A few teams are switching to finals mode, while NRL Round 22 saw stragglers finally have the curtain close on their finals hopes. Here’s your talking points.
Are we in for a final month of blowouts?
Two teams held to zero points, an average winning margin of 18 points, seven of eight games decided by double figures, half the round decided by at least 20 points (and the Roosters led North Queensland by 20 until the Cowboys scored at the death).
Let’s be honest – while there’s been a few fun games, the last few weeks haven’t been great for those who love a close contest and as more and more teams fall away, tire out, lose interest (looking at you, Manly), send players away for early surgery or put the cue in the rack to save energy for finals, it’s likely we’ll see losing teams get properly worked over in the last three weeks of the regular season.
Reminder: Nothing Penrith does for the next three weeks matters
Yes, they’ve had injuries and suspensions. Yes, they got held to zero by Melbourne at home and went down 16-0. Yes, Liam Martin hurt himself.
But Penrith have one hand and four fingers on the JJ Giltinan shield and they’ll be full strength in the final round and week one of the finals, so don’t fall for the ‘Panthers are vulnerable’ talk that’s going to be around. They’ve done enough this regular season and all they care about is being ready for that first ‘real’ game.
Spoiler alert: Roosters and Bunnies
Writing off the Chooks is an annual thing for rugby league types and not much was expected of South Sydney after Adam Reynolds left for Brisbane, but performances this week showed there might be something in these two that’s capable of challenging the top four sides.
The Bunnies were clinical in moving past the Eels 26-0 and they’ll back themselves to do similar next up against an ever so slightly wobbly Cowboys team, who were thoroughly dismantled on the SCG by the Roosters.
Barring a calamity, the Roosters will play finals. They’ve won five on the trot against opponents increasing in class and were undoubtedly impressive against the second-placed North Queensland.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The question is how much damage they can cause once they get into the finals, and while there hasn’t been consistency at all from either club in 2022, they’re two clubs who are great at pacing their seasons to lift when it matters.
Goodnight, Manly and St George Illawarra
The Sea Eagles and Dragons bow out of finals discussions for 2022 on the back of losses to the Gold Coast and Canberra but let’s be honest with ourselves, they were cooked weeks ago.
Including the ‘pride jersey’ debacle where seven players stood themselves down, Manly have lost three on the trot by 10, 16 and 20, and dropped well out of finals contention. Coach Des Hasler is facing questions about his future and Kieran Foran is going to the Gold Coast next year. Their performance this Sunday was one of a team who have accepted their fate.
As for St George Illawarra, they’ve hung around the mid-table region to the surprise of many and the excitement of few, playing a conservative brand of league that drives fans crazy and isn’t enough to seriously challenge the best of the best.
Hopefully both clubs can show a bit in these last three games to keep the fans engaged.
Did the Dragons get hosed, though?
In short, no. Unlike the scenes in Canberra and St George Illawarra’s first meeting in Round 16 where three clear infringements in the last 10 seconds weren’t penalised, this was a different beast as the clock wound down to 0.
Here’s why: time expired halfway through the tackle on Dragons winger Mathew Feagai by Canberra’s Corey Harawira-Naera, Feagai dropped the ball getting up to play it anyway and referee Adam Gee was in the process of whistling the game complete while Feagai was in the process of losing the ball.
Cool? I’m sure that will take care of any disputes about those last three seconds of the game.
The sun is slowly setting on Canberra
Their hugely unconvincing 24-22 win kept the Raiders with a puncher’s chance of making the eight, in the sense they’re Homer Simpson against Drederick Tatum and Moe Szyslak is firing up his fan and parachute.
Canberra’s three remaining games look soft as sorbent on paper but the Raiders have that happy knack of making what should be straightforward wins incredibly difficult, never mind they’ve got genuine bogey sides Newcastle and Manly to come before a final round against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt.
Even if they win their remaining three games, the Green Machine need the Roosters to lose twice or one of South Sydney, Brisbane or Parramatta to lose thrice. Let’s see how it plays out…
NRLW is back!
Feels like just weeks ago the Roosters beat the Dragons for the title and we’re into it again from Saturday when the Eels and Roosters meet.
It was announced over the weekend the Roosters-St George Illawarra Dragons grand final rematch will be the first game played at the new Allianz Stadium, part of a double-header with the Roosters-South Sydney Round 25 men’s fixture.
Hopefully Fox League realise they can show NRLW games and not punt them to other channels…
Quick hits
– My ‘the Roosters might make the top four’ hot take was frozen solid about an hour into the first game of the round, when it became apparent Melbourne were going to upset Penrith.
– Season 2022 may be a few weeks too long for Parramatta, who have tumbled on their faces and in another season, would be a real risk of missing the eight.
– Gold Coast’s David Fifita scored a belter of a try when their game against Manly was still hot. He’s good for at least one of these a season.
– Finally, rugby league’s worst kept secret was out with 37-year-old Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo confirmed as Canterbury coach on a five-year deal.
– Ciraldo’s new mob got a bit of a reality check in New Zealand, a great win for the Warriors who are feeding off the energy provided by their home fans. It’s great to watch NRL in front of big partisan home crowds, isn’t it?
– Got a quick hit of your own? Whack it in the comments.
To the next
Three rounds to go, and it’s all about the top eight and four position shuffle.
South Sydney’s brutal run to the finals continues when they host Penrith on Thursday. North Queensland welcome New Zealand in Friday’s early game, followed by Brisbane and Melbourne in a game that’s critical to Brisbane’s plans for a home final.
On Saturday Parramatta are in for a fight against Canterbury, Manly need to find something against the Sharks then the Roosters play Wests Tigers.
The round closes out with St George and the Gold Coast, then Canberra head to Newcastle to keep that finals flame a flickerin’.
Don’t forget the NRLW Round 1 games as well – Parramatta take on the reigning premiers the Roosters, St George Illawarra play the Titans and Newcastle welcomes perennial favourites Brisbane.
What did you learn from Round 22, Roarers?
Hondo
Roar Rookie
Parramatta are looking like they will miss out if they get beaten again by the Bulldogs after being thrashed by them a few weeks ago, then face likely losses to The Broncos and Storm which means if Canberra win all three of their games which also appears likely then good bye Eels. for 2022 and with Papali Mahoney and co leaving then a top eight finish for 2023 appears gone for them too.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Not much between Penrith first grade and NSW Cup sides !? The things people can come up with in a cubicle.
Rob
Guest
Of course Lodge is looking good. You get that extra love from officials when you pull on a Roosters jersey. You never have seen that when he was wearing a Warriors jersey.
Rob
Guest
The Cowboys have performed as well on the road as as they have at home. Lucky to beat Manly and Tigers? But unlucky to lose to Dogs and Warriors. It would be interested to know how they really would have gone if 3 players weren’t binned against the Roosters in round 4 and 7 players weren’t rested against the Sharks? In relation to the Roosters meeting the Cowboy’s of a 9 day prep at home compared to Cowboy 6 day (3rd game away) and 48 hours of grief counselling? Do you think 14 points is a true reflection especially given Suallii didn’t get Sin binned for deliberately taking Holmes out in a try scoring position or a front row obstruction let go by the Bunker?
Cam
Roar Rookie
My point is relative to the author's headline "Nothing Penrith does for the next three weeks matters". For mine, these next three weeks are critical to the Panthers success and dropping 3 of their last 4 games leading into the finals will actually matter. It's going to be really important for Penrith to immediately be at their best once their stars come back for the finals, especially if sides like the Storm, Souths, Rabbitohs, Roosters and Sharks all have winning form coming in. Panthers are a great side and this finals series is shaping up as one of the best in years.
JVGO
Guest
Also if we snag second that is a dream run into the GF playing maybe Storm or Cowboys at home and then the week off and fresh. But I suspect the NRL won't be keen on us getting there because of our draw. People are already complaining about it. Gus would storm off the set. Also the soft last month is not really great prep so we might go in not ready. As a fan the first premiership was so hard to get it would be a bit surreal to slide in to a second on the back of such a dream run. But I'd guess we'd take it. Plenty of other times when we were more deserving we got dudded.
JVGO
Guest
I think their draw is largely determined by rivalries. We play generally Saints, Canterbury, Manly, Melbourne, Newcastle, Canberra twice. These are teams we have history and rivalry with. Not only are these teams on a down but we got Wests, Titans, Warriors twice as well so it was a soft draw. I don't think they'll change the first group much but the last three might toughen up. We have often played Cowboys twice recently as well. In fact for years our first game in the season has usually been in Townsville. But if you give the Sharks the tougher teams you're also handing them a harder draw as well.
JVGO
Guest
In fact I said that Newtown were second best and Panthers were easily the best. I agree.
Chris
Guest
No matter what happens this season. The Sharks are guaranteed to get a tough draw next season. Their position on the ladder & many more free to air games for them next season, will surely have them playing a lot more tough regular season games next year. Perhaps many of them in a row . If they do very well this for the rest of this season, lots of rep time for players in the team to handle too. So they really need to make the best of this years easy run. As it won’t happen again next season. Not unless Fitzgibbon’s choosing the draw for them again in 2023?
Panthers
Guest
Jets are only in first place in NSW Cup. As the Panthers have promoted many players from This grade to the first grade squad during the regular season. Especially during SOO time & for several weeks now. To be in second place , is a credit to Penrith. They also gave the Jets a good shellacking twice during the season. This doesn’t mean much for the finals in NSW Cup either. As Penrith will still be missing a lot of their best players in this grade. Still, just thought I’d show you that the Jets aren’t as good as you’d like to think. :thumbup:
Panthers
Guest
The Storm won’t be at full strength, no matter what. Your Penrith scenario, is a what if about injuries? What if, the Storm lose Munster for the finals? What if South’s lose Walker for the finals? What if Cronulla lose Hynes for the finals? What if The Roosters lose Tedesco for the finals? Lots of what if’s! At this point, Penrith will be at full strength come finals time. Doesn’t mean that they’ll play well during the finals. However, the next trip to BlueBet Stadium for the Storm, will be quite a different occasion for them . Up against more than likely a full strength Penrith & a packed in Panthers Crowd. :thumbup:
Panthers
Guest
Those that are suspended, aren’t injured at the Panthers. Luai is already doing the bike training & running again. Martin’s injury isn’t bad, but they’ll allow him another weeks rest. Same with Taylan May. Edwards could have played the last game, but they are resting him. Not sure Penrith can just come back for the finals & be good again? Plus, it’s hard to get back to another GF , after going to the previous two. Then even harder to win two in a row. So that’s most likely not going to happen. Still, if they happened to get there & win it again. That would be the best time by far in the club’s history & something quite special for Penrith supporters.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, for sure. Things are going better than ‘alright’. Looks like maybe third, probably second… great spot to be in
JVGO
Guest
Funnily enough that's exactly what Fitzy says at every press conference, ' We're just trying to get a handle on who we are, what we're about or where we are at etc' So it isn't just you. Most Sharks fans just look at it and think this seems to be going alright, everything seems to be heading in the right direction, but then they usually get the shivers and imagine it all blowing up in some disaster or scandal like it has so many times before. That's being a footy fan though I guess. It's a ride.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Vaguely recall them flogging us without Cleary late last year too. Genius mind games, Ivan.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Feels like I say this each week (probably won’t be long till I’m called a ‘Sharks hater’) but I’m not knocking them… I just really struggling to get a handle on them and have been for some time Their defence has been really good most of the season. Their attack was brilliant in that game against the Storm and an early season game against Manly, but they haven’t really hit those heights since They had two wins against Origin impacted Storm and Cowboys and a good win against Souths. Outside of that, they’ve been getting the job done pretty clinically, but without really shooting the lights out A lot of the top eight side play one another in the lead in to the semis. The Sharks don’t They’re likely to come second and I still don’t really have a handle on where they stand
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
It may, south’s seem to have the wood on eels or eels don’t prime themselves up for it before like the storm and such. Parra need an entire university or two studying them, the psychology dept working out what’s going on. I’m not sure previous games will help them in finals
up in the north
Roar Rookie
They ought to dust the Warriors but Souths on the rise will be a really good challenge. Then of course comes the Penrith game to end the season proper. Frankly I'm happy with their performance this year particularly when you consider how crap they were last season. They're still very green but now they're finally respecting the style Payten wants them to play, I believe the players can see that his way is successful and winning is loads better than losing.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Who knows, Holbrook can't get him to fire.
JVGO
Guest
My assessment as a Sharks fan is that they came out early focused and firing but then dropped off in a lot of concentration and effort areas had a few injuries to key players and leaders and had a few bad losses. The last six weeks or so individual players have clearly started to mature and cut out a lot of their typical mistakes and understand their roles a lot better. Nicho is starting to mature in the halves and as a leader. They have been good in the few key games they have really been up for, Melbourne at full strength early, Penrith full strength...they were within a Cleary drop out of winning that and the radar would have gone haywire, a full strength Souths where they were clearly the better side and Souths needed a ton of stuff to go their way to even be in the game. But they are a young side and not especially ruthless...yet. They can dominate long periods of the game and not really put the points on they should, mainly due to simple errors and immaturity, dumb penalties etc. I'm pretty confident they'll give a really strong account of themselves in September. Having said that injuries to a few real form guys like Katoa, Rudolph and Kennedy could have thrown a spanner in the works of really going next level. But it has given us a chance to blood more Newtown guys who have done well. So swings and roundabouts. The club is building toward something big.