Eight talking points from NRL Round 11

More controversy around the sin bin crackdown has come out of Round 11, but we have also had a huge upset and some intriguing rugby league. Here are my NRL talking points from the weekend that was.

The NRL is about to face a milking epidemic – here is how to fix it
The seeds have been sown this weekend. Will Chambers and Jarrod Wallace are the two who spring to mind immediately receiving minimal contact, where normally you’d get up, play the ball and get on with it.

Even if you stayed down in the past, the most you’d cop was a penalty if it was deemed reportable.

We aren’t in that version of the NRL anymore. Instead, it’s sin bins, send-offs and harsh punishments. So when the duo hung around on the ground this weekend, Paul Vaughan and Dylan Napa respectively were given their marching orders.

I get it. Players have been trying to take every advantage they could since 1908. But if you’re going to be serious about player safety and want fans to take it seriously, then this could turn into a bad look for the game.

But there is a way to fix it – mandatory head injury assessment checks.

If you get hit, and the offending player gets sent to the sin bin, it means direct or forceful contact has been made to the head. If the league are serious about protecting the head and neck, which is the only reason for this crackdown, then the player who has been hit should also be forced off for a HIA.

It’s not rocket science, but it will stop players staying down if there isn’t a genuine problem. Now, I’m not saying certain hits should have a blind eye turned to them, but if the referee doesn’t pick it up, we can’t go back to the old days of bunkers blowing penalties for the on-field referees.

It’s a small change that could save the NRL a lot of headaches – literally and figuratively.

Victor Radley is sent to the sin bin. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Week-to-week consistency has gone out the window again
Three send offs last week, and if that was the baseline they were going to work off for the rest of the year, everyone just about could have shaken hands and gotten on with it, content that players were being safeguarded in the head and neck region.

But the hits of Josh Papalii, Tyrell Fuimaono and Herman Ese’ese last week were well and truly matched this week by Victor Radley, Josh Dugan and Jason Taumalolo, and yet, none of those players found themselves red-carded.

The fact Radley could get away with four reportable offences and two sin bins, yet still finish the game on-field, was baffling. In the same game, Joseph Manu didn’t find the sin bin for a pair of reportable offences within five minutes.

Comparisons were made to the Matt Lodge hit just minutes later which did get him binned, but that contact was direct and forceful, so it’s maybe not the best example.

But there is no doubt Josh Dugan’s hit on Friday night matched those sent to the bin last week, while Radley’s both saw him off the ground and launching into the tackle which made high contact, yet he didn’t have to pay the long penalty.

Consistency in this area can be hard because it’s subjective, but the NRL must do a better job than what was dished up this weekend.

The Rabbitohs are pretenders
As if one 50-point beatdown wasn’t bad enough against competition heavyweights, the South Sydney Rabbitohs went and did it again on Sunday.

The final scoreline pretty much sums up the Panthers’ dominance as they put a broom through the Rabbitohs defence right across the park.

Billed as the best Sunday of rugby league for the year and a treat for the locals at Dubbo, the Panthers were far too good, continuing their unrelenting run at the top of the table.

Penrith deserve a mountain of credit for the way they are keeping themselves motivated and playing attacking footy, but the Rabbitohs have more questions than answers at the moment, their defence or lack thereof again the major topic.

They might have had players out, but it’s no excuse to lose that heavily, particularly when it’s the second time in a matter of weeks.

The Raiders fade out… again
Not that playing the Storm is supposed to be easy – and it’s been even less so for Canberra given their atrocious record against them – but the situation couldn’t have been better on Saturday night.

No Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster or Harry Grant meant Melbourne were missing their entire first-choice spine, and it showed early as the green machine raced out to a 10-0 lead.

Then, just like they have done over and over again this year, they fell asleep, became leaky in defence, poor with their discipline in attack and threw the game away.

So bad was it, the Raiders wouldn’t score another point as they leaked 34 to be wiped off the floor.

We know Craig Bellamy is a master coach, and the Melbourne structure seems to work no matter who is missing, but with the early lead, the Raiders should not have been beaten, and certainly not as badly as they were.

It was an embarrassing performance, their sixth loss from their last seven games, and while they are only two points out of the top eight, they sit 11th among a host of mediocre teams, and their chances of making the top four appear almost gone. Even their top eight hopes require a major form and attitude reversal in the coming weeks.

Moeaki Fotuaika must be picked by Queensland
One forward who constantly gets overlooked when talking about the best is Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika.

For some years now, Fotuaika has been one of the mainstays on the Gold Coast, and was rewarded with an Origin debut last year. That should turn into more action this year.

With Josh Papalii to miss Game 1, Queensland still have a rip-roaring forward pack who, on paper, may match up well with the Blues, but Fotuaika is one player who can make sure the Maroons carry that advantage.

While he has spent much of the year playing from the bench, Fotutaika was instrumental in his starting gig against the Bulldogs on Saturday, running 188 metres from 15 runs. He was critical every time he touched the ball, coming up with a try assist, a line break and ten tackle busts, while he also had 2 offloads and 39 tackles at very high efficiency.

He might have had his best game of the year, but that’s not to say any other performances have been poor, with the Titans’ prop making 140 metres per contest, to go with 18 tackle busts and 16 offloads from his first ten games before today’s numbers.

In short, he is dangerous, and Queensland must find a spot for him.

Josh Schuster is living up to his potential
Given the stunning influence of Tom Trbojevic, it’s hardly a surprise many other Manly players are almost forgotten.

But one who is putting his name in lights is rookie Josh Schuster. The second-rower who can also play in the halves was parachuted into the Manly side during their injury crisis and has played excellently – but also consistently – to cement his spot in a full-strength 13.

Josh Schuster of the Sea Eagles makes a break. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Manly’s left side attack was the key to their excellent victory over Parramatta on Sunday afternoon, with Schuster instrumental in just about everything Des Hasler’s side did.

But then, anyone watching Manly closely wouldn’t be overly surprised. Schuster has taken to first grade without a problem after playing a single game last year.

He is well and truly in the running to win rookie of the year and may be the current favourite, with some even throwing his name around as an Origin bolter.

While I think that would be one step too far, there can be no denying he has done everything asked of him and more in attack, while also holding his own in defence, and it’s critical for Manly’s top eight charge that he continues to do just that.

What does beating the Roosters mean for the Broncos?
The biggest shock of the weekend came in the shape of a Brisbane win over the Roosters.

Originally massive outsiders, the Broncos put in a performance which their fans can be proud of, potentially paving the way for a turnaround at the club.

They did spend a chunk of the game playing 12, but given they lost Matt Lodge down the stretch, their defence held together to keep their lead, where in past weeks, it would have almost undoubtedly crumbled, particularly against a team like the Roosters.

In truth, the Broncos have inconsistently turned a corner for some time now. I say inconsistently because there are still results like the 50-point drubbing at the hands of Manly during Magic Round. Given they were competitive against Penrith and North Queensland, while also beating the Gold Coast, they are certainly in a better spot now than they were at the back-end of last year.

It’s clear Albert Kelly will have a prolonged run in the top grade, while the forwards need to continue to play with the intent and consistency they did on Saturday if Brisbane are to start making this a consistent turnaround.

Of course, running into an off-colour Roosters makes things easier, but it was a great win for the Broncos which will leave Trent Robinson scratching his head over what team to roll out next week for the hapless Raiders.

The Sharks must keep Connor Tracey in their starting 13
The Sharks and Dragons played out something of a bludger on Friday night, with neither team attacking all that well, the Dragons heavily reduced in numbers due to injuries throughout the game and both teams proving why the top eight might be a stretch too far.

Cronulla ended up winning, although, playing 14 for a large chunk, should have been streets ahead of where they were.

The one bright spot from the game was the continued improvement of Connor Tracey. The utility back has turned into Cronulla’s Mr Fix It, playing at centre and wing, as well as off the bench this year, while he played other positions last year.

Connor Tracey scores a try. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

He provided a real spark for the Sharks on Friday, topping their running metres, and while players returning from injury will put his spot into question, it really shouldn’t. There is a possibility he gets moved away from the wing, but he has well and truly made it clear through performance that he must have a spot in the Sharks starting team.

Roarers, what did you make of Round 11? Drop a comment below and let us know.