Innholdsfortegnelse for 2018 - Round 25 i Big League Weekly Edition

THEY say premierships are won on the back of big-game experience, and while the Broncos are littered with high-profile veterans, it’s their gifted rookies who hold the key heading into September. The likes of Darius Boyd, Sam Thaiday, Alex Glenn and Josh McGuire are no strangers to post-season games and they’ve been crucial cogs in Brisbane’s recent spike in form, but a lot hinges on the young brigade if Wayne Bennett’s men want to be genuine premiership contenders. Jamayne Isaako is almost a lock for Rookie of the Year, given his exploits on the right wing, Payne Haas showed enough in limited game time to suggest he’s going to be a star for years to come, Tevita Pangai has emerged as one of the most destructive back-rowers in the game,…

SOUTH Sydney have suffered three-straight losses for the first time this season – but despite Thomas Burgess being concerned about their recent form, he backs them to regain their momentum against Wests Tigers on Thursday night. Sitting third on the ladder heading into the last round, the Rabbitohs can secure a top four finish and a home final with a win. “You never want to lose three in a row – it’s the first time we have this year – so it’s concerning but we’re not getting too carried away,” Burgess said. “It’s an important game – there’s no denying it. We want to finish the season on a good note and we know it’s in our own hands where we’re going to finish this year.” Burgess said the players…

How have you found playing alongside Johnathan Thurston over the past month? Thinking about it, it’s been speical. It’s unreal. I’ve always dreamed about playing alongside ‘Johno’ and it was special playing with him in my debut. I’ve treasured every moment playing with him and it will be something I’ll never forget. He’s a champion of the game and hopefully we can send him out on a good note. I’m honoured I got to play alongside him and it’ll be something I’ll be cherishing forever. Have you been enjoying the step up to first grade? Was it everything you expected? I’ve loved every minute of it, but it’s actually been pretty challenging. I’m still getting used to the speed of the game – it caught me off guard a little…

DESPITE the fact the top eight has been decided, I don’t know that I ever been so excited about a final round of regular season competition in the NRL. There is just so much up in the air, and we will be following storylines right up to full-time in the 192nd game of the season when the Broncos tackle the Sea Eagles. Lets take stock of what we are watching heading into the final round. For starters there’s the ‘minor’ matter of the minor premiership. The Storm look certainties thanks to the spluttering Roosters and Rabbitohs, but you just never know in a crazy season. There is the vitally important issue of the rest of the places in the top four being sorted out. Some are charging home, others are…

THE stars aligned perfectly for the Warriors to celebrate Simon Mannering’s last regular-season home game on the same night the retiring champion becomes the first player in the club’s history to bring up 300 NRL appearances. Ahead of the battle with Canberra on Friday, a massive mural of Mannering will be unveiled inside Mt Smart Stadium – which will be packed out after the club gave fans the choice of how much they wanted to pay for their tickets (available only on Tuesday, Mannering’s birthday) to salute the beloved back-rower in person. The irony of this farewell for the Warriors’ most decorated figure is there are few in rugby league less comfortable with the spotlight than the unassuming Mannering, the archetypal team-first player. “It is what it is and I’m…

RABBITOHS  DESPITE suffering back-to-back losses, the Rabbitohs can take some positives from last Saturday’s game against the Raiders in that they welcomed back captain Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston and Campbell Graham. Johnston was particularly disappointed in his individual performance and knows he has some work to do to get back to his best for Thursday’s match against the Tigers. “I just need to go back, look at my game and get my head straight and be back [against the Tigers] a lot better,” Johnston (left) said. “It’s a short turnaround, so a lot of it is just looking individually within ourselves and what we have to improve in our game. I know personally I have a lot to improve on from that [Raiders] game and I’m going to put in…

POINTS CLEAR AS TOP POINTSCORER It’s been a remarkable rookie year for Brisbane’s Jamayne Isaako. From the outset he looked ready to make his mark on the NRL and he’s been vital in helping Brisbane mount their finals charge. Leading into last Saturday’s game against the Roosters, he trailed Latrell Mitchell by one point in the top pointscorer stakes. Though they initially traded the lead through alternating conversions, Isaako’s try, Brisbane’s dominant display and a bad night from his rival now have him nine points clear. The Broncos play the last game of Round 25, so if Mitchell does reclaim the lead, Isaako will know just what’s needed to add top pointscorer to an almost certain Rookie of the Year gong.…

Form: After negotiating the State of Origin period without defeat for the first time in the club’s history, the Storm have found the last month to be anything but plain sailing with back-to-back losses to the Rabbitohs and Sharks followed by less than convincing efforts against the Eels and Titans. Injuries have had an impact and the suspension of centre Will Chambers has left the Storm without one of their most experienced players. For all of that, the Storm remain favourites to take out the minor premiership and have a great chance to defend the premiership title they won 12 months ago. As for the Panthers, their position is looking decidedly tenuous. Like St George Illawarra, the Panthers are playing without confidence and unless they can stage a dramatic form…

Form: Parramatta failed to handle the big occasion of Johnathan Thurston’s farewell in Townsville last Saturday night and ended up roadkill to a Cowboys team on a mission. They’ll face a tough task to pick themselves up for a final encounter this week, especially against a team with premiership aspirations like the Roosters. Trent Robinson’s outfit are likely to play with a single-minded focus after dropping consecutive games to the Raiders and the Broncos. History: After 73 years of combat, these clubs have clashed only a handful of times in the post-season and never in a grand final. The last time they met in a big end-of-season game was in 2000 when the Eels scored a 32-8 upset in a qualifying final at the SFS. The Roosters won the last…

Review: And then there were eight AFTER a frenetic regular season, the top eight sides are locked in and ready to duke it out heading into the Jersey Flegg finals series. While several teams knew their fate leading into the final round of the season, the Sea Eagles still had everything to play for. News of the Dragons’ loss to Mounties would’ve reached Lottoland before their game against the Panthers, and the equation was simple - win and you’re in the finals. It was never going to be easy against the high-flying Panthers, but the Sea Eagles will be kicking themsevles after going down by 12 points to finish ninth - just one point behind the Red V. The Eels will also be kicking themsevles after they went down to…

TIGERS v SEA EAGLES WESTS TIGERS 22 (Kevin Naiqama (2) 31’ 52’, Chris Lawrence 48’, Moses Mbye 49’ tries; Esan Marsters 3 goals) D. MANLY WARRINGAH 20 (Daly Cherry-Evans (2) 4’ 73’, Trent Hodkinson 64’ tries; Daly Cherry-Evans 3 goals, Trent Hodkinson 1 goal) Half-time: Manly Warringah 8-6 Crowd: 8,163 Scrums: Wests Tigers 11-4 Penalties: Manly Warringah 9-6 Sin Bin: Nil Sent Off: Nil Referee: Matt Cecchin Assistant Referee: Alan Shortall Touch Judges: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Belinda Sleeman Goalkickers: Esan Marsters (Tigers) 3 from 4, Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) 3 from 4, Trent Hodkinson (Sea Eagles) 1 from 1 Completion Rates: Wests Tigers 30/39, Manly Warringah 28/38 Big 3: 3 Cherry-Evans; 2 Twal; 1 Taupau – M.B WARRIORS v PANTHERS WARRIORS 36 (David Fusitu’a (3) 24’ 42’ 57’, Agnatius Paasi 6’,…

HERE we are, Round 25 – and hasn’t the season just flown by? There have been highs and lows, controversies, sentimental departures and more, but none of that should detract from how remarkably close the competition has been this year. In fact, as we enter the final lot of regular season fixtures, every spot in the top eight is still up for grabs. That means that teams like South Sydney and the Roosters could still fall out of the top four thanks to some poor recent form, and a team like St George Illawarra, who were flying to start the season and had their second chance secure until this week, could actually finish eighth – and it’s why we’ve revived a classic Big League cover this week (Round 21, 2005)…

BACK-to-back losses have seen the Roosters drop to second spot, and fullback James Tedesco knows his side must fix their discipline one week out from the finals. The Roosters remain favourites with the bookmakers to take out the 2018 premiership, but a recent drop in form has raised some questions over their ability to grind out wins against fellow top sides. Of most concern for the Tricolours is their error rate. Poor completions and high penalty counts have always haunted them, but 24 mistakes in recent losses to the Raiders and Broncos means they’ve now made the most errors (264) in the NRL. “We had a good run a few weeks ago and we were thinking that’s where we wanted to be,” Tedesco told Big League. “But after a couple…

IN his last game in front of his adoring local fans, Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston turned on the style, finishing with two try assists and plenty of influence in his team’s 44-6 victory over Parramatta Before and after the game ‘JT’ was celebrated by the club and community alike, and as he was hoisted to the tunnel by right-hand men Matt Scott and Gavin Cooper, the crowd rose as one to give the living legend the send-off he deserved @NRL…

IF you’ve ever watched Fox League, you’ll know Johnathan Thurston and I have had our run-ins. He’s always found a way to get the final word in, usually at my expense, but he’ll get his comeuppance in the coming weeks. I was praying all year that the Cowboys would get the wooden spoon, so it really hurts that they avoided it by beating the Eels. But don’t get too big a head, ‘JT’, because you’re only as good as your last season. Jokes aside, it’s hard to put into words what the little master has done for our game. Ahead of his final NRL game this weekend against the Titans, I’m glad to say that my kids got to grow up watching him play rugby league. His attitude towards the…

NUMBER crunchers in Canberra were kept busy last week as they tried to work out who would see out August as the nation’s Prime Minister. But the political possibilities have nothing on the NRL, as eight teams head into Round 25 jostling for ladder positions just a week out from the finals. All that we know is that the top eight is set – but everything else is still up in the air. Based on history and current form, here’s what could happen to your team in the run to the finals. Storm: 1st (34 points) Points differential: +179 Opponent: Panthers (H) Likely finish: 1st The defending premiers have bounced back from consecutive defeats to sit two points clear heading into the final round. Injuries and suspension have come at…

EVERYONE goes through different chapters in their life, but for NRL players there’s one particularly tough time to navigate: Life after NRL. Looking at the large retiring class of 2018, it’s natural to wonder what they’ll do once they leave the sheds that last time. It can be daunting for players who haven’t prepared for life beyond the footy field and it’s a situation that former Dragons and Sharks player Jason Stevens (left) knows all too well. “You go from the job security when money is coming in, to wondering how are you going to generate money,” Stevens tells Big League. “When you’re dealing with all the uncertainties, the hard thing is that you’re also dealing with the loss of not playing and that’s difficult in itself. But you can’t…

When Kalyn Ponga gets the ball, everyone wants to see what’ll happen next So where’s he from? Born in Port Hedland, WA, and early years in Mt Isa, Queensland—what was that like? I was only there till I was seven years old. It was a small town, we lived in the caravan park, I played soccer and a bit of golf—that’s all I remember, really. You went to NZ after that- is that where you started footy? I continued playing soccer and golf, and a bit of touch footy and union. I was focused on my golf, I loved it. I played two or three times a week, but when I moved back to Australia I gave it up because it was too hot! Could you play it professionally? Ah,…

Form: The Rabbitohs weren’t counting on a three-game losing streak during the final month of the regular season, especially after leading the competition to the end of Round 21. However, with so much ‘credit in the bank’, the damage has been minimal for Anthony Seibold’s outfit. Aside from missing out on the club’s first minor premiership title since 1989 (mathematically still possible, but realistically unlikely), the Rabbitohs appear safe in the top four and should earn a home final regardless of tonight’s result. Wests Tigers’ bid for a top eight ‘miracle’ expired last weekend despite their two-point win over the Sea Eagles. The Tigers have finished impressively to win five of their past seven games but it was a mid-season trough which proved their undoing in 2018. History: The ledger…

Form: The Knights had no answer to the power and pace of the Sharks last Sunday, especially after half-time when Cronulla hit their stride. Newcastle restricted the Sharks to an eight-point lead at the break but once the Sharks tidied up their ball control they ran roughshod. It was a rare blow-out for the Knights over the second half of the season. The Dragons are in a world of pain following their record 38-0 loss to the Bulldogs at Kogarah. It was the sixth loss from their past eight games but it was the manner of defeat rather than the result itself that proved so disappointing. With everything to play for, the Dragons failed to aim up and the signs were clear that the confidence of the team is shot…

Form: An infusion of youth has revitalised the Bulldogs over the latter period of the season and has worked wonders in winning back the faith of fans disillusioned by the club’s direction in the wake of the salary cap debacle. The rise of rookies such as Rhyse Martin, Lachlan Lewis and Reimis Smith has helped to spark four wins from their past five games, the last three against teams who will play finals football. Their 38-0 defeat of the Dragons last Sunday was a triumph for coach Dean Pay at the end of a season that could have left the club fractured beyond repair. Opponents Cronulla continue to build ominously towards another premiership title. They’ve now strung together three successive wins and will be determined to maintain their momentum heading…

Round 20 results PENRITH BROTHERS 46 (S Lewis 2, J Peacock 2, P Tuavao, J Cookson, Q Ma’aelopa, H Coskerie tries; K Falls 6, J Cookson goals) D. WESTERN SUBURBS 14 (D Minute, J Davis, B Waters tries; K Coakes goal). WENTWORTHVILLE 25 (J Tangitau, P Rogers, K Deluis, E Roberts tries; J Miller 3, A Gafa goals; Z Nicholls field goal) D. GLEBE-BURWOOD 20 (L Robinson, J Topai-Aveai, G Tsikrikas tries; B Aufaga-Toomaga 4 goals). GUILDFORD 26 (J Camroux, N Masima, M Achurch, J Lewis tries; J Lewis 5 goals) D. ST MARYS 16 (C Aunese-Scanlon, R Vai, J Toby tries; Vai 2 goals). MOUNTIES 36 (H Leddy 2, A Bristow 2, J Martin, T Bartley tries; M Kennedy 4 goals) D. BLACKTOWN 20 (H Tuha 2, L Li…

Wests Tigers have won four of their past five games against South Sydney. Only three current Panthers players have experienced a victory over the Storm – James Tamou, James Maloney and Trent Merrin. Titans winger Anthony Don requires one try to break David Mead’s club try-scoring record. Broncos winger Corey Oates has scored eight tries in his past seven games at Suncorp Stadium. The Sharks have won their past four games against the Bulldogs. Roosters winger Blake Ferguson requires one try to reach the 100-try milestone. The Panthers haven’t won in Melbourne since 2005.…

KEVIN Naiqama won’t be at the Wests Tigers next season, but the centre believes his team-mates will use the experience of this year to better themselves for 2019. The Tigers have had their most successful season since 2011, having won more games than they’ve lost, however they’re out of contention for the finals. “I think the boys have an opportunity to do something special next year,” Naiqama told Big League. “We’ve improved so much this season and if they can continue to improve, they can give the competition a shake next year.” As disappointing it is to miss the finals, Naiqama is proud of what his team has achieved this year, especially with the improvement of their defence. “This has been my fourth season at the Tigers and it’s been…

1973 BLUEBAGS ELIMINATE SAINTS AFTER THREE HOURS NEWTOWN, featuring in a finals series for the first time in seven years, pulled off a post-season boilover by outlasting perennial contenders St George in the minor semi-final replay. The rivals could not be split in the initial Saturday showdown, with Newtown back-rower John Bonham levelling it up at 12-all with a penalty goal as the 80-minute siren sounded. The Saints dominated extra-time but could not find the go-ahead score. Coached by Jack Gibson, who steered the Dragons to a grand final just two years earlier, the Bluebags prevailed 8-5 when the teams reconvened at the Sydney Cricket Ground three days later. A John Peard try gave St George a 5-3 half-time lead, but Newtown half Steve Hansard’s 55th-minute try proved the match-winner…

THIS is it Fantasy coaches. The last hurrah for 2018. Congratulations to everyone who made it to a league decider this week. I’m in a few, but have been knocked out of plenty more. It was a topsy-turvy weekend in Round 24 to say the least, with some absolute monster scores in between some major injury dramas. Coaches who dodged the wreckage put up some boomers while simply having a popular Fantasy player who got sin-binned or came off injured no doubt ended plenty of seasons. Thousands of coaches cracked the magical 1,000-mark, a couple of hundred the mystical 1,100-point barrier and one coach actually broached 1,200 with a round-high 1,214. If you were in that sort of company you probably had Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans (109) in your halves,…

JAEMAN Salmon may have played just a handful of NRL games but he’s already made a drastic change at the Eels – and it’s got nothing to do with how they play on the field. “I helped change the team song,” Salmon tells Big League. With the old song going stale and the team not having many chances to sing it, the players decided to come up with a new tune to belt out in the sheds after a victory. “I was sitting around, minding my own business and I heard some of the boys making up a team song and coming up with some verses,” Salmon recalls. “I butted in and said, ‘I think we should do this and this,’ and then the boys loved it and got around…

ST GEORGE Illawarra Dragons have claimed underdog status early in the NRL Women’s Premiership, but they believe their unknown factor works in their favour. With the trophy for the women’s competition unveiled last week, Dragons second-rower Talesha Quinn was quick to point out the representative talent of the other three sides has those teams under more pressure than the Dragons, who’ve sourced a lot of local talent beyond their marquee signings. Quinn said the players have been working hard on establishing an early rapport, with the recruits bonding well, and hints that there are some rising stars in the ranks who’ll take the other teams by surprise. “There is [some new talent], but I’m not telling you!” Quinn jokes. “We have a lot of players, girls who I’ve seen play…

Form: Apart from their one-point slip-up against the improved Bulldogs a fortnight ago, the Warriors’ preparations for finals football have progressed solidly over the past month. Wins over the Dragons, Knights and Panthers secured their place in the top eight and depending on other results in Round 25, a home final in week one of the finals isn’t out of the question. The Raiders have left it way too late, but recent wins over the Roosters and Rabbitohs have been their most complete efforts of the season. They hadn’t achieved a single win against a top eight side until a fortnight ago but now they’ve claimed the scalps of two premiership fancies. History: Shaun Johnson won a field goal shoot-out at GIO Stadium in Round 3 to lift the Warriors…

Form: The Titans could count themselves unlucky to go down to the Storm in a 10-8 result last Saturday, a week after their stirring come-from-behind win over Manly. Garth Brennan’s team has struggled for consistency through the season however performances over the second half of their campaign have provided encouragement for the future. The Cowboys sizzled last Friday on a special night at 1300SMILES Stadium in which departing superstar Johnathan Thurston was farewelled in style and teammates Matt Scott (250 games) and hooker Jake Granville (100) were also honoured. The Cowboys went a long way towards avoiding the wooden spoon with their 44-6 victory. History: The Titans had the better of the Cowboys over the first eight years of this fixture however since their second meeting in 2014 it has…

Form: Although there have been times over the second half of the season when it has appeared that the Broncos’ charge for high honours would come to nothing, their record of seven wins from their past 10 games stacks up with any team in the competition. A top four finish looks unlikely, however if one of the top four teams was to stumble, the Broncos have the best chance of sneaking a place. The Sea Eagles are expected to steer clear of a maiden wooden spoon but if the Eels were somehow to knock over the Roosters on Saturday it will be game on for the visitors. History: The rivalry between these clubs is 30 years old and started with the Broncos’ inaugural premiership match in 1988. Wally Lewis led…

Review: Panthers finish regular season six points clear MINOR premiers Penrith closed the regular season with a 12-all draw against Blacktown to ensure they finished six competition points clear of second place. The Panthers can advance to the preliminary finals with a win over the Bulldogs on Saturday, while the Sea Eagles missed the top eight by just one win, ending their 2018 campaign. In-form winger Steven Marsters scored a double to help St George Illawarra defeat Mounties by 14 points. The victory ensured they finished in second position and they’ll face Newtown this weekend. The Jets will take the momentum of back-to-back victories into the first week of the finals after convincingly defeating Western Suburbs by 20 points. Mounties will be hoping to turn their poor form around when…