The result in a rugby league game is never as simplistic as coming down to who wants it more but sometimes an old attitude adjustment can do a world of good.
We saw in a few matches this week that the team that has rolled up the sleeves and been willing to do the hard work has got the job done even if their form beforehand wasn’t the greatest.
The best example was Manly beating Melbourne at Brookvale on Friday night.
After letting in 32 against Newcastle and 44 to Penrith, there were questions surrounding Manly’s defence but you could see from the word go against the Storm that they were up for the contest.
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They were willing to put their shoulders into tackles with intent and the Storm were never allowed to settle into a groove.
Tom Trbojevic. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Cronulla’s another team that has been up and down but they also benefitted from a vocal home crowd to get past the Roosters earlier that night.
It doesn’t always have to be pretty, sometimes you just have to get the job done. And when you are struggling for confidence, complex game plans need to be put away and you need to go back to basics.
The Raiders showed that on Sunday too in Canberra when they just held out St George Illawarra.
And a team that’s been doing it all season is the Warriors who are now sitting pretty in the top three with Penrith and Brisbane.
Their captain, Tohu Harris, and veteran halfback, Shaun Johnson, are showing the way for the younger Warriors and their new coach Andrew Webster has brought over a lot of the systems and standards that have worked so well for Penrith the past few years.
I think the Warriors played with a bit more spirit to be honest. They look a much fitter, more energetic and a have a better connection in defence.
They’ve got a real group mentality and they look happier being back home after three years on the road.
Doing the hard work doesn’t necessarily mean being physically tough. It’s the stuff like getting your line speed right, hitting hard with your first contact, a strong kick chase, being disciplined and taking the hit-ups out of your own end early in a set.
Jason Taumalolo. (Photo by Andy Jackson/Getty Images)
Teams have had a few seasons now to get adjusted to the six-again rules and the best ones are the ones who can hold out repeat sets, especially on their own line.
A couple of the teams that haven’t found their mojo this season like the Roosters and the Cowboys need to have a look at what they’re doing in these areas.
Those two sides were expected to be premiership contenders this year but they have struggled to hit their stride in the first seven weeks of the season.
Knights unlucky in loss to Panthers
Newcastle were another team that fired up in front of a big home crowd on the weekend and if not for Nathan Cleary’s class, they would have accounted for the premiers.
Penrith were clever using their captain’s challenge to reverse a call that would have left them down to 12 players for 10 minutes.
I don’t think I’ve seen a team March downfield for a field goal in extra time as quickly and clinically as Penrith did.
They decided they were going to hit the ball up hard for four plays from the kick-off and then Cleary stepped up with the boot.
The Knights were out on their feet after getting through a mountain more defence than Penrith in the second half and they didn’t do much to repel them as they carted the ball into field goal range.
Nat Butcher. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Sin bin balance may be teetering too far
There’s a lot of sin bin use going on at the moment which is fine as long as it’s a professional foul or a blatant incident.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson wasn’t happy with Nat Butcher getting binned for a hip-drop on Briton Nikora even though he didn’t make contact with his legs and the Sharks forward was not injured.
That’s fair enough, I reckon.
Whether it’s late contact or a deliberate act to give away a penalty, it’s got to be genuine beyond any doubt for the sin bin to be used because it’s having a huge impact.
Some players are in line to win Academy Awards for “acting” at this year’s Dally Ms and it needs to be stamped out.
Arrow puts Rabbitohs back on target
Jai Arrow being back from injury at the Bunnies is a massive boost and he got through plenty of work in the win over the Dolphins on Thursday.
Souths lost Mark Nicholls in the off-season and Tevita Tatola has been in and out with injuries so they’ve missed Arrow.
Having him there allowed players like Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell to produce their slick attacking skills.
The Dolphins did well in the first half and are a real solid tradesmen like team but didn’t have the class in attack to upset the Rabbitohs.
Eels too strong for depleted Dogs
Parramatta are another team that have gone back to basics and were too clinical for the Bulldogs.
It’s no secret that the Eels have returned to form with something like their best pack on deck with Junior Paulo (who returned from suspension) and Reagan Campbell-Gillard (who scored his first try of the season) setting the platform.
Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown (and Clint Gutherson) looked much more comfortable playing behind dominant forwards and showed good control in attack.
The Dogs were never really in the hunt and were already missing key players Josh Addo-Carr and Viliame Kikau before they lost Jacob Kiraz early and Jake Averillo was on one leg for most of the game.
Their major recruit Reed Mahoney had an unhappy day and copped plenty of feedback from his teammates along with the Blue and Gold Army.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Those club officials are no longer there. Payten is the one having to deal with many previous decisions by others. However losing Hammer and locking up Drinkwater until 2027 is a Todd problem.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
That long a contract for a forward & for that amount, always looked like a massive risk. Even if he could have been worth it when he was first signed to that contract. I wonder how the officials at the club feel about paying that amount now? I’m sure that they’d like a bit of that money now , to pay for one of the up & coming players there.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Didn't really expect it to be awarded but 'gutless attack from behind' was out of line. Like the idea of chasers being able to genuinely battle shoulder to shoulder or body to body (even if one incidentally goes down) with decoys to get at the ball, though. Take some power away from escorts and loiterers.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
without GP?? That'd be a draw then would it? :silly:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Did you buy that explanation Souvalis? I thought it was pretty sketchy. Annesley continued to talk about where Graham’s eyes were, which has nothing to do with the actual rule I also thought it was splitting hairs around Campbell not shoving Aitken. His arm came out and knocked Aitken in the back I don’t mind Annesley’s explanations but I thought this one was definitely pitched at defending the decision then getting at the truth It’s probably not as blatant as I thought at the time but Graham still sticks his arm out and knock Aitken over. I’ve seen tries called back for less and I’m sure we’ll see another before long…
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You say neeeether, I say niiither. Let's call the whole thing off.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Annesley says there will be many who disagree with him, as I do, but as they are both looking at the ball it was okay to push Aitken with his arm. We’ve seen many incidents over the years where a player can obstruct another as long as he looks at the ball. It’s hard not to see other players running to get under a bomb. An up and under ensures there are going to be obstructions and pushing in the back as occurs on every sixth tackle in the red zone. The bomb is the great weakness in Rugby League, not to be confused with good tactical kicking. When Rugby League took limited tackles from American Football, we should have taken the rule that only a field goal can be scored on the last tackle. If you can’t score a try in the first five with creative teamwork, then all you deserve is a field goal for getting close to the try line.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I have a tip for avoiding the shambles... ;) :thumbup:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
That's a fair comment. However, doesn't change that the game was decided on a coin toss, might as well have them all done that way and not risk injury. And still a dodgy way to end a game. No need for a 'winner', a draw is ok during comp. The injury risks and ridiculous non-refereeing make the whole scenario a jest and it's a lottery. Best teams DO NOT always win GP.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Compare Graham pushing Aitken to Drinkwater being penalised for pushing a Warriors decoy stopping in the line on his outside shoulder in front of his team maté carrying the football. The officiating is totally inconsistent and at times laughable. Last year I watched a try taken off the Cowboys when a Sharks player shoved a supporter player in the back?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
TB3 you need to go over to NRL.com and watch Graeme Annesley video review. There is no visible hand laid on Aitken.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Didn’t rate Taumalolo as high as $1 million over 5years let alone 10. But I’d never sign a footballer for more than 6 years full stop. The games to hard and injuries to frequent. My top price is around 850k for anyone. I just don’t see footballers as 3 times the price or valued more than excellent doctor or other quality professional.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Come on TB3 calm down its not that bad or played with so much malice, that wasn't a gutless act at all especially from Graham, as Graham is a fair dinkum competitor and a good bloke, it was a contest for the ball and small Aitken couldn't compete and lost, let's move on as Aitken would never have a chance with a bomb against Graham, as Graham has scored many tries that way. Yes Aitken is a small player and should never compete :laughing: against a tall player like Graham. It will happen again and 100% of the time that a taller player will catch that and a small player will do anything to obstruct and impede a taller player for a try like that, that's just how it is.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Yes you are probably right but I still don’t like the bunker. I generally despise the bunker and I’m not overly fond of referees most of the time. It’s my job. I’m good at it. :boxing: :thumbdown: :angry: Ban the bunker! Butt out Bunker! The bunker bites big time! My team is rolling on down the ladder and I maintain my position that game officials cause my poor team to lose games… nothing to do with the joint venture, coach or the roster or the individual players or the mad supporters at all :silly: :laughing: :crying: I don’t know how to feel anymore. :sick:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahahah… “I’m not childish, you are”. Nice work Panthers, very well done… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
It was a gutless attack from behind. Graham didn't have the ball when he pushed Aitken over. Your assumption that Aitken knew he had no chance of catching that ball is ridiculous. The ref and bunker were wrong and should be dropped otherwise we'll see more big cats knocking over small players without the ball. It's never been allowed in Rugby League history.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I just wondered what you think of the very long & expensive Taumalolo contract now days?
steveng
Roar Rookie
I beg to differ, as it wasn't a gutless attack at all, it was first in best dressed as far as I'm concerned and Graham knew that he had the ball and could score, while as Aitken knew that he couldn't and had no chance of catching that ball, but his only chance was to obstruct Graham from scoring, as that is what the bunker thought also and that is why they awarded the try, it could have gone either way. Whatever sour faced W. Bennett says makes no difference, as he would say anything to back his players :laughing: but lets just see what happens next time in the same situation as it will be very interesting how the bunker interprets it?
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Aitken had no chance of catching the ball because he got pushed in the back by a player running in from behind. I agree with Wayne Bennett, it was an obstruction, but the refs ruled it was okay so we can expect to see more gutless attacks from behind.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Although , your original comment really isn’t worthy of any response. That’s true.