Into the last fortnight for NRL season 2023. Here come your NRL midweek talking points.
Yes, I know the ‘tackled in the air’ rule doesn’t apply on a ball that has bounced. Yes, I know Manly’s Rueben Garrick wasn’t trying to catch a kick when he got flipped by New Zealand’s Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley hinted at potential rule changes but warned the issue is if all contact in the air is punishable, then tries in the corner may be affected:
“One of the reasons that the rule only applies to kicks on the full is because we have to ensure that there are no unintentional consequences if the rule changes,” he said.
So that’s what it is. But what Nicoll-Klokstad did was incredibly dangerous and should have been dealt with as such. Dangerous conduct, contrary conduct, there’s a few to pick from.
Garrick ended up with a fractured back, a ‘fractured transverse process’ which sounds bad but is on the lower end of severity for a back fracture. He’s unlikely to play this week and if Manly have any brains, he won’t play again in 2023.
The rule needs to be sorted out, or other punishments need to be considered.
A decisive week for a few clubs, starting Thursday with Penrith and Parramatta. The Eels are in miracle territory to make the finals and it’ll take knocking over the game’s best to stay alive.
Somewhat quirkily, Parra have won three of their last five against the Panthers and match up well, but things are very different now.
The Warriors are entrenched in the top four but can keep limber with a solid win against the Dragons, who are giving teams a challenge but still coming up short. Their matchup precedes Friday night primetime with the Dolphins and Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, a critical two points for North Queensland after taking a bad beating last week up north.
Saturday afternoon sees Melbourne hosting the Gold Coast, in what you’d expect would be a run of the mill win for the top four, but the Storm have combined irrepressible form with pretty ordinary outings.
The Roosters seek to delay the inevitable for another week when they play Wests Tigers Saturday twilight. It won’t be easy with James Tedesco out through concussion rules, but the interest here is watching the return of the marvelled-then-maligned young halfback Sam Walker, who in true Roosters fashion was blamed for everything that went wrong before it became quite obvious he wasn’t the problem at all.
Saturday night has Brisbane headed to the capital to face Canberra, who are not quite safe in the top eight but are also not in great nick. Brisbane have no real incentive to go hard and will be without halfback Adam Reynolds due to a calf injury, it’s up to Jock Madden to get the job done.
Sunday’s first kickoff doesn’t matter in the scheme of the season but fans of Canterbury and Manly will fancy their chances of a win when they face off at Accor stadium.
The round wraps up with a great matchup when the Sharks travel to Newcastle for the Knights, who are on fire and surging up the standings. The Sharks are also in decent knick after two solid wins over decent opposition, but this will be the true test of their defence with Newcastle scoring at will of late.
South Sydney have the bye and with the week they’ve had on and off the field, they must be ecstatic to just be out of the limelight.
What’s got you talking ahead of round 26, Roarers?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Penrith versus Parramatta tonight, is the first Sold Out Thursday Night Game in NRL History. I think Penrith have handed Parramatta a huge advantage in Penrith’s home game, with all of those line up changes. So you have to think that the minor premiership race doesn’t mean that much to them? Still, another sold out game at Penrith is good for them.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Ok. I didn’t know that.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I think former Eels and Storm forward Alex Chan is their uncle.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The refs followed that exact process and used discretion They couldn’t give a mid air tackle penalty, because the ball had bounced So they assessed whether it was dangerous and their ruling was that as Garrick hasn’t gone beyond the horizontal it wasn’t a dangerous tackle That was them using discretion or “playing God” as you also like to refer to it So they made a decision using a process exactly as you’ve outlined, using discretion as you keep banging on about They just made a different decision to what you - admittedly as a Manly fan - would have made. They didn’t refuse to use discretion (do you know what that word means - earlier in the week, you defined it as refs being able to make up their own rules…?) Do you listen to any of the explanations or do you just give it a “Manly, Manly, Manly”
Donbich
Roar Rookie
I am not for one second pointing any blame here at Reuben Garrick. He was right to jump for that ball and the tackle was dangerous. BUT Has anyone noticed the massive trend in players jumping when not necessary, to put themselves in a position to get a penalty. It's really annoying me. I know it's hard to say WHEN someone needs to jump when fielding a kick, but some of them are very blatant. Love Walshy, but I can recall a few instances of him doing it, Edwards as well. Not a fan.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You managed both? That makes you an over achiever if anything… :laughing:
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Try watching Channel 9 coverage and drinking whenever they mention “fatigue”. Billy and Joey love it.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate, because that is exactly what I've said. I've already clarified my point several times.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
DCE is in the perfect position to make these comments. He's doing everything he can to help the club and lead by example.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I fully understand the concept and reality of refs using discretion because it's pretty simple. Ref sees a players legs taken out when he's high up in the air and decides that the action of the tackler is dangerous. If you don't think the tackle is dangerous then that's your opinion Dawn but many do think it's dangerous. It's that simple. Another ref could have awarded a penalty because his opinion on the danger level is high.. It's called discretion. It's alive and kicking in other areas including penalty tries. One ref can use his discretion and award a penalty try while another can use his discretion and deny it. The tackle is not only dangerous but incredibly dangerous in my opinion. What would you think if you were in Garricks position? Go ahead take my legs out because it's not a dangerous act?
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Oh I wasn’t arguing with you, more expanding on your point
andrew
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Not really. That’s just you getting carried away with your own opinion again. For someone who’s so worried about why I may be concerned with what that player does , or doesn’t do. You are certainly very concerned about my opinion & then about replying to any comment that I may make. So I guess I can throw your sort of question back at you. Why do you give a toss what I think? As you certainly do! :laughing:
andrew
Roar Rookie
So that's the reason Sticky's got it in for the referees, when things don't go his way of course.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Why do you care so much about my opinion? I guess it’s as it differs to yours. It would be pretty boring if everyone went along with whatever mushi believes.
chud
Roar Rookie
I don't think any Parra fans are in 'denial'... just commentators... Most of us Eels fans knew the season was gone long ago...
Panthers
Roar Rookie
It was just an example. Why do you care so much about that? Though I think I already explained why I believe what he was doing, is a better option . However, you go on with whatever you like?
mushi
Roar Guru
Even your comment infers a moral obligation
mushi
Roar Guru
You said "it sure beats" which means you believe it to be relatively worse.
mushi
Roar Guru
I was more just rattling his flimsy straw man.