We’ve reached the end* of round four which as you know, means we’ve seen enough to be able to look at teams and feel a little more confident with more long term predictions about how they might be tracking. Let’s have a look at your weekly NRL talking points.
Weekly ref sooking
If you want to complain and argue about soft obstruction calls costing tries, hip drops, late knees on try scorers, loose carries being called strips, tries awarded but not properly grounded and so on… Do it in the comments. I’m not doing yet another talking point about the refs this week.
What I do have this week is a message to the NRL’s Head of football elite competitions, Graham Annesley.
Graham Annesley. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Hey Graham – stop talking. End the weekly public referee hanging you perform every Monday, or immediately after games when Buzz Rothfield texts you for a reply.
Stop talking and back your refs. Wear the heat for them, and deal with the inevitable errors behind closed doors. Let the media and the rest of us fans argue amongst ourselves over here – you stay out of it. Burning your refereeing crew publicly to get a bunch of media sooks off your back is weak and if you can’t stop this, get someone who can.
I’ve been saying for years on The Roar that rugby league almost stands alone in world sport with its ingrained culture of disrespect for its match officials. It has to get better. We all do.
The mighty
It’s Penrith. A round one loss in Melbourne being held to zero, then three strong wins over fellow finals aspirants without looking bothered at all. Their win over the Roosters showed the Panthers remain head and shoulders above the field.
Penrith debutant Mavrik Geyer. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The field
New Zealand may be one of the only non-Penrith teams who exude ‘finals energy’ when they play. Their start to the year has been one of a team doing all they need and nothing more. Good teams pace themselves, and the Warriors are doing exactly that.
Brisbane finally opened the throttle against the Cowboys and they needed to. Every game the Broncos has played has been a double-figure margin one way or the other. They need to find some balance because they either score heaps of points or bugger all, and they either concede heaps of points or bugger all. Is Selwyn Cobbo in the centres a good idea?
Melbourne had the bye this week and their 2-1 record is not based on overly convincing play, let’s be honest. They haven’t been helped by injuries and the non-appearance of Cam Munster. I’m not dumb enough to write them off though. They should make the finals.
Did Cronulla need that over Canberra. Trailing 0-18 before reeling off 32 unanswered to win 36-22 in a domination. It pushed their points differential into the positive and they sit fourth. Sure, it won’t get ‘they can’t beat the good teams’ off their back but it’s one of the wins they can bank for a top four run.
North Queensland had plenty of suitors ahead of their game with Brisbane. They’d won their first 3 against not great opposition and the Broncos introduced a huge reality check to the tune of 38-12. They’ve got work to do to win us back.
Billy Walters celebrates scoring Brisbane’s first try. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Parramatta sit in the ‘good not great’ bag. But they’ve got a reasonable defence to build a solid foundation for finals play later in the year. No Mitch Moses for a while s going to sting.
The Roosters were exciting, then blah. They shredded the bunnies last week but weren’t in the same class as Penrith in a game they only lost by 6, but were never a chance to win. They’re barely hanging on to the cliff face.
The rest
South Sydney won a game, but if Canterbury were half serious the Bulldogs should have done much better than the 20-16 final. Jack Wighton’s double was important but the bunnies have dug themselves such a big hole they might not be able to get out.
The Dolphins are top of the pops! 2-1, a points differential of +29. Who did they beat though? Cellar dwellers St George Illawarra and the Gold Coast Titans.
Newcastle and Manly find themselves in the same boat – great on paper, mid on grass. The Knights have just been unthreatening, the Sea Eagles maddening.
Canberra were utterly deplorable against Cronulla. The Raiders don’t carry many expectations this year but limp, uninterested defence won’t make for pretty watching.
Cronulla’s Jesse Ramien is tackled. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Canterbury and Wests Tigers are on a study year so no hardcore predictions will fit for them. The Bulldogs have certainly improved, despite the media bashing they cop. The Tigers will fight against the good teams and have a chance against the bad.
St George Illawarra are in a similar boat. There’s enough talent to pinch a win like they did against Manly on Saturday, and it’s not outrageous to suggest the Dragons might fight their way to the fringes of the 8-11 positions.
The Titans have started horribly. There’s no visible playing style being attempted and it’s unclear what new coach Des Hasler wants his team to do. His appointment left many scratching their heads and the Titans have shown us nothing to prove us wrong.
Good games this week
*Don’t forget – there’s still one game left for Easter with Parramatta and Wests Tigers at Parra Stadium. It’s a chance to be a decent contest but that hangs on the Tigers showing up with intent and the pan to get through the Eels defence.
Parramatta celebrate s try. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Round five starts Thursday though, and it’s a beaut as Brisbane head to Melbourne to take on the Storm. Worth the watch.
Friday’s early game may also be worth a watch with the Bulldogs taking on the Roosters and it better be good, cos the late game looks like a bludger with Newcastle hosting St George Illawarra.
Saturday has three pretty fun looking games – in the arvo, New Zealand play the ‘resurgent’ South Sydney at Homebush, the twilight game is Manly and Penrith before the nightcap of The Dolphins and Wests Tigers.
Two games on Sunday, with the Cowboys hosting the Titans before the night game in Canberra as the Raiders host Parramatta.. and hooley dooley will the green machine need to pull up their shorts after having them well and truly pulled down in round four.
Cronulla have the bye.
The Gold Coast’s Kieran Foran gets run down. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Round 4’s random thoughts
- Maybe it’s my old man eyes but can we make more headgear in club colours? White headgear bouncing around in a tackle always makes me think the ball has come loose.
- Jarome Luai was great against the Roosters. He’s won 16 of the 18 games (with 1 loss, 1 draw) when his halves partner Nathan Cleary hasn’t played… That’s interesting.
- Halves and wingers keep dropping like flies. Josh Addo-Carr and Alex Johnson both got hurt this week, and New Zealand’s five-eighth Luke Metcalf is going to miss a while after hurting his ankle.
- Four games over the weekend were decided by single digits but to be realistic, late tries made these scores look much closer than the games actually were.
- Tip of the (giant) hat to Reece Walsh. What a sartorial figure the injured Bronco cut on Saturday as his teammates dismantled North Queensland. Where can I get one?
What’s caught your eye this weekend, Roarers?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
On games being managed, totally agree. Referees need to go back to refereeing the game and not trying to manage the game.
Magic Lyrebird
Roar Rookie
I totally agree. Ultimately, most decisions in league are a matter of opinion. Personally, I didn't think it was impossible that Edwards could have run across and prevented that try, so I could understand the video ref's decision. Annesley saying that the decision was wrong - if that's what he did say - is like saying that his opinion is the only one that matters.
Cwizzle
Roar Rookie
“The Tommy Dearden try save beats Sattler for quality though granted not for the moment.” Settle petal…. Just because the media says so does not make it so.. Sattler’s try saver was 20+ years ago. (2003). We will not be talking about Dearden’s efforts in 20 years, as commendable as they were, in a beaten side. Payten will use it to show the rest of the team what commitment is required to play NRL, that is all.
Albo
Roar Rookie
But Walker has plenty of talent and has proven it for a few years now. I just question his resilience compared to early looks at Galvin.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Galvin is bigger already at 18. Has plenty of bulk to put on. Yet easily still just pushed through the line to set up a match winning try , with a great pass. At a club with less match winners & without a winning culture, right now. Compared to being parachuted into a winning club , given time already. With a premiership winning halves partner. Matter of opinion.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Galvin is not a small boy and will be bigger again in two years time. He looks robust to me.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Well two that come to mind is Roberts and the Foxx, then players that played with Souths add Koroisau there is more if anyone can add to the list :laughing:
AJ Mithen
Expert
I can't agree with your second point Panther - these late tries are more the winning team being less interested in defence.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I only saw Jordan make one mistake - he was solid all night but he didn't get a lot of help from Savage and Schiller. If looks could kill he would have put away Xavier Savage twice. Once after that lazy chase that ended up being a Sharks try and a dropped ball after a tackle not long after. Big Red should never have played - he looks unfit. Whereas Trey Mooney has been racking up 200 metres per games in the reserves. He has to play next week. Maybe Mariota into the back row given Hosking and Whitehead are doubtful. Corey needs another game or two in NSW Cup. Ethan Strange is like a young Jack Wighton with his tackling - he absolutely loves it. Can't wait until he starts to expand his repertoire in attack.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I'd like to take back that comment about the Tigers - how good was their win yesterday? Great that results are so hard to predict at the moment - well not for my tipping score - but so good to watch games and not really know who is going to win.
Albo
Roar Rookie
100% NQR !
TaineJai99
Roar Rookie
Went to the Good Friday game and at least 3 or 4 times the Bulldogs white headgear (of which they have a few) had me fooled thinking there was a knock on. Glad to know I'm not the only one
Albo
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't say that. What I would say is that Galvin looks to be more resilient than Walker, which I think impacts his game at times.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think the Tigers still have some major issues in the outside backs, which the Eels failed to exploit yesterday.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I'm with you 100% regarding the Dolphins, Matth . I thought that Katoa had a great tour with Tonga in England and expected the big improvement in his game this season. He is a very smart player improving each week. Throw in great buys of Farnworth & Flegler (the Broncos are missing them) and an improving back 5, and the Dolphins look pretty good for 2024 . I despite him now likely to miss a couple of matches, I think that young Plath adds plenty from lock. Once again, injuries may hurt them at some point, but it looks like their depth has improved.
Albo
Roar Rookie
He is so dangerous with the ball, but has failed to improve one iota in defence since his Storm days ? You get rocks & diamonds every week from him ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
"..they had some unbelievable stars in their juniors and they let them all go.." Who were these unbelievable stars they let go, Steve ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! You can't blame Rapana for that debacle by the Raiders. He has been in great form in recent weeks. As soon as Tapine was rested in the 29th minute ( after Papa too), the floodgates opened for Cronulla ? The Raiders bench just didn't do their job and let the Sharks grab the momentum. Add to that the poor defensive work of both Raiders wingers and the game was gone at halftime. Apart from the great tackling performance by young Strange, the rest looked pretty ordinary for most of the match.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I think Galvin has already shown more promise, than Walker.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
You’d have to look at their line up for that season, to decide if he achieved a lot there or not enough? Same as his time at South’s.