Panthers v Broncos preview
8 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
Friday night's main match provided intense, and at times awesome, rugby league from teams who are at the very top of the 2015 NRL competition, the Roosters and Broncos. The half time score of 12-10 to the Roosters was probably a fair representation, as they scored two tries to one. However they still give too many penalties and the Broncos took advantage, kicking 3 penalty goals during the match. The score finished 18 - 18 in regulation time, and livewire Bronco's Half Ben Hunt scored his second try for the night in golden point extra time, giving his team a well-earned 22 - 18 victory. Suncorp fans and commentators alike were mesmerised by the clash between, and contributions of, Brisbane's Sam Thaiday (14 hit-ups and 37 tackles) and Sydney's Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (12 hit-ups and 36 tackles). Amazingly, despite my Neanderthal colleagues love of ‘the biff', both men stamped their authority on the match without throwing a punch.
Simultaneously the Sharks and Knights battled it out down in the ‘Shire' at Remondis Stadium and the home team continued their good form from last week. After leading 12 - 2 at half time they went on to win 22 - 6. Jack Bird, acquired from the Dragons in the off season, showed again that he has what it takes to be an 80 minute NRL footballer. He made the break, offloaded and backed up to score the Sharks first try and was busy all night, running the ball 10 times and making 23 tackles. The four tries to one score-line was indicative of a match where one team was very much off their game and the other keen to take advantage. The Knights missed too many tackles, made too many errors and were never really in the match. Maybe they are just not ‘mud runners' as their four wins were in sunny dry conditions while their subsequent two losses were played at night on slippery wet grounds. As for the Sharks, they are improving every week!!!!
3pm Saturday was for years kick-off time in the "Match of the Round" conducted by the NSW Rugby League. Beamed into the pubs and homes of regional and metropolitan NSW, many families built their Saturday around being at the game or on the couch at 3pm. The NRL have revived this timeslot and although the match is only available on Pay TV it offers a daytime clash and the likelihood of high quality footy. The match between the Parramatta Eels and the Gold Coast Titans was evenly balanced at half time - Parramatta 3 tries to the Gold Coast's 2 (16-12) but the second half was all Titans, as they ran in 5 tries to finish 38 - 12 winners. Titans' speedster James Roberts added 3 tries to his seasons tally with yet another intercept try braking the hearts of home fans at Pirtek, just as he had, the home fans at Remondis two weeks ago. Parramatta's coach nailed it at his press conference "we shot ourselves in the foot", he said, referring to his teams errors that led to extra tackling and therefore a reduced capacity when in possession.
Saturday evening's match between the NZ Warriors and Wests Tigers, from Mt Smart Stadium, was a crowd pleaser from the start. It was an up tempo, pedal to the metal affair. Although the Tigers scored first and last in the first half, the Warriors scored 20 points in 14 minutes and at half time they led 20 - 12. Celebrating 200 NRL games, crowd favourite Manu Vatuvei scored a double and his 69th minute try put the Warriors ahead by 8. Evergreen Tiger Pat Richards hit back 5 minutes later to move his team back to within a try at 22-26, but, former Tiger Bodene Thompson crossed for a converted try with one minute left and the party to celebrate Manu's achievements was back on course. Final score Warriors 32 Tigers 22. The Warriors proved again that they can be a top 8 team but they were helped by the Tigers. Any team with 59% of the possession (as the Warriors had) would be expected to win and win easily. Yet, with more ball, more line breaks and more off loads the home team were still only 4 points ahead with 5 minutes to go. Next Saturday they travel to Townsville to play the Cowboys and with two days extra to rest and prepare, they will be expected to compete for 100% of the match, if they don't, the critics won't hold back, nor will the Cowboys.
The final Saturday match between the Panthers and Sea-Eagles was a desperate affair, with both teams looking for their first win in a month. Penrith won 22 - 12 in front of their home fans and although grateful for the two competition points, injuries to key players marred their victory. With Jaime Soward, Lewis Brown and Dean Whare already unavailable, Captain Peter Wallace pulled out before the match and during play stand in Captain Elijah Taylor and blockbusting centre Jamal Idris limped off leaving the Panthers with a 15 man rotation. The football was nothing to write home about with both teams, but especially Manly, struggling to break their opponents line. The Panthers led 22 - 8 after 60 minutes with two of their tries to winger Josh Mansour, the highlights. The Sea Eagles fought back with a 71st minute try to Steve Matai but, despite leading by 2 at half time they struggled all night. The inability of departing halves Cherry-Evans and Foran to spark their attack must be leading to extra hair loss for Coach Toovey.
Manly, who are in wooden spoon territory with just 1 win in 6 matches, have an unmatched injury crises. Before Saturday night's match the Northern Beaches club had 8 of their 25 players unavailable and lost Captain Brett Stewart before kick-off. Adding to their woes boom youngster Tom Trbojevic and replacement forward Jesse Sene-Lefao left the field in the first half and the Sea Eagles would also play out the match with just 15 players. Friday night's match against the Bulldogs will test the depth at the Sea Eagles as their VB NSW Cup team are also 1 from 6. Luckily the U-20's are flying high and providing players like Tom Trbojevic to fill the gaps.
Sunday's matches were two more examples of the high quality footy that day time slots provide. The 2pm match between Canberra's Raiders and the Melbourne Storm was a terrific battle between a club in the rebuilding stage (Canberra) and a club that has been the benchmark for a decade (Melbourne) and more. Melbourne won 14 - 10 but the result was in doubt until the final siren.
At half time, with Canberra leading 10-2, I turned to my offsider and asked two simple questions, "Do you think the Storm can win from here?" and "If the scores were reversed, would you give the Raiders a chance?" The answers were Yes and No and that's the way it turned out. Despite the excellent first half from the Raiders, especially in defence, we didn't think they could repeat the effort. With Melbourne tries in the 48th and 52nd minutes and with key defenders Shaun Fensom and Josh Hodgson off injured, Canberra were headed for defeat, but a highly creditable one. They are only one win out of the top eight and improving every week. This Sunday's match against the Tigers should be a bonanza, fuelled by the confidence of youth.
The second match was a big win for the Dragons, 31 - 6. The Bulldogs were admittedly understrength but no one expected them to be beaten so comprehensively. Despite a larger share of time in possession (53% - 47%) the Bulldogs were not able to break the Dragons extraordinary defence, especially on the try line, where it matters most. Saints are easily the best defensive team in the competition, averaging just 10-11 points per match and while their attack is not prolific, it is improving each week. In weeks 1 and 2, they scored just 4 points per match. Since then they've averaged 19 points per week. Many would say that the Dragons have been "flying under the radar" but Sundays win has blown their cover. They are contenders and every other team must be reassessing their approach to "Benji's" Dragons. Next Friday night's game against the Broncos at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, presents two teams who are in red hot form and we can all sit back and enjoy the clash.
Finally, the match most had waited for all weekend, the Monday night clash between Greg Inglis' Rabbitohs and Jonathan Thurston's Cowboys.
After round three, I wrote of the Cowboys, "on successive Monday nights, with matches against the Storm, Panthers and Rabbitohs, the Townsville club's season, might be declared over even before they give up Thurston, Scott and co for the rep season". With the 30 - 12 win over South Sydney tonight the Cowboys have proven that their season is well and truly on track and that the Rabbitohs are beatable. South's were solid in the first half and went to the break with an 8 point lead. But Nth Queensland crossed for a try one minute into the second stanza and three more times after that, exploding the myth of the unbeatable Rabbitohs. In fact, without the Penalty Goal in the last minutes against the Bulldogs on Good Friday South's would have now lost three straight. They have discovered that being premier means every match is against an opponent looking for your scalp. Of-course a write up about a Cowboys victory is impossible without mentioning how crucial Jonathan Thurston is to their set-up. He had a hand in all 5 tries and carried the ball in every set. Add in a rampaging set of forwards and the current Cowboys are nothing like the team that lost their first three matches.