SQUADS: Betfred Super League - 2024 Round 8
9 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Cowboys 49 vs Rabbitohs 78
These two teams have tightened their ratings over the four weeks leading up to this match. North Queensland have improved from 57 to 49 and South Sydney from 95 to 78. To the pundits this is an indication that both are getting ready to be at their best in the finals. South Sydney have carried the burden of being Premiers - which is like walking around a paint ball park with a huge target on your chest and no weapon. Teams that won't play in the finals (Eels in R4, Raiders R8, Tigers R14 and Panthers R17) all lifted to play the Rabbitohs and grabbed the points.
South Sydney shrugged off last week's loss to Manly and ambushed the Nth Qld Cowboys on Thursday night. Watching the match on reply (Friday morning) it was clear that the Rabbitohs were not going to give Jonathan Thurston's team the chances other teams had, once they had them under pressure. Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis set the standard, grabbing a try in the 3rd minute and although Justin O'Neil crossed for the home team 13 minutes later it was clear that the visitors were on top, surging through the middle and making big metres from each set. Tom Burgess (25th min) exemplified their dominance brushing aside three defenders to score close to the posts. Adam Reynolds (38th min) popped a field goal to give Souths a 7 point lead.
The Cowboys have come back from some dire situations this year and their 50 metre try (scored by Lachlan Coote on the 40th minute was an example of their 2015, 100%, 80 minute commitment. When others are looking to the sheds for a ten minute break Thurston's team are thinking, how do we score?
The 2nd half was all South Sydney with Jason Clark in the 51st, Alex Johnston 62nd and Dylan Walker in the 73rd scoring tries to take them out to a 31-12 lead. A try to Michael Morgan three minutes from time, reduced the margin for the Cowboy's, which may make a difference when the position of Minor Premiers is decided in three weeks' time. Final Score South Sydney 31 - Nth Qld 18.
Broncos 48 vs Dragons 89
Consistency has been the marker of Brisbane's ratings over the month. Prior to round 19 they rated 1st on 48pts and that's where they remain. They miss the least number of tackles each match, concede the fewest number of penalties and have scored the most points. They are top 3 for line breaks, fewest errors and the +/- differential. St George were close to leading the competition after round 12 when they defeated the Sharks 42-6. When we published their rating prior to 20 they had lost 7 straight, rated 96 which was 8th the competition. With a 7 point improvement they have jumped to 7th prior to tonight's match.
Brisbane were too good for the Dragons. The final score 32-6 was an unflattering display of St George's ability (or not) to turn possession into points. While Brisbane seemed to score just about every time they visited their opponents Red Zone, St George had over 40 opportunities at the Brisbane end for just one try, in the 71st minute.
Broncos Jordan Kahu at the 7th min and Lachlan Maranta 19th min scored easily with identical plays, using deft inside passes to provide them with an untouched run to the line. When Anthony Milford stepped an crabbed his way to the line at the 37th min Brisbane led 16-0.
Boom half-back Ben Hunt destroyed any chance Dragons fans had of a fightback from their team with try's at the 45th and 55th minutes. Admittedly the first was a fluke but good players are known for being in the right place at the right time. When Dale Copley finished off a backline movement by scoring in the 64th minute Brisbane started looking to rest players for next week. Matt Gillett and Jack Reed got early showers.
Tigers 138 vs Knights 117
Wests and Newcastle have both drifted backwards in the ratings since round 19. (Tigers 133 - 138 and Knights 103 - 117). Both are rated 10th or worse in 8 areas, with the Tigers 15th in Penalties and Knights 15th in points against.
The Newcastle team finally found a way to win for stand in Coach Danny Buderus when they defeated Wests Tigers 24 - 18 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers raced to a 10-0 lead with tries to David Nofoaluma (6th min) and Pat Richards (9th min) at better than a point per minute. Wests were not allowed to get too far away as Akuila Uate (13th min) crossed for Newcastle but the ball was rolling for the Tigers and James Tedesco grabbed a try (of a grubber kick) at the 20th minute to give his team a 16 - 6 lead. Newcastle hit back at the 34th minute when Tyrone Roberts pounced on a ball in the in goal area and went into half time down 12 - 16. It wasn't great football but the closeness of the score would keep fans interested.
The Knights took the lead (for the first time) 5 minutes into the 2nd half with a try to Tyler Randall and they would not be headed. It took another 34 minutes before Tyrone Roberts scored his 2nd try for the match and year to seal the Novocastrians win.
Panthers 125 vs Warriors 102
Penrith have been rated 1st in offloads all year, meaning they have created much more 2nd phase play than other teams but failed to turn that advantage to points, rating 16th in points scored. They are also 15th in missed tackles and 15th in kick metres. New Zealand are the only team with a worse kicking record than Penrith and they make errors at similar rate 13th and 14th respectively.
Few had high expectations for the outcome of this match at Pepper Park. Although mathematically the Warriors could still play in the finals, last week's poor effort gave every indication that they were no longer up for the fight. If they had any hopes tonight obliterated them.
The Panthers led 12-0 after try's to Lewis Brown (9th) and Reagan Campbell-Gillard (14th) minutes. Captain Jamie Soward converted both and added penalty goal at the 28th minute. The Warriors fought back when both Sam Tomkins (31st) and Konrad Hurrell (34th) scored to create a 14-10 score line and looked like going to the break with that score. Tyrone Peachey (39th) had other ideas and when he backed up Jamie Soward to take the pass and run 16 metres to cross untouched, the score jumped to 20 - 10 as the whistle blew.
The 2nd half was not a brilliant display of rugby league but Penrith never took their foot of the New Zealand throat and when James Segeyaro cross kicked to David Simmons wing, the luck of the bounce went the home team's way and Simmons (50th min) added four points to the lead. There would be no change. Final Score Panthers 24 - Warriors 10
Roosters 54 vs Eels 134
The Sydney Roosters have improved their rating from 69 to 54 on the back of being 1st in defence, 1st in the differential, 1st in line breaks and tackle breaks, but they do make more errors than 13 other teams. Parramatta's rating has drifted and it's not hard to see why, they are 12th or worse in 7 out of 12 ratings. They are 5th in metres gained from their kicking game and it's the only light in their tunnel
After 40 minutes Parramatta had completely shocked the crowd, the commentators and no doubt their opponents. They had 58% of the ball and completed at 85% after 16 sets without a mistake. Meanwhile the Roosters made 7 errors and missed 10 tackles as they struggled to cope with the extraordinary enthusiasm of the underdogs. The Eels had scored three well contracted, entertaining tries. Captain courageous Tim Mannah (11th min) crashed through the Roosters forwards to score beside the posts. Within 5 minutes James Maloney (15th min) scored a long range effort for the Roosters and although he missed the conversion most viewers would have thought that the vigorous start by the Eels had been slowed. They were wrong. Eels wingman Semi Radradra (23rd min) ran on to a Reece Robinson pass and scored his 19th try for the season and then Corey Norman finished off a 50 metre attacking raid with another try, to give Parramatta an 18 - 4 lead, which they carried into half time.
The second half was full of trauma for fans as (most) waited for the Roosters to reel in the Eels and secure 2nd place on the competition ladder, while the rest (Parramatta fans) prayed that their team would pull off the upset of the season. Mitch Aubusson scored in the 51st minute and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck crossed four minutes later and with both try's converted the score was Eels 18 - Roosters 16. Another 20 minutes were to pass before Parramatta's resistance was overwhelmed. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves led the charge. From 20 metres out he stormed onto a pass from dummy half Jake Friend and trampled over Isaac De Gois, pushed off Nathan Peats and as the headed for the line, shrugging off the efforts of Junior Paulo and Reece Robinson. Amazingly Isaac De Gois picked himself up and chased the big forward and climbed on his back in a final (unsuccessful) attempt to prevent the try. The converted try only gave the Roosters a 4 point lead but the Eels were spent and when Jake Friend scampered across from 15 metres out their courageous effort had failed. The Final Score was a 30 - 18 loss, but, Parramatta had much to be proud of.
Raiders 93 vs Manly 129
Manly entered this match with poor ratings but that reflected their first 16 weeks, not the last 7. Canberra likewise have ratings that don't show much of the good work they have done.
All the pundits suggested that this was the match of the round with Manly-Warringah on a run toward the finals. They could afford 1 loss but not 2 and Canberra could not afford to lose.
The match started with the Sea Eagles asserting their authority, grabbing tries on the fringes as the Raiders defence squashed in to support the centre. First Steve Matai (4th min) scored in the left corner and the Jamie Lyon (25th min) used his skill and professionalism to score untouched on the right. Four minutes later the middle opened up and Brett Stewart backed up to score under the posts. In a high tempo match the score was suddenly 16-0 to the visitors which was odd given that almost 30 minutes had elapsed. The crowd had been boisterous but were quieted by what they'd seen. As half time got nearer Canberra prop Paul Vaughn (35th min) got himself over the line with only one defender in his way. 16-6 looked like being the half time score, but a penalty to Canberra after the bell had sounded gave Captain Jarrod Croker a chance to reduce the deficit to 8, a chance he didn't miss.
Ten minutes into the 2nd half the struggle between the big men was blown apart when an errant pass was intercepted by Canberra's Edrick Lee (50th min) who ran 90 metres to score under the posts making the score Manly 16 - Canberra 14. The crowd were back in the match and when their hero Blake Austin (58th min) stepped and hustled his way through the defence to score they went ballistic. The conversion gave Canberra a 4 point lead. At the 67th minute in a try more bizarre than brilliant Canberra capitalised on fullback Brett Stewart being mesmerised by a ball rolling along the touchline and when he kicked it (only slightly) it rolled into the hands of Jarrod Croker who passed to Jarrad Kennedy who crossed with a Sea Eagle hanging off his legs. It was 24 - 16 with an important conversion kick to come. Croker had kicked 4 from 4 before this, but he pushed it across the face of goal.
Three minutes later that man Jamie Lyon (72nd min) stamped his authority on the matched as he scored his second try. With seven minutes left Canberra led 24 - 20 but Ricky Stuarts boys would not be playing finals in 2015 because Brett Stewart (Manly's other big gun under pressure) scored his second try with three minutes left on the clock. Lyon converted and with 1min 42 seconds the Raiders needed to get the ball and manufacture a try or at least a goal - they could manage neither. Final score Manly 26 - Canberra 24
Bulldogs 76 vs Titans 163
The Bulldogs backed up their win last week against the Broncos with a dismantling of the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday afternoon. It was an important win for the Bulldogs, keeping them 2 points safe of 8th position. The Bulldogs, who have had a past few weeks of mixed results, now sit on 26 points in 7th position, with both the Dragons and Sea Eagles behind them on 24.
First half tries to Curtis Rona and Brett Morris, as well as two conversions from Trent Hodkinson, and the Bulldogs led by 8 midway through the half. The Titans replied with a try to Kalifa Faifai Loa in the 33rd minute, but that was about as close as the Titans got to the win.
Five second half tries to the Bulldogs took the game away from the Titans, with Brett Morris, Curtis Rona and Greg Eastwood all scoring doubles.
The scoreline flattered the Titans, who were thoroughly outplayed in the second half. A second try Faifai Loa in the 80th minute helped add some respectability to the score, but ultimately it was the Bulldogs day.
Sharks 99 vs Storm 85
For some reason the match of the round between two sides firmly entrenched in the top 8 got relegated to Monday night. It didn't matter too much in the end, as the game failed to live up to expectations, with the Sharks being solidly defeated by the Melbourne Storm. But was the result just a minor slip up in an otherwise glowing string of victories for the Sharks, or have they begun to be found out by the competition heavyweights?
Cameron Munster was a standout for the Storm, as his footwork and agility proved tough for the Sharks to contain. Couple his attack with Cooper Cronk's long kicking game, and the Sharks were in for a long night - often struggling even to get out of their own end. This was obvious on the scoreboard, with a 2 point penalty goal from Michael Gordon the only scoring play for the Sharks.
Despite the Knights win last weekend, you can expect the Storm to continue to improve their for and against this weekend, as the boys from Newcastle travel to Melbourne.