The Sea Eagles play with a 7-1-3 record from 11 games this season when their first-choice spine of Tom Trbojevic, Luke Brooks, Daly Cherry-Evans and Lachlan Croker take the field. ‘Turbo’ and DCE often dominate in the highlight reels, but the work of Brooks and Croker in particular can be Manly’s point-of-difference in September and beyond.
Croker’s decision making and deception behind the ruck is key to the Sea Eagles expansive attack. The subtle nuances of his involvements out of half – even for just half a second – help to fold the defence in towards the ball and create space on the edges. It’s no coincidence Manly have broken the line far more often (16 linebreaks in their past two games) than their season average (5.6) since Croker returned in NRL Round 23.
With Croker and Cherry-Evans organising most of the attack, Brooks has been freed up to play to his strengths as a ball runner. A season-best 181m return against Canberra two weeks ago was the best-case scenario for Brooks and this improving, more-balanced Sea Eagles attack.
Warriors fans won’t need reminding what happened the last time these two clubs met. The Bulldogs have kicked on since that controversial Golden Point win while the Warriors have hit hurdle after hurdle on their way towards an early Mad Monday.
I’m expecting a physical response from New Zealand in this one but NRL Round 25 is not the time to be building combinations in attack. Shaun Johnson and Luke Metcalf are both just two games back from injury and while their ceiling as an attacking duo is high, do they have the runs on the board to play to it here?
Happy to look for value in some try scorers down both right edges. Canterbury love using Viliame Kikau as the trigger for a long, right edge shift while the Warriors right-side attack created some positive looks last week through Johnson, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Fresh off the bye but still with key players in the casualty ward, the question is what Broncos side do we get this week? With a run of three straight games at Suncorp Stadium to close out the regular season and still a mathematical chance of making the finals, it’s now or never for Brisbane.
Their preferred right edge attack through Adam Reynolds, Kotoni Staggs and a returning Selwyn Cobbo profiles well against an Eels left edge that was terrorised by the Roosters last week. The spaces around Kelma Tuilagi and Deajarn Asi continue to be a spot for attacking teams and I’m looking for Reynolds to engage that pair before putting Staggs into one-on-one situations in the centre-corridor.
Jarome Luai relished a primary playmaker role earlier this year and can carry this Panthers attack over the next few weeks. The real concern around Nathan Cleary’s latest injury setback is the effect it has on Penrith’s right edge defensive unit.
With more than 50% of their total tries conceded down their right edge this season, it’s an unfamiliar look for what has been the best defensive system in the NRL for years now. Izack Tago continues to make poor decisions under pressure and he isn’t being helped by the constant chopping and changing around him. With a new face – Brad Schneider – on his inside this week, I’m expecting the Raiders to test Tago’s defensive reads here.
Canberra were beaten physically by North Queensland last week and I’m happy to back Ricky Stuart to get a response. There’s value in the line assuming the Raiders can make the most of a rare chink in Penrith’s armour while the Panthers work out the kinks in attack without their star half.
It wasn’t pretty but Melbourne got it done against Penrith last week to lock up the 2024 NRL Minor Premiership. We said it might take time for the Storm attack to find a balance in the spine and they took a great step forward in NRL Round 24. Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen did what they’ve done all year to orchestrate a fast-paced, efficient attack but the involvements of Cam Munster were ominous for rival clubs.
Light across the ground and ultra-willing to challenge the line himself, I loved Munster’s involvements last week and think he can cause some issues for The Dolphins middle defence here.
Redcliffe appear to be on their last legs and continue to fall away through the middle in the back end of halves. Given Melbourne’s relentless approach with the ball, I think we could see a few points late in this one through Munster and the Storm’s left edge.
South Sydney will be without Cody Walker (HIA) here which leaves their already-thin right edge looking even thinner this week. With new faces combining in defence against Kalyn Ponga’s preferred left edge in attack, it could be another long night for the Bunnies in NRL Round 25.
The Knights attack has been far from convincing but they’ve got enough repeatable actions down the tramlines through Ponga to outscore Souths in this one. I’m not sure where the Rabbitohs points come from without Cody Walker in the halves and they don’t have the pack to go with Newcastle in a grind.
The Eels didn’t offer up much but there was a lot to like about the Sydney Roosters win last week. They score more points per game than any team in the NRL courtesy of an expansive, high-risk attack through Sam Walker but with the rain pouring down in NRL Round 24, Easts tightened things up.
Brandon Smith was superb in a running role while Luke Keary, Connor Watson and James Tedesco all shared the load in a more conservative, controlled attack. It’s an encouraging look for the Roosters to successfully employ such a different style and I’m expecting to see more of that tighter approach leading into finals.
Easts will never be a team that puts the cue in the rack but they can set up games early to win them late by embracing the grind and promoting fatigue into the opposition. Once the ruck is won, that’s when Walker & Co can go to work.
St George have been a win / loss team all season but I like the value in them to buck the trend against Cronulla.
Shane Flanagan has the Dragons playing an aggressive, physical brand of football and they profile well against a big, immobile Sharks middle here. Cronulla have played through their forward pack over the past fortnight without a recognised halfback and I think the Dragons can test them with some repeat efforts around the ruck in NRL Round 25.
Jacob Liddle had some smart involvements last week while the left edge is starting to find some combinations through the likes of Luciano Leilua and Christian Tuipulotu.
Written by Oscar Pannifex | rugbyleaguewriters.com