NRL Notepad: Round 7
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.
Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm
Panthers
Apisai Koroisau is already one of the best buys of the season. In a position the Panthers have struggled to consistently fill for a couple of years now, Koroisau has only spent 14 minutes off the field so far this season. It’s no coincidence that the Panthers have started to build some consistency with a familiar face at dummy half every week.
A maestro in attack, Koroisau’s subtle double-pump was my Play of the Round last week.
“It’s Koroisau’s double-pump that really sets it up. Jacks is slowly getting across to make up the numbers, but Koroisau sucks him back in.”
The Panthers have only had six six-again calls (fewest in the NRL) since the rule was introduced in Round 3. If they begin to get their fair share, Koroisau will have a field day.
Rabbitohs
Cameron Murray has had two games at lock against lowly opposition in the Titans and Warriors to get back into the swing of things. Shuffled to the edge for the first four rounds, Murray is back in the middle where he dominated throughout the 2019 season. Scoring 12 tries while running for 112 metres per game, Murray took ownership of the ‘ Best Young Lock in the NRL ‘ tag.
Victor Radley has started to wrestle it off him recently, though…
Murray has scored just one try in 2020 — a crash ball off Latrell Mitchell while playing on the left edge — and hasn’t run for more than 112 metres once this season.
Up against “statistically one of the form locks of the comp” in Isaah Yeo, I’m expecting to see Murray start firing on all cylinders in Round 7.
Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors
Storm
I loved these passes from Cameron Munster last week.
Wrapping around the ruck late before isolating Viliame Kikau with two lead runners in the first, Munster hits Feliese Kaufusi to score. There is no way Jarome Luai is stopping him with an arms tackle from there.
Later, it’s Kaufusi — along with Ryan Papenhuyzen — drawing the attention with Munster this time choosing the throw it across the face of his back rower for Brenko Lee to stroll over with ease.
So pretty.
Unfortunately for my Warriors, Kodi Nikorima’s left edge is a prime target for similar plays on Friday night.
Warriors
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was apparently going to save his energy for when the Warriors cross halfway in 2020. That hasn’t been the case with the Warriors relying on their captain’s yardage more than ever. He’s still leading the NRL in proportion of team running metres at 12.8%.
Todd Payten has made one promising selection in his first game as head coach: David Fusitu’a is back on the wing. With Ken Maumalo also returning from injury this week, we might finally see this ball-playing Tuivasa-Sheck we were promised in the preseason.
Sydney Roosters v St George-Illawarra Dragons
Roosters
Once again, the Roosters didn’t disappoint in producing another beautiful display of attacking rugby league. The Eels hung in there, but the premiership qualities of the Chooks shone through in the end.
What more can we ask from this group?
There is a good chance we see another performance similar to that in Round 5 against the Bulldogs here. While on the improve, the Dragons don’t offer a lot of confidence on the defensive end.
I might keep the screen recorder running for the full 80 minutes so we can put this ‘ block plays are bad ‘ idea that is going around to bed. They’re good when you run them like the Roosters.
Dragons
We’re going to see how much the Dragons want Paul McGregor to hang around this week. Desperation to avoid an 0–4 start got them across the line against the Sharks in Round 5. Talent was enough to slide past the Titans in Round 6.
All the classics — passion, fight, bravery etc — need to be on display if the Dragons defence is to keep a lid on the Roosters on Friday night. One lapse in concentration and that could be the game. We know the Dragons don’t have enough points in them to compete in a shootout.
It was a lot easier to do before the six-again rule was introduced, but the Dragons need to frustrate the Roosters. Apply a few spoiling tactics to get under their skin. It’s about the only time they’ve looked vulnerable over the last two years.
North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights
Cowboys
There was a moment earlier in the season that the Cowboys looked like they might cause a few problems. Instead, they’ve won two of their six games, conceded 34 points in the first half last week, and are yet to play a Top 8 team.
Paul Green is in the hot seat and, quite frankly given what happened to Stephen Kearney, is lucky to still be in the job. Goodwill from making a Grand Final sure does last a while up there…
Anyway, my eyes will again be on Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow just as they were last week. He didn’t receive nearly enough quality ball while his side got smashed from pillar to post in the first half. Still, he finished with two line breaks and 101 running metres.
With the game gone and the Cowboys finally prepared to try something different in attack, they pushed Tabuai-Fidow out to the wing, just for one play, to use his speed on the outside.
Named at fullback again this week, I’ll have an eye out for something similar as the Cowboys work to revamp what has been a poor attack for a long time now.
Knights
Lachlan Fitzgibbon can hit a hole — that much we know. Does he have the ball-playing to really make the most of what is becoming a quicker game down the edges?
He missed an opportunity in Round 6, so we’re keeping an eye on that aspect of his game this week.
Daniel Saifiti started the set with a strong run off the kickoff before Aiden Guerra settled it up the middle. In what looks to be a pre-planned run, Kalyn Ponga sweeps around to the short side late, gets downhill, and feeds the ball to Kurt Mann who draws Xavier Coates in off the wing.
With the advantage on the short side, Ponga hits it again. This time, he feeds his outside man a little earlier.
Some quick hands by Fitzgibbon gives the Knights a two-vs-one. At worst, Bradman Best is running straight at Brodie Croft. Fitzgibbon helds onto it, though.
Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans
Broncos
Injuries or not, the Broncos have no idea in attack at the moment.
They’re 15 points behind with 15 minutes to play in this set. It’s time to throw your best at the defence. Instead…
They get things underway with a settler in the middle before a shift to the right side that was never, ever going to be anything other than hitting the lead runner.
A double block the other way does little to stretch the defence given the snail’s pace it goes through the hands.
Another settler ahead of a borderline threatening, but ultimately disjointed shift, leads to a kick-and-hope out to Corey Oates on the left wing.
Give us something, Brisbane. Anything!
Titans
The Titans have changed their starting hooker for a third time already this season.
It’s Mitch Rein’s turn for another crack despite only starting 10 consecutive games in the position once since 2016. Will the Titans finally have their hooker for the season? Probably not. But, Rein’s overeagerness to run the ball from dummy half may have a place in the game as it is today.
Erin Clark didn’t take his opportunity to claim the number nine jersey — he’s better than what we’ve seen over the last three weeks. It’s worth giving Rein another chance given the state of the Titans right now.
Parramatta Eels v Canberra Raiders
Eels
The Eels have thrown an NRL-high 100 offloads so far this season.
The Panthers with the second-most?
65…
Perhaps it’s been the ease at which they made the offloads look against poor opposition to start the season that it’s not been a massive talking point? Although, the Eels released 21 offloads against the Roosters last week…
I’ll be looking at how the Eels are getting their arms free and what the supporting players are doing after the offload a lot closer this week.
Raiders
The Raiders have scored 20 points in their last 183 minutes of football.
Early into the season and nursing a few injuries or not, that isn’t good enough for a side that expects to return to the Grand Final in 2020.
Jack Wighton isn’t surprising people anymore; we all know he’s good. The same goes for George Williams.
Josh Papalii will score a solo try through his brute strength every so often, but not often enough.
Josh Hodgson hasn’t put his hand up as one of the best hookers in the game for quite some time. He’s without a try assist since the season restarted.
They look…predictable. This Eels defence is proving to be one of the best in the competition so we’re looking out for how the Raiders approach their good ball sets this week.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Sea Eagles
Des Hasler is a genius.
Few other coaches can suffer the sort of injuries he has over the last 18 months and still have his team competing against, if not beating, finals-bound sides.
But what now without Tom Trbojevic?
He’s scored or assisted on 11 of Manly’s 16 tries this season. As mentioned last week, he’s played a hand in others simply by being present.
He’s helped Daly Cherry-Evans over the line without even touching the ball in this one:
Brendan Elliot isn’t drawing that sort of attention out of the defence.
Des will need to dig deep into his bag of attacking tricks this week.
Sharks
Another round, another media member sticking the boot into Shaun Johnson…
Honestly, I don’t get it. Johnson is the least of Cronulla’s worries.
But I digress…
Matt Moylan. He’s playing this week. For how long? Nobody knows. All eyes are on him regardless, though. If the Sharks are to start making a run at the Top 8, it’s going to come through their attack.
On paper, Johnson, Moylan and Wade Graham should be combining to score points every week. Maybe they will if the trio can stay on the field? This will be just the sixth game all three have started together.
I’ve mentioned wanting to see Johnson swing over to the left side more often before. Perhaps the Moylan/Graham combination will give that idea some life this week.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Bulldogs
Give Jake Averillo the ball and set him free, Bulldogs.
We’ve seen the odd glimpse of what the 19-year-old can do with the ball in his hands. He absolutely dusted Kyle Flanagan in Round 5 before a poor pass cost him a second-career try assist.
Feed the young fella.
Tigers
So, we’re back here again. The Tigers are playing a bad team the week after winning well.
I’ll repeat what I said before their Round 4 loss to the Titans:
“It doesn’t matter how they do it: The Tigers must win.
The result is all that matters here.”
Originally published at https://rlwriters.substack.com.
