Innholdsfortegnelse for 2019 - Round 21 i Big League Weekly Edition

VETERAN Gold Coast forward Kevin Proctor says the entire Titans squad is on notice following the second-largest defeat in the club’s history. Just days after Justin Holbrook was unveiled as their new coach for next year, the Titans dished up their worst performance of the season, smashed 58-6 by the Roosters at the SCG last Sunday. With the coaching future of the club now certain, Proctor has called on his team-mates to lift – otherwise they may not be in the team next season. “We’re all on notice, you know,” Proctor told Big League. “There’s a new coach coming in and he can clean out everyone if he wants.” With five games remaining in 2019, individual players have an opportunity to prove their worth to the new coach. “It’s up…

EELS enforcer Manu Ma’u said he only had his family’s interests at heart when he turned down a contract extension to sign a two-year deal with Hull FC in the English Super League. Ma’u debuted with Parramatta in 2014 and has spent six seasons terrorising anyone foolish enough to stand in his way. The club played a key role in turning his life around, and while he would have loved to have finished his career in the blue and gold jersey, deep down he knew the only choice was to make the move north. “It was a very tough decision. I told the boys that I wanted to stay but I had to do what was right for not only me but also my young family. I’ve got three kids…

SINCE the beginning of last year on our Fox League show, The Fan, we have run a segment that has drawn out some of the best supporters of the game you will ever come across. We call it the Rugby League Antiques Roadshow and use the services of the fanatical collector of all things league – a bloke by the name of Dan Pain – to assess the possible value of pieces of memorabilia. We reject nothing. It’s all things great and small. The weird, the quirky, the ‘where the hell did that come from?’ I confess I’m a hoarder, and have kept things to do with rugby league from my earliest years following the game in the 1970s. This affliction to collecting has caused me grief at home over…

Cowboys v Broncos Warriors v Sea Eagles Panthers v Sharks Dragons v Titans Eels v Knights Bulldogs v Wests Tigers Raiders v Roosters Rabbitohs v Storm David Middleton League Historian Broncos Sea Eagles Sharks Dragons Eels Wests Tigers Roosters Storm Maria Tsialis Big League Cowboys Sea Eagles Sharks Dragons Eels Wests Tigers Raiders Storm Michael Carayannis The Sunday Telegraph Cowboys Sea Eagles Sharks Dragons Knights Wests Tigers Raiders Storm Michael Chammas NRL.com Cowboys Sea Eagles Sharks Dragons Eels Wests Tigers Raiders Storm Rebekka Wake Reader Tipster Broncos Sea Eagles Sharks Titans Knights Bulldogs Roosters Storm Footyhead Little League Cowboys Warriors Sharks Dragons Eels Bulldogs Raiders Storm…

BEFORE a ball was kicked, everyone had picked Shaun Johnson, Angus Crichton and Jesse Ramien as the best recruits of 2019. While they’ve shown glimpses of their best, it’s a different crop who feature in our top five buys of the year. 5. Reuben Garrick Many in the know had a feeling the Dragons made a big mistake when they let the talented local junior go – but even those who predicted a bright future would be pleasantly surprised by Garrick’s rapid rise on the Northern Beaches. The rookie winger edged out Eels counterpart Maika Sivo for this spot on the list, and is just two tries behind the Fijian flyer in the race to be the NRL’s top tryscorer. He’s bagged five tries in his past two games at…

FIVE rounds left Fantasy coaches and, touch wood, that’s now three-straight weeks of handy scores and no major disasters. Round 20 was probably the best-scoring round of the year overall for Fantasy and maybe one of the best ever, with plenty of coaches crashing through the 1,100-mark and one phenomenal team score tipping 1,200. A lot of that was down to plenty of coaches astutely tipping Roosters custodian James Tedesco to light up against the sorry Titans and handing him the captain’s armband for the week. They were duly rewarded as ‘Teddy’ crossed for two tries and set up two more to hit a round-high score of 92 in a 58-6 dismantling of the Gold Coast. Latrell Mitchell (70) bagged two tries and an assist of his own with nine…

Form: Like several clubs, the Panthers have struggled to regain winning form after a prolonged period of success has been brought to a halt. The Panthers climbed from last on the ladder to seventh after a run of seven consecutive wins but after their run ended against the Raiders, they failed to bounce back against the Bulldogs last Saturday. The 16-8 defeat cost the Panthers their place in the eight and they find themselves under pressure to recover and win back a finals berth. Conversely, the Sharks appear to have their timing just right. They emerged from a five-game rut with a shaky win against the Cowboys in Round 19 before disposing of the Rabbitohs last Saturday. They have most of their stars back on deck and look ready to…

Form: The Bulldogs’ consistent efforts paid off last Saturday when they held off the Panthers to win 16-8 at Bankwest Stadium. The win was their third from their past five games and carried them four points clear of the wooden spoon position that was beginning to loom large little more than a month ago. Wests Tigers have impressed over the past fortnight with consecutive wins over the Knights and the Cowboys carrying them back into the top eight for the first time since Round 10. In recent years the Tigers have been on a downward slide as the finals have approached but this year under Michael Maguire, they look ready to make a charge. Their aggressive defence, led by captain Moses Mbye, was a feature of last Friday’s win. History:…

THE Warriors have jumped into sixth place after beating Mounties for their third win in a row. Mounties ran out to an early lead with three quick tries, but a second half double for Setu Tu helped the Warriors reel them in. Blacktown’s hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon were boosted by an upset win over Newtown, led by a double to Lloyd Perrett, after the Jets blew a 14-point half-time lead. The Bulldogs leapfrogged Penrith with a thrilling win in a back-and-forth contest, while South Sydney capitalised on the Panthers’ slip, holding on for a seven-point win against a fast-finishing North Sydney. Meanwhile the Dragons retained their place in the top four with a big win over Wentworthville. Back-rower Jackson Ford made his case for an NRL debut with…

ADMITTEDLY, I don’t remember much about the 70s – as I hadn’t been born yet – but one of my favourite things to do over many years at Big League is hit our archive and comb through old magazines. So when Retro Round arrives, I’m always keen to hark back to what many believe are the good old days of footy. Our cover this week is inspired by the below issue – Vol 57, No 23 in 1976 – and there is so much gold inside. The main feature is on the Eels’ key men Ray Higgs, John Peard and Ray Price, the columnist is Reg Gasnier, Ray Warren has written an Amco Cup preview and the full colour poster is of the Balmain Tigers (captain Trevor Ryan). Craven Mild,…

ROOSTERS forward Angus Crichton said the key to returning to career-best form is improving his defence. The gun back-rower produced arguably his best performance of the season in his side’s 58-6 win against Gold Coast last Sunday, although he said he still needs to work on his defence. That’s why he’s been working closely with club legend Craig Fitzgibbon to improve his technique. “Craig is our defence coach and I’ve been working a lot with him to get my defence up to scratch, but I still need to improve on that,” Crichton told Big League. “The key to improving my form is improving my defence, and I think I’m moving in the right direction.” Although Crichton has returned to the edge, coach Trent Robinson shifted his representative forward to the…

What was media access like back in the 1970s? It was a lot more open with journalists and there was better access. Once injuries had been checked, journos came into the dressing rooms. There wasn’t a press conference situation – you could sit down and have a chat. I had a great relationship with the journalists of the day. There never seemed to be a rush. These days, there’s a deadline and somebody needs to get it on a website as quickly as possible, but when I played, there were afternoon newspapers like The Sun and the Daily Mirror, so everything seemed to be a lot easier. There was no pressure about having to file a story so quickly. What did you do away from footy? Everybody had to work…

ROUND 21 Aug 8-11 Cowboys v Broncos Thu, 7.50pm, 1300SMILES Warriors v Sea Eagles Fri, 6pm, Mt Smart Panthers v Sharks Fri, 7.55pm, Panthers Dragons v Titans Sat, 3pm, Netstrata Eels v Knights Sat, 5.30pm, Bankwest Bulldogs v Wests Tigers Sat, 7.35pm, ANZ Raiders v Roosters Sun, 2pm, GIO Rabbitohs v Storm Sun, 4.05pm, Central Coast ROUND 22 Aug 15-18 Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers Thu, 7.50pm, Lottoland Titans v Eels Fri, 6pm, Cbus Super Broncos v Panthers Fri, 7.55pm, Suncorp Knights v Cowboys Sat, 3pm, McDonald Jones Storm v Raiders Sat, 5.30pm, AAMI Rabbitohs v Bulldogs Sat, 7.35pm, ANZ Roosters v Warriors Sun, 2pm, SCG Sharks v Dragons Sun, 4.05pm, PointsBet ROUND 23 Aug 22-25 Eels v Bulldogs Thu, 7.50pm, Bankwest Cowboys v Panthers Fri, 6pm, 1300SMILES Broncos v…

THE past year has been the toughest of Nathan Cleary’s young NRL career, with more challenges than he has ever faced before. However, despite experiencing numerous off-field controversies involving team-mates and family, as well as horrific losing streak to start the season, the 21-year-old playmaker still wears a smile. The past 12 months have been far from ideal for the Penrith halfback. It started when his dad, coach Ivan, copped backlash for walking out on the Wests Tigers to reunite with the Panthers. The State of Origin halfback then watched his close mates go through a massive off-field scandal when a series of lewd videos were released days before the start of the season. It undoubtedly rocked the club, and the Panthers found themselves on the bottom of the ladder…

PANTHERS FIJIAN forward Viliame Kikau has vowed not to tone down his aggression despite missing two weeks for a shoulder charge on St George Illawarra halfback Darren Nicholls. Kikau admitted he’ll need to be cautious not to cop another suspension but he doesn’t intend on calming down his intensity on the field. “I was disappointed missing two weeks and at this time of the year you don’t want to be missing games,” Kikau said ahead of his return match against Cronulla. “Obviously you don’t want to lose that aggression. If the tackle was that bad I wouldn’t have fought it and taken the one week but we thought we had a case. “I’ll still keep my aggression there. I was more disappointed with the way the game’s going. Being a…

Form: A week after a stoic performance failed to deliver results against Cronulla, the Cowboys lacked energy and intensity against Wests Tigers last Thursday. As a place in the finals has drifted further into the distance the Cowboys have found it difficult to muster the necessary levels of effort and enthusiasm. They’ve won only one of their past seven games and their race looks run for 2019. Opponents Brisbane were demoralised by a white-hot Melbourne last Friday and if Kotoni Staggs’ opening kick-off that drifted dead in-goal was a symptom of mindset, then the Broncos were beaten before they took the field. It was a letdown after a productive month in which they’d harnessed three wins and a draw from their previous four games. History: This clash has rarely failed…

Form: It has been a sorry tale for both of these clubs in 2019, the Dragons officially bowing out of finals contention when beaten by Parramatta last Sunday while across town, the Titans were lapped by the Sydney Roosters. The Dragons began their year promisingly after a four-game winning streak but their Anzac Day loss to the Roosters sparked a downhill slide that has shown little sign of slowing. From their past 13 games the Dragons have secured two wins; against fellow strugglers the Bulldogs and the Cowboys. The Titans managed two wins from their opening six games but since then their results have mirrored the Dragons almost to a tee. The only difference has been the magnitude of defeat, while the expected ‘kick’ after the departure of coach Garth…

Form: The Raiders bring impressive credentials into this contest after winning seven of their past eight games. Although they’ll experience a rise in class against the Roosters, it’s been impossible to ignore the performances of Ricky Stuart’s men over the past two months. Their attacking game has flourished in recent weeks while their defence ranks second only to Melbourne. The Roosters have returned to top form over recent weeks with successive victories over the Knights, Bulldogs and Titans to reclaim second place on the ladder and keep alive their dream of back-to-back titles. History: The Roosters hold a slight edge in overall results since 1982 but the Raiders hold sway at GIO Stadium, where they’ve won the past five clashes. The Raiders were out of the running for last year’s…

THE Roosters’ short-lived stay at the top of the Jersey Flegg ladder has come to an abrupt end after they were unable to capitalise on another stumble by the Sharks. The Roosters were left stunned after Newcastle ran in four first-half tries, and despite scoring in the first minute after the break, they were unable to close the gap. The Sharks are back at the top after sharing the points with South Sydney. The Rabbitohs surged to a three-try lead before being reeled in, and though both teams had a chance to win the game with a conversion, neither was able to kick one. It wasn’t the only draw of the round, with the Bulldogs and Panthers sharing the spoils in their own high-flying clash. The Bears and Thunderbolts put…

THE Sunshine Coast survived a scare from the Capras to move clear of Mackay in fourth position. The Falcons flew out to a 22-0 lead before Central Queensland rallied to set up a grandstand finish. Burleigh, Wynnum Manly and Townsville continued their fierce battle for the minor premiership, with the top three sides all posting big wins. The Bears brushed off last-placed Redcliffe, as fullback Jayden Campbell starred with a hat-trick. An upset against Wynnum Manly would have seen Easts consolidate their spot in the top eight, but the high-flying Seagulls were not to be denied, while Townsville made it seven on the trot against the Mustangs. A pair of thrilling contests this week are sure to shake up the top eight with four rounds remaining. The fourth-placed Falcons and…

IT was the brutal character assessment that caught many by surprise, but Michael Maguire’s words following the Wests Tigers’ loss to the Raiders in Round 18 appear to have worked. Maguire told his players to harden up after a loss in the nation’s capital, and his spray had the desired effect with the team winning their next two games. “I feel like it was a challenge that we needed and we accepted it. ‘Madge’ wasn’t trying to put us down – it was more of a boost and I feel like it worked,” back-rower Ryan Matterson told Big League. “We’re having chats so we’re holding everyone accountable. I don’t know what it was like last year, but we’re focusing on working for your mates. “We feel like we’re a top…

8. Russell Fairfax Arguably the game’s first genuine heartthrob, Wallabies golden boy Fairfax was an instant superstar after switching codes with Eastern Suburbs in 1974. He represented NSW after just eight first-grade games and his brilliance at fullback was integral to the Roosters capturing their first premiership in 29 years. Fairfax’s long, blonde locks ensured he was as popular on the social scene as he was for his football prowess. A broken leg curtailed his 1975 season, with Fairfax struggling to regularly reproduce his debut-year form. 7. Mick Cronin A Test team regular, prolific goal-kicking centre Cronin’s mystique grew as he continually resisted the big money on offer in Sydney. He eventually joined Parramatta in 1977, winning the Rothmans Medal in his first two seasons. A crucial missed goal in…

400 club St George Illawarra prop James Graham will play his 400th top-flight game on Saturday afternoon when the Dragons host the Titans. Graham played 224 games for St Helens in the Super League, 135 for the Bulldogs and will now play his 41st for the Dragons. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we have a pull-out poster of the England international on pages 32-33. Cronk raised the bat When Cooper Cronk hangs up the boots at the end of the season, he won’t be remembered as a prolific tryscorer however it’s remarkable how many tries he’s scored as a halfback. The veteran bagged the 100th meat pie of his career in the Roosters’ 58-6 win over the Gold Coast last Sunday afternoon. “In his 350-odd games it’s his 100th try…

PREDICTING how the rest of the 2019 season pans out requires a mathematics degree, a scientific calculator and at least three fortune tellers - but with none of those available, we’ve tried our best to work it all out using common sense and some rugby league intuition. Storm (1st – 34 points) Draw: Rabbitohs (A), Raiders (H), Titans (H), Sea Eagles (A), Cowboys (H) They’ve been the most consistent team all year, and it’s hard to see the wheels falling off, even though they face two top-four sides over the next fortnight. All eyes will be on Lottoland in the penultimate round, with the Storm keen to atone for their recent defeat. They’ve already accrued as many competition points as they did last year, and will likely finish the regular…

SCOTT Drinkwater was barely a year old when the Gwyneth Paltrow classic Sliding Doors was released, and this week he’ll have his own ‘what if’ moment when he takes on the Broncos in Townsville. Had things gone differently, the young fullback would have played against Brisbane in Round 1 when he was still at the Storm. But a serious injury in the club’s final pre-season trial brought those plans to a grinding halt, with the talented No.1 sidelined after he tore his pec against the Cowboys. “I put a kick in and chased it,” Drinkwater tells Big League. “Jordan Kahu came and picked it up on the try-line. I tackled him and fell over the top of him so my left arm got caught under him. I was going at…

What are your best memories of rugby league growing up? We had a tradition of going to nan and pop’s house, ordering a pizza, and watching State of Origin. That was the best thing ever! My first hero was Darren Lockyer, and as I got older I wanted to be like Greg Inglis. I started playing league when I was 10, and was still playing soccer and a bit of Aussie Rules for school at the same time. So you could’ve played any code? Yeah, I got signed to Brisbane Lions (AFL) when I was younger. The same year I got a development deal with the Broncos, so I was always in a tussle with those two. I was going further in Aussie Rules than in league, and there was…

Form: The Warriors failed an important test of character last Friday when they were swamped by Canberra to register their sixth consecutive loss on home soil. A week earlier they had copped a raw deal at Bankwest Stadium when a number of crucial calls went against them in a narrow loss to Parramatta, but the opportunity to display their resilience was blown away against the Raiders. A win would have kept them fighting for a place in the top eight but after Friday’s effort they look at considerable odds to win another game in 2019. The Sea Eagles have improved as the season has worn on and after claiming six wins from their past seven games they have given themselves a chance of finishing in the top four for the…

Form: The Eels have played themselves into a strong position following an away victory over the Dragons and they can effectively assure their place in the play-offs with victory this week. As it stands they are in sixth position, four points clear of the Sharks, Tigers and Panthers. The Knights are in a precarious position as they stare down the barrel of a sixth consecutive defeat. They’ve gone from top four contenders to finals outsiders in the blink of an eye. Although they have a favourable run home (their last four opponents sit outside the eight) they’re likely to be four points adrift of eighth place if they fail to win here. History: The Eels have struggled against the Knights for most of the current decade and despite the Knights…

Form: The Rabbitohs may have slipped up only once in the past month but their form has been less than convincing and last Saturday’s 39-24 loss to the Sharks should have sounded alarm bells little more than a month out from the finals. The Storm, meanwhile, responded to their first loss in 10 games with a withering display against the Broncos. Brisbane had no answer to the Storm’s precision and intensity and were never in the contest. Melbourne regained their six-point lead atop the competition ladder and are seemingly cruising towards another minor premiership. History: Despite their rise up the rankings over the past decade, South Sydney’s record against the Storm remains poor. No team has achieved less success against the Storm than the Rabbitohs, who have managed a single…

REDCLIFFE produced a big upset against Burleigh to consolidate their position in the top eight. A scintillating solo try by Izaia Perese in the 75th minute saw the Dolphins snatch a thrilling win which puts them clear of Ipswich in eighth place. Wynnum Manly leapfrogged Burleigh into second position with a comfortable victory against top eight opponents Easts Tigers. However, the win was marred by another ankle injury to Tom Dearden. The Falcons took another big stride towards the minor premiership, crushing the Capras 44-12. The Sunshine Coast were without Harry Grant and Todd Murphy, but it made little difference as they maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table. Townsville took a stranglehold on fourth position by hammering the Hunters. PNG scored eight tries via eight different…

Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored seven tries in his past six games against the Warriors. Dragons centre Euan Aitken will make his 100th NRL appearance. Newcastle have won 11 of their past 13 games against the Eels. Raiders centre Jarrod Croker will make his 250th NRL appearance. Brett Morris has scored seven tries in his past six games at GIO Stadium. Wests Tigers are aiming for three-straight wins for the first time under Michael Maguire. Melbourne have won 12 of their past 14 games against the Rabbitohs. Manly have won 14 of their past 16 against the Warriors.…