Your speaking factors is likely to be a day late, however that’s simply an additional day to get down and sift via the mess that was NRL Spherical 23. Right here come your weekly observations and examinations.
Flanagan chows down
Canterbury centre Stephen Crichton’s nostril was clearly bloodied, nonetheless photos of the incident don’t look nice and the case was referred on to the judiciary. Dragons halfback Kyle Flanagan is in all kinds after discovering Crichton’s nostril in his mouth, and my god the takes which have surrounded this subject have been mind-numbingly dangerous.
Sides have been taken, you’re both group ‘Flanagan had no choice as a result of Crichton jammed his nostril into his mouth’ or group ‘Flanagan is extra animal than man and ought to be suspended for months’.
Apparently Crichton isn’t going to present proof on the listening to and Canterbury haven’t even made a grievance, however that gained’t issue into the NRL’s choice right here. The identical factor occurred with Jack Wighton and Tyson Gamble final season and Wighton received banned for 3 video games, utilizing the identical argument Flanagan will.
Not loads modified
Higher efforts in shedding outings from Parramatta, New Zealand and Brisbane confirmed there’s nonetheless a little bit of life and power left approaching the top of the yr. The Eels blew an enormous lead/received hosed by refs in coughing up a 14-point lead in seven minutes however have been nice for the opposite 73 minutes.
New Zealand fought again from 20-6 down in opposition to the Dolphins however couldn’t maintain on in golden level, and Brisbane teed off on the stunning Cowboys in what’s finally a fruitless outcome for his or her finals goals.
Melbourne had yet one more by the e book win over South Sydney, taking the factors 28-16. Cronulla shredded the Gold Coast 44-0 and the Titans as soon as once more confirmed they can’t be trusted to do good issues multiple time in a row.
St George Illawarra once more couldn’t again up after a terrific efficiency, taken down 28-10 by Canterbury who didn’t really feel even barely threatened at any time. Canberra have been horrible happening 46-24 in opposition to Manly, who got here off the bye stuffed with pace and a thirst for factors. The Sea Eagles might have put 60 on them in the event that they’d felt prefer it.
Newcastle stayed in contact with the finals with an informal 34-18 outcome over Wests Tigers, nevertheless it’s onerous to think about the Knights hauling themselves right into a place of consequence.
Fletcher Sharpe scores a strive. (Picture by Scott Gardiner/Getty Pictures)
All up, the spherical ended with everybody the place they have been earlier than, however just a few considerations for the likes of Canberra, North Queensland and St George Illawarra.
The highest 4 stay in place, however there’s just a few match-ups coming within the subsequent few weeks that would rattle round who’s the place.
Save Reece Walsh, save the NRL
Been greater than a little bit of remark round in regards to the Broncos fullback within the final few minutes, so why not chuck my bid in. Walsh was nice once more in Brisbane’s 42-18 belting of the Cowboys in Townsville – making metres, breaking tackles, laying on tries and line breaks, you identify it.
When he’s going, he’s unbelievable. Walsh’s greatest downside on the sector although is that his opponents know this, too.
So he will get that ‘famous person’ consideration with each contact, whether or not it’s blatantly late hits, shoulders to his chest after passing, some ‘additional juice’ within the deal with, only a contact extra ‘contact’ when he’s attempting to take care of bombs, grubbers and all the things else.
It’s all a part of it, I suppose. He’s the perfect participant on the opposition and it’s in your curiosity to gradual him down or as they are saying in boxing – make these early deposits that can accumulate curiosity throughout the remainder of the struggle.
However Walsh will get battered each recreation. He’s simply 22 years previous and has already had dangerous concussion points. He’s 88 video games into his profession and in most of these he’s been dragging himself from contest to contest due to that aforementioned therapy.
I do know it’s cool to hate on Walsh, to say he’s a ‘fairly boy’ who ‘doesn’t need it sufficient’, is ‘comfortable’ as a result of he yelled at a teammate and he’s higher trying than you.
Reece Walsh reels on the bottom after taking excessive contact from Joseph Suaalii in Origin 1. (Picture by Cameron Spencer/Getty Pictures)
All this bullshit exhibits is that you simply don’t watch what he does, how he performs and the way he’s focused, otherwise you don’t care as a result of it’s simpler to affix the gang and sledge away.
With the extent of bodily punishment he’s absorbing each week it’ll be a miracle if he’s nonetheless within the recreation when he’s 24. Perhaps it’s time to look a bit extra carefully on the consideration gamers like Walsh are getting.
Good video games subsequent week
There’s some actually good match-ups developing in Spherical 24. Let’s hope the on-field product matches the potential on the paper.
We start Thursday evening in Penrith, with the Panthers and Melbourne. This might be something. If Penrith win by six or extra they’ll take prime spot, if Melbourne win they’ll most likely get the JJ Giltinan Protect.
Don’t neglect although, these two predict on enjoying one another through the finals a couple of times so there’s not going to be a lot laid on the road when it comes to set plans and strategic strikes. Nonetheless, it’ll be enjoyable to look at.
Friday’s pub dinner is eaten whereas Manly and the Warriors go at it, the Sea Eagles a top-four likelihood. Primetime Friday is the Roosters and Parramatta, who’re giving an excellent account of themselves.
Saturday’s slate options Canterbury internet hosting the Dolphins, which has a big effect on finals jostling. North Queensland and the Raiders are the twilight recreation, Wests Tigers and South Sydney the nightcap in what is likely to be a sneaky good one.
Sunday is a significant one when the Dragons host the Titans within the race for the underside of the eight, then Cronulla welcomes Newcastle to there building website with the house group seeking to keep prime 4, the guests on their final likelihood to seize the decrease finals locations.
Cronulla have to win to maintain a stranglehold on the double likelihood. (Picture by Graham Denholm/Getty Pictures)
Brisbane has the bye and whereas two free factors is good, it’s not a miracle answer to their finals issues. Another loss they usually’ll be ‘formally’ performed in 2024.
The NRLW has some beauties this weekend, too – Brisbane and Canberra kick us off within the Saturday early recreation, adopted by North Queensland and the Gold Coast which ought to be a ripper.
Sunday’s video games see the Dragons and Roosters get amongst it, the Sharks and Knights in a curtain raiser for the lads’s recreation earlier than Wests Tigers and Parramatta take to Campbelltown on Sunday evening.
Spherical 23’s random ideas
– Penrith snagged younger gun Blaize Talagi from Parramatta wth a three-year deal, disappointing those that thought the champions have been haemorrhaging gamers and about to return again to the pack.
– The NRL has ticked off on what I believed was a reasonably apparent obstruction in Penrith’s 36-34 comeback win over Parramatta, nevertheless it’s price maintaining a tally of their blue shirt coach, who spent nearly the whole second half on the sector barking instructions and getting up fairly near the play. We all know what occurs when trainers get too shut…
– Congratulations to St George Illawarra, now clear holders of the NRL file for consecutive video games conceding a strive. They’re on a 214-game streak going again to Spherical 23 of season 2015. They’ll have this for some time, too, as a result of the closest reside streak to that is Canberra on 131 (again to Spherical 14, 2019).
– Why do South Sydney play video games at Homebush? It’s barren, darkish and nearly silent. Their match-up with the Storm was a throwback to the COVID period.
What caught your eye this weekend, Roarers?
