Sunday, 28 March 2021

Late Mail: NRL Round Three

Goodness me, what a round. A weekend in Australia that was dominated by injuries, try-saving tackles and formidable fullbacks saw some intruiging results as the season really starts to take shape.

The Round started with an incredible spectacle on Thursday as reigning Premiers Melbourne Storm took on the Penrith Panthers in a rematch of the 2020 Grand Final. After a close match, Panthers took the lead late on and then had Viliame Kikau to thank after he came up with a remarkable defensive effort after the hooter to prevent Storm from scoring when they looked certain to go over and win the game. The Dragons' resurgence continued after a comfortable win over the terrible Manly Sea Eagles but was tempered with the news of a serious leg injury to the influential Ben Hunt. Then came the Sydney derby. Souths ran riot in the first half as the Roosters couldn't live with them and though they came back into it late on, the Bunnies saw the game out. The Roosters' misery was compounded by injuries to Lachlan Lam and Lindsay Collins, as well as the awful news that Luke Keary is expected to miss the entirety of 2021 after sustaining an ACL injury.

The Warriors pulled off the comeback of the season so far, recovering from 31-10 down to Canberra Raiders to win by three points. They had Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to thank after he made one of the all-time great try-saving tackles to deny Canberra the win in the dying moments. Like the Roosters, the Raiders suffered an injury crisis in the game, losing Joseph Tapine, Ryan James, Sebastian Kris and Jarrod Croker, leaving them with no bench in the second half. After a god-awful first half, the Broncos came to life in the second half against the Bulldogs, nilling their opponents after inspirational play from Jamayne Isaako and Xavier Coates. The final game on Saturday saw the Eels come from four points down to comfortably beat the Sharks, who suffered an availability crisis of their own after losing Sione Katoa, Wade Graham, Briton Nikora and Will Kennedy, leaving them, like the Raiders, without a bench in the second half in a game that also saw the Eels lose Mitchell Moses to injury. The Tigers got their first two points of the season with an impressive victory over the Knights, before the weekend was rounded off by the Titans making mincemeat of the Cowboys, who have been rocked by the terrible news that co-captain Michael Morgan is likely to be forced into early retirement due to persistent shoulder problems.

Round Three Results:

Penrith Panthers 12-10 Melbourne Storm
St George Dragons 38-12 Manly Sea Eagles
South Sydney Rabbitohs 26-16 Sydney Roosters
Canberra Raiders 31-34 New Zealand Warriors
Brisbane Broncos 24-0 Canterbury Bulldogs
Parramatta Eels 28-4 Cronulla Sharks 
Newcastle Knights 20-24 Wests Tigers
North Queensland Cowboys 8-44 Gold Coast Titans

That means that Penrith top the table, with the panthers and the Eels the only two teams who can boast 100% records. The Roosters fall to 3rd after their Derby defeat, while Gold Coast are the big movers, climbing up to 4th. The impressive Dragons are into 5th, and 5th to 9th are split by just seven on points difference. Three teams - the Cowboys, Bulldogs and Sea Eagles are still winless.


Top Five Performances of the Round

5) Tigers (beat Knights 20-24 away)

Fair play to the Tigers who came from behind to score a late try, earning them their maiden win of 2021. They played some nice rugby and upset the odds in a deserved victory.

4) Dragons (beat Sea Eagles 38-12 at home)
The Dragons have really turned a corner in the last two matches, getting a pair of big wins. They were entertaining and fast in their play as they ran all over Manly.

3) Panthers (beat Storm 12-10 at home)
An unbelievable defensive effort from the Panthers late on prevented the Storm from getting a win in a rematch of the 2020 Grand Final. Three wins from three for the Panthers now who are looking very good.

2) Souths (beat Roosters 26-16 at home)
After a slightly underwhelming start to the year, Souths came up with a great performance in the Sydney Derby on Friday. Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker sensational.

1) Titans (beat Cowboys 8-44 away)
A wonderful team performance from the Gold Coast as they demolished a terrible Cowboys outfit to record their second win of the season, banging in over 40 points.


Top Five Players of the Round

5) Matt Dufty (Dragons)
I could've filled this top five with a collection of five full-backs, such was the quality of the number ones this round. Dufty got two tries, again showing his pace and ability to chime into the line at just the right moment.

4) Kodi Nikorima (Warriors)
Nikorima was the mastermind behind New Zealand's comeback win over the Canberra Raiders. He got a lovely individual try and had a hand in every attack that the Warriors created. 

3) Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
A simply incredible moment from Tuivasa-Sheck as the full-back pulled off one of the greatest ever try-saving tackles to ensure his team were victorious in a game that he had more than played his part in.

2) Latrell Mitchell (Souths)
Three games and three very impressive performances from my tip for the Dally M. He contributed massively to Souths' big win in the Derby, getting three assists and running the show alongside Walker.

1) Cody Walker (Souths)
My player of Round Three is Cody Walker, who got two tries from stand-off for Souths and was involved in everything positive that the Bunnies did, linking up extremely well with Mitchell on a number of occasions.


Top Five Tries of the Round

5) James Tedesco
The Roosters may have lost the game and were poor throughout, but the best player in the world still got his customary try, outpacing everyone with his ridiculous acceleration to score a consolation.


4) Charlie Staines
Good hands from Dylan Edwards and Paul Momirovski before really clever wing play from Staines, putting the brakes on to avoid touch and create a gap for him to score in. Only 20 years old but plays like an veteran.



3) Matt Dufty (first try)
Tremendous support play from a full-back that I am watching closely this year. His back rower makes the break and Dufty is always there to capitalise with his pace.


2) Jamayne Isaako
Another full-back arriving in the line at just the right moment. Gorgeous try from the speedster who makes an absolute mockery of Corey Allan, rounding him to complete the score.


1) Corey Thompson (second try)
The try of the round is scored by a winger who I'm really growing to like. Corey Thompson is incredibly hard-working and has great finishing ability, as shown here. Facing the wrong way when he cleanly catches the ball, he accelerates and superbly finishes one-handed, narrowly avoiding touch.


Team of the Round

Full Back: Latrell Mitchell (Souths)
An incredibly tough choice at full-back this week - it could easily have been Dufty, Isaako, Gutherson or Tuivasa-Sheck. But I have gone for Mitchell, who grabbed three assists as the Souths ran the rule in the Sydney derby.

Winger: Xavier Coates (Broncos)
Two tries for Coates as his clinical finishing settled what was a terrible encounter in the first half. Finished off a great team move for the first and then caught the kick-off and ran into space for the second as the Broncos got their first win of 2021.

Centre: Zac Lomax (Dragons)
Got a superb brace to help the Dragons onto the victory. Leapt high to catch and ground Corey Norman's kick for his first, before winning the race to ground a grubber kick for his second. Also a very good goal-kicking performance. 

Centre: Tommy Talau (Tigers)
A great result for the Tigers this weekend as they got their first win of the season. He started this game on fire, getting a lovely try after a neat dummy and then should've registered an assist with some lovely handling.

Winger: Brian To'o (Panthers)
Quickly becoming one of my favourite players in the competition. Such a likeable winger - not afraid to compete with men much bigger than him. Always gives everything to yardage and metre-making early in sets. Brilliant.

Stand-Off: Cody Walker (Souths)
Terrific performance from Walker as Souths dominated the Roosters, particularly in the first half, of the Sydney Derby. The number six got two tries of his own after combining with Mitchell and showed excellent handling and organisation throughout.

Scrum-Half: Kodi Nikorima (Warriors)
That solo try was magnificent. Handling, footwork and electric pace. Marshalled everything from the halves as the Warriors ran riot in the second half. Superb individual performance.

Prop: Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)
Opened the scoring with a great try in his 100th NRL match. Helped the Warriors get on top in the forwards battle in the second half as they came from behind to win.

Hooker: Mitch Rein (Titans)
Set up a couple of tries in the Titans' mauling of the Cowboys. Ran well from dummy-half and was a constant threat. A man under pressure - Titans are looking for a new hooker in 2022 - but he is making a case for himself.

Prop: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels)
Could've been either of the two Eels props. Brown and Campbell-Gillard really set the pattern of play in this match, dominating the Sharks in the forwards department. He also got himself a try, showing his great strength and power.

Second Row: Kurt Capewell (Panthers)
The two Panthers back rowers came up with game-deciding plays. Kikau with the try-saving tackle at the death, and Capewell with the try to put them in front with three minutes left. He ducked, he dived and scored a super individual effort.

Second Row: Tariq Sims (Dragons)
The Dragons second-rower had a marvellous game on Friday, helping his side to a dominant win over Manly. 127 metres and three tackle busts, one of which set up Matt Dufty for his first try.

Loose Forward: Cameron Murray (Souths)
The Souths were brilliant on Thursday, dominating proceedings. Murray had a hand in so much of their play in the first half. What a difference it makes to have a ball-handling number 13.


Next Time Out...

Round Four kicks off with a bottom-vs-top clash as Manly host the league leaders Penrith. Souths will be looking to make it three wins in a row against the Bulldogs, who are also without a win so far. Storm will try to bounce back from two consecutive defeats with a win against the Broncos, who got their first victory this weekend. The Sharks host the winless Cowboys on Saturday before the Titans take on the Raiders, who will hope to have greater availability this time out. Newcastle host the resurgent Dragons on Sunday, before the Roosters - who will be without both of their half-backs, host the Warriors. In the final game of Round Four, Wests Tigers host the Eels who are three-from-three so far.

@ALooseWire

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