The big teams are making some moves, injuries are having a massive influence and is there an echo in here? The Round 7 NRL midweek talking points are here!
We regret to inform… The Storm are back
After being run down by the Gold Coast in week two ‘we’ were once again wavering along the annual Melbourne Storm write-off. Big-time injuries and suspensions to key players were working with the march of time to supposedly bring Craig Bellamy’s charges to their knees after decades of sustained excellence.
But it’s always, always too early to say the team from the southern capital can be laid to rest as a premiership threat. They handled the highly fancied Roosters pretty easily in their 28-8 Thursday night win, keeping the Chooks scoreless for the last hour.
With Penrith starting to wake up and bludgeon their opponents, we need someone who can step up as a challenger. Although it’s very early, if the Storm can stay fit there’s no reason why they can’t be the number one contender.
Why does the draw do this?
Last week was the second time St George Illawarra had played the Gold Coast in five weeks and the second time New Zealand had faced Newcastle in six weeks.
This week’s New Zealand v North Queensland game is the second time these teams have played in five weeks.
Four of South Sydney’s first ten games are against Penrith and Melbourne.
The reintroduction of the bye, made necessary by the addition of The Dolphins has mixed things up things even more.
Maybe it’s time for the NRL to have a proper rethink about how to put a season together.
Jack Bird. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Has Victor Radley become a Roosters liability?
Remember the 2021 Magic Round crackdown when Roosters forward Victor Radley was sinbinned twice in the same game against the Broncos, while being penalised repeatedly for playing the way he usually does?
There was much talk about how ‘Victor the inflictor’ would have to change his ways to stay on the field but things don’t seem to have sunk in. Radley’s talent is undeniable but the balance between his impact on the play and his impact on the player is way out of whack.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson rightly called Radley out after his latest unnecessary shot let the Storm seize control of what had been an even contest early on in last Thursday’s game.
Radley signed a contract extension in February and will be with the Chooks until the end of 2027. They knew what they were getting, but is it too late to reign him in?
Good games this week
Week seven throws up a few reasonable matchups, starting Thursday as South Sydney head to Brisbane to play The Dolphins.
After putting 50 on the Bulldogs, Souths would be feeling good but their former mentor Wayne Bennett is doing some really good things early in the year with the NRL’s newest club.
Friday’s games are two belters, with Cronulla and the Roosters playing at 6pm for some reason in a game both teams need to win, followed by the ever-present Storm heading to Brookvale to mess Manly up a little more.
Saturday’s triple header holds some interest as the Warriors host the stuttery, wobbling Cowboys, and then Newcastle’s resolve will face the ultimate examination from Penrith before the Broncos and Titans play the nightcap on the Gold Coast.
Last week your talking points highlighted a crossroads for the Raiders, and they made a statement by turning around some bad form to beat Brisbane 20-14. Their challenge now is not to waste their effort in an eminently winnable Sunday game against the Dragons.
Round seven concludes with Parramatta looking to continue their climb from the gutter to the finals spots by beating Canterbury, who are miles ahead of where they were last year but still very much a work in progress. It’s hardly a gimme for the Eels, but if they’re serious about making something of themselves this is a game to win.
David Fifita. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Round seven random thoughts
– For all their problems the Wests Tigers keep having a crack, but how much more bad luck can they withstand? The season-ending ACL injury to five-eighth Adam Doueihi is the latest kick to the groin for Tim Sheens and co. but at least they get some respite with the bye this week.
– This year has seen a massive injury count with many teams missing key players. There was another ACL injury last week to Knights captain Jayden Brailey, his third long-term leg injury in four seasons and a big blow to a team already dealing with injury problems.
– Manly aren’t the first to be dusted by Penrith and they won’t be the last, but supporters are starting to juuuuust worry a little about what’s in store this year.
– Canberra’s Jordan Rapana was at the centre of debate after being hit high by Brisbane’s Marty Taupau, but did Fox League really need to keep showing the aftermath as blood poured from the clearly dazed winger’s head?
– Season 2023 sees crowds returning to rugby league with a vengeance – average crowds are up and so are the aggregates, which is great to see.
What’s got you talking ahead of round seven, Roarers?
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
yep, typed in a hurry and realised when I looked back I'd called you Bruce not Geoff; I'm blaming the two first names in your handle rather than posting after a few glasses of port :silly: . And I am quite prepared to admit my game knowledge is not encyclopedic - NRL has grown slowly on me year on year, from being something I barely noticed to now taking up rather too much of my weekend :laughing: Hope you enjoyed the finals last year, but this year I don't think we see your mob until the end of the year? I can hardly wait, we'll have your number this year :happy:
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Don't apologise - the Raiders had the golden period - which can never be denied. And I still get the enjoyment of watching the Raiders smash the Storm in Melbourne each year. And if you had any NRL knowledge you would realise that the stadium used for NRL and rugby in Canberra used to be called Bruce Stadium - which locals often still refer it as. Regards Geoff.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
I'll buy into your method Sporacle. As under the current state, I find it a bit silly when you have Souths having to play Storm and Penrith twice in the space of weeks. Not sure if such a potential for lopsided, bias exists in any sporting comp in the world.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
What happens if a player who has signed with another club a year out suffers a major injury playing for their current club? How is this usually covered in contracts if they miss a bunch of games for their new club? For example if Kikau had suffered a major injury in the 2022 grand final, or at the world cup and missed half the current season for Canterbury? Who would pay the freight on his medical treatment, rehab and wages in that situation? Looking at the range and number of serious injuries in 2023 i wonder if rugby Australia has concern about signing Suualii two years out… with the rate of injury this year…
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
People hated the Raiders in the 80's and 90's too - and then they stopped being good :laughing: Sorry Bruce couldn't resist it
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
No need to get personal, it's not my fault that my team has dominated the NRL since its inception and your team is mediocre. I think the easy answer to your problem is to become a Storm supporter! Once you're backing a team that wins a lot, I'm sure you'll start cheering up :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yeah that was doing my head in - kept trying to find something that was wrong with it.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
AJ's quite entitled to say what 95% of NRL supporters are thinking. We like nothing better than to see the Storm get hammered - or even better get beaten in the dying moments of a game. Maybe we can steal a line from Tony Abbot about WorkChoices. We thought - or should I say we hoped - the purple horde was finally "dead and buried and cremated". But like Arnie in the terminator that goddamn red eye keeps blinking and back they come. With a spine that includes Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes the Storm are always going to be a threat - even when sprinkled with a bunch of nobodies. But the signs of the Storm coming back to the pack are closer now than they have been for some years. They had some very ordinary patches last year and the start of this year. Yet to be totally convinced there are a premiership threat.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The best draw is one where all teams play each other once. That would give us 17 rounds with an Amco Cup knockout competition played on the weekends before State of Origin and Pacific Internationals. The next year the same draw would be used but with home and away games swapped. Draw the teams out of a hat and play with the following draw :- Round 1 1 v 2 3 v 4 5 v 6 7 v 8 9 v 10 11 v 12 13 v 14 15 v 16 17 v 18 or bye. Number 1 stays in place with the other teams rotating anti clockwise so round 2 is :- 1 v 4 2 v 6 3 v 8 5 v 10 7 v 12 9 v 14 11 v 16 13 v 18 (bye) 15 v 17 and so on for 17 rounds.
WA Sharks Fan
Roar Rookie
Inconsistency with the MCR and judiciary when it comes to player sightings and suspensions. You have 2 accidental “hip drops” in wet weather where players get swung around and end up behind the player and called a hip drop who get suspensions, yet a player who is high and late gets sin binned and still only gets fined after his 3rd & subsequent offence.
AJL.
Roar Pro
Issue with that is the extra byes around Origin. But having the first 17 rounds excluding Origin played so everyone plays everyone else once in that time should be manageable.
John Allan
Roar Rookie
As a Roosters fan, I am apprehensive about a pack consisting of Radley, Lodge. JWH, Collins, Nathan Brown & Napa. May give away a penalty or two.
John Allan
Roar Rookie
Just when I thought nobody could come up with worse puns than me. Or perhaps you use the same script writer.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I'd agree. Des might be too 'Manly' for us... (no pun intended)
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Out of them, despite his previous drug promoting style. You’d have to choose Flanagan if he’d go there , wouldn’t you?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The Storm have won four premierships. You remind me of Donald Trump. Just say something a million times and it becomes true. Well no.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
In thinking about your comment. There’s always a club fine system? Victor, if you hit anyone in the head , it’s a $50,000 club fine. It would probably only take a couple of those fines , until it stops happening.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Moses is the specialist in looking like he’s being blocked by someone. It’s usually in defence, but he could be expanding his repertoire?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
They keep them in their money drawer. Just to the right of the brown paper bags. I asked Victor Radley & he just wanted to talk about hitting people in the head. Eventually he got around to saying about the mega sized money drawer & its contents. :laughing:
Geoff Foley
Roar Rookie
They do now actually- my Dees had played a few times twice well before playing Carlton for the first and only time in R22 last year. Pretty sure it's only become a thing in the last few years, long after the NRL abandoned playing everyone else once first before double-ups.