Welcome to the second edition of a Saturday column that will focus on the key events from the Thursday and Friday matches in the NRL.
On the menu this week? The Sharks, Dogs and Broncos.
1. Is the Shire in the mire?
The most logical place to start is Southern Cross Group Stadium, where the Sharkies faithful piled in to hopefully nudge their team over the line after a disappointing loss to the Cowboys in Round 1.
Their opponent, the Dragons, had dusted up the Broncos seven days earlier in a sparkling second-half performance that raised many questions around the Queenslanders’ hopes and halves.
Cronulla played the first 40 minutes like a team coming off a loss and skipped to a 14-nil lead after 28 minutes. I must admit to thinking my tip and belief in a different sort of Dragons team in 2018, was looking shaky.
Nene MacDonald’s try just prior to the break was astonishing and did provide hope, yet surely the Sharks’ superb first-half completion rate would continue when running into the breeze in the second.
After attaining the worst percentage of completions in Round 1 (63 per cent) few thought the Sharks would allow the Dragons back into the contest on the back of their own errors.
Sadly for Cronulla, its completion rate and gameplan appeared to go out the window, as completing a set become something of a rarity.
St George Illawarra did nothing special, other than execute well, wait for mistakes and chip away with two early second-half tries. It was pretty much what Ben Hunt was brought to the club to oversee.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
They showed much-improved poise and polish in attack. A series of late penalty goals saw the Dragons maintain their lead and the supporters walked away somewhat shocked after the promising first-half effort.
In the salary cap era, starting 0-2 hurts and the Sharks have plenty to do. A fact of which coach Shane Flanagan is well aware and something clearly evident in his rather overanalysed yet dramatic walk-off with a minute or so still on the clock.
2. Defence has gone to the Dogs
The Roosters dusted up the Dogs on Friday night at Allianz. No surprise there, with the smart money suggesting the Chooks would be too classy across the park, as the blue and whites still struggle for combinations.
What was alarming for the visitors was the 30 points piled on by the home side after the 36 racked up by Melbourne last week. Much was made of the impotent attack of the Bulldogs last season and there does appear to be greater urgency with the ball and a willingness to shift it earlier.
However, for all the energy and enthusiasm for a return to the Dogs’ culture and the ‘Dogs of war’ spirit that has defined the club for so long, the team has begun as many predicted.
The harsh reality lies in the fact that they are still too predictable in attack and lack explosive pace in the backline.
Kieran Foran has no doubt straightened them up and Moses Mbye is finally enjoying some freedom in his new role at the back, however without sheer pace and potency in the three-quarter personnel, things look like being a struggle.
(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
There is no knee-jerk reaction in these comments. The current squad is a product of the recruitment decisions of the last five years; decisions that were responsible for the gradual decline of the team and the eventual removal of the former coach.
While new mentor Dean Pay appears to be focussing on freeing up the attack, defence must now be his focus, as chasing opposition totals of 30-plus points is not sustainable.
3. Never, ever, ever question Wayne Bennett
Well, he did it again. We have seen it many times over the years. Inspiring underrated packs to lift against the odds, convincing baby Broncos that they could perform the impossible, dominating the Kangaroos when pulling the strings with the Kiwis and even winning St George Illawarra a premiership, Bennett has done the unthinkable many times over.
After a thumping at the hands of the Dragons last week and enormous questions raised about Brisbane’s playmakers by all and sundry, Bennett reached into his 50-odd years of experience and found a way to claim victory in what has become the most anticipated clash during the home-and-away series.
The Broncos and the Cowboys did it again, as they always do, and it was a James Roberts break through the heart of the North Queensland defence that finally busted the game open with just over ten minutes remaining.
As per the script, the Cowboys launched the most stimulating of comebacks and threw everything at the Broncos in the final three minutes. The hit of the season was made by the goal post as the Broncos scrambled to deny a late try to Scott Bolton.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
There was no attempt by the post to wrap the arms around Bolton – expect it to feature in the official review of the match.
The usual suspects were at it for North Queensland. Johnathan Thurston choreographed the late comeback and Jason Taumalolo ate his metres with the usual power; in truth, they had the better of the game early on and very late.
But somehow, in the face of criticism and scepticism, Bennett has found the answer.
Personally, I am happy to be around 1000km away from him right now, as he might just throw a Big League program at last week’s critics. Many years ago, after bad press around Tonie Carroll, Bennett sought his revenge in that way and may do something similar tonight in defence of his halves.
Even if the Broncos are in for a season of struggle without real polish in the spine, tonight was Wayne Bennett’s to enjoy to the tune of 24-20.
Griffo
Guest
I dunno Barry, I look at it a bit differently. Put the ball on the ground 50cm out from the line and you get nothing, put it on the ground 50cm over the line and get a try. Risk and reward. If you get it right you get a reward if not then the penalty (figuratively) is greater. I have more of a problem with how it affects the defending team. Much better to knock on in your own in goal than a metre out. You get to take a drop out, making them have to run it back before they can attack your goal line and you have the albeit slim possibility of getting the ball back. Or you face a scrum 10 out with the feed against you.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That rule is a shocker. Knock on 50cm out from the line and it’s a scrum / handover ten metres out. Knock on 50cm over the line and it’s a 20 metre restart and seven tackles. It’s completely inconsistent. The rule was created to stop players kicking the ball dead, not for this.
DP Schaefer
Guest
Chris, I join you on the Tigers prediction. Actually had them as spooners at the start of the comp given their first 5 weeks. Warriors looking good, might challenge for the 8. See how Raiders go today. They should win and finish season 10 -12th ish. Your call was generally good, Dogs looking awful, new spoon favourites ahead of Rabbitohs.
DP Schaefer
Guest
BWa ha ha ha ahaa... my thoughts exactly
Chris Love
Guest
I copped some stick for my article predicting the Rabbits, Tigers, Warriors, Raiders and Bulldogs would end up as the last 5. While the Tigers and Warriors are making me look foolish early on, both displaying two cracking performances it was the Rabbits, Raiders and Bulldogs prediction I copped the criticism. Right now Dogs and a Rabbits are 0-2 I wonder what we’ll get from Canberra?
Nico
Guest
Jamayne Isaako came up with some big plays last night looking very confident under the high ball, keen to see how he develops with Kahu out. Can't say I'm a big fan of the rule that says an attacking team knocking on in goal results in a 7 tackle set for the opposition ie. Oates's disallowed sideline effort in the second half, it's basically punishing teams for enterprising play. 10m play the ball to the defending side would seem somewhat fairer
Peter
Guest
There's always at least one. Are you saying that one of the two referees deliberately ruled incorrectly to ensure an outcome? How are you on jet contrails being government mind-control drugs? Oh, and would have been 18th man. :-)
Griffo
Guest
I'd be worried about what article you're posting on
Griffo
Guest
I actually don't have too much of an issue with the way the refs officiated last night generally. There were a couple of dubious strip/lost ball calls but they're always a grey area. We lost because we couldn't defend well enough and certain players made poor decisions in particular moments, ergo not good enough. To not be able to keep the tackle is also not good enough. It's such a basic and fundamental part of the game. As I said, it wasn't a one off, it was successive sets.
Emcie
Roar Guru
you can strip the ball in the act of trying to save a try
Beavis
Guest
So its OK to strip the ball from a player when there are 2 in the tackle when the ball carrier is in the act of scoring a try? I cant find that in the rules - it happened to a Broncos player last night - Pangai?
Rellum
Roar Guru
What we learned is we can’t be writing off any side after round one. Surely people should have learnt that eons ago.
Jarryd
Guest
Can you read? He's blatantly said the refs stuffed the tackle count for both sides in consecutive sets. No bias, no rose tinted glasses just ineptitude.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Geez you wouldn't want Wayne Bennett around for Christmas lunch.
Kangajets
Guest
I always thought the broncos at home had 14 players on the field, little did I know that the goal post would make their best tackle , and devita pangi ooked sensational.
Rhys Bosley
Guest
I’d be more worried about the 60kg weight deficit to the Rebels pack than whether Izzy plays fullback or wing, but anyway ...
JVGO
Guest
Dude you got an outrageous amount of the rub of the green the week before and in the finals last year and were happy to take it. Of course you only whinge when it goes against you. Honestly what happened last night was nothing in comparison to what went your way in the last couple of games against the Sharks. But of course it couldn't be repeated two weeks in a row because the everyone sees it on the TV, it has to be selectively managed.
RM
Guest
Yeah I noticed that one as well, and had the same thought when they called the next set for the Broncos one short - the refs were trying to even up one mistake with another. Great game of footy though. Watched the Chooks-Dogs game beforehand and I have some grave fears for the Dogs' season. I know it's only round 2 and if last night proved anything it is that it is foolish to write teams off so early in the season, but this is two weeks in a row they've leaked points badly. Mbye's move to fullback looks like it will pay off well and Lichaa is looking far more dangerous at 9 than under Hasler - but something has happened to the Dogs' defense and they need to sort it out fast.
Roberto
Guest
"..in truth, North Queensland had the better of the game early on and very late." You are a sports writer are you? Tevita Pangai Jr and Anthony Milford are the names you are searching for, they outplayed your media darlings JT1 and JT2. Cows 14th man, Cummings making sure it wasn't a blowout for his visiting side.
Griffo
Guest
I'm usually not one to complain about the referees and I understand they won't get evrything right but I would have thought that the ability keep count of tackles would have to be a non-negotiable attribute. Last night in the Queensland Derby, after Tevita Pangai Junior was denied a try late in the second half, North Queensland was awarded a 20m restart, with 7 tackles. After taking six of those tackles with the count at 5, they were ordered to hand over the ball to Brisbane, denying them a final tackle to the set. Perhaps there was a subconscious acknowledgement of error on the referees part, because on the following set, Brisbane were told last tackle after the 4th tackle was completed, a subconscious even up? They had to rush a kick to clear the ball from their own end. Very occasionally a referee loses count of the tackles but for it to happen twice in a row suggests that one or both of the referees hasn't/haven't got their head/heads in the right place.