What a tremendous comeback to the NRL by Jarryd Hayne for the Gold Coast and what a fabulous win by Wests Tigers over North Queensland. I can’t split the two for quality, so I’ll give each a nine out of 10.
Yes, Hayne’s Titans team didn’t win, and he did make a big mistake with an intercept pass that eventually led to a Warriors try, but when you look at his performance in context it can only be described as extraordinary.
Hayne hadn’t played league since 2014, having spent last year in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers before this year’s failed attempt to break into the Fiji Sevens team for the Rio Olympics.
His signing with Gold Coast was only announced on Wednesday and he was able to get just a couple of training sessions in with his new teammates before starting off the bench at Cbus Stadium on Sunday.
Hayne’s backside should have been dragging, considering the minimal amount of playing time he has had in any code of football this year, but he is an incredible athlete.
He made an impact almost immediately he came off the bench at centre, with a phenomenal try-saving tackle in which he stopped a charging Bodene Thompson one metre out from the line.
And it continued from there, with Hayne’s involvement increasing once he was moved into the halves. There was some great passing, pin-point kicking, brilliant catching and clever running from him.
The intercept pass he threw was unfortunate, but all things taken into consideration it was amazing how great an impact he was able to have.
It would have made more much sense for a player, under the circumstances, to have been more hesitant and to take a bit longer to get involved – and to not try so many things.
But it was Jarryd Hayne. He has never lacked confidence. He has got stacks of self-belief.
The Titans were beaten 24-14, and lost their place in the top eight as a result, but they may well be back in there for the finals. Hayne is going to give them a big push in that direction.
As if the Titans-Warriors match wasn’t interesting enough, the Tigers-Cowboys game that followed was equally engrossing.
Mitchell Moses is going from strength to strength every week for the Tigers at the moment. His level of involvement, with regular halves partner Luke Brooks out injured, has shot through the roof. He has taken on an enormous amount of responsibility and is clearly thriving on it.
Are there still people out there claiming Robbie Farah should be in the Tigers’ team? I’m not saying the whole saga has been handled well by the people involved, but the decision to leave Farah out of the team recently has already been proven to be the right one.
Moses is now running the show. He gets the ball whenever he wants it. Tigers coach Jason Taylor wanted a functional hooker and he has now got that, whether it’s Dene Halatau at dummy-half or Jordan Rankin.
But it’s not like Halatau and Rankin aren’t allowed to run from dummy-half. They are, and they did at times yesterday. But when they run it’s at pace, with the aim of gaining valuable metres. It’s not about ambling out of dummy-half and then passing the ball to a receiver when the space between him and the advancing defence has already been significantly reduced.
Moses has been criticised for his defence, but he was great in that area against the Cowboys as well. He made some important tackles.
The Tigers won 26-14. It was their best performance in the two seasons Taylor has been coach and it put them in the top eight pending the result of tonight’s game between Penrith and Sydney Roosters.
Moses is obviously a huge part of the future at the Tigers and if they can make the finals this year it should significantly increase the chances of the club re-signing Moses, Brooks and fullback James Tedesco, who are all off contract at the end of next season.
That’s what these young players want, they want to know their team is capable of playing finals football.
Probably only two teams out of the Warriors, Wests Tigers, Gold Coast and Penrith will make the top eight. It’s going to be fascinating to see which ones survive the last four rounds.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Fair enough too.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Probably a weak one too.
McNaulty
Guest
In my opinion Hayne is the best blind side ball player in the game. His cut out passes to wingers are something to behold. He put the titans away twice in the last 5 minutes this way. They need to work on that combo but it will be an asset for them coming towards the end of the season.
Norad
Guest
The referee could have avoided Hayne if he was looking where he was going. So shouldn't the referee get a week suspension?
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's not quite what the NRL has said. Theyve said that there is avoidable and unavoidable contact. Frizell's was deemed avoidable - ie he put his hand up to touch the ref while Hayne's and Tedesco's were deemed unavoidable - ie the ref was as responsible as they were for the contact, a genuine accident. There will always be an element of subjectivity as to what's avoidable v unavoidable but I'm pretty comfortable with that definition. Intent doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if it's friendly, aggressive, incidental if it was avoidable then you get suspended.
John
Guest
I would say NRL would like to milk this PR puppy for all it's worth then. In fact they would be terribly remiss if they didn't.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Wasn't surprised by Haynes performance. If he had come from NFL directly to NRL he would have struggled but having been through a Fiji 7s training regime he would be ready for NRL. It is brutal and they do a lot of running and fitness work. Also the skill level is really high, passing, kicking etc at high speed and a lot of long passing and hitting holes. If he had played the full game he would have struggled at the back end because of the contact and wresting but Henry played it perfectly having him off the bench. That said was very disappointed with the Titans but then again they did have a short turnaround after a 90 min performance against the Sharks so was expected. I thought that the Hayne media circus distracted from what was a essential win game between the two teams to make the 8 which hardly seemed to rate a mention.
Jacko
Guest
Yet they very clearly stated after Frizells suspension that intent has nothing to do with it and ANY contact with the ref is a week off. Now the circumstances make a difference? Inconsistant and bias. Did anyone think the rule would be enforced against Hayne> Charlie Gubb would have got 4 weeks
Kingcowboy
Guest
Seriously Jacko if you can't see the difference between what the Hayne did and Frizzell, something is wrong with you. Consistency is never going to happen as know two incidents are ever the same. Stop complaing and enjoy the footy, everything doesn't have to be a drama buddy!
Jacko
Guest
Just shows the bias and inconsistency if he has been cleared.
Jacko
Guest
Im really not sure what you guys want. I think Farah is in the best 17 at the club and should start, and I also think that Taylor is a D..head and should be sacked for the third time in his 3 club coaching career but if you think I should write it down in every article about league then you are full of it. I also think that Crappy should not be the Warriors coach ( as I state above when someone said "you dont here his detractors now they are winning") well my opinion has not changed and if you like to change your viewpoint after every game thats up to you but I like to stick to my opinion until I am convinced otherwise by consistent changes in results not just a couple of good games. JT (as in thurston) didnt win the game for the Cowboys so is he now a useless player? I dont think so but if he never wins another game and plays crap for the next 15 mths then I will change my opinion. Just not overnight like you guys seem to think should happen about Crappy and Farah
Jacko
Guest
They can win the whole comp and I will still want Crappy out of there. He has made bad selections and couldnt coach Hurrell to get the best from him like the Titans coach so quickly has and if he was such a brilliant coach, why didnt this same team go well last year. He had them all year didnt he?
Parrafan
Guest
Nine will be livid that they don't have any titans games before the end of regular season. They need Titans to make the finals to even have a shot of televising Titans matches this year.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Des likes timing his run late but I'd like to go into a semi finals series with a bit more form on the board for a change. 2012 we were minor premiers but since then it's been pretty pedestrian. In 2013 we limped in and were knocked out by the Knights. 2014 (the year you refer to) we limped in, flogged the Storm in Melbourne and then beat Manly and the Panthers to make the GF. Last year we limped in on the back of some pretty tame late season form, barely survived against the 8th placed Dragons and then pounded by the Roosters. I'm all for a late season charge but you need runs on the board before the semis. It's too big an ask for your team to go into the semis out of form, turn it around within a week and then win four games on the trot against the best teams in the comp. Having said that we're coming fourth without having hit our straps all year so if we do get it together we will be right in it.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
We'll get there TB,remember a few years back we lost to the Titans in the last round before the finals & everyone said we'd be cannon fodder-Well I'm hoping we're just starting to build at the right time & I reckon we will mate.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Definitely a big game JB. At home, playing for the top 4 - no excuses. I'd like to see us making statements v the Broncs and Manly before then though...
The Barry
Roar Guru
I dont think the Dogs will have many of the top 4 / top 8 quaking in their boots after Saturday's game but the ball is in their court. Keep winning and they finish top 4. The Raiders can afford to lose against the Storm next week and still be in the top 4. Then they have 'should win' games against Manly and Parra before playing away against the Tigers in round 26. That could be a big one with perhaps the Raiders needing to win to lock up the top 4 and the Tigers playing for a top 8 spot. Broncos are now entering must win territory to make the 8, so every game with Broncs, Panthers, Tigers, Warriors, Titans will have so much on the line... Can't wait.
Kingcowboy
Guest
NRL takes over the draw and schedule next year.
John
Guest
I wonder if Hayne being in Titans will mean they will feature in more FTA games? Prediction for 2017 more Friday night games for Titans if Nine wants to milk this puppy for all it's worth.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
That will be the game where we make our statement TB-can't wait for a shot at redemption after what happened a few weeks ago.