Innholdsfortegnelse for 2019 - Round 24 i Big League Weekly Edition

PARRAMATTA’S hopes of finishing in the top four have taken a hit following a two-week suspension to gun forward Nathan Brown for his off-the-ball shoulder charge on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Brown has averaged 143 metres and 31 tackles this year, but will now miss the Eels’ final two regular season games against Brisbane and Manly. “He’s such a key player and it’ll be a big loss for us,” Eels hooker Reed Mahoney told Big League. “We love his aggression, we feed off it. In tough times he comes off our line and changes the game. That’s why he’s such a good player. “He just got put in the wrong position and didn’t get the tackle right.” Although Brown’s absence is a major blow to Parramatta’s top four hopes, Mahoney is adamant…

THIS year has been one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory and we have plenty to celebrate as the campaigns draws to a close. Here are some of my standouts in 2019. THE BIG GONG Let’s start with the big one – Player of the Year. I can’t go past Roosters and New South Wales fullback James Tedesco. In my first column of 2019, I predicted he would claim the Dally M this season and it looks like it could happen. We all know the skills he possesses with his blistering running game and footwork, but this year his game has gone to a new dimension. He competes at the highest level, no matter if he’s playing in a club match, on the biggest stage in State of…

Young Dragon’s playmake Jai Field is a Wollongong junior and lifelong fan of the club. How’d you like growing up around Wollongong? It’s a great spot. I moved down here from Forbes when I was four and started playing junior footy at Shellharbour, and then at Albion Park. There are really nice beaches around this area and I spend a fair bit of time there in the summer. It’s not too hectic, it’s not too quiet – it’s just about right for me. You loved the beach – even as a fair-skinned kid with freckles? Yes and no! There was a bit of sunburn here and there, but mum was right into me about sunblock and all that. How cool is it to play for your local NRL team? I…

1300SMILES Stadium Thursday 7.50pm Form: Form is often difficult to gauge for teams out of the running for the finals and from wallowing in the doldrums of a five-game losing streak, the Cowboys suddenly found the energy and commitment to overthrow the Panthers last week at 1300SMILES Stadium. It’s been a different story for the Bulldogs, who have defied their low standing on the ladder to string together four-straight wins and give themselves the barest chance of scraping into the play-offs. History: There will be no shortage of nostalgia in the air at 1300SMILES Stadium as the Cowboys play their final game at the venue ahead of their move to the new Townsville Stadium in 2020. The game not only coincides with Old Boys’ Day, it also pits the Cowboys…

McDonald Jones Stadium Saturday 3pm Form: After the events of the past 10 days, the atmosphere at McDonald Jones Stadium is expected to be volatile as dedicated supporters and former players demand to know why their team’s bid to play finals football for the first time since 2013 was cut off at the knees. The Knights had every reason to fire up against Wests Tigers last Saturday but there was little evidence of commitment as the team capitulated to their heaviest defeat of the season. The outcome has left their finals destiny out of their control, even if they are good enough to win their last two games. Opponents the Gold Coast displayed the commitment that was missing at Campbelltown when they led competition leaders Melbourne at halftime at AAMI…

PointsBet Stadium Sunday 2pm Form: For the most part they have been unconvincing, but the Sharks have played their way back into finals reckoning with a run of four wins from their past five matches. Their finals destiny remains in their own hands, however that could change if they were to drop this game. The Raiders have a strong chance of finishing in the top four despite their loss to the Sea Eagles last Sunday, but much will hinge on this result. They’ve faced a demanding draw over the past month, with games against the Roosters and the Storm before a third intense duel in as many games last Sunday. History: Several finals battles between these clubs have generated a powerful rivalry over the past decade and a number of…

WE were caught off-guard last week with the announcement that Nathan Brown would be leaving the Newcastle Knights, and again on Tuesday when it was announced he would depart the club effective immediately. As the days have passed plenty of news has continued to filter from in and around the club, and will continue to do so as their proud and passionate fans demand insight into what is happening next. Their performance against the Wests Tigers left plenty to be desired – to say the least – but the Knights are still in the running for a finals spot. If you’re a Knights fan and you need a little bit more pep in your step, we have a great story on page 18. Sione Mata’utia, who has come through as…

WITH six wins from their past eight games, the Bulldogs remain alive in 2019 – and they could miraculously qualify for the finals. Following a gutsy win over Parramatta last Thursday and other results going their way in Round 23, the Bulldogs remain mathematically in contention but still require a miracle to make the finals. Sitting on 20 competition points, they need to beat the Cowboys and Broncos in their final two games, as well as depend on six other games going in their favour. Although it’s highly unlikely, with bookies rating it a 30/1 chance, stranger things have happened in rugby league and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is staying hopeful. Coach Dean Pay has shared his desire to lead his side to success in 2020, but the new Bulldogs fullback said…

How are you finding your first season in the NRL? I’m loving it and enjoying the ride. Fortunately we’ve been able to get a few wins which makes it even nicer. Hopefully we can keep playing well. When you signed a one-year development contract with the Raiders last December, did you expect to be playing first grade this year? No, I didn’t. In pre-season I had the mindset of turning up every day with the intention of working hard. I knew I had a good pre-season, but I still expected to start the season for Mounties in reserve grade. But then a few weeks out from Round 1, ‘Rapa’ [Jordan Rapana] was still no good and I was training in that spot so ‘Stick’ [coach Ricky Stuart] gave me the…

THEY called him ‘Gentleman Jim’ or, less affectionately, ‘The Hanging Judge’ – yet there was no ambiguity about the influence Jim Comans had on eliminating the thuggery of rugby league in the 1980s. Solicitor Comans was co-opted by the league as new judiciary chairman in 1980 to clean up a game that had seen too many rampant elbows, high and late tackles, knees and even biting. He certainly did his job, becoming the fearless sheriff of foul play. Statistics tell the story: during the 1979 season 76 suspensions had been handed down with 16 acquittals; in 1985 that had been reduced to 22 (only 11 in first grade, the rest in the two lower grades) and six let-offs. A major reason was the fear of a massive suspension at the…

Broncos Gains: Nil Losses: Troy Dargan (Rabbitohs) Off-contract: George Fai, Herbie Farnworth, Shaun Fensom, Alex Glenn, Richie Kennar, Patrick Mago, Corey Oates, Izaia Perese, James Segeyaro, Sam Tagataese Verdict: The Broncos have spent most of their cash on the young forwards and there’s plenty of stability at the club, however they’d love to add a star half. Raiders Gains: George Williams (Wigan) Losses: Nil Off-contract: Luke Bateman, Ata Hingano, Royce Hunt, Sebastian Kris, Andre Niko, Brendan O’Hagan, Kyle Paterson, Reuben Porter, Jordan Rapana, Harley Smith-Shields, Sam Williams Verdict: George Williams will become the fifth Englishman at the Raiders. The next task is re-signing Jordan Rapana. Bulldogs Gains: Dean Britt (Rabbitohs), Joe Stimson (Storm) Losses: Nil Off-contract: Fa’amanu Brown, Danny Fualalo, Morgan Harper, Kayne Kalache, Tui Katoa, Connelly Leumelu, Michael Lichaa,…

Veteran playmaker Maloney has been a model of consistency throughout his career, and it’s no surprise to see that he’s enjoyed success everywhere he’s gone. In his previous 10 seasons – at five different clubs – he played finals footy in all but one year (2012) and won two premierships. However, with Penrith currently on the slide and outside the top eight, his finals record is in jeopardy in what’ll be his last year in the NRL before heading overseas.…

Mt Smart Stadium Friday 6pm Form: With a single win from their past five games, the Warriors have let themselves down in their quest for a finals berth and consecutive games in which they’ve conceded 42 points to the Roosters and Sharks says little for their defensive attitude. They reversed a six-game losing spell with a shock defeat of Manly but it was their only positive result from the past five rounds. The Rabbitohs turned around a three-game losing streak against the Broncos last Friday. All three tries in their 22-20 victory were generated from their own side of halfway, with Cody Walker and Damien Cook recapturing their best form. Significantly, the win at Suncorp Stadium was achieved without the input of a single Burgess. History: Apart from one aberrant…

Lottoland Saturday 5.30pm Form: The Sea Eagles made it five wins from their past six games when they shaded the Raiders last Sunday to continue their push for an unexpected berth in the top four. The Storm showed last Sunday how difficult it can be to muster the necessary levels of intensity for a team that sits way out in front in the race for the minor premiership when they struggled to get on top of the last-placed Titans. Melbourne trailed 8-0 early and 8-6 at half-time before getting back on track in the second half to win 24-8. History: Clashes between the Sea Eagles and the Storm are guaranteed to generate searing intensity no matter where the teams are located on the competition ladder, but with both teams in…

Sydney Cricket Ground Sunday 4.05pm Form: The Dragons have only one win to show for their past eight games and their 34-12 loss to the Roosters last Saturday sent them further down the ladder to 15th. With two rounds to play this is shaping as the worst year in the history of the joint venture. Wests Tigers bounced back into finals calculations when they preyed on a feeble Newcastle outfit last Saturday but they must rely on other results falling in their favour if they are to scrape into the top eight. History: These teams have featured in some epic battles, most notably in 2005 when Wests Tigers stunned the Dragons in a preliminary final at the Sydney Football Stadium to qualify for the grand final and in 2010 when…

THE Jersey Flegg minor premiership will go down to the wire after the Sharks upset the Roosters to return to the top on points difference. The Shire side will face a tough test against the high-flying Knights, while the Roosters will also be tested by South Sydney in two thrilling final-round showdowns. Though the rest of the top eight teams are almost confirmed, third and eighth places are separated by three points and final round fixtures will have significant bearing on the finals make-up. Penrith will be confident of retaining third place against luckless Manly, but the Raiders and Dragons are set for a big game, and a loss for the Red V could see them miss out. PARRAMATTA 28 (B Biondi-Odo 2, V Harris, J Taipari, P Vaigalu tries;…

THE Hastings Deering Colts competition is set for a thrilling finish to the regular season, with three teams tied at the top on 37 points. Townsville will be full of confidence after crushing fellow leaders Wynnum Manly, and they’ll meet the seventh-placed Tigers in the final round. Burleigh, who were also stunned by Sunshine Coast, will face the Capras, while Wynnum will be fighting desperately against the Devils, who hammered Central Queensland last time out. The Mustangs got off the bottom of the table with a big win over Redcliffe, and Ipswich have fallen to last place after the Cutters beat them thanks to Rayden Burns and Blake Paskins. In the round’s other games, Tweed scored a big win over Souths Logan, while the Tigers handed the Pride their sixth…

Rabbitohs half Cody Walker has scored seven tries in his past five games against the Warriors. The Storm have won four of their past five games at Lottoland. Michael Maguire has won eight games from 10 against the Dragons. The Eels have won three of their past four games against Brisbane. Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell has scored 132 points in seven games at the SCG in 2019. Manly are aiming for two wins in a season against the Storm for the first time since 2015. Titans forward Nathan Peats will play his 150th NRL game. Paul Gallen will play his 167th and final home game.…

HE made his debut at Shark Park on a Sunday afternoon back in 2001, and 18 years later, Paul Gallen will run onto his home ground for the final time when the Sharks host the Raiders in a match that could all but seal their spot in the top eight. Sunday’s clash between the fierce rivals has a stack of storylines, but none compare to Gallen – the man who skippered them to their maiden premiership – as he prepares for his last game at home before he retires. “It’s going to be huge,” Sharks halfback Chad Townsend told Big League. “Gal’s career speaks for itself and everyone knows what he means to this club. It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a statue of him outside the front of this…

ALL of the focus has been on where David Fifita will play in 2021 and beyond, but the signature of team-mate Corey Oates is equally important as the Broncos look to finalise their squad for next year. The powerhouse winger is off-contract and keen to secure a long-term deal after a couple of one-year extensions left his future clouded. The confusion surrounding his preferred position in 2018 led to a drawn-out negotiation period, but the Broncos star is hopeful that won’t be an issue this time around. “The one-years are not fun. It doesn’t make you feel secure or anything, you still don’t know where you are going to be the next year after that,” Oates said. “To get a long term deal would be great. It’s moving forward at…

8. Canterbury-Bankstown (1936) Canterbury-Bankstown were lambs to the slaughter during their 1935 debut season, winning just two games and suffering five losses by 40 points or more. The Berries’ defeats to St George (91-6) and Easts (87-7) remain the two biggest in first grade history. But with the legendary Frank Burge taking over as coach, Wests centre Alan Brady arriving as captain and former Newtown forward Henry Porter joining to start a long-serving prop combination with Eddie Burns, Canterbury lost just three games to reach the finals in the club’s sophomore year. Premiership success would follow in 1938. 7. Sydney Roosters (2010) Top-four finishers a year earlier, the Roosters’ sorry 2009 campaign consisted of five wins, the club’s first wooden spoon in more than 40 years, a slew of off-field…

BULLDOGS  FIVE-EIGHTH Kieran Foran may be nearing 30, but he still believes his career-best footy is ahead of him. The New Zealand international has struggled with several major injuries over the past five years, as well as switching clubs a number of times, but he’s played 12 games this season and has helped the Bulldogs revive their campaign over the past few weeks. “I believe my best footy is still in front of me and that’s a hard thing for some people to hear considering the injuries I’ve had,” Foran said. “But I’m only 29. When you’re talking about halfbacks and five-eighths, they’re probably not playing their best footy until they’re about 30 or 31. “Providing I can stay on top of my body and keep working really hard maintaining…

WE’RE very nearly there now coaches, with head-to-head finals taking place either this week or next depending on your league settings. That means using whatever trades you have left to get whatever possible advantage you can over your opponent. It means you can afford to sell a top-line keeper who’s going through a slow patch (like Kalyn Ponga, Cam Murray, Nathan Cleary or James Fisher-Harris) to bring in players who are in hot form like David Fifita, Manu Ma’u, Addin Fonua-Blake or even Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks, who’s averaging almost 70 over the past four games. At this stage, even a one-week injury or suspension – let alone a two-week absence – is cause to trade, so flick names like James Roberts and Eels lock Nathan Brown, who each…

Suncorp Stadium Friday 7.55pm Form: The Broncos played their part in one of the games of the season last Friday and only desperate South Sydney defence prevented the Broncos claiming a third-straight win. As it stands, Anthony Seibold’s men are left with the challenge of claiming at least one win against the Eels or the in-form Bulldogs in Round 25. Parramatta are assured of finals football but they could have pushed for a top four spot had they had not gone down to the Bulldogs. History: The Eels have maintained a winning record against the Broncos in Brisbane, thanks largely to an imposing record in the decade that the Broncos played out of QEII Stadium at Mt Gravatt. Between 1993 and 2002, the Eels won six and drew one of…

Sydney Cricket Ground Saturday 7.35pm Form: The Roosters give every impression of a team on a mission to make history as the first to claim back-to-back titles in a united competition since the Broncos of 1992-93. They appear to have all bases covered; they’re dominating their opposition with sizzling attacking play and defending with a confidence born from constant repetition. They’ve won their past six games to effectively seal a top-two finish and if they continue to win they won’t be required to travel further than ANZ Stadium for the rest of their campaign. Opponents Penrith upset a disrupted Roosters combination during the State of Origin period but they enter this clash after winning only one of their past five games. Their charge for the play-offs has stalled in recent…

THE Rabbitohs have one hand on the minor premiership after making light work of lowly Newcastle. Mawene Hiroti scored two tries and six goals for a personal tally of 20 points in the win. The Red V still have a hope after keeping the Warriors scoreless in their clash, but they’ll need Wentworthville to upset the leaders and then beat the third-placed Bulldogs. The Magpies’ win over Canterbury should give the Dragons chance of a last-round miracle. North Sydney leapfrogged Penrith with a big boilover, but have the tougher clash of the final round. Blacktown’s late-season surge was ultimately fruitless, with their loss to Mounties confirming their place as wooden-spooners in 2019. Newtown also eased past Western Suburbs, with Luke Polselli and Greg Eastwood grabbing doubles. NEWTOWN 42 (L Polselli…

WITH Sunshine Coast’s minor premiership confirmed, there are still a number of compelling clashes in the final week of the regular season. Wynnum, who held on to second place despite losing last weekend, will face the toughest challenge against Norths Devils, while other second-place hopefuls Townsville (who beat Wynnum last week) and Burleigh will still be tested by Easts Tigers and Central Queensland respectively. Though they’re in the drivers seat, a loss by Wynnum could see them finish fourth. At the other end of the ladder the Pride will be confident of a strong finish after beating the highly-fancied Tigers, despite trailing 10-0 at half-time. Fellow strugglers Mackay were far more unlucky, going down to Ipswich by two thanks to a late try and an errant evening with the boot.…