What did we learn from round 19 of the 2012 NRL Season? Here are the five big points, starting with a plea for an 18th man to be introduced.
Amongst all of the knockouts, an 18th man makes sense
On Friday night Parramatta prop Fuifui Moimoi was literally knocked out the contest by his Bulldogs opposite number Sam Kasiano in the first tackle at ANZ Stadium. While Kasiano was penalised and put on report, and will not play this weekend pending an NRL judiciary hearing, Parramatta were penalised to a far greater degree – they were left without a 17th player for the remaining 79 minutes.
After the match Eels coach Stephen Kearney rightfully called for the NRL to introduce a rule that would allow an 18th man to substitute a player that is injured by a tackle that is put on report. The Moimoi injury, which didn’t cost the Eels the game against a very impressive Bulldogs outfit who probably would have won anyway, follows a very similar incident from round 18 where Ben Ross of the Sharks was knocked out by Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves early in the contest.
While Waerea-Hargreaves missed the following week’s game against the Rabbitohs, the Sharks spent most of the contest against the Roosters playing one man down. Bring in the 18th man option pronto. It makes sense.
Manly continue to struggle against the lesser lights
Five of Manly’s seven loses this season have come against teams that currently sit outside of the top eight – Dragons, Eels, Titans, Panthers and Newcastle. On Saturday evening Manly were put to the sword 32-6 by a more enthusiastic and desperate Newcastle Knights team at Hunter Stadium. It was the Eagles largest loss of the season.
Interestingly, all of their other losses to teams on the bottom half of ladder have been by a margin of nine or more points. In each of these contests the boys from the beaches have been well and truly beaten, something that will concern their first year coach Geoff Toovey. With a relatively tough run in to the finals, the Eagles will be desperate to turn around a very inconsistent 2012 season, beginning with Friday night’s blockbuster against the Des Hasler-led Canterbury Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval.
Thurston makes post-Origin surge
By his lofty standards, 2012 hasn’t been the greatest of seasons for Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston, but his recent performances have been ominous. Last season’s Golden Boot Award winner has somewhat struggled to adapt to his switch from halfback into the five-eighth role, but that all changed in State of Origin three where he put in a dominant performance.
Thurston continued his excellent return to form with a brilliant performance against the competition leaders the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night at AAMI Stadium. Thurston controlled the game expertly, leading his team to a 20-16 victory, with two game-breaking try assists. He looks ready for a blockbuster end to the season.
Free spirited Saints still struggle for points
Dummies, quick passes and offloads. St George-Illawarra looked more like the Harlem Globetrotters in the first 20 minutes of their contest against the Sharks on a sunny Sunday afternoon, rather than the team that possesses the worst attack in the NRL.
Despite appearing to cut loose from their usually predictable selves, the Dragons managed just six points in the first quarter of match – a period of total dominance that should have yielded a far greater reward against a shell shocked Sharks outfit – and just 18 for the entire game. In the absence of injured pivot Jamie Soward, Kyle Stanley looked lively until he suffered a season ending injury early in the game, while the Nightingale and Morris positional swap achieved mixed results.
The Dragons should receive credit for their improved ball movement, but ironically their best player was forward Trent Merrin who ran hard and straight all day. He, and a couple of questionable refereeing calls, proved the difference between victory and defeat, and condemned Cronulla to a 10th straight loss at WIN Stadium.
It ain’t over until it’s over
With less than five minutes left on the clock the Sydney Roosters led their traditional rivals, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, by a seemingly comfortable 10 points at ANZ Stadium on Monday night. The game was effectively over when the ball was put into touch by Roosters halfback Mitchell Pierce just 6 metres from the opposition’s try-line from the next set of six. But no one told the Souths players, who rushed to the scrum and scored a quick try through runaway winger Nathan Merritt.
Even with the deficit reduced to four points, the clock looked like being Souths greatest enemy – there was only 50 seconds left when Braith Anasta delivered a kickoff to big Dave Taylor. Five passes later and Souths were over adjacent to the posts. An Adam Reynolds conversion gave Souths a ridiculous 24-22 victory. It also gave the Bunnies some sweet revenge against the Roosters, who defeated their fellow foundation club in round one in eerily similar circumstances.
Monday night’s comeback was left so late that many of the Souths fans were already in their cars driving home as total chaos broke out at ANZ Stadium. What a game and what a competition!
Individual Performance: Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
Match of the Round: Roosters v Rabbitohs
Bosco
Guest
The way that Parramatta are travelling we should let Parra have 18 players every week to give them a chance. As for Manly I have no doubt that they will be up for the Bulldogs game this week but to win the comp under the new finals format you will need to finish in the top 4. Given their inconsistency they will need to raise their intensity or they will be yesterdays news.
Anakin
Guest
Kasiano got off - does that mean Parra effectively get an advantage - as opposed to a player who injures themself? its a fine line, and a tough call, that cant really have a blanket rule .. im fine with the deliberate offender (and it has to be clear cut) being sent.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
I agree you have to even up the teams, if a hit is on report, then why not send the player off? Obviously there is some type of illegal contact (video ref can confirm) so they should be gone
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
only if you dedicate yourself for a big shot on the return. If the ball had been offloaded and you take a player out then there will still be some injuries, but alos suspensions. Some of the biggest hits ever are on players who never offload, think back to Lang and Long at the Sharks a few years ago, everyone knew what they were going to do, add in a step or pass and the whole game changes
mushi
Roar Guru
You could have an NRL doctor examine the player with follow up.
Andrew Tilley
Roar Pro
I had similar concerns about the 18th man being used and abused by coaches, but I'm not sure that it's fair for a player to be knocked out or injured illegally by a player from another team whether it's in the 1st, 30th or 60th minutes. If a player is injured from an incident that isn't put on report (eg. doing his knee) I don't feel as though that team should be allowed to swap him for the 18th man. There are enough interchanges to cover for that player. For me, the 18th man should be used as a way of evening up the contest (17 on 17) that can be skewed because of a player taking out an opposing player.
Andrew Tilley
Roar Pro
Liquorbox, I think that your comment is far too simplistic. Shoulder charges or swinging arms will still exist even when players pass the ball at the line.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The 18th man makes sense but there needs to be a time limit - say if a player can't continue within the first 20 minutes he can be replaced for the duration by the 18th man. Otherwise this will be another rule put in for player welfare that's abused by coaches. I don't think it necessarily needs to be as a result of foul play. Say a player does his knee 15 mins into the game he can be subbed out and take no further part. Hopefully Thurston and the Cowboys have a big finish to the year. They are one of the best sides to watch. When JT and Bowen are on song there's nothing better. Soward and Hornby are both one-dimensional in the halves. If the defence knows the opposing halves are never going to take on the line it's easy to defend the outside men. The two Roosters v Rabbits games have been amazing. What are the odds that you'd have two tries in the last two minutes in each game? Outstanding...gotta love league...there was also the Dragons v Roosters game that had two tries in the last couple of miuntes.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
If you want to avoid a knockout from a kick return then pass the ball at the line, look at Taylor on Monday night, it turned into a try. If a pass becomes common place, the shoulder charges will be put away