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Opinion
Confused about what’s a hip drop? Wondering how Newcastle could perform so well after apparently spending bye week overseas on the cans? Are Parramatta actually bad? Here come your round 12 talking points.
Hip drop tackles and associated punishments have been the hot topic of the season with some being penalised, some resulting in suspensions and some not being punished at all. With this punishment lottery, how can we know what’s a hip drop and what’s not?
Fear not, because the NRL this week released an explainer video about the tackle and the ‘grip, rotate, drop’ move that will be sweeping the dance floors in the next little while.
Now we’ve got a clear definition of what the tackle is, I’m sure that will end the debate, the uncertainty and controversy when a player employs the tactic…
A great win for the Knights last week, blasting the Gold Coast 46-26 in a performance that stuck it right to those loud critics who gave the impression the whole team were off on a piss up in Bali during their bye week.
As is usually the case with NRL reporting, the truth was something a lot different. It was only one player, Bradman Best. Naturally there were no corrections issued, no stupid statements walked back.
The win made a big dint in their negative points differential and kept the Knights in touch with the finals places, something which seemed quite unlikely before the season kicked off.
There wasn’t much by way of exciting results in week 11. Comfortable wins were in abundance with four margins of 20 or more and only really two games in the balance late. Ideally this week gives us something better, but some of the matchups might not lend themselves to thoughts of close and competitive rugby league.
It all starts Thursday with Penrith headed to Brisbane seeking vengeance on the Broncos for their Round 1 loss. The Panthers are starting to look seriously ominous and we’ll see how the Broncos respond to the full audit their game is about to receive.
It’s probably good the Dragons and Roosters are tucked away in Friday’s early game, cos they’re both in all sorts. Trent Robinson’s men were bludgeoned last week but they’re looking like the model of efficiency compared to their opponents.
Farewell Anthony Griffin, punted by the Dragons after coming into the season on a hiding to nothing. A management disaster from all levels. With a 2-8 record and a three game gap to the finals it’ll be up to the players to save something of the season, because the suits are in disarray off the field.
Friday primetime looked great on paper when the fixture was created but Souths against Parramatta doesn’t look too appetising now. The Eels are 4-7 and 14th, the Bunnies top of the pops and looking remarkable. Parramatta win big (their wins are by a combined 60 points) and lose small (biggest losing margin is 10). They’ve got the talent, but you are what your record says.
Saturday’s games might have a bit of intrigue when the Sharks take on the Knights, Wests Tigers play North Queensland and the Storm and Dolphins heading to Suncorp Stadium. Cronulla and Melbourne are ticking over nicely now while North Queensland have started to finally pull themselves together.
That’s not to say they’re certainties here because Newcastle are coming off a massive win, the Tigers are always up for a fight and the Dolphins have been proving people wring since week one.
The Titans, the Titans. Just when they start to turn you into a believer they lay a colossal egg like they did against the Knights. It’s their stock in trade, their signature move. They travel to Sydney for the Bulldogs on Sunday and will probably win scoring 26 points, but does that mean anything?
Canterbury have had a decent month for very little outcome and they’ll put up a fight.
Manly travel to the capital for a four pointer against the Raiders, who are going for six wins in a row. It’s a critical time for Anthony Seibold’s crew and after copping a heap of injuries they’re going in with a patchwork forward pack against Canberra’s rolling battery of Joe Tapine, a resurgent Josh Papalii and the emerging Emre Guler.
Throw in Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh and the Sea Eagles have their work cut out to stop their decline – they’ve lost four on the go and six of their last eight, including a draw.
Think of the possibilities for a game across the ditch during this weekend’s Indigenous Round. A showcase and celebration of Maori culture, which is a massive part of rugby league.
Oh never mind, New Zealand have the bye. Once again the NRL doesn’t miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
– South Sydney (1st) and Parramatta (14th) have score the same amount of points, 264. That’s the third highest in the competition.
– Canterbury (15th) have outscored the Roosters (10th) by 30 points.
– Only one team in the bottom eight has conceded fewer points than Wests Tigers (16th) and it’s the Roosters, and it’s only by four points (Tigers have let in 226 points, Roosters 222).
– Five teams in the bottom eight have scored more points than fifth placed Melbourne’s 206.
– Last year Penrith lost four games in the regular season, so far this year they’ve already lost four but have only conceded 121 points, 29 better than next best which is South Sydney’s 150.
– Parramatta are 14th with a positive points differential. String a couple of wins together and they’ll quickly vault over the seven teams ahead of them who are in the red.
What you talking about ahead of Round 12, Roarers?