to do something simalar. The Sharks have another 2 years locked in over their, how good is that, smart move. 16500 crowd, that must be a sharkies record. ;) I taped both those games, its like being on a day out on a picnic just watching it, wonderful. What footy is all about.
db swannie
Guest
Watching Scot V Manah was the highlight of my weekend,footy wise. A great old fashioned prop against prop battle..brutal hits....no cheap shots,no complaining,just smashing each other legally. I think Scot came out just in front,but whatever he dished out Manah got up & came back for more... Cant wait for these pair to meet in SOO.