Here are the talking points coming out of Round 23.
Missed opportunities
This was a weekend that saw a number of teams miss golden opportunities to make significant moves on the ladder. The Eels could have found themselves with a coveted top 4 position, but were out-enthused by a Knights team who have found themselves on a winning run. Brad Arthur will be hoping that slip up doesn’t cost them dearly in a couple of weeks.
The Roosters could have closed the gap on Melbourne to only 2 points, but couldn’t quite get the job done in a cracker of a match on Saturday. The Storm have now wrapped up the minor premiership, while the Roosters will need a win against the resurgent Tigers next week to stop their sudden run of losses. The Sea Eagles will be scratching their heads this morning after throwing away a sizeable lead against Wests, and the Cowboys are now clinging to eighth spot and just cannot buy a win, or an injury free game. Paul Green will be very nervous this week as the Sharks come to town with plenty of motivation after back to back losses of their own. There will be a number of teams who will look back on Round 23 as the one that got away.
Broncos are back
Are the Broncos the only team that can knock the Storm off? A few weeks ago, when Melbourne came to Brisbane and put 40 points on the home team, it did not seem likely, but the Broncos have turned a corner. Ben Hunt’s move to hooker, and the blossoming scrum base partnership of Kodi Nikorima and Anthony Milford, has the Broncos humming. When the reigns are loosened and these three are allowed to play the adlib football that comes so naturally to them, points are never far away, and it is this adlib football that has the potential to worry the Storm, who can’t be beaten in an arm wrestle. If they can lock in a top 2 finish over the next few weeks, Brisbane will fancy their chances of sneaking into the big dance, and anything can happen on the day.
Titanic mess
What to make of the poor Gold Coast Titans. It seems like a lifetime ago that we thought they were smokies for the top 4 after finishing in the finals last year and building a good young team around an excellent spine. But with their finals hopes dashed, it looks likely either Jarryd Hayne or Neil Henry will be moving out of Robina. The superstar’s arrival was never a move Henry was comfortable with, and the pair have reached the point where one of them must go. Both will have financial implications should they walk, and even if Hayne leaves, there is no guarantee Henry has the support of the rest of the playing group. Whatever happens, it’s a real mess on the glitter strip.
What’s next?
The big games keep coming this weekend, with top 8 implications across 6 of the match ups. The pick of the games appears to be the Cowboys and the Sharks, with both teams desperate for a return to the winners’ circle. The Raiders need to keep their streak alive against the Panthers, and Manly will be hoping they can bounce back against the underwhelming Bulldogs, who can’t finish the season quickly enough. With so much to play for across the weekend, it’s going to be a cracking round!
Enjoy your footy!
For the latest NRL Round 24 Markets, click here.
Words: Cameron Stokes
