Teams in a slump, sides on the up and the merry go round of next coaches on the chopping block continues after the completion of Round 21.
Firstly, Ray and I would like to stir a bit of controversy by stating watching a Dragons game is on par with watching the marathon at the Olympic Games. 13-10, what a bludger of a game it was on Friday night.
Not since I was offered free tickets to a Knights vs Raiders game at Marathon Stadium in 2005, have I witnessed a more ordinary game of football. The half time score that day was 12-10 and it ended 14-10 with more scrums than a game of rugby in perfect conditions.
The Sharks finally had their winning streak end by the plucky Titans in a great game of football. While it was only three tries a piece, it had all the theatre and played with plenty of aggression. Who would have had the Titans in their top eight at the start of 2016? They are the Leicester of this season’s competition.
Manly are quickly gaining on the faltering pack, with those inside the top eight on a run of losing one game and winning the next creating a real thrilling end in the race for semi-final football.
Only the Storm and Sharks would be guaranteed a top four finish from here, the rest could be at risk of slipping right down the lower end of the eight with plenty of intriguing clashes over the next month.
The Broncos have gone from the penthouse to the outhouse at an alarming rate. Premiership certs only two months ago, now battling to remain in touch. A loss to the Dragons, if the Red V remove the shackles and start attacking, could leave Bennett’s side at risk of missing the eight, however, they do have a fairly easy run home.
So this week the chopping block list includes the following:
James Roberts
With a clash with the man who was let go to replace him at Red Hill, you’d think Robert’s would’ve be motivated to prove his worth to his coach and fans for their faith in chasing his signature.
Alas he was shown up by Dale Copley, a player Ray and I thought had potential but may struggle for 80 minutes.
To say Copley won the contest between the pair by knockout, would be an understatement. Imagine the Titans right now had Roberts decided to stay at Robina. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Bennett’s men miss the eight or come up against the Titans in week one of the finals?
Michael Maguire
It’s now clear Madge has lost the dressing room. Nothing could explain the inept performance from South Sydney on Sunday against a Raiders side who smelt blood in the water from the opening exchanges. You can’t tell me the fallout from Russell’s infamous piss-up at Nana Glen is not a factor.
The side is not playing as a team and is relying on the individual brilliance of the late blooming Cody Walker, who made his first grade debut at the tender age of 26, which proves one of two things: South Sydney’s team selections is currently flawed or the stars of 2014 have seriously lost all form.
Fair to say it’s a combination of both.
Madge can no longer live off the 2014 premiership and needs a strong finish to 2016 to be any hope of keeping his job. Two player sackings in the past month along with a lack in depth doesn’t help, but attitude and discipline needs to remain not just on the field but off it as well.
Onto to the players who stepped up in Round 21:
Shaun Johnson
Copped some flak from Freddy Fittler for not getting his jersey dirty but put in one the better kicking displays from recent memory from a No.7, not unlike a JT or Cronk.
Sure Ray and I have thought he should use his running game a little more but he was the difference in the crucial clash on Saturday night.
He finally put the field goal attempts in the rack – he’d be flat out nailing one 12 out in front with no one in front of him – and took off like the SJ of old. However the Warriors kicking and skills coach should get the chop with the field goal set-ups. You’d think after five golden point games they’d work on it or change their routine.
Issac Luke darting from dummy half five metres out on tackle five almost cost them the game until Kata’s one on one strip allowed for the memorable end to a tight contest.
Johnson is evolving into a better No.7 as the Warriors improved season suggests. Sure they have suffered three losses, but all by golden point and haven’t been beaten in regulation time since Round 11. Having an old pro like Tommy Leuluai by his side also appears to have an influence on his game.
Boyd Cordner
Showed he is the man to lead the NSW Blues after the mediocre end to the Gallen era with a commanding display against a somewhat depleted Broncos pack on Thursday night. Edged Dale Copley for man of the match honours with an outstanding display in both attack and defence.
Ray and I personally rated other back rowers ahead of the lad from Taree but that has changed since his return from injury. It’s no coincidence while the Roosters have still been tasting defeat on his return until last week, the effort, defence and improvement has coincided with his return.
Next season a back row of Wade Graham, Boyd Cordner and Tyson Frizell is a mouth-watering prospect for Blues fans. Expect Greg Bird, Josh Jackson and Trent Merrin instead. Jackson we couldn’t argue with, to appease Dogs fans.
News since Jarryd Hayne’s return that he should be the next skipper is both embarrassing and a bit of a stretch. He needs to oust Mead first on the sunshine strip and show fans he is still the Hayne Plane and not Plain Hayne before the hysteria and predictions for 2017 commence.
Finally we couldn’t dismiss the display of Jordan Rapana against the hapless Rabbits last weekend. If Steven Kearney and his Kiwi selectors opt for the likes of Vatuvei, Nightingale and Kahu on the flanks, they need to have a good hard look at themselves in the mirror.
Sure the odd brain explosion or error can still be part of his game, but the improvement is astonishing from the kid we first sighted at the Gold Coast. He has size, strength, speed and excellent finishing skills that can no longer be ignored.
Time will tell but if the Kiwis are fair dinkum he’d be the first winger picked for the end of season Four Nations. He leads the NRL in line breaks. End of argument.
So there we go NRL fans, give me (and Ray!) your thoughts on Round 21.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Round 8’s NRL was a weekend of domination, with an average win margin of 21 points and some teams seeing their finals hopes really…
"Apologise for my appearance as well, boys - I usually look better than this!"
The season is heading into its middle third and there is a clear separation between seven teams who all look playoff bound and the…
Nicho Hynes has not quite made an undeniable case to be Nathan Cleary’s halves partner for NSW but he should be the first five-eighth…
The Sharks halfback backed it up with a try from a few seconds later, through some more tired Canberra defenders.
There is only one Kalyn Ponga but Newcastle have shown they won’t be shot ducks while their Dally M Medal winner is out with…
