NRL Notepad: Round 5 (Sunday & Monday)
From now through to October, I’ll look back at my notes from the prior round and highlight an area of each team to keep a close eye on from your couch.
The Sunday slate has been cut in half due to a COVID scare.
Nonetheless, we still have a few things to keep an eye on in Dragons v Sharks before settling in for an unexpected episode of Monday Night Footy.
St George-Illawarra Dragons v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Dragons
There isn’t a lot to get excited about with the Dragons at the moment. It feels like we’re all going through the motions until Paul McGregor is moved on and this roster is blown up.
However, Tyrell Fuimaono is a young player that can ensure he’s part of the Red V’s future. He’s looked one of their best so far this season. Strangely dropped from the side in Round 4 so Mary could carry a hooker and centre on the bench, Fuimaono starts in the backrow this week for Tariq Sims.
He’s a brutally hard runner of the football. He wound up 14 times for 177 running metres and seven tackle breaks in his only start this season (Round 2). In a side that has appeared to lack urgency and a willingness to get their hands dirty, Fuimano is the perfect player to insert into the lineup this week.
Sharks
Shaun Johnson touched the ball more than he has done all season last week while handing out three try assists in a much-needed 26–16 win over the Cowboys.
He still copped a bake in the post-match discussion…
It was particularly surprising to hear it come from Cooper Cronk who is consistently the most level-headed analyst capable of offering constructive opinions.
Sure, Johnson wasn’t perfect. His shanked kick was a shocker. But to go after him following Cronulla’s first win of the season in which he played a significant role is lazy analysis. It’s happening across the game with George Williams made the Raiders scapegoat in Round 4, too.
Johnson is running for a career-high 87.8 metres this season and came into Round 5 equal-first in try assists. He can put on a show against an awful Dragons outfit this week.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters
Bulldogs
We might see the Bulldogs as a big loser of the new six-again rule this week.
They’ve managed to keep games like this relatively close in the past by slowing things down and forcing their elite opposition into an arm-wrestle. Rather than trying to match an excellent attack point-for-point, the Bulldogs aim to bring the opposing side down to their level.
Canterbury’s lack of attack kills them most weeks. It’s not going to come to life against one of the best defensive teams in the NRL either. But if they can slow things down enough and force a few errors out of the defending premiers, a 16–6 defeat and moral victory isn’t out of the question here.
Roosters
In stark contrast to the Bulldogs, the Roosters are thriving behind the rule changes. Plenty expected the likes of the Roosters and Storm to be brought down a peg with the introduction of the six-again rule. However, the Roosters attack is designed for this.
It’s all about being in position to make the most of your opportunities. If the opposing team can’t make up their numbers behind a six-again call and consecutive quick play-the-balls, the Chooks are ready to pounce.
Roosters players walk up to a cafe in shape they’re that well-drilled.
If the Roosters can surge through the middle and have the Bulldogs on their heels, we might be in for a few long-range tries in this one.
