State of Origin is in the rearview mirror and it’s time to get back to the actual point of an NRL season, making the finals and winning a premiership. Who will get the best position? Here’s your NRL preview talking points for round 21.
The Origin winds of change are blowing stronger
Every year round this time there’s discussions about how to best handle the disruption State of Origin has on the game. Usually it’s a small murmur which goes away, but this year the talk seems louder and longer.
Reports of big hitters at important clubs being unhappy with the Origin schedule are appearing everywhere.
It’s a vexed question with no obviously straightforward solution. Play it all post season? That messes with any international plans and contracted player leave. Shut down the comp for three weeks? Broadcasters wouldn’t allow it. An international tourney played alongside? That might mess with player availability.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Clearly what we have now is taking too much oxygen from the competition that matters. As the old saying goes though, the answer is money. So don’t hold your breath for anything radical to happen.
Will suspensions wreck seasons, or provide some rest and recharging?
Never mind State of Origin robbing teams of their best – a few repeat offenders copped decent suspensions last week.
Parramatta winger Maika Sivo’s suspension went from three up to four weeks for a careless high tackle, the sixth time he’s been charged this year. God knows why he challenged it, cos he was stone cold cooked.
Parramatta prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard got four weeks for some highly dodgy knees and Titans key Tino Fa’asuamaleaui got three for a shoulder charge.
Obviously it’s bad news for their teams but if Parra and the Titans can still keep in the finals mix, a couple of rested stars would be quite useful for the last month of the season…
Good games this week
Some sensational matchups abound in round 21, all set to snap us out of our State of Origin stupor!
It begins Thursday with the electrifying, monstrous contest between the Dragons and Tigers… ok, maybe not. But from here on in it gets much better.
Friday’s early game is a critical one in Auckland when the Raiders and Warriors face off. The winner will be in the top four, loser will be round the fringes of the eight.
The Rabbitohs understand the primetime assignment against Brisbane at Sunshine Coast Stadium, calling back their biggest names to take to the second placed Broncos.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The return of Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham, Jai Arrow and co will make South Sydney a much different proposition than they’ve been over the last couple of months. Reece Walsh is back for Brisbane but the Broncos will be asked many questions by the bunnies.
Saturday begins with the Gold Coast and Roosters at Robina and it’s almost certain a loss will end one of these club’s seasons.
The twilight game is Newcastle hosting Melbourne, with the Knights seeking to hang on the coattails of the top eight and the Storm looking to drop anchor in the top four. This one might well be fun.
Saturday night is a doozy. Parramatta head to Townsville, the scene of their great 2022 Preliminary Final heist against the Cowboys. both teams are on 24 points but Parra are sixth, North Queensland ninth. There’s plenty riding on this one.
Sunday sees Penrith hosting Canterbury with a swag of key players returning for the premiers, then Cronulla will try to get back on track against Manly Sunday afternoon.
The Dolphins have the bye.
Week 21 random observations
- Get all over the NRLW which kicks off this week. New women’s teams for Wests Tigers, Cronulla, Canberra and North Queensland joining the Roosters, St George Illawarra, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Parramatta and reigning premier Newcastle.
- Every NRLW game will be broadcast on channel 9’s channels and streaming.
- Do we really care which player agents manage players and staff at Manly (or anywhere, for that matter)? Surely it’s up to the club to think about how they compose themselves?
- Speaking of not caring, James Tedesco was given the week off by coach Trent Robinson after Origin 3 and he went away. NRL journos blew up that he wasn’t playing AND wasn’t at the game, but time off is time off?
- Parramatta fans in the know aren’t happy with the reported signing of young half Ethan Sanders by Canberra for a couple of years. Official announcements pending, of course.
What’s got you talking ahead of round 21, Roarers?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Sharks on 26 have the hardest run home with away games against Panthers, Souths and Cowboys, and do not have any more byes. Parra 24 +2, Souths 24 +2 & Cowboys 24+2 all have a bye to come. Sharks to finish 9th Cowboys to make the eight,
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Is there something that the Storms coach Craig Bellamy isn’t telling us? Who is Coventry City's record signing? Record arrivals # Player Season 1 Craig Bellamy Left Winger I didn’t know that he loved soccer so much. Or that he’d be young enough to do a good job on that Left Wing?
NQR
Roar Rookie
Dearden’s game is improving all the time. He’s ball playing is coming along well. I’m really excited about Clifford and Tommy teaming up.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Yeah they need to promote their own identity. Tigresses. Hens, Vakyries, Cowgirls, Mermaids, Maidens, Kassi’s etc. I do worry about a Dogs team however.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Amen to all of that.
andrew
Roar Rookie
An English lady I used to know jimmmy used to like calling ladies she had a run in with cows. Something tells me it might not go down well calling the NRLW side Cows. :laughing:
andrew
Roar Rookie
Can we forget about Origin. It's done. I can't believe some people are talking about next year's series. NRL'S the most important thing to me, the biggest match outside of the Broncos Rabbitohs clash is the Dragons Tigers battle. Up the Saints. .
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Not so sure about that. Parramatta/ Penrith always a local derby . Parramatta always rise for that game. Broncos always tough for Penrith to beat. Could toss in a few others with a real chance this season of defeating the Panthers, besides South’s. Anyone playing a defending premiers put in their best effort for that game .
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I am not 100 percent t sure but I think the NRL wants congruity with the men's team . Whether it's Cowboys or though will police myself not to say ' go the Cows' .
andrew
Roar Rookie
Dragons are specials.
Racing Chicken Trainer
Roar Rookie
I had forgotten about the expansion of the NRLW, that is such good news. The womans game is great to watch, and expansion can only be good. I think its a better spectacle than the mens, as its like watching League in the 80's/90's before it became too professional. Can't stop the game moving forward, but the athleticness of current players in the mens sees the game become a little less enticing, in my opinion. It's still raw.
steveng
Roar Rookie
All I know is that the Bunnies were in a great position and now they are just hanging on. They must win not only at Sunshine Coast Stadium but all the games this season, also, why is this game being played at the Sunshine Coast Stadium? As the Broncs get two home games against us, R9 Suncorp and now at Sunshine Coast? Anyway, its good that we are getting the cavalry back but by gee these 6 games that are coming up the Bunnies have to win every game and make the 4, As and if they don't, it will be like last year and if they encounter the Panthers or the Storm THEY HAVE TO WIN as there is no other sides that I can see that can beat us in the top 8 if we make it? Go You :thumbup: Bunnies.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I have been tipping the Panthers v Souths GF this year too. Both teams now getting all their players back for the final stages of the premiership proper, and I think both will be hard to beat come the finals series. I think the Cows are specials for the 8 , and maybe even further ? I have written off the Eels now with their tough draw and suspensions.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Gee I hope you are right with the top 4 bottom 4 split. A South's Panthers GF would be a classic. South's are the only team around that have the attacking nous to trouble you guys. As a matter of fact you should be hoping they finish 5th. As for the Cows ? If we make the 8 we will be trouble whoever we play but we need to win way too many pressure games to be a genuine threat. Still there was 2017.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You are a good judge Noel. The reason Tommy has blossomed at the Cows is we only ask him to run the footy and make his tackles. I was going to say he is a great defender for a little guy but that's patronising . He's just a great defender and a great runner of the footy. He is not a good kick ( yeah he can do the occasional good short kick but he will never be a Reynolds, Cleary, Moses , Hughes etc ) and he is not the greatest organiser either. When the Cows told him to forget all that , he gave a huge sigh of relief and started to play great footy. I love the kid and hope he plays with us the rest of his career.
Noel
Roar Rookie
I've said it before, Dearden is an out and out 5/8. He came into QCup as a 5/8 (winning MOTM in his debut game) and always played his best football there. I didn't get the buzz around Brisbane (particularly from Lockyer and Co) that he was the next 'Alfie'. That he was short and played in the halves is about the only similarity. He could not have come into first grade for the Broncos at a worse time, and we asked him to play differently to his natural game. I'm really glad he's going well. He's a great lad and a great football player. Brisbane think Mam will develop into a 7. I'm not so sure about that, but he's looking like a great 6. If he could adjust to a 7, then I reckon we could look at Cobbo at 6 and Walsh at 1 long term.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Some vital games this weekend and for the next 7 weekends. I tend to think the top 8 will be settled after this weekend when the Cows beat the Eels and swap spots in the 8. For me, only the Knights have a rough chance of changing this & making their way into the 8 , but at the expense of which other team ? Other then that it is looking like the top 8 just needs to be sorted into top 4 and bottom 4 within the 8. Looking at the favourable draws of some here, I’m tipping the top 4 as possibly being the Panthers, Warriors, Souths & Raiders, with the next being Storm, Broncos, Cows & Sharks. But throw in a few upsets , and all of that can quickly change .
3 R M
Roar Rookie
I doubt that the origin debate would have as much air if Fox had the rites to broadcast it live. But condensing the series does have merit. As it stands it doesn't dissect the NRL comp evenly and seems too close to the finals in my opinion. But it is a massive boost to ratings and income for the game and its value should not be compromised for the self serving nrl clubs that feed of the broadcast rites and increased focus that it gives rugby-league.
Rellum
Roar Guru
If the Broncs had more patience with Deardon he would be the guy to replace Renyolds. But I have always been happy for us to have let him go. I am not sure Deardon is a halfback anyway Mam is fantastic and hopefully kicks on to have a great career.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I always get the impression all the Roar league experts sit around the staff room and on zoom bagging Origin for a bout 4 hours a day, given the way they write about it