Shane Flanagan delivered some more press conference brilliance following a heavy loss to The Dolphins in NRL Round 14. If history is any indication, ‘Flanno’ will get a response out of St George here and they get a winnable game against a Cronulla Sharks outfit that looks lost right now.
Nicho Hynes will cop the brunt of the criticism for Cronulla’s poor form but the issues are more widespread for the Sharks. Their defensive resilience has disappeared in the face of scoreboard pressure as they consistently fail to cash in on their good-ball opportunities.
Hynes, Braydon Trindall & Will Kennedy all excel at identifying and capitalising on cues in the defensive line but there is no one in this Sharks attack creating those cues right now.
I’m looking at Blayke Brailey to orchestrate things in the lead up and put Hynes & Co into enough positive involvements to sneak home here. If the Sharks drop another game they should win though, it might be back to the drawing board.
How does Daly Cherry-Evans respond in clubland while his former Maroons teammates travel to Perth? It’s a narrative that likely decides this one given how inconsistent the Sea Eagles have been between – and even within – games of late.
If DCE can make enough smart decisions on fifth tackle, this is Manly’s to lose. The Titans defence on the edges is among the worst in the NRL and that’s exactly where the Sea Eagles like to look for points. With Lachlan Croker compressing the line and Tom Trbojevic sweeping out the back, there’s a cricket score on offer here for Manly if they get it right.
Haumole Olakau’atu isn’t scoring tries every week but he’s heavily involved in setting them up with a line-bending carry or a late offload. Expect Manly to play for a long left-edge shift following any quick Olakau’atu play-the-balls.
Easts ‘horror’ start to the season is behind them with the Roosters just outside the Eight on for-and-against & star halfback Sam Walker back in first grade. Trent Robinson has done a wonderful job to keep the wheels turning in Bondi and keep the Roosters there or thereabouts despite their injury disruptions.
Newcastle’s attacking issues are less removed despite a miracle comeback win against Manly last week. They’re staying in the fight long enough to give themselves a chance in most games, but I’m not sure they can go with Easts pack here.
Assuming the Roosters control the middle, Walker & Hugo Savalo give Easts two genuine kickers in yardage and good-ball to help them dictate possession and field position. The points should come from there.
The Isaiya Katoa hype train continues to gather momentum and could hit top speed for the second week running here. North Queensland are decimated by Origin duties and don’t profile well against a Redcliffe attack that thrives when running downhill at a passive defence.
Assuming the Dolphins roll the ruck as they have done for the past few weeks, Katoa’s tempo and deception from first-receiver spells danger for the Cowboys passive middle. If he can get over the advantage line and fold the defence in towards the ball, Jake Averillo and the Dolphins outside backs can have a field day against an unfamiliar Cowboys backline.
North Queensland will try to start fast but this is the Dolphins game to lose.
Canterbury are missing four key contributors to Origin but their depth this year is amongst the best in the NRL. Blake Wilson, Josh Curran, Lachlan Galvin and the returning Jacob Preston fill out a strong Bulldogs outfit here that will be confident of continuing their winning form against a tired Rabbitohs squad.
With Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell gone this week, the question for South Sydney is where do their points come from? Up against the best defensive system in the competition and without a genuine ballplayer to create looks in attack, the Bunnies look set to try and grind out another ugly win.
Do they have the cattle to do so against this tireless Bulldogs pack?