Here’s the talking points for Round 21 of the NRL Telstra Premiership:
Cowboys outgunned
It’s remarkable that the Cowboys are playing as well as they are considering their co-captains are in the stands. Saturday night’s blockbuster against the Roosters told us everything we need to know about this team, and the challenge that confronts Paul Green’s men if they want to be around on the first Sunday of October.
Michael Morgan has undoubtedly stood up in the absence of Jonathon Thurston, and the arrival of Te Maire Martin, along with the continued contributions of Jake Granville and Lachlan Coote, has meant that the Cowboys have not fallen as far off the pace as we perhaps thought they would. In jumping out to a commanding lead over the star studded Roosters, we saw everything this team is capable of, and it was mighty impressive.
However, when the Roosters went to the next gear, the Cowboys couldn’t go with them. The Chooks visibly lifted the intensity of their defence and line speed early in the second half, and it was here the Cowboys missed Scott, as no one else challenged the Roosters physicality in the way the big front rower could. The best props take the hard runs when no else wants to, and North Queensland needed someone to step up in his absence. Of course, when they did manage to work their way downfield late in the game and had the chance to strike back, Morgan and co couldn’t deliver the knockout blow that we know JT is capable of. The Cowboys will compete with the best of them for the rest of the year, but whether they have the class and composure to get the big wins without their two superstars is perhaps starting to look doubtful.
Milestone Man
What can you say about the great Cameron Smith? The 34 year old Storm legend racked up his 350th NRL game on Sunday, a remarkable achievement for someone who plays in the middle and gets through the workload he does each week. He is now within reach of surpassing both Darren Lockyer and Terry Lamb, the only other players to also make 350. His virtuoso performance to dismantle the Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon, after being in grave danger of missing the game with a damaged pectoral muscle, was simply stunning, and proved once again that his powers have shown no signs of diminishing with age. Never before have we seen someone control a game of rugby league, on such a consistent basis, and have the influence over the result that Smith does. Argue his methods all you want, but you can’t argue with the results. He is undoubtedly now in the top echelon of greats to ever lace up a boot, and his story isn’t finished yet.
Dog days over?
Poor Des Hasler. As the Bulldogs lurched to an agonising defeat against the improving Panthers, you could almost hear the knives sharpening in the kennel. It seems like a lifetime ago that Hasler was handed a two-year contract extension, a move that baffled some given the inconstancies the team had shown. Many are expecting the axe to fall on the coach before the end of 2017, but it is the arrival of Kieran Foran next year, a close ally of Hasler, that will buy him a stay of execution. The Bulldogs are pinning their hopes on the Kiwi five-eighth, and they know that Des has brought the best out of him in the past. Make no mistake though, if the new signing doesn’t hit the ground running, the Dogs will find a way to show Des the door before Round 6 next year.
What’s next?
There are some mouth-watering games waiting for us in Round 22. The Roosters-Sea Eagles clash on Sunday afternoon could impact both ends of the top 8, while the Dragons and Panthers both have must-win clashes against the Rabbitohs and Tigers respectively. But it’s the Friday night match up of the Storm and the Cowboys that looks like the pick of the round. Melbourne appear to marching mercilessly towards another minor premiership, but a trip to Townsville is a tough ask for the southerners, particularly as the Cowboys will be smarting after giving away a good lead against the Roosters. For the reasons covered above, it’s hard to see North Queensland slowing the Melbourne juggernaut, but it should be great fun to watch.
Enjoy your footy!
Words: Cameron Stokes
