The Armchair Expert - Round 13

Performance of the Round

Paul Gallen, what a man. Or machine? The big lock made his long awaited return from injury against the Roosters on Sunday and looked like he hasn't missed a minute of footy. The Sharks skippers' work rate was astonishing considering his time off, but you'd expect nothing less from the bloke. He ran for over 230 metres off his 23 hit-ups as well as two offloads. On top of this he made 33 tackles against a near all representative Roosters pack.

The Great Phillip ‘Gus' Gould has called for New South Wales to move on from Gallen and pick players for the future for the Blues. Stuff him. This bloke carried the Blues through the years of Queensland domination and busted his arse for his state. He has earned the right to walk away from the jersey on his own terms. All the best in game two Gal.

Paul Carige Award for the Worst Performance of the Round

They may have been in line to receive the previous award if they managed to hold on to victory against the highly fancied Cowboys on Monday night, but it wasn't to be. Enough has been written and talked about the form of the Eels this season, but to concede five tries in eleven minutes and cough up a 24 point lead is just plain sad. If rugby league games were only 60 minutes or so, the Eels would be sitting pretty in the top eight. To bad for Parramatta fans it isn't and the club looks like they may add to the collection of spoons they have attained in recent times.

Surprise Packet

I don't want to bring false hope, but the Bulldogs may have finally turned the corner. They lost captain James Graham to a hamstring injury early in the match yet were somehow still able to come up with enough creative play to really trouble the once unbreakable ‘Red V Wall' at times. They scored three tries in the last twenty minutes to blast the Saints off the ground, yet why haven't they done this the whole time Graham, and even Brett Morris, have been out? It must be frustrating for Doggies fans. This is the side that played in last years grand final remember? So what they have dished up in the first 13 rounds of the season must be greatly improved on if they want to go deep into September, and possibly even the first Sunday in October once more. Monday's game against the ladder leaders was a step in the right direction.

Russell Packer Medal for WTF Moment of the week

Against the Dragons on Sunday with 20 minutes to go and the game on the line, the Bulldogs opted to throw on Josh Reynolds. The former Blues five-eight had been benched in favour of young gun Moses Mbye, due to the rookie turning out some stellar performances to date this season. So when Des Hasler tells ‘Grub' to get off the pine and warm up, you'd think he'd either come on for Mbye, at hooker or roam free at lock. But no, Trent Hodkinson is the man to make way for him.

This is the current New South Wales halfback. His side are in the game up to their neck and need some big plays from big game players… yet according to Des, Hodkinson is not the man for the job. If your club coach doesn't have faith you can get his side the win when the chips are down, how is a whole state meant to believe in him? WTF.

Around the Social Media Traps

A Bulldog takes his misses to dinner, Daniel Vidot admires some fan artwork and the Rabbitohs entertain a big crowd in Perth.

Dinner date