Table of Contents
Another week of NRL action is in the books and it had something for everyone – stunning tries, epic counter-attacks, huge upsets and a last-second finish to top it all off.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know about every match in another brilliant round of rugby league.
1. Roosters fail to take Penrith lead
Focusing on process over results is one of those generic coaches’ speeches we hear every week but, like all rugby league clichés, it becomes powerful if a team really means it.
Penrith really means it. They have done it for a long time. The reason they can do without James Fisher-Harris and Nathan Cleary and completely control the Roosters, a team many consider one of their main rivals this season, is that mentality they carry into every run, every set, every half. and all the games of the last seasons.
The Roosters, for all their talent, lack the same minute-to-minute consistency. They have enough accomplished players on the roster to know exactly what is needed if they are to make the most of their considerable potential.
But as things stand, they are still trying to find their way. There are still cruel lapses of concentration, basic errors of application and execution that cannot be avoided. This is a team that should be able to look the Panthers in the eye without blinking, but right now they’re still pretty far off the pace.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3-Dylan Edwards
2-Isaah Yeo
1 – Sunia Turuva
2. Changes needed as Bulldogs fall short
Canterbury are not exactly the most inspired attacking team in the world: despite having the likes of Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton in the team, they have struggled to pick up points in four rounds.
With that in mind, it is crucial that the Dogs make the most of each and every attacking opportunity they get. In their loss to South Sydney they had enough possession and field position to win the game, but a lack of polish in the attacking 20 cost them dearly.
Drew Hutchinson joined the club from the Roosters over the summer and while he is a skilled and astute operator, his lack of speed made things difficult in some of the most crucial moments of the Good Friday defeat.
With Toby Sexton’s fresh legs waiting in the wings, a change of approach could help unlock things for Cameron Ciraldo’s team.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3 – Keaon Koloamatangi
2-Josh Curran
1-Jack Wighton
3. Dearden’s tackle for good
Brisbane totally dominated North Queensland on Friday night as they showed that they, along with the Panthers, are a class above the competition at the moment. Cowboys coach Todd Payten lamented that his team wasn’t inspired to action by Tom Dearden’s coverage tackle on Selwyn Cobbo, and he was right because it was one of the great defensive plays in recent years.
It had a greater degree of difficulty than Scott Sattler’s legendary effort in the 2003 grand final, but Sattler slips through due to the magnitude of the moment.
But that might be the only tackle that has him covered: Dearden’s effort can be compared to Darren Albert’s tackle on Matt Seers in 1997 and Xavier Coates’ pursuit of Dane Gagai in 2021 as one of the team’s highest-effort plays. modern times.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3 – Adam Reynolds
2-Pat Carrigan
1 – Sailor Tristan
4. What to do with Zac Lomax?
The Dragons face a conundrum with Zac Lomax. The 24-year-old is unhappy playing full-back and has been linked with an immediate release from the only NRL club he has ever known.
But he’s good at playing there. Really good. In fact, after four rounds he has been St George Illawarra’s best player along with the always competitive Ben Hunt.
Lomax again ran the most meters of any Dragon in their upset victory over the Sea Eagles, which was a performance based on toughness, courage and desire, qualities that Lomax has been accused of lacking in the past. , but which he has more than demonstrated this season.
The Dragons and Lomax are expected to discuss his future this week. What happens next is still up in the air, but Lomax has shown over four rounds that he has the talent to be an elite outside player in the NRL, whether at St George Illawarra or elsewhere.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3 – Ben Hunt
2 – Jack bird
1 – Jacob Liddle
5. Jesse Bromwich turns back time
There was a time when Jesse Bromwich had good reason to be the best front row in the world. It may have been a while ago (Bromwich is the fourth-oldest player in the league this year and will retire at the end of the season), but the 34-year-old was a terror in his time.
It was never supposed to be this way for the Dolphins. Bromwich, the club’s inaugural captain, was recruited for his leadership skills and his ability to guide the club’s younger forwards as much as he was recruited for his ability to play.
New recruit Tom Flegler, who was the Phins’ best in their win over Gold Coast, is the club’s mainstay and plays with an aggression and athleticism that Bromwich simply cannot match.
But sometimes the old man takes a look at the cellar and pulls out something that reminds us of his best vintage. Against the Titans, it was a nice little short pass to Josh Kerr that helped the forward crash in and seal the win for Wayne Bennett’s team.
It was part of a strong performance from Bromwich, who used his skill (he also delivered two strong offloads and had two line-breaking assists) to help take down the Titans’ younger forwards. Just because he’s older doesn’t mean he can’t do it when duty calls.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3 – Tom Flegler
2-Euan Aitken
1-Herbie Farnworth
6. Warriors can have it all with RTS and CNK
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has made great progress in his first four NRL games and was one of New Zealand’s best in their win over Newcastle, running 283 meters with ball in hand.
Because Tuivasa-Sheck is a star and produces highlight plays such as his dynamic second-half run, where he beat Mat Croker and Jack Hetherington before beating Adam Elliott, there have been calls for him to remain at fullback permanently.
But with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad set to return from injury, Tuivasa-Sheck should return to left centre. There he can still showcase his dynamic running game while allowing Nicoll-Klokstad, who had the best season of his career in 2023, to resume his excellent partnership with Shaun Johnson and the rest of the right-side attack. club.
The back-to-back wins have helped stabilize the Warriors after their 0-2 start to the season and with Tuivasa-Sheck improving and Nicoll-Klokstad returning, the New Zealand club is progressing well into the season.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3 – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2 – Mitch Barnett
1 – Kalyn Ponga
7. Cronulla has a live one in Iro
It’s not easy to break down Cronulla’s backline – their back five are one of the most productive and dangerous attacking units in the league and they led the way in the comeback win over Canberra with both their yard work and their power in the 20s. attackers.
Kayal Iro was just getting started as a series of injuries forced Siosifa Talakai to switch forwards, but in just his second NRL game, the son of New Zealand legend Kevin Iro looked right at home, scoring a try and running 135 meters on the track. left edge.
At 24, Iro is something of a late bloomer – he has featured for Newtown in the NSW Cup for a few seasons – but looked very comfortable at left centre. Talakai could well return to the centers next week, but if Craig Fitzgibbon ever wanted to make his move to the group permanent, Iro looks a very capable replacement.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3 – Cam McInnes
2-Hynes Niche
1-Joe Tapine
8. The NRL’s most underrated player.
It’s hard for any NRL player to really fly under the radar these days. The rise of fantasy sports and the 24/7 microscope on sports means that everyone knows almost everything about everyone else. But if you wanted to pick the most underrated player in the league, you could do a lot worse than the Tigers’ block on Fonua Pole.
There is a lot going on at Wests Tigers at the moment. Lachlan Galvin and Jahream Bula are two of the NRL’s brightest young stars, Api Koroisau might be the best hooker in the world and, even as a coach, Benji Marshall’s stardom is hard to eclipse.
There’s nothing special about Pole, but that’s why it’s so effective. He has the brute strength to move defenders and footwork that makes him more than just another rock-breaking middle forward.
The 21-year-old has surpassed 100 meters in each of the Tigers’ three games so far this season and has played a key role with Stefano Utoikamanu in securing the center of the ruck.
Galvin, Bula and Koroisau will continue to win applause and undoubtedly deserve many, but without the anonymous work of the Pole their job would be much more difficult.
ABC Sport Player of the Year Votes
3 – Lachlan Galvin
2 – J’maine Hopgood
1 – Api Koroisau
ABC Sport Player of the Year top 10
1. Dylan Edwards (Panthers) – 7
=2. Ben Hunt (Dragons) – 6
=2. James Tedesco (Roosters) – 6
=4. Pat Carrigan (Broncos) – 5
=4. Api Koroisau (Tigers) – 5
=4. Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles) – 5
=7. Tom Flegler (Dolphins) – 4
=7. Kalyn Ponga (Gentlemen) – 4
=7. Jordan Rapana (Raiders) – 4
=7. Matthew Timoko (Raiders) – 4
(Votes are compiled by ABC Sport’s commentary team after each match)
