The changes to the rules in the six-again era and the policing of the 10 metres suits this South Sydney team down to the ground.
They’re definitely up with Penrith as the team to beat and a few of their players would not look out of place in the NSW squad when Brad Fittler picks that in a couple of weeks time.
Latrell Mitchell at left centre and Cameron Murray in the pack are certainties and Damien Cook will either be starting hooker or off the bench but Cody Walker is in fantastic form and the Blues could possibly pick Campbell Graham as their right centre.
NSW have gone with Penrith combinations with Isaah Yeo, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and Api Koroisau, around Nathan Cleary at halfback, maybe they’ll look at getting more of a Rabbitohs flavour this time around.
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The new rules allow the Rabbitohs player to express themselves more like when Mitchell put in that kick for Walker’s try early, it was an inspired piece of play and those two guys seem to be in perfect synch at the moment.
Cody Walker celebrates scoring a try. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
They’ve got that little bit more time and space when the opposition isn’t being allowed to slow the ruck.
Isaiah Tass was also a part of that – even with Jack Wighton coming next season, I’d be trying to keep him if I was Souths.
Another Magic Round needed each year
Being in Brisbane for Magic Round, it’s plain to see this should remain an annual event at Suncorp Stadium but why not bring in another one at a different market.
The contract for Magic Round in Brisbane runs out next year and there’s no way you can take it away – the locals have voted with their feet and all three days were sold out.
I’m not sure of the logistics or how feasible it’d be but what I’d like to see is a city like Perth or Adelaide, or even Melbourne, host another Magic Round after the State of Origing period, around six weeks out from the finals.
That’d help spread the NRL gospel in a market that’s not a traditional rugby league area.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Raiders on a roll, Horsburgh the new Fatty
I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Canberra over their little four-game winning streak they’ve built up in the past month and they were far too good for Canterbury in the Magic Round opener on Friday night.
Jack Wighton is back to his best, especially now he’s got his contract negotiations done and dusted, Xavier Savage looked good in his first NRL game back from a broken jaw on the wing and I don’t think it’ll be long before he’s back in the No.1 jersey.
It’s great to see Jarrod Croker fit again and doing well in the centres after all the injuries he’s had in the past few years and Corey Horsburgh looks like he could be joining the list of redheaded forwards who have done well for the Maroons in Origin like Paul Vautin and Brad Meyers.
He’s definitely capable of doing a job if Billy Slater hands him a debut.
The scoreline flattered Canterbury with a couple of Canberra tries disallowed that shouldn’t have been.
There were bad signs from the opening set of the match when the Raiders marched downfield 70 metres and scored – it looked like a training drill, and the Dogs need to start games with a lot more intensity than that.
Broncos cruise, Manly snooze
Brisbane didn’t have to get out of second or third gear to beat the Sea Eagles.
Selwyn Cobbo and Reece Walsh were outstanding in attack and Payne Haas tore through Manly at will through the middle – he chalked up more than 200 metres in his 58-minute stint and Kevvy Walters had the luxury of not sending him out there for a second stint because the result was in the bag.
Daly Cherry-Evans looked like he was the only Manly player having a dig at times. He ran past about five or six teammates who were jogging on a kick-chase at one stage to trap Walsh in goals.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
They clearly missed Jake Trbojevic and Tommy Turbo doesn’t look happy with himself and some of the guys around him.
Blokes like DCE and Tommy need a quality five-eighth linking with them and the sooner they get Josh Schuster fit and slotting into that role the better.
The Dolphins’ smiling assassin in game 900
Wayne Bennett’s still got his sense of humour, throwing in a few one-liners after the game and even cracking a smile after his Dolphins savaged the Sharks in his 900th game.
The Sharks played the first half without any hunger, they’d lost their bite altogether.
But it was a stunning performance by the Dolphins who keep on proving their doubters wrong.
Penrith’s class shines through
The Panthers reminded everyone of their premiership credentials in getting the better of the Warriors.
They brought the physicality and the class, particularly some of the touches from Dylan Edwards.
The Warriors paid the price for a lack of discipline, the rookie forward, Demitric Sifakula, who threw the punch on Nathan Cleary would like to have that time back again because that cost them dearly when he was in the sin bin.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Tigers triumph puts more pressure on Griffin
The Wests Tigers backed up their upset win over Penrith with another strong effort against the under-pressure Dragons.
They led comfortably at one point but had to fight their way back into the game before a late try to Junior Tupou secured the win.
Two individual efforts by Jayden Sullivan were not enough to get the Dragons the two points and the loss applies even more pressure to their coach Anthony Griffin.
Cowboys respond well at Suncorp
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was a relieved man following his team’s best defensive performance of the year in their 20-6 win over the Roosters.
Their forwards, led by Coen Hess, Jordan McLean and Reuben Cotter, did a great job to get the better of the Roosters pack.
Chad Townsend scored a try and kicked well in general play to have his best game in some time, with Reece Robson, Tom Dearden and Scott Drinkwater chiming in.
Titans give Eels the slip
At times it looked like the Gold Coast could cough up a big lead again and lose another tight one against Parramatta in the final Magic Round game.
But they held their nerve to hang on by two points – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was magnificent as always and Alofiana Khan-Pereira is one of the best rookies of the year.
They’re up into seventh now and Parra, hot and cold all season, are stuck down in 12th.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Tedesco is the Blues captain and despite being a little down on form from past season he is still the right choice for NSW FB. If for some reason Tedesco was unavailable I would still play Latrell at left centre in Origin and bring Edwards in as FB.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I’d play Mitchell at centre. With his teammate Graham. Mitchell seemed to play pretty well at centre in the Roosters GF winning teams.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
'Fair enough , where I live we don't have traffic lights or round abouts , and I don't care who in my extended family gets married or dies I ain't going back to Sydney.
RealRuthy
Roar Rookie
Edwards is a rock for Penrith. Humble too. Nice to see people commenting here about him.
steveng
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: you talk about a Souths love in, what about you blokes? What wishful thinking, but its typical. BREAKING, Mitchell, Murray, Cook, Walker and Graham have announced that they are NOT available for all the 2023 SOO series, as they want to concentrate on the 2023 NRL comp and for Souths to WIN THE GF, and as far as your wishful thinking Panthers “I honestly feel that their biggest opposition will come from elsewhere this season. will NOT happen as I’m afraid it will be the reverse. GO YOU BUNNIES 2023 GF WINNERRRSSSS :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
steveng
Roar Rookie
Phil, I’ve explained why Harry Grant is a continual pest, as those tactics have to be taken out of the game, as he does it every week and he’s coached that way by Bellamy. It’s the referee’s fault imo, for allowing that sort of rubbish to go on time and time again. With all due credit, Andrew Gee did penalse the Storm on numerous occasions for their usual holding on after a tackle is made, to slow the play the ball tactics, that they have been going on with for many years. No excuse for Grant to go on like that and to niggle Trell and to stop Trell from making a quick play the ball, as Grant wanted to get a penalty (even when Grant achieved his task, to stop the game) good on Andrew Gee for saying that “there was nothing in that” lets get on with the game, as there wasn’t. It happened the week before in R9 against the Broncos, when the other little pest Reynolds did the same and threw a fit that he didn’t get his way and a penalty, in virtually the same field position, when Trell wanted to free himself and make a quick play the ball. Grant and Reynolds must be talking to each other of how to annoy Trell :laughing:
RealRuthy
Roar Rookie
The NSW Teams do not choose to have 'Magic Round as their home game. It is the NRL Schedule which I could do a better job of making fairer as it always favors some team than others. Common FB Comment by a friend of mine, Brisbane often having games on Friday Nights.
RealRuthy
Roar Rookie
Agree that it should be QLD home Games when Magic Round in Brisbane. Their fans outnumber the NSW fans that can afford to travel to Brisbane. It is not fair for the supporters of the NSW teams that have memberships to loose a home game year after year. A friend of mine gets her Panthers (not my team) membership for Christmas from her kids. There are 9 NSW Teams. It should not be in Brisbane every year. Not every fan can afford to go. The ground was substandard. Causing players in the Sharks vs Dolphins game to slip. Majic is not a word I would use to describe the round. You see special plays every round, Not just there.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Magic Round… Do you reward and support rugby league heartland by playing magic round in Brisbane, or do you use magic round concept to play somewhere where the NRL is trying to grow and promote the game? In an extended duration comp… can the NRL afford to do both? My 2 cents, i would love to see a MR in NZ each year to promote RL in NZ. Strategically timed for maximum exposure and split between two grounds, maybe one ground on North Island and one on South Island. I’d fly over to NZ to watch a full day of footy and see the Warriors play in front of a home crowd. This can’t start soon enough if there is any thought of a second NZ team in an expanded 20 team NRL comp.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I guess those Fairies at the bottom of the garden are punching away on there calculations as we type
Gus O
Roar Rookie
How is the gate and earnings split between the clubs for Magic round?
Gus O
Roar Rookie
No way man, I too had Souths in the 2023 GF before season start… my prediction of Souths vs Easts 2023 GF is still looking rock solid. Easts have clearly been playing strategically to minimise selections for SOO 2023, with Rads going above and beyond to become a Pommy. A fit and healthy Easts will storm home in the back half of the season to finish top 4, finishing strong with StG just squeaking into the 8 :)
Gus O
Roar Rookie
And Murray covers dummy half if your starting hooker gets a head knock?
Gus O
Roar Rookie
What’s the pressure on Griffin? Seriously, his contract is up at end of season 2023 and StG have 2 wins after 10 rounds and are running equal last place. Noone, least of all Griffin himself has any expectation his contract will be extended - where is the pressure? That’s all over now. Griffin is effectively a caretaker coach for the remainder of his contract and has the opportunity to smell the roses and enjoy his final season as NRL head coach. It’s the StG players who should be feeling pressure, each of them needs to show the next coach that they are worth retaining for 2024 and beyond.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I assure you the figures (like the ones I have given in the past for the chook crooks, is pretty much on the money. As for using "approx", they're Rusty's orders for reasons of "plausible deniability l". :silly: :thumbup:
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
The Chooks are always overrated.It comes from the media beat-up about there potential on paper They will struggles to make the 8 like recent years.Just remember a Champion Team will alway beat a Team of Champions
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I didn’t include academy players in that number for Manly if I did the kids coming in from western Sydney would increase that number dramatically. If, as you say you spent an hour on the Spit Bridge, then you should have a better understanding of why there’s a reluctance to cross it.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
DP it was sad to see JWH resort to whinge tactics.It signals an end to an illustrious career as an enforcer.To let a guy like JTB get on top of him tells me his use-by date is fast approaching.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The Bunnies look very handy right now and maybe they'll look very handy when it counts as well but who really knows how it's all going to pan out? For the last two seasons just about everyone was telling me that the Storm were one of two teams on a different level to all the others yet they didn't feature in either GF. As for Latrell , he was on fire last season until the finals series when he went missing. He has gone into his shell when they need him most for a while now but I don't know if that will continue or not? The Chooks look very average and I really hope it continues but they are well positioned on the ladder and have an all star lineup. I wouldn't have a clue how it plays out from here but if they play to their potential the rest of the teams will have a challenge on their hands. No doubt about it. One thing is for sure. Some of the teams who look like plodders right now will be beating the high flyers when it counts. Ironically this is the first season for ages that the mythical two horse race call hasn't been seen yet. Maybe it will rear it's flawed head in the next month?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Lot of approx in there GB.We all know those figures aren’t worth the paper/keyboard there written on.