NRL first-term report: How is your team going? (Part 1)

Heading into Round 8, we are roughly a quarter of the way into the NRL competition, so let’s have a look at how your team is going.

I previewed the season here, so I will review teams in the same order, which is how they finished in 2014.

I also labelled the key man for each team, so I will see how they are going, as well as nominating the stand-out player for each club so far.

Rabbitohs
8 points

The Rabbitohs started full of confidence and looked the team to beat, but in the last four weeks have lost three, and were very fortunate to beat the Bulldogs in ‘that match’.

The wheels haven’t fallen off, but they should get the NRMA to change the next tyre. Everybody primes for the premiers and the fear factor has gone. Injuries haven’t helped, but they are not alone in that area.

Michael Maguire won’t be too worried yet, but it just goes to show if your chief playmaker is out, any team loses their spark. Plus Greg Inglis looks tired already, so the State of Origin period is not going to do them any favours.

The Bunnies will still be high in the finals, but will have a tough haul to get there.

Key man: Issac Luke seems to be back to being a niggler, rather than a constructive dummy half. He needs to change that pronto.

Stand out: Luke Keary has risen to the challenge of chief playmaker while Adam Reynolds is out.

Bulldogs
8 points

What a season the Bulldogs are having! They were smashed in Round 1, then slowly worked into form for the Good Friday grand final replay. They blew the game, blew up at the officials and blew off steam with a bottle throwing exhibition. They have also managed to have four players suspended (including Loko Jacob) and currently have Brett Morris and Tim Lafai as long-term casualties.

The halves are being pilloried and everybody hates them again. This surely points to a successful season. They are not quite under the radar, but nobody rates them, which suits Des Hasler just fine. They will still be finalists.

Key man: Trent Hodkinson is out of form, and also not landing goals. I suspect his operations will take longer to recover from than expected. Expect gradual improvement, but nothing stunning.

Stand out: Curtis ‘Mysha’ Rona has been a revelation, nabbing seven tries on the wing.

Roosters
6 points

The Roosters started off with a bang, but have barely whimpered in the last three weeks. They have been losing players regularly each week, so the side is in a constant state of flux. Losing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for next season has not helped for sure, and other sides still treat them like a premiers, saving their best for them – not everybody can claim the Sharks as a ‘bogey’ team.

Losing Blake Ferguson and Aiden Guerra has hurt them, and now Jared Waerea-Hargreaves looks in trouble. They will still be there when the whips are cracking and I expect they will bubble along around the eight for a while. Trent Robinson will be hoping that the Bulldogs halves are named in State of Origin, so his guys aren’t.

Key man: Mitch ‘Roy’ Aubusson has already shown his worth, covering off for Guerra seamlessly.

Stand out: Dylan Napa has looked great off the bench, and having start on time will help him at the end of the season.

Panthers
6 points

The Panthers started like a house on fire, but it burnt down and now they are homeless. Penrith have two problems, firstly injuries are cruelling them, and secondly the opposition are awake to their style.

They have five players out at the moment but expect a few back soon. Jamal Idris is gone for the season, but this has given both Waqa Blake and Robert Jennings opportunity to shine. I am sure Ivan Cleary was delighted that Jamie Soward decided to have his back operation once the season started.

The other issue has been the selection of fast, clever but small benchmen. It works well if the starting forwards have set a platform, but it backfires when the team is not going forward. Bryce Cartwright and Tyrone Peachey are good players but I don’t know that they can both play off the bench. James Segeyaro looks to be playing wounded as well.

They can still make the eight, but need their troops fit.

Key man: Idris is gone for the season, so I nominate Segeyaro as the key to spark this team.

Stand out: Matt Moylan is a superb footballer, and is an extra playmaker from the back.

Sea Eagles
2 points

How the mighty have fallen. Even the most ardent Manly haters would be shocked how quickly they have disintegrated, and it’s an inside job.

Both halves announced they are leaving the club within the first few rounds – destabilising 101. The next three key men, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and Brett Stewart, are all getting injured in turns and the side is not even close to being the same each week. The forwards are being pushed around by everyone, and young kids like the Trbojevic brothers are playing first grade too early.

I feel very sorry for Geoff Toovey as he will be blamed for the club’s poor player retention. It is hard to see them getting out of this one. My prediction to miss the top eight looks pretty safe.

Key man: Brett Stewart has hardly played, and hardly shone when he has.

Stand out: In his first game Tom Trbojevic was very composed, but even he is injured now.

Cowboys
8 points

You wouldn’t have fed them a stale biscuit after three (nearly four) rounds, then Johnathan Thurston struck. Since then, the whole team has looked keen and sharp.

Putting Lachlan Coote at fullback and Michael Morgan at five-eighth has been a masterstroke. James Tamou is now leading the way in the forwards and Jason Taumalolo is probably the form forward of the competition. The injury outlook has also been very good for the Cowboys so far, so they will be full of confidence in the future.

Paul Green will be hoping they can stay strong until State of Origin rips them apart.

Key man: Jason Taumalolo is like a bowling ball, knocking pins over every run.

Stand out: It’s a bit boring, but it has to be Johnathan Thurston.

Storm
10 points

The Storm are playing as expected, just like a 50-over World Cup match: come out hitting hard early, fully expecting to lose wickets during the rep season, and hoping to blaze home in the power plays.

The surprising thing is how well the lesser lights are performing. Jesse Bromwich is the form front rower and Marika Koroibete has been a revelation on the wing (nice work Tigers). Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor and Dale Finucane are a no-fuss back row, and Blake Green looks like a first grader. Will Chambers is even being whispered about for the Anzac Test.

They will make the eight, but let’s see how ragged they are then.

Key man: Craig Bellamy just keeps on doing it, but can the Big Three perform all year for him?

Stand out: Marika Koroibete for me, as his attack from defence is the best in the league.

Broncos
10 points

These guys are the surprise packet of the NRL. They looked horrible in Round 1, but have slowly improved each week since, and more importantly, kept winning.

Sam Thaiday has reacted well to being benched by the Mastercoach, and has led the team since his return. They will be looking forward to Darius Boyd returning mid-season, especially if they lose Justin Hodges to State of Origin. The best thing for the Broncos is that nobody is a real stand out, as everyone is doing their job.

I still have grave doubts about them in rep season, and the ability to cover many injuries. At the moment they are well entrenched in the eight, so good luck to them.

Key man: The jury is still out on Anthony Milford – he has shown glimpses of the good stuff, but not consistently.

Stand out: It’s probably Andrew McCullough. He is ultra-consistent and everybody still falls for his dummy to nobody.

That is the first eight sides. Come back again tomorrow for part 2.