Monday, 5 April 2021

Late Mail: NRL Round Four

 Things are really starting to take shape in the NRL now, and four rounds in it is becoming clearer who will be fighting at the top, and bottom, ends of the season.

The Panthers had nilled their opponents in the last two matches and nearly did the same on Thursday, restricting a terrible Manly outfit to just six points in another thrashing which keeps Ivan Cleary's men top of the table. The Souths did nil their opposition though, putting 38 points on the shambolic Bulldogs, who were nilled for the third straight week. Reigning Premiers Melbourne Storm comfortably defeated the Brisbane Broncos, with full-back Ryan Papenhuyzen scoring four first-half tries in a magical individual display. Easter Saturday kicked off with the Sharks cruising to victory over the Cowboys, who put in yet another dismal performance. The Titans worked hard but made too many errors in their clash with the Canberra Raiders, who came out deserved winners in the end. The Dragons' resurgence continued on Sunday with a third straight win, beating the Knights by nine points. The Roosters were missing both of their first-choice half-backs but 18-year-old debutant Sam Walker did well on debut, the Englishman getting an assist as the 2018 and 2019 Premiers survived an early scare to defeat the Warriors. Round Four finished with a close affair between Wests Tigers and Parramatta Eels, the away side maintaining their 100% record, which keeps them 2nd behind the Panthers, and ahead of the Roosters, Souths, Raiders and Dragons respectively. 

Round Four Results
Manly Sea Eagles 6-46 Penrith Panthers
Canterbury Bulldogs 0-38 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Melbourne Storm 40-6 Brisbane Broncos
Cronulla Sharks 48-10 North Queensland Cowboys
Gold Coast Titans 4-20 Canberra Raiders
Newcastle Knights 13-22 St George Dragons
Sydney Roosters 32-12 New Zealand Warriors
Wests Tigers 22-36 Parramatta Eels


Top Five Players of the Round

5) Damien Cook (Souths)
The hooker was instrumental in Souths' thrashing of the Bulldogs on Friday, setting up two tries with his superb breaks from dummy-half.

4) William Kennedy (Sharks)
A big performance from Kennedy as he helped Sharks to a resounding win over the Cowboys. He chimes into the line at the right moment and has a great passing game.

3) James Tedesco (Roosters)
Without their two half-backs, the Roosters needed someone to step forward and take control of the game. Fortunately for them, they have the best player in the world, who was involved in everything from full-back, scoring a terrific try to boot.

2) Mitchell Moses (Eels)
It has gone under the radar how well the Eels have started this season, but half-back Mitchell Moses has been a big reason for that. Was brilliant on Monday, showing marvellous ability, footwork and vision to set up the Niukore try.

1) Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)
A performance that could well end up as the best individual display of the year. Papenhuyzen scored four times from full-back, consistently arriving into the line at the right moment to receive passes and cross four times in the first half.


Top Five Tries of the Round

5) Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
It's all about the hands. George Williams sends former Wigan team-mate Elliott Whitehead through a gap. Whitehead finds Jarrod Croker, who produces a gorgeous one-handed reverse pass to Rapana, who finishes with ease.


4) Corey Thompson (Titans)
In Corey Thompson, the Gold Coast have a winger whose tenacity is winning the hearts of NRL followers. Good attacking structure gets him away, and he shows pace, strength and determination to get the ball down while staying in touch.


3) Ryan Papenhuyzen 2nd try (Storm)
His four tries were all so similar, but I like this one a lot. Unbelievable metre-making from Justin Olam to bust a tackle and then set up the onrushing full-back, who yet again shows perfect support play and reading of the game to chime into the line.


2) Cody Walker (Souths)
Pivots combining. Damien Cook makes yet another great break from dummy-half, fooling the Bulldogs defenders, and Walker is on hand with support play to receive a walk-in try.


1) James Tedesco (Roosters)
He dummies. He fends. He sprints. He finishes. Is there anything the world's best player can't do?



Team of the Round

Full-Back: Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)
There were some other good performances, from Kennedy and Tedesco, but Papenhuyzen put in a display for the ages, with four wonderful tries in what will surely end up as one of the best individual displays of the year.

Winger: Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)
A ridiculously fast winger and the Storm used his pace to great effect in their win over Brisbane. A couple of great tries from Addo-Carr.

Centre: Josh Morris (Roosters)
Because of the success of twin Brett, who also scored twice this week, I think it can be forgotten how good Josh Morris is. A staggering try for Josh this week: as the commentators said, "he had no right to score from there."

Centre: Connor Tracey (Sharks)
Tracey moved from the halves to centre this week and did a superb job, scoring twice and looking at home as the Sharks ran all over the Cowboys.

Winger: Brian To'o (Panthers)
Two great tries for To'o as the Panthers made it four wins out of four. As well as this, the 22-year-old made two line breaks and 205 metres.

Stand-Off: Mitchell Moses (Eels)
The Eels were ran close by Wests, but the quality of Moses in the halves helped see them through. Magnificent quality to set up Marata Niukore.

Scrum-Half: Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
Another starring performance from the Panthers' number seven as he helped them to a fourth straight win. Sensational kicking and innovative movement to assist Kurt Capewell's try.

Prop: Josh Papalii (Raiders)
Scored a try that defined Papalii: strength, size and power. Helped the Raiders see off the challenge of the Gold Coast with great defensive awareness.

Hooker: Damien Cook (Souths)
The best hooker in the world right now. Made two huge breaks to help set up tries for Walker and distributed the ball really well from dummy-half. 

Prop: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Titans)
Unbelievable yardage made from Tino in the Titans' loss to Canberra. Played like a man possessed in the first half. 201 metres is ridiculous.

Second Row: Luciano Leilua (Wests)
Another who really didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Set up two of the Tigers' tries with a tremendous offload and a neat bat-down near the line.

Second Row: Tariq Sims (Dragons)
A player who has really turned things around so far this year. Keeps on finding gaps to exploit and came up with a brilliant charge-down to score the Dragons' go-ahead try.

Loose Forward: Ryan Sutton (Raiders)
A massive performance from the Englishman at 13, who scored the final try in Canberra's win over the Titans. 41 tackles and 180 metres.


Next Time Out...

Souths will be looking to make it four wins in a row when they host the Broncos on Thursday, while on Friday, the Warriors aim to bounce back with a win against the winless Manly. By far the game of the round is the table-topping Panthers taking on the Raiders, also on Friday. The Titans take on the Knights on Saturday, while Storm travel to the Bulldogs, who will be looking to at least score a point this week after three barren games. The Roosters face a tricky test at home to the Sharks on Saturday, while there is a real basement battle between Wests and the Cowboys on Sunday. Round Five is concluded with the Dragons travelling to four-from-four Parramatta. 


@ALooseWire

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