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Last weekend’s series of thrashings in the NRL had more to do with finals-bound teams flexing their muscles than a wider issue with the game, according to league officials.
Statistics shown by NRL head of football Graham Annesley at his weekly media briefing suggest games are generally tighter than they were last year, when a rash of gaping margins were panned by fans for making matches unenjoyable to watch.
The average winning margin for round 23 was 32.25 points, making it the most lopsided weekend in the NRL era.
The Sydney Roosters’ 72-6 mauling of Wests Tigers, Melbourne’s 60-12 pummelling of Brisbane, and easy wins for Cronulla and Parramatta contributed to the round’s one-sided nature.
Statistically though, data from the NRL shows the average margin for the year to date is 16 points, two points lower than last year’s average (18) and close to the 15.1 of 2020.
(Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Games are also staying closer for longer, with the average margin at the 65th minute mark for 2022 at 11.8 points, well below last year’s 16.3.
“We’re seeing more points scored, you will see margins get wider as that happen,” Annesley said.
“But if you look at the length of time that games are competitive before they really start to blow out, beyond that point where a team can’t really drag it back … this year at 65 minutes, on average, teams are still within that two converted tries, which in 15 minutes is very much doable if you’re trying to get back into a game and win a game.
“Now of course, that’s an average and that’s across a whole season. So there’ll be close games and there’ll be other games that aren’t as close but it is a good indicator of the competitiveness of games across the board.”
Annesley suggested last weekend’s results were indicative of a draw pitting several high-ranking teams against sides out of finals contention.
The match between first-placed Penrith and seventh-placed South Sydney on Thursday supports that argument, with the Panthers winning by just four points.
In games featuring teams relatively close together on the ladder, Canberra beat Newcastle by six points, while Gold Coast only trailed St George Illawarra by four with 15 minutes to play before three late Dragons tries blew the final margin out to 20.
“Some of the teams that are in the eight and are going to be playing finals football, they really put their foot on the gas and they tried to send a message to the other teams in the competition that they’re in form, playing well and they’re going to be threat in the final series,” Annesley said.
“We saw a number of those clubs that will definitely be in the eight step up and kick into overdrive across the course of the weekend. That’s contributed to some of those score lines.”
Wests Tigers captain James Tamou will front the NRL judiciary in a bid to play again this season after being charged for his verbal attack on referee Ben Cummins.
Tamou was sin-binned for dissent late in the Sydney Roosters’ 72-6 thrashing of the Tigers but had his penalty upgraded to a send-off for calling Cummins “f****** incompetent” as he left the field.
The match review committe handed Tamou a grade-three contrary conduct charge and, while he has pleaded guilty to contrary conduct, he will seek to have his ban downgraded from two matches to one on Tuesday night.
Accepting the two-match ban could have spelt the end of Tamou’s NRL career, given he is uncontracted for 2023 and will be 34 by the time the new season begins.
If successful in securing a downgrade, Tamou could play in the last-placed Tigers’ final match of their season against Canberra.
James Tamou of the Tigers speaks with the referee. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Tamou’s counsel appears likely to use his post-match apology to Cummins as grounds for a downgrading.
NRL captains are not required to attend post-match press conferences but a crestfallen Tamou fronted the media to take responsibility for his actions on Saturday night.
“I’ve let everyone down. I’ve let myself down. I’m embarrassed,” he told reporters.
“I’ve got four kids at home and that’s how they’re going to see that their dad acts.”
While he is currently in talks to extend his career by at least another year, the premiership-winning prop conceded post-match that the sledge may have ended his career.
“I didn’t think of that until someone just mentioned it. My heart dropped,” he said.
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St George Illawarra are set to lose two more players for the rest of their NRL season after the match review committee charged Francis Molo and Moses Mbye with illegal tackles made against Gold Coast.
Molo became the first Dragons player to be sent off this season when he hit Titans back Patrick Herbert with a high tackle as he ran the ball back from a kick-off.
The hit required Herbert to leave the field late in the second half but Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said at first glance he didn’t feel it warranted a send off. “I was surprised, but I’d have to have another look at it,” Griffin said post match.
Molo has copped a grade-three careless high tackle charge, which would normally carry a three-match ban with an early guilty plea.
But given the prop is a repeat offender, he will sit four games out, or five if he unsuccessfully fights his charge at the judiciary.
Mbye was permitted to remain on the field and was not penalised despite hitting Phillip Sami with what the match review committee has deemed a grade-two careless high tackle.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook was surprised Mbye escaped scrutiny on-field after the tackle, which occurred early in the game. “I don’t want to comment on the send off,” he said. “I’m more worried about not getting a penalty on the first or second tackle of the game.”
Mbye can accept a two-match ban, or risk having his ban upgraded to three by challenging his charge. Mbye was already looking a chance to miss game time with a hamstring injury that required him to leave the field midway through the first half.
Molo and Mbye are set to join teammate Tariq Sims in being suspended for the final fortnight of the season. Melbourne-bound Sims has been rubbed out since hitting Cronulla’s Connor Tracey high in round 21.
Dragons forward Josh McGuire was handed a grade one dangerous contact charge after the Titans game but can escape suspension with a $1000 fine.
North Queensland’s hopes of hanging onto second spot have copped a low blow with playmaker Tom Dearden until the finals after needing surgery to repair a ruptured testicle.
Dearden suffered the painful injury in the 48-4 rout of the Warriors in Townsville on Friday night and will not feature in this Saturday’s crucial clash with Souths at Accor Stadium or the final-round fixture against premiers Penrith.
The Cowboys need to win both games to ensure they host their opening playoff game by finishing second ahead of the fast-finishing Sharks and Storm.
Dearden, who made his debut for Queensland in Origin III, is no certainty to be right for the first week of the finals although the club is hopeful he will be able to return in Round 25 against the Panthers.
His absence means Scott Drinkwater will likely revert to the halves alongside Chad Townsend with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow earning a call-up from the interchange at fullback.
The Rabbitohs are set to receive a boost for their showdown with the Cowboys with Tom Burgess (groin) and Kodi Nikorima (hamstring) likely to be available.
Seventh-placed Souths could still drop out of the finals if they can’t beat the Cowboys or Roosters in the closing rounds.
Brisbane’s chances of qualifying for the finals hinge on Thursday’s home clash with Parramatta and they are sweating on the fitness of second-rower Kurt Capewell, who limped off with an ankle injury in the heavy loss to Melbourne on Friday.
Canberra hooker Tom Starling has declared his teammate Joe Tapine the best forward in the NRL after the prop helped to set up the try that kept their season alive.
The Raiders and Newcastle were locked up at 22 points apiece in the final 10 minutes on Sunday when Josh Papalii broke the line and connected with Tapine.
Still with work to do, Tapine ducked around Anthony Milford and drew in two defenders before lobbing an overarm pass to Jack Wighton, who dived over to score.
The crucial try assist allowed the Raiders to stretch out to a six-point lead that ultimately sealed victory and kept them in touch with the top eight approaching the last fortnight of the regular season.
Tapine is having just as impressive a year on the stats sheet: he is ranked in the top three among props for offloads and tackle busts and has run for more metres than any front-rower this season, adding 175 more to his tally on Sunday.
“He’s the best forward in the comp at the moment,” Starling said after the Raiders’ 28-22 win. “I don’t think anyone can argue with that. He’s had a hell of a season and he’s only going to keep getting better.”
Tapine missed his first game of the season in round 22 after suffering a rib injury the week prior.
As the Raiders’ finals hopes hung in the balance, Tapine left the field in visible discomfort against Penrith.
“The first three days I was in a bit of pain and I ruled myself out for three weeks,” Tapine said with a laugh. “But I came good after a week, so I’m happy.”
The Raiders will be glad he did; the Penrith pack monstered Canberra’s after Tapine left the field but in his first game back against Newcastle, the script was flipped.
Tapine said his form had come on the back of growing up and taking a different approach to his work.
“I’ve matured a bit,” he said. “I think I’m a bit more professional (with) everything in the week: prep, training, diet, everything that goes into being a footy player.
“It’s a lot of things combined, I can’t put it down to one thing. I’m happy with my performance and I’ve got to keep growing.”
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