Here's the talking points looking ahead to Round 22 this weekend.
Panthers prowling
The Panthers were one of the big disappointments of the first half of 2017, but they have been purring the last few weeks. The seemingly permanent move of Matt Moylan into the halves has coincided with Penrith stringing 4 wins together and moving into 9th spot. One of the early season tips to vie for the title, the Panthers seem to be hitting their straps at the right time, and a win over the Tigers this weekend could see then move inside the top 8.
Saints sliding
Heading fast in the opposite direction is St George-Illawarra. The Saints shot out of the blocks this year, surprising everyone with their enterprising attack and point scoring ability. But the wheels are starting to wobble. A controversial loss to the Knights last weekend leaves them in a precarious position on equal points with the surging Panthers. This weekend is a must win clash against Souths. Falling a game behind Penrith at this stage could be disastrous for the Saints.
Missing McCullough
Is the Broncos season finished with the news Andrew McCullough has played his last game of the year? The workhorse hooker is the heart and soul of Brisbane's middle defence, and a highly underrated cog in their attack. The fact Wayne Bennett is considering moving Ben Hunt into hooker shows how big a loss the coach feels this is. In saying that, this could be a convenient way to reunite the halves combination of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima, the pair who have steered the ship when Brisbane have looked their best this year. They should be too strong for the Titans, but all eyes will be on the new spine to see if it can cover the huge loss of McCullough through the back end of the year.
Storm surge?
Can anyone stop the Melbourne Storm right now? It's the Cowboys’ turn to have a crack this weekend, in what looks like the match of the round. The loss of Cameron Munster is offset by the return of Billy Slater at fullback, and it's hard to see the JT-less North Queenslanders putting a stop to this juggernaut. Cameron Smith will move past Terry Lamb to 351 games, and he should be celebrating in Townsville with a close win over the Cowboys.
Words: Cameron Stokes
Enjoy your footy!
