Tag: nrl

Round 12 Judiciary: Radley cops hefty ban for headbutt while Smith sidelined long term, Luai fined for touchie push

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The Sydney Roosters have been dealt a double blow with Victor Radley’s horror judiciary record coming back to haunt him and Brandon Smith ruled for up to eight weeks with a thumb injury.

Radley was on Saturday hit with a minimum three-game ban for headbutting Blake Lawrie in Friday night’s NRL loss to St George Illawarra, after lashing out at the prop in a fight.

The Roosters lock was handed the relatively light charge of a grade-one striking offence for his contact. 

Under normal circumstances Radley would have been able to take a $1500 fine and ensure he was free to face Canterbury after next week’s bye.

But the fact Radley has had four previous offences in the past 12 months alone means he is not eligible for that penalty.

Instead, he will only be able to take a three-game ban with an early guilty plea, ruling him out of games against the Bulldogs, Penrith and Newcastle.

If he opts to fight the charge and loses, he will miss a fourth match against Canberra in round 17.

“Have we stopped sin-binning people this week, are we just putting it in the back pocket preparing for I don’t know what?” said Greg Alexander on Fox League commentary.

Radley’s absence would come as a significant blow to the Roosters, who will also be without Smith for six-to-eight weeks after he suffered a thumb fracture.

The hooker will undergo surgery early this week, but is now not expected to return until after the State of Origin period.

The Roosters are traditionally hit hard during that time, with James Tedesco, Angus Crichton and Lindsay Collins set to be in and out of Origin camp over the next two months.

Radley has spoken repeatedly about cleaning up his game and putting an end to stints on the sideline and sin-binnings, but has so far been unable to do so.

His charge comes after Lawrie said he held no ill-will towards Radley for the incident.

Tempers frayed in the first half of the Dragons’ 24-22 win at Jubilee Stadium after Dragons centre Zac Lomax slammed Corey Allan into the ground as he attempted to strip the ball.

Radley rushed in to man-handle Lomax, sparking a melee between the sides. 

But Lawrie shrugged the head-butting incident off post-match.

“I love ‘Rads’, he’s the ultimate competitor, absolutely great player. There’s no hard feelings at all from my end,” he said.

“Whatever the match review committee comes up with, it is what it is. I’m staying out of it.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson claimed not to have seen the incident and was unsure whether Radley would face scrutiny from the match review committee.

Lomax avoided charge on Saturday for his role in the incident while Roosters forwards Nathan Brown and Collins avoided charges for a high shot and dangerous tackle respectively.

Luai escapes ban for ‘accidental’ push on touch judge

Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai has escaped suspension for his alleged push on touch judge Chris Sutton in his side’s 15-4 win over Brisbane on Thursday night, clearing him to play in Origin 1.

The Match Review Panel charged him with Contrary Conduct, but only at Grade 1, which means an $1800 fine if an early guilty plea is taken and no ban.

The NSW star had alraedy explained his actions, telling media after the game that he had immediately apologised to the offical once he had realised what he had done.

Winger Sunia Turuva had just scored in the corner and Luai, who often celebrates his teammates’ tries in an exuberant fashion, said he was about to congratulate the flying Fijian when he pushed Sutton in the back.

Players are not allowed to touch match officials and over the years some have been charged by the match review committee (MRC) for doing so while others have not, depending on the circumstances. 

Vision of the incident on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium showed Luai reaching out to apologise to Sutton.

“I was just trying to celebrate a try with a bro’ and I didn’t realise it was the touchie until I did it,” Luai told AAP after Thursday’s match.

“I spoke to him straight away and said, ‘I didn’t know it was you’. I wasn’t really looking. My headlights weren’t on. I apologised … and we are sweet.

“I just wanted to make sure he was alright, and then I explained what happened.

“I was just trying to get to (Turuva). I know he scored the try and I was going to try and jump on his back.

“It was my mistake and I obviously apologised after.”

Luai’s explanation lined up with what captain Nathan Cleary said in the post-match press conference.

“Romy (Luai) mentioned it to me straight after the game and he said he didn’t realise it was the touchie … and then apologised straight after,” Cleary said.

Broncos great Sam Thaiday said he had been suspended for a similar incident during his career.

“I got suspended for that,” Thaiday said on Nine.

“Off a scrum, I grabbed the umpire’s shirt trying to explain that he was holding me in the scrum against the Melbourne Storm here, and I got a week’s suspension for that.

“You’re not allowed to touch a referee.”

Maroons legend Paul Vautin added: ”What was he trying to do?” he asked.

“Was he trying to push him out of the way or tap him to talk to him?”

Luai had another strong match, to back up his stellar display in last week’s 48-4 victory over Sydney Roosters, to all but seal his NSW selection.

“It is that time of the year and it is always a privilege to be in the chat about selection,” he said.

“If I do get picked, I will take it with both hands and give it my best shot.”

The combination Luai has with Penrith half Cleary and lock Isaah Yeo is set to be a strength for NSW with all set to be chosen for Origin.

“I’ve played a lot of footy with those boys and I enjoy doing so. They are probably the best players I will ever get to play with,” he said.

The Panthers went top of the table on 16 points with the win, although South Sydney will pass them if they beat Parramatta on Friday night.

With three victories in a row, the defending premiers are now starting to find their groove, with Luai combining nicely with his left edge.

“Our combinations are growing,” he said.

“I have (centre Tyrone) Peachey out there now. Our edge has changed a bit over the course of the year with different back-rowers and different centres but I have bonded with this edge and we are able to feed off each other really well.”

with AAP

© AAP



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ANALYSIS: The Broncos learn the level from Cleary and the Panthers – after one of the most bizarre Bunker decisions of all time

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If the Broncos weren’t aware of the level at the very top end of the NRL, they are now. They went down 15-4 to Penrith to kick off Indigenous Round, their third loss in four, and yet, again, came out of it as a better footy side.

The Panthers have been the benchmark for several years and are properly motoring now, turning in a performance of classic Clearyball dominance both through Ivan’s ideas on control in defence and patience in attack and Nathan’s ability to enact them.

This was a seasons-best from the halfback, and on the eve of Origin. He hit a personal milestone – the youngest to 1300 points in first grade – and showed every facet of his game: creatively with the ball, taking on the line, controlling with the boot and muscling up in defence.

“We dominated field position and possession,” said Ivan. “We didn’t have the polish tonight but in terms of how we like to play the game, I thought we did a decent job. It was a decent win.

“Early (in the year) we lost a couple of close ones but we were playing OK, just not consistently enough to how we like to play – the last three weeks have been more like that.

“After a disappointing loss to the Tigers, I felt we have responded well and been a bit more like how we like to play.”

Brisbane couldn’t go with Penrith in the end, but the manner in which they defended mountains of pressure can only leave Kevin Walters feeling that his team are going to be something special.

“It’s all learning for us,” said the coach. “They’ve been doing it for three or four years now and we’re just coming into all that. It was a good lesson.”

Though they went 7-1 prior to losing to South Sydney at the end of last month, it is the run of poor results since that have been more impressive. The first two months were a rails run, a confidence-building exercise for the attack.

This was the real stuff, the football that wins finals, and though they lost now, it will help them win in the future.

“We’re one from the last four, but it’s not alarming,” said Walters.

“We’d have preferred to win more but I’m OK with where we are. When we get it right, and we will get it right in September, we’re going to be OK.

“If you’d have said at the end of September last year when everyone was throwing bricks at us that, after 12 rounds, we’d have won eight games, I reckon you’d take that from a Broncos position.”

Brisbane did so without Adam Reynolds, too, ruled out with injury. Had he played, they might have been able to turn early pressure into points and forced the scoreboard pressure onto Penrith.

Instead, they succumbed to first Jarome Luai and then Cleary, who both created tries.

It might have been more. Penrith had multiple tries disallowed in the first half as they camped on the Broncos’ line.

But also, it might have been closer. At 14-4, a bizarre bunker call took a try off Brisbane that could have sparked a comeback: Kotoni Staggs thought he had scored and the Bunker agreed, only for referee Adam Gee to query the video call and find an obstruction in the build-up. The right call was found, albeit not through the traditional methods.

The Panthers haven’t gone anywhere

This was a lesson in efficiency from Penrith. The Broncos were clearly bang up for the game and fired into early tackles, at times halting the Panthers within their own 30 and forcing them to kick away. 

The defence provoked attacking opportunities for Brisbane, but their lack of clinicality – no Reynolds, remember – saw last tackle options wasted twice. 

Needless to say, Nathan Cleary didn’t let that happen. On the Panthers’ first serious attack, they scored through Sunia Turuva. 

On their second, they should have, and but for a miracle tackle to dislodge the ball from Moses Leota, they would have. On their third, they came away with two from a penalty goal.

What everyone knows about Penrith is their defence. On the limited occasions in the first half where Brisbane got towards their end, the solidity was on full display to keep them out for five tackles, and then the lack of a top-class halfback was evident on the last.

While Jock Madden had a decent game, he’s not Reynolds. Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh are great talents, but they’re nowhere near the kicking threat of their captain.

The lack of points from the Panthers, for once, wasn’t a result of their attack not quite coming together, rather exceptional work from the Broncos to stop them. 

And as ever, they just kept on at it and eventually got their rewards. The truth, as Ivan Cleary has known all along, is that the attack only really needs to be on in September, especially if the defence is on all the time.

The Broncos aren’t a threat…yet

This is becoming a bit of a theme for the Broncos. For the third time, they’ve faced a Premiership contender, a real big gun, and for the third time, they’ve lost.

But every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, so let’s pick these apart. 

Against Souths, they struggled to deal with the game’s best attack and were eventually run over the top of – admittedly without Payne Haas and Ezra Mam, who were suspended.

Against the Storm, they lost Reynolds early, then endured three sin bins that hamstrung their ability to compete – but compete they did, with only finishing and discipline the difference.

So what did we learn here? Well, for one, there is improvement. For a long period, this was the best of the three showings, going toe-to-toe and set-for-set with the masters of grinding, defensive footy.

The pressure that the Broncos were under was immense. Penrith played almost perfectly for an hour, with next to no errors and domination of both field position and the ball, but the Brisbane defence largely held firm. 

To concede just two tries in that period in the face of such an onslaught says everything.

It’s worth remembering how far this side has come. When the Panthers began their period of dominance, Brisbane were the worst defensive team in the comp and liable to fold like deckchairs at the slightest push. 

There was a whiff of a comeback in attack, but it was never likely given the energy extended in keeping the score respectable. A count of zero line breaks to five told everything about who was most likely to win.

The last three weeks have shown that, despite the huge improvements, the Broncos remain a rung down from the proper heavyweights. But the trajectory is there. They’re probably still a year off, but it’s coming.

Penrith are at the tail end of, or still in the middle of their Premiership phase. Souths are moving into theirs and the Storm seemingly never leave one. Kevvie will know that his is just opening, and that’s fine.



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ANALYSIS: Reynolds is hurt, Carrigan’s in hip-drop strife & Kevvie rages – but did the Broncos just enhance their Premiership case?

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This was a defeat for Brisbane, but it might not feel like one. Though the Broncos have won eight times, they will learn more from this defeat than from almost any of those victories: they can now call themselves Premiership contenders, having given one of the toughest teams in the comp a real shake on their own turf.

Despite going down 24-16, there was no doubt that the Broncos are right up there with the best.

They responded to multiple setbacks, including the loss of captain Adam Reynolds early on, only losing late to a Storm team that eventually came over the top of them following multiple sin bins.

Herbie Farnworth, Tom Flegler and Pat Carrigan all did ten minute stints – the latter for a clear hip-drop that might see him miss time, potentially including Origin, given a similar incident late last year that ended Jackson Hastings’ season. 

The great difference, in the end, was discipline, and according to Broncos coach Kevin Walters, the officiating – not least the call to bin Carrigan.

“I’m pretty frustrated,” he said. “We came here to play football, that’s what we’ve been doing all year, and I just don’t think that we got a game of football.

“We had three guys sin binned. It’s hard to win when that happens. Were they fair sin binnings? I won’t make any comments because my contract isn’t big enough to pay the fine.”

“He (Carrigan) slid down his legs. You wouldn’t like to see that happen in a Grand Final. For someone to get sin binned for that. What the NRL want you to do now is slide down the legs and Patty did that. 

“Anyway, good luck to the Storm, they deserved to win. The good thing from our point of view is that we’ve come here, tough environment, and last time we came here we got beat by 50, so I reckon we’ve made some improvements.

“There’s been some commentary around our team, that we’re front end bullies. We weren’t that tonight. We were on the back foot all night. When we get it right, we’ve got a hell of a footy team here, so look out.”

Talisman Reynolds was left concussed early after landing on his head while chasing a kick from Farnworth. Nelson Asofa-Solomona also left the game in clear discomfort, holding his ribs.

There were initial fears that it was a much worse injury for the halfback, who reported to medics that he had no feeling in his hands and feet, and is known to have been carrying a neck complaint. Walters confirmed that he will miss next week, while Storm coach Craig Bellamy couldn’t confirm the extent of the damage to Asofa-Solomona.

Melbourne will be thrilled to record a win, especially after their loss to Souths last week. Though it took them time to find their best, when they did it was classic Storm.

A late try, the second of two for Will Warbrick, was a trademark piece of improvisation from Jahrome Hughes, who ignored a set restart to kick early and find his winger.

“It was a strange game,” said Bellamy. “There was so many 50/50 things that happened and it seemed to go for a hell of a long time too. It was like an AFL game in the time it took. 

“We wanted to do a couple of basic things for us to do well, and we did those reasonably well. We didn’t get off to the greatest start and the Broncos really locked us down in our half, but at the end of the day, we knuckled down and that was the rhythm for our defence for the rest of the game.”

Munster back on song

This match was a story of two Queensland Origin players, one established, one hopeful. Munster was back to his best while Reece Walsh maintained his campaign for a Maroon jumper.

Walsh underlined his case to be Queensland fullback, while Munster rebounded to his best after a difficult evening at Suncorp last week.

Munster doesn’t have many off-nights, so it’s hard to judge how they affect him, but it seemed as if the five eighth was intent on righting the wrongs of Magic Round. 

He was dreadful last week against Souths, having next to no impact on the game. From minute one tonight, he looked far more interested and impactful, challenging the line constantly in his trademark, impish style.

His first try was more of a lack of defensive organisation from the Broncos, but Munster’s desire to hit the ball at pace and get over the stripe was there for all to see.

His second line break, which Justin Olam should have converted into a try, was classic Munster with extravagant dummies and swift hands to free the PNG centre. Unfortunately for the Storm, Walsh pulled off the trysaver.

In the second,

Walsh has to play Origin

If there had been any lingering doubt about the form candidate for the Queensland fullback role, Reece Walsh removed them tonight.

There was one hairy moment where he was reprieved by a late offside call having dropped a bomb, but outside of that, this was a stellar showing from Walsh.

If there has been a criticism of his play since returning to the Broncos, it would be that he has been something of a flat track bully. Against Souths, he was totally absent.

There’s fewer tougher assignments in the NRL than Melbourne away, and Walsh turned up here. His kicking was a particular high point, taking up the slack after Reynolds departed.

Defence was excellent too, with the bravest of brave shots on Olam to deny a try. There was a whiff of a shoulder charge about it, but the Bunker didn’t intervene. He was less fortunate from a Munster-esque ball steal, which was a second out from being one of the plays of the season, but was wiped off for a second man in.

In attack, Walsh was playing the hits. He put a try on a platter for Jesse Arthars and constantly when the Broncos were able to put on their shape.

The Maroons are famed for their loyalty and usually err on the side of incumbency, but Billy Slater will be the main target if he ignores Walsh in favour of Kalyn Ponga and Queensland lose. 

Ponga is bang out of form, has been injured and playing as a five eighth. Walsh has been excellent, is fit and is playing fullback.



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ANALYSIS: If the rest of the NRL weren’t taking Cronulla seriously, they are now – and Nanai should miss Origin

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If the Sharks were looking to make a statement, they did so. Having lost in extra time in the last year’s Finals to the Cowboys, they got their revenge in style with a 44-6 carve up that put the rest of the competition on notice.

This was the most complete performance of the season from Craig Fitzgibbon’s men, who are now on a three-match winning run after their bye.

Nicho Hynes continued his Origin audition with another heap of try assists, Will Kennedy underlined his case to be the most improved fullback of 2023 and Siosifa Talakai partied like it was Morgan Harper in front of him. In truth, the list of standouts could have been 17 names long. They were that good.

“We started strong,” said Fitzgibbon. “They came back into it physically for a bit but I thought we were strong everywhere. Everyone did their job, everyone committed to the plan we had. It was pleasing.”

It was a night to forget for the Cowboys. Jeremiah Nanai and Coen Hess were both binned, for a hip-drop and a trip respectively.

Chad Townsend departed with a calf injury early in the second half and Tom Chester just before the close with a potential ACL tear. He will undergo scans on return to Townsville.

Coach Todd Payten said Townsend had been struggling with niggling injuries ahead of the game and was taken off in the hope that he could recover for their next game, which is not for ten days.

The Sharks did not escape, either. Braden Hamlin-Uele was taken off with a potential MCL injury incurred in the Nanai hip-drop incident, while Briton Nikora, one of their best in 2023, suffered a bad knee clash and was withdrawn as a precaution.

“Far from pretty,” was Payten’s blunt assessment of his side’s defeat.

“We started slow on the back foot, and then spent a lot of time in our own end. We got it back into an arm wrestle just before half time but conceding one quickly after and getting two blokes in the sin bin was just too difficult.

“A lot of the tries conceded didn’t come from system breakdowns, they came from one-on-one misses. (Sione) Katoa went over in the first half and we had two shots at him. Tackling is hurting us. That was far from NRL standard tonight.”

The Sharks start in beast mode

One of the vogue phrases among NRL coaches this year has been ‘frontloading our energy’: what they mean is starting fast, especially in the middle, in the hope that they can rest later with a points buffer behind them.

It seems obvious, but for years the prevailing wisdom was to play the long game, ‘get into the arm wrestle’, ‘win the right to play’ and so on.

The two coaches who talk most about ‘frontloading’ are Jason Demetriou and Brad Arthur, the two men with the most forwards-first yardage strategy, but it’s slipped into the Craig Fitzgibbon repertoire as well. You can see why.

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His side blew the doors off the Cowboys in the first 20, essentially ending the contest as a physical battle in the opening quarter. 

Not only were they 20-0 to the good, they had battered their opponents. The Cowboys managed just a 12m gain on one set, after which Sione Katoa scored.

“I was saying before the game that effort has been good, but there’s been a couple of technical things that you have to keep working at,” said Fitzgibbon.

“With defence, attitude and effort underpins it but I feel like we’ve been able to sort out a few technical issues and when we honour the laws of the game, the fundamentals and errors and penalties, we can back that up with strong defence, which is what we did tonight.”

As it happened, the frontloading of effort did bite them a little towards the end of the half with a few tired tackles that lead to Tom Dearden line breaks, but it didn’t matter. The Sharks were miles ahead and the game was done.

The bashup that came late was almost inevitable by that stage. There were elements of variance that went their way, given the bounce for Jesse Ramien’s try, the horror error for Hynes’ and the errors and discipline of their opponents, but it’s one thing to be given chances and another to take them. The Sharks were ruthless.

Nanai should miss Origin on this form – if he isn’t banned

Jeremiah Nanai’s hip-drop will likely result in a lengthy suspension given that he has already sat out two matches this year for a spear tackle, and he’ll likely be looking at plenty when the charges hit after this game.

It was a classic hip-drop, with the backrower losing his legs due to fatigue and his studs body swinging around, boots off the deck, onto the back of Hamlin-Uele’s knees. The Sharks prop was raging and rightly so. It’s exactly what the game is trying to get rid of.

Even before that, Nanai was a liability. He gave away multiple penalties and was spotted up in defence, with the Sharks throwing far too much at him. His lateral defence has never been too strong, but it was exposed several times tonight.

If he was put up against Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic or Haumole Olakau’atu on an edge for Queensland, the Blues would have a field day.

Nothing went right for North Queensland

Coen Hess getting binned for tripping summed it up. This was a night in which everything that could go wrong, did. 

The Cowboys made an error on their first set and the Sharks scored. They gave away a rake of penalties and were mercilessly punished. They lost their halfback early in the second half.

Scott Drinkwater dropped a ball straight in front of Hynes, Val Holmes got scattered by Katoa and Townsend was pancaked more than once. When you’re best players are going like busteds, then what can you expect from everyone else?

Payten will have to do video on this, because they always do, but he might be excused for not wanting his players to see it again. They were never in the game. It probably would help them all to just flush it and not dwell on tonight.

This Cronulla attack is elite

When you give them space, the Sharks’ attack is the match of any in the competition. There’s the hands that were on display for several of the tries, with quick catch-pass that gets both wingers at the corner, and the ability of Will Kennedy to chime into the line on either side and ice the moment with ball-playing in both directions.

But it’s what happens before that. The Sharks, as has been covered extensively in these pages before, are one of the best around for push supports – statspeak for having runners around the footy – and it was in full effect tonight. 

When you see their outside backs lined up in equal numbers to the oppositions, it’s largely because the forwards inside have kept the middle honest by providing options to the ball carrier and distractions to the defenders.

If that sounds a bit complicated, then the simple answer would simply be to put on a tape of Cronulla’s performance here. It was a masterclass in how to run small ball attack, with yardage from the backfield and forwards running over and over again, regardless of whether or not they get the footy. It’s the threat that they might that makes the difference.



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ANALYSIS: Souths send message with Panthers win – now let’s play it all over again in October

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It was third time lucky. Three times with the game on the line, Souths sent their play the ball to the right tramline, three times they hit left with men in motion and on the last of them, they made it.

Twice it had been Nathan Cleary who made the spectacular, Sattleresque – son not father – tackle, but he was left despairing in his dive at Isaiah Tass. 20-18 was the final score.

Make no mistake: these are the best two teams in the NRL. If we don’t see this again in the first weekend of October, one of the other 15 will have put on a mammoth effort.

It was a game of excellent quality, with both sides throwing all they had in attack and being met by everything the other had in defence.

Stephen Crichton, who scored three tries and all the Panthers’ points, did not deserve to be on the losing side. Neither did Cleary, who was battered and bruised but came up with what looked like the winning play twice.

Until Latrell Mitchell intervened, at least. And Cam Murray, Lachlan Ilias, Cody Walker and Alex Johnston, who proved that the famous Souths left edge can do it against the very best, with the game on the line, when it matters most.

Mitchell was worth two tries in a typically heroic showing. It’ll be lost in the rundown from the hour of footy that followed, but his offload that created Souths’ first try was as good a piece of individual daring as you’ll see. Manly had criticised. Not anymore.

Cast your mind back three weeks and Trell Mit was coming in for plenty of fire. Since then, he’s scored six in three, including a hat trick against the Dogs in his 150th and a domineering display tonight.

It’s all well and good having a system that you trust, but it helps having a character who can impose himself on the best team in the league like this.

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It’s a game in which both sides go home happy. Ivan Cleary will be miffed that, for the fourth time this year, his side lost a close one, but proud that they never, ever go away.

Jason Demetriou would have been proud of the performance regardless of the result, but Souths are sick to death of being valiant losers against Penrith. Now, they’re not.

Souths make a statement

Souths came into this game with a serious plan. They go about the business of grinding differently: where Penrith generate their metres from their backline and save the forwards for tackling, Souths tend to favour their big men in the middle.

Dutifully, they picked a three and a half forwards on the bench – Jed Cartwright has been known to moonlight at centre – and got about winning the middle.

Prior to their opener, it wasn’t necessarily working, with the Panthers gradually winning an extended, near-20 minute long grind, but Souths were constantly trying to throw things at the defence to see what worked. 

There were early kicks from both Walker and Ilias that disrupted the rhythm. There was a clear desire to get to their points, even from deep, and put plays on. They were never playing merely to complete sets, but complete they did.

Eventually it paid off. Latrell’s pass that won the field position was the kind that no other player even tries, and likely, that no other team empowers their player to try. Once Souths got to where they wanted to be, they struck immediately through Damien Cook.

It’s not good enough to just try and outgrind Penrith. They’re too good at it and will beat you. Even on their worst day, as Newcastle found out last week.

You absolutely cannot switch off against Penrith. Souths were well on top, ending the first half with Campbell Graham held a yard from the Panthers line. It’s exactly where they would want to be with 60 seconds to play.

Yet this team doesn’t stop. Souths’ defence got them to 39 minutes in front, but for the third time in a row, they went to the sheds level thanks to a Panthers try just before the break. 

By the end, though, it was the Bunnies on top. Penrith kept on going to the end because they always do, but the confidence in Souths to keep trying to play their football – not panicking, but playing the way they always do – was the difference.

With six minutes on the clock, Murray turned down an easy two points and chose to run it. They didn’t score. The mentality of doing that, when all logic would suggest edging ahead, was still there at the end. Souths could have tried to set up a two point field goal shot. Instead, they played to their points, put on their move and got a try.

Souths’ defence the difference

The question that the Bunnies have faced in their lengthy losing streak against the Panthers has always been about their defence. Nobody doubts that the Bunnies can look good in attack, but Penrith are the league’s standard in defence and have been able to stay in it long enough to win in the end.

Tonight, that was different. Souths endured a now-traditional wobble either side of the break and went 13 minutes completely inside their own half, with the Panthers enjoying six sets’ worth of good ball. They came away with nothing.

The Panthers, as mentioned, don’t stop. They conceded a try of their own, but never deviated from their plan and just built and built pressure. South Sydney, still, kept them at bay, but eventually gave themselves too much to do and conceded.

Then, they conceded again through a slightly fortunate bounce that gave Crichton his hat trick. Penrith are relentless and played relentlessly.

On another day, however, the Bunnies would have crumbled. Plenty enough pressure came and there was more than enough reason for it all to go wrong.

It’s times like this that clubs build systems for. Penrith know theirs and won’t deviate because of this or anything. That’s why they’ll be there at the end. Everyone knew Souths had an attack, but tonight showed that they have a defence too.

Tito v Stretch

Normally, the most hyped battle will be two intimidating props bashing going mano-a-mano or two masterful halfbacks leading their sides around.

Tonight, however, the best two players on the field went straight up against each other with Campbell Graham and Sunia Turuva.

It was guaranteed that they would both get plenty of traffic, too. Turuva has fielded almost every kick that Panthers have received all season, partly because he’s new and everyone wants to test him out but also because nobody wants the ball to land on Brian To’o or Dylan Edwards. They might start to think again: 150m with eight tackle breaks will do that.

Graham doesn’t get the kicks, but it’s guaranteed that Taane Milne does given his history of dropping bombs, particularly those kicked by Nathan Cleary.

The centre is the lynchpin of Souths’ backline carries and invariably takes the tough carry after Milne has had the ball dropped on him a great height.

There were plenty of tough, tough runs to be taken and there can be few outside backs in the NRL who so consistently find their front and, usually, carry a few with them. He made 125m with the ball, and almost half of them were post-contact. That tells you plenty about the sort of runs Graham was taking.

It didn’t end well for Turuva, however. He was limping badly at the end after turning badly on an ankle.



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ANALYSIS: Backline dominance delivers Knights win, despite another valiant Warriors showing as injuries kick in

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Newcastle’s strong start to the year continued with a deserved 34-24 win over the Warriors in another thrilling clash at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Though the Knights ran out easy winners in the second half, this was far from a foregone conclusion. The Kiwis showed the fight that has become their trademark and had the difference within four points with 20 to play before a mounting injury toll caught up with them.

Both sides suffered: Te Maire Martin was taken off with a suspected broken leg and Wayde Egan left early after a head knock, reducing the visitors to a two-man bench rotation, while Newcastle will sweat on hooker Jayden Brailey after what appeared to be a knee injury.

It was another pulsating fixture, with attack dominant over defence on a fast, dry track in Newcastle. The hosts were missing star man Kalyn Ponga and his replacement at five eighth, Tyson Gamble, but understudy Phoenix Crossland stood up in both attack and defence, while their impressive backline always threatened.

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The Warriors were also depleted, lacking captain Tohu Harris, but more than played their part. Shaun Johnson, their best all year, was excellent again and got plenty of support from Charnze Niholl-Klokstad from fullback. In the end, it wasn’t enough, but one suspects that Andrew Webster will take more positives than negatives from this performance.

“I did feel a bit of deja vu,” he said. “I was saying to myself if we win this one I don’t know if I will be celebrating as hard this week.

“I’m a bit frustrated with how its happening. We’re good at sticking to the plan when we’re behind. You could be coaching worse teams, the boys never give up.”

Are the Knights actually good?

If there’s a set of fans anywhere in the world who deserve to see a good footy team, it’s Newcastle fans.

There’s certainly a feeling around the place at the moment that the good times are, if not back again, then looking a little more likely to return than previously.

It’s been a rough trot, some of which was their own doing but also plenty that was not. Last year, for example, they had to worst injuries of anyone for most of the year and rarely had anything close to their best on the park.

“I’m sick to death of talking about last year, and I am the one to constantly do it,” said coach Adam O’Brien.

“I’m going to stop doing it. It’s a different group, new season, new players, new staff, everything’s different. We’re having a crack, but there is still plenty for us to get better at.

“But certainly if we’re going to compete at the back end of the year we have to get better at stuff too.”

There seems to have been a serious rethink in the off-season, and not just the much-vaunted move of Kalyn Ponga to the halves. 

It’s all been about the backfield. The signing of Greg Marzhew has been something of a master stroke, because he replicates what they already had on the other edge in Don Young. Chuck in another great pickup, Lachie Miller, and you have a reborn back three that excels in yardage.

Sure, there’s errors there too, but in terms of what was available short term and what they can produce right now, it looks like great business.

Last year, they were fourth for back five metre percentage, the amount of their yardage that was generated solely by backs, so it is clearly what they were attempting to do last year as well, but that was with a much weaker five than they have now. 

Miller is third among fullbacks in the NRL and Dane Gagai second among centres, plus they’re getting production out of Young, Marzhew and a fit Bradman Best.

Tonight, their metre ranking was topped by four backs, including both centres, which indicates the way that they are trying to go about things. It’s likely limited by talent elsewhere, but in terms of year-on-year improvement, there’s plenty of it.

When you see blokes like Phoenix Crossland, Mat Croker and Leo Thompson – who probably wouldn’t play first grade at other clubs – playing as well as this, it speaks to a system that appears to be working.

When you see a chase like that to run down Edward Kosi in the first half – with Tyson Frizell, a veteran backrower, leading it – it speaks to a playing group that has absolutely bought in.

The draw has been somewhat kind thus far and gets tougher in the coming three weeks, but there’s plenty to like about the Knights thus far, and they were great value for a win tonight.

Sure, the defence is still not what it could be. Sure, they lack a bit of finish at times in good ball. But the building blocks are there.

Nobody is asking them to win the comp, and those long-suffering fans in the Hunter will know that this is about getting better rather than being the best. The Knights are certainly getting better.

The Johnsonaissance is real

Shaun Johnson has been exceptional of late, warming hearts left right and centre.

Last week he picked the team up on his shoulders and delivered them to an emotional victory over the Sharks, and tonight he backed it up even when the result didn’t come.

The Warriors captain was worth plenty in attack tonight, but even more as a controller. Where he made his name as a spark plug, this year he has morphed into a sensible old head with kicking and game management skills to go with the finesse.

On a night where a lot went wrong for the Warriors, Johnson kept them in the game long after they had any right to be there. Moreover, he’s been doing it consistently week to week. 

This has generally been the thing with Johnson, particularly in his later years. There have been flashes over the last few seasons that there was something in there still, which made it all the more frustrating that we got to see it so infrequently.

It didn’t help that he was often in a beaten team, or playing at less than full fitness, or not playing at all – he managed ten appearances in 2021 and 16 in 2020.

One thinks of the narrow victory over the Cowboys last year, when Johnson was excellent, or the games at home to the Tigers and Bulldogs late in the season, or the loss to Souths at Magic Round. 

The difference was that they were four games out of 21 played, and spread fairly evenly across the year. One game in five was great, but that’s not enough.

This year, it’s been consistently good. Halfbacks are, more than any other position, dependent on the players around them to be able to execute their role, so perhaps it is the successes in other areas of the team that are helping Johnson along.

Given that he was a mercurial player even at his mid-2010s peak, there might be something to be said for a settled environment and a positive atmosphere too after years away from home.

The biggest factor, in all likelihood, is probably Webster. The Warriors coach knows that the bulk of his side is young and beaten down by time away from home and two years of defeats.

They need a veteran player, one who plenty of this side would have grown up idolising, with leadership qualities and the proverbial first yard in the head. 

At the moment, they’re getting that, and the Warriors are reaping the benefits.



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NRL Transfer Centre: Yeo inks new deal, Moses rejects Tigers, Titans shuffle backs, Sharks snare rising Rooster

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Isaah Yeo has extended his contract with Penrith, ensuring the premiers will have their two co-captains locked away until the end of 2027.

Yeo’s deal, which was announced on Monday, ensures he and star halfback Nathan Cleary will be at the helm of the Panthers for the next five seasons.

Yeo has spearheaded the Panthers’ recent dual-premiership success and has risen to become the starting lock for the NSW Blues and the Australian Test side.

The 28-year-old, who will play his 200th NRL game against Canberra on Friday, now looks set to break the club’s all-time appearance record held by Steve Carter (243 games).

Eels star Mitchell Moses silenced critics who think he is not worth a mega deal by booting the match-winning field goal in extra time to sink Penrith just hours after agreeing to a massive contract extension.

The 28-year-old halfback agreed to a five-year Eels deal worth a reported $6 million just hours before the 17-16 golden-point triumph over the Panthers at CommBank Stadium on Thursday night.

Moses had been offered a lucrative sum to return to the Wests Tigers but he will continue Parramatta’s search for their first premiership since 1986.

Experienced winger Ken Maumalo has signed with Gold Coast through 2025 after being granted an immediate release from the remainder of his Wests Tigers NRL deal.

The 2019 Dally M winger of the year had been contracted with the Tigers until the end of 2023 but did not feature at first-grade level in the first three rounds of the season.

The arrival of ex-Penrith winger Charlie Staines forced the 28-year-old further down the pecking order under new coach Tim Sheens, who did not recall the New Zealand international even after dropping winger David Nofoaluma for Friday night’s clash with Melbourne.

Maumalo helps replenish a Titans backline that lost Greg Marzhew, Esan Marsters and Jamayne Isaako in the off-season and he will compete with the likes of Jojo Fifita and Alofiana Khan-Pereira for a spot on the wing.

The Kiwi international is unlikely to be the only incoming on the Gold Coast: coach Justin Holbrook is thought to be close to landing the signature of English hooker Kruise Leeming.

Leeming is in demand from several clubs after his release from Leeds Rhinos earlier in the week. He had captained the club to the Super League Grand Final last year but was deemed a poor fit for coach Rohan Smith’s system and allowed to pursue other options. A deal until the end of the season is on the cards.

Gold Coast had released outside back Patrick Herbert earlier in the day.

Elsewhere, Cronulla have signed young prop Tuku Hau Tapuha on an immediate switch from the Roosters after they nabbed veteran forward Nathan Brown from Parramatta.

The 2022 Maori All Star has made three NRL appearances but will be a Shark until the end of 2024.

Manly have re-signed young winger Christian Tuipulotu until the end of 2025. The 22-year-old had already been contracted until the end of next season but his contract has been extended in a show of faith from new coach Anthony Seibold.

“One of the things I like about CT is he is a really coachable guy who works really hard on his game,” Seibold said. “I feel like he is only going to continue to get better over the next couple of years.”

Warriors winger Edward Kosi has also extended his stay in Auckland until the end of ’25.

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NRL Transfer Centre

Team by team, here’s how each club’s roster is shaping up. PO denotes player option, CO club option and MO mutual option.

Brisbane Broncos

Adam Reynolds 2023 2024  
Billy Walters 2023 2024  
Blake Mozer 2023 2024 2025
Brendan Piakura 2023 2024  
Corey Jensen 2023    
Corey Oates 2023 PO PO
Cory Paix 2023 2024  2025
Deine Mariner 2023 2024  
Delouise Hoeter 2023 2024  
Ethan Quai 2023    
Ezra Mam 2023 2024  
Herbie Farnworth 2023    
Jesse Arthars 2023    
Jock Madden 2023 2024  
Jordan Pereira 2023    
Jordan Riki 2023 2024  
Keenan Palasia 2023    
Kobe Hetherington 2023 2024 2025
Kotoni Staggs 2023 2024 2025
Kurt Capewell 2023 2024  
Logan Bayliss 2023    
Martin Taupau 2023
Patrick Carrigan 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
Payne Haas 2023 2024  
Reece Walsh 2023 2024 2025
Selwyn Cobbo 2023 2024 2025
TC Robati Released  
Thomas Flegler 2023    
Xavier Willison 2023 2024  2025

2023 recruits

Reece Walsh (Warriors), Jesse Arthars (via loan deal with Warriors), Jock Madden (Tigers), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles).

2023 departures

Brenko Lee (Dolphins), David Mead (retired), Te Maire Martin (Warriors), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Rhys Kennedy (Hull KR), Ryan James, Tyrone Roberts (retired), Zac Hosking (Panthers), Jake Turpin (Roosters), Albert Kelly (unsigned), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Karl Oloapu (Bulldogs)

2024 departures

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)

Canberra Raiders

Adrian Trevilyan 2023          
Albert Hopoate 2023          
Ata Mariota 2023 2024        
Brad Schneider 2023          
Brandon Morkos Dev. 2024        
Clay Webb 2023          
Corey Horsburgh 2023 2024 MO      
Corey Harawira-Naera 2023 2024 2025 PO    
Danny Levi 2023 2024
Ethan Strange Dev. 2024 2025      
Elliott Whitehead 2023 2024        
Emre Guler 2023          
Harley Smith-Shields 2023          
Hudson Young 2023 2024        
Jack Wighton 2023 PO        
Jamal Fogarty 2023 2024        
James Schiller 2023 2024        
Jarrod Croker 2023 PO        
Jordan Rapana 2023          
Joseph Tapine 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 PO
Josh Papalii 2023 2024 MO      
Matthew Frawley 2023          
Matthew Timoko 2023 2024 2025      
Nik Cotric 2023 2024        
Peter Hola 2023 MO        
Sebastian Kris 2023 2024        
Semi Valemei 2023 2024        
Tom Starling 2023 PO        
Trey Mooney 2023 2024        
Xavier Savage 2023 2024 2025      
Zachary Woolford 2023 2024        
Zane Dunford Dev. Dev. 2025  

2023 recruits

Pasami Saulo (Knights), Danny Levi (Huddersfield).

2023 departures

Sam Williams (retired), Josh Hodgson (Eels), Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs), Adam Elliott (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Harry Rushton (Huddersfield).

Canterbury Bulldogs

Andrew Davey 2023 2024    
Bailey Biondi-Odo 2023      
Braidon Burns 2023      
Brandon Clarke 2023      
Christopher Patolo 2023      
Corey Waddell 2023      
Declan Casey 2023      
Franklin Pele 2023 2024    
Hayze Perham 2023 2024    
Isaac Matalavea-Booth Dev. 2024 2025  
Iverson Matai Dev. 2024    
Jackson Topine 2023 2024    
Jacob Kiraz 2023 2024    
Jacob Preston 2023 2024    
Jake Averillo 2023      
Jayden Okunbor 2023      
Jeral Skelton 2023 2024    
Jordan Samrani Dev. 2024 2025  
Josh Addo-Carr 2023 2024 2025  
Josh Reynolds 2023
Karl Oloapau 2023 2024 2025 2026
Kyle Flanagan 2023      
Luke Thompson 2023      
Matt Burton 2023 2024 2025  2026 
Max King 2023 2024    
Paul Alamoti 2023 2024    
Raymond Faitala-Mariner 2023 2024 2025  
Reed Mahoney 2023 2024 2025 2026
Ryan Sutton 2023 2024 2025  
Samuel Hughes 2023      
Stephen Crichton 2024 2025 2026 2027
Tevita Pangai Junior 2023 2024    
Viliame Kikau 2023 2024 2025 2026

2023 recruits

Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles), Franklin Pele (Sharks), Hayze Perham (Eels), Karl Oloapu (Broncos)

2023 departures

Jack Hetherington (Knights), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Paul Vaughan (Warrington), Matt Dufty (Warrington), Josh Jackson (retired), Aaron Schoupp (Titans), Matt Doorey (Eels), Joe Stimson (Titans), Aaron Schoupp (Titans), Ava Seumanufagai (released), Josh Cook, (unsigned), Reece Hoffman (unsigned) Tui Katoa, (unsigned) Brandon Wakeham, (unsigned), Corey Allan (Roosters).

2024 recruits

Stephen Crichton (Panthers)

Cronulla Sharks

Blayke Brailey 2023 2024 2025 2026
Braden Hamlin-Uele 2023 2024    
Braydon Trindall 2023 2024 2025  
Briton Nikora 2023 2024 2025  
Cameron McInnes 2023 2024 2024  
Connor Tracey 2023 2024    
Dale Finucane 2023 2024 2025  
Jack Williams 2023 2024    
Jayden Berrell 2023      
Jesse Colquhoun 2023 2024    
Jesse Ramien 2023      
Kade Dykes 2023 2024    
Kayal Iro Dev. 2024    
Matthew Ikuvalu 2023      
Matthew Moylan 2023 2024    
Mawene Hiroti 2023      
Nicho Hynes 2023 2024    
Oregon Kaufusi 2023 2024 MO  
Ronaldo Mulitalo 2023 2024 2025  
Royce Hunt 2023 PO    
Sione Katoa 2023      
Siosifa Talakai 2023  2024  2024  2026
Siteni Taukamo 2023 2024    
Teig Wilton 2023      
Thomas Hazelton 2023 2024 CO  
Toby Rudolf 2023 2024    
Tuku Hau Tapuha 2023 2024
Wade Graham 2023      
William Kennedy 2023      

2023 recruits

Oregon Kaufusi (Eels), Tuku Hau Tapuha (Roosters).

2023 departures

Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Aiden Tolman, Andrew Fifita (retired), Franklin Pele (Bulldogs), Lachlan Miller (Knights).

The Dolphins

Anthony Milford 2023 2024  
Brenko Lee 2023 2024  
Connelly Lemuelu 2023 2024  
Edrick Lee 2023 2024  
Euan Aitken 2023 2024  
Felise Kaufusi 2023 2024 2025
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2023 2024  
Harrison Graham Dev. 2024 2025
Herbie Farnworth 2024 2025 2026
Thomas Flegler 2024 2025 2026
Herman Ese’ese 2023 PO  
Isaiya Katoa 2023 2024 2025
Jack Bostock Dev. 2024 2025
Jamayne Isaako 2023 2024 2025
Jarrod Wallace 2023 2024  
Jeremy Marshall-King 2023 2024  
Jesse Bromwich 2023 2024  
JJ Collins 2023    
Kenneath Bromwich 2023 2024 2025
Kodi Nikorima 2023 2024  
Mark Nicholls 2023 2024  
Mason Teague 2023 2024 MO
Oliver Gildart 2023    
Poasa Faamausili 2023    
Ray Stone 2023 2024  
Robert Jennings 2023 2024 MO
Sean O’Sullivan 2023 2024 2025
Thomas Gilbert 2023 2024 2025
Tesi Niu 2023
Valynce Te Whare 2023 2024  

2024 recruits

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins).

Gold Coast Titans

Aaron Schoupp 2023 2024 2025  
AJ Brimson 2023 2024 2025 2026
Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira 2023      
Beau Fermor 2023 2024 2025 2026
Brian Kelly 2023      
David Fifita 2023 2024  2025  2026 
Erin Clark 2023 2024 2025  
Chris Randall 2023      
Isaac Liu 2023 2024    
Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui Dev. 2024 2025  
Jacob Alick 2023 CO    
Jaimin Jollife 2023 2024    
Jayden Campbell 2023 2024    
Joe Stimson 2023 2024    
Jojo Fifita 2023 2024 2025  
Joseph Vuna 2023      
Josiah Pahulu Dev. 2024 2025  
Ken Maumalo 2023 2024
Kieran Foran 2023 2024    
Klese Haas 2023 2024    
Moeaki Fotuaika 2023 2024    
Paul Turner 2023      
Phillip Sami 2023 2024    
Sam McIntyre 2023      
Sam Verrills 2023 2024    
Tanah Boyd 2023 2024    
Thomas Weaver 2023 2024    
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 2023 2024 MO MO
Toby Sexton 2023 2024  
 

2023 recruits

Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Sam Verrills (Roosters), Joe Stimson, Aaron Schoupp (Bulldogs), Chris Randall (Knights), Ken Maumalo (Tigers).

2023 departures

Jarrod Wallace (Dolphins), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Will Smith (released), Kevin Proctor (released), Corey Thompson (retired), Sam Lisone (Leeds), Herman Ese’ese (Dolphins), Esan Marsters (Huddersfield), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Patrick Herbert (released).

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Alec Tu’itavake 2023        
Ben Trbojevic 2023        
Ben Condon 2023 2024 2025    
Brad Parker 2023        
Christian Tuipulotu 2023 2024 2025    
Cooper Johns 2023        
Daly Cherry-Evans 2023 2024 2025    
Ethan Bullemor 2023        
Haumole Olakau’atu 2023 2024 2025    
Jake Trbojevic 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Jason Saab 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Josh Aloiai 2023        
Josh Schuster 2023 2024      
Kaeo Weekes 2023        
Karl Lawton 2023 2024      
Kelma Tuilagi 2023 2024 2025    
Lachlan Croker 2023 2024      
Morgan Boyle 2023        
Morgan Harper 2023        
Raymond Vaega 2023        
Reuben Garrick 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Sean Keppie 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Taniela Paseka 2023 2024      
Tom Trbojevic 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Toafofoa Sipley 2023        
Tolutau Koula 2023 2024      
Viliami Fifita 2023 2024      
Zac Fulton 2023 2024      

2023 recruits

Kelma Tuilagi (Wests Tigers), Ben Condon (Cowboys), Cooper Johns (Storm).

2023 departures

Kieran Foran (Titans), Dylan Walker (Warriors), Andrew Davey (Bulldogs), Martin Taupau (Broncos), Kurt De Luis (unsigned).

Melbourne Storm

Aaron Pene 2023 2024      
Alec MacDonald 2023 2024 2025    
Cameron Munster 2023  2024 2025 2026 2027
Christian Welch 2023 2024 2025 MO  
Dean Ieremia 2023        
Eliesa Katoa 2023 2024      
George Jennings 2023        
Harry Grant 2023 2024 2025 PO  
Jack Howarth 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Jahrome Hughes 2023 2024 2025 2026 202
Jayden Nikorima 2023        
Joe Chan 2023 2024 MO    
Jonah Pezet 2023        
Jordan Grant 2023        
 Josh King 2023 2024  2025     
Justin Olam 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Marion Seve 2023 2024      
Nelson Asofa-Solomona 2023        
Nick Meaney 2023 2024      
Reimis Smith 2023 2024      
Ryan Papenhuyzen 2023 2024 2025    
Tariq Sims 2023        
Tepai Moeroa 2023        
Tom Eisenhuth 2023 CO      
Trent Loiero 2023 2024 2025    
Tui Kamikamica 2023        
Tyran Wishart 2023        
William Warbrick 2023        
Xavier Coates 2023 2024 2025 2026

2023 recruits

Eliesa Katoa (Warriors), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Joe Chan (Catalans), Aaron Pene (Warriors).

2023 departures

Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jesse Bromwich (Dolphins), Kenny Bromwich (Dolphins), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers, returning from loan), Cooper Johns (Sea Eagles) Chris Lewis (unsigned).

Newcastle Knights

Adam Elliott 2023 2024 2025    
Adam Clune 2023        
Bailey Hodgson 2023        
Bradman Best 2023 2024      
Brodie Jones 2023        
Greg Marzhew 2023        
Dane Gagai 2023 2024      
Daniel Saifiti 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Dominic Young 2023        
Dylan Lucas 2023 PO      
Enari Tuala 2023        
Hymel Hunt 2023        
Jack Johns 2023        
Jack Hetherington 2023 2024 2025    
Jacob Saifiti 2023 2024      
Jackson Hastings 2023 2024 2025    
Jayden Brailey 2023 2024 2025    
Kalyn Ponga 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Krystian Mapapalangi 2023 2024      
Kurt Mann 2023        
Lachlan Fitzgibbon 2023        
Leo Thompson 2023 2024 2025    
Mathew Croker 2023 2024      
Phoenix Crossland 2023 2024      
Simi Sasagi 2023 2024      
Tyson Gamble 2023 2024      
Tyson Frizell

Lachlan Miller

 2023

2023

2024 

2025 

2023 recruits

Adam Elliott (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Tyson Gamble (Broncos), Jackson Hastings (Tigers), Greg Marzhew (Titans), Lachlan Miller (Sharks).

2023 departures

Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Edrick Lee (Dolphins), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Tex Hoy (Hull FC), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Sauaso Sue (Hull KR), Pasami Saulo (Raiders), Jake Clifford (Hull FC), David Klemmer (Knights), Brayden Musgrove (unsigned), Chris Randall (Titans).

2024 departures

Dominic Young (Roosters)

NZ Warriors

Adam Pompey 2023      
Addin Fonua-Blake 2023 2024 2025 2026
Bayley Sironen 2023      
Braydon Wiliame 2023 2024    
Bunty Afoa 2023 2024  2025   
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2023 2024 2025  
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2023 2024    
Dylan Walker 2023 2024 2025  
Edward Kosi 2023      
Freddy Lussick 2023 2024    
Jackson Ford 2023 2024    
Jazz Tevaga 2023 2024    
Josh Curran 2023 2024    
Luke Metcalf 2023 2024    
Marata Niukore 2023 2024 2025 2026
Marcelo Montoya 2023      
Mitchell Barnett 2023 2024 2025  
Otukinekina Kepu 2023 2024    
Rocco Berry 2023 2024    
Ronald Volkman 2023 2024 2025  
Shaun Johnson 2023      
Taniela Otukolo 2023      
Te Maire Martin 2023 2024 2025  
Tohu Harris 2023 2024    
Tom Ale 2023 2024  2025  
Valingi Kepu 2023 2024    
Viliami Vailea 2023 2024 2025  
Wayde Egan 2023 2024    

2023 recruits

Marata Niukore (Eels), Luke Metcalf (Sharks), Dylan Walker (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), Te Maire Martin (Broncos), Jackson Ford (Dragons), Braydon Wiliame (Perpignan).

2023 departures

Euan Aitken (Dolphins), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Jack Murchie (Eels), Aaron Pene (Storm), Daejarn Asi (unsigned), Pride Petterson-Robati (unsigned) Iliesa Ratuva, (unsigned)

North Queensland Cowboys

Ben Hampton 2023        
Brendan Elliot 2023        
Chad Townsend 2023 2024      
Coen Hess 2023 2024      
Gehamat Shibasaki 2023        
Griffin Neame 2023 2024 2025    
Helium Luki 2023 2024 PO    
Jeremiah Nanai 2023 2024 2025 2026  2027
Jack Gosiewski 2023        
Jake Bourke 2023        
Jake Granville 2023        
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 2023        
James Tamou 2023        
Jason Taumalolo 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Jordan McLean 2023        
Jordan Lipp 2023        
Kyle Feldt 2023 2024      
Laitia Moceidreke 2023        
Luciano Leilua 2023 2024 2025    
Mitch Dunn 2023        
Murray Taulagi 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Peta Hiku 2023        
Reece Robson 2023 2024 2025    
Reuben Cotter 2023 2024 2025    
Riley Price 2023        
Scott Drinkwater 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Taniela Sadrugu 2023        
Thomas Dearden 2023 2024      
Tom Chester 2023 2024      
Valentine Holmes 2023 2024 2025  

2023 recruits

Jack Gosiewski (Dragons), James Tamou (Tigers), Gehamat Shibasaki (Mackay Cutters).

2023 departures

Connelly Lemuelu, Tom Gilbert, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Ben Condon (Sea Eagles), Kane Bradley (unsigned) Emry Pere (unsigned).

Parramatta Eels

Bailey Simonsson 2023 CO    
Bryce Cartwright 2023      
Clint Gutherson 2023 2024 2025  
Dylan Brown 2023 2024 2025  PO
Haze Dunster 2023 2024 MO  
Jack Murchie 2023 2024    
Jakob Arthur 2023 2024    
Jirah Momoisea 2023 2024    
J’maine Hopgood 2023 2024    
Josh Hodgson 2023 CO    
Junior Paulo 2023 2024 2025 2026
Ky Rodwell 2023 2024    
Maika Sivo 2023 2024 2025   
Makahesi Makatoa 2023 2024    
Matt Doorey 2023 2024    
Mitchell Moses 2023 2024 2025  2026  2027 2028
Mitch Rein 2023      
Ofahiki Ogden 2023 CO    
Reagan Campbell-Gillard 2023 2024 2025  
Ryan Matterson 2023 2024 2025 PO
Samuel Loizou 2023      
Sean Russell 2023 2024    
Shaun Lane 2023 2025 2025 MO
Uinitoni Mataele Dev. 2024 2025  
Waqa Blake 2023      
Will Penisini 2023 2024 2025   
Wiremu Greig 2023    

2023 recruits

Josh Hodgson (Raiders), J’maine Hopgood (Panthers), Jirah Momoisea (Knights), Jack Murchie (Warriors), Matt Doorey (Bulldogs).

2023 departures

Marata Niukore (Warriors), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers), Oregon Kaufusi (Sharks), Ray Stone (Dolphins), Tom Opacic (Hull KR), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), Solomone Naiduki (unsigned), David Hollis (released).

Penrith Panthers

Ativalu Lisati Dev. 2024      
Brian To’o 2023        
Chris Smith 2023        
Dylan Edwards 2023 2024      
Eddie Blacker 2023        
Isaah Yeo 2023 2024 2025  2026  2027 
Izack Tago 2023 2024 2025    
Jack Cogger 2023        
James Fisher-Harris 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Jarome Luai 2023  2024      
Liam Henry Dev. 2024      
Liam Martin 2023 2024      
Lindsay Smith 2023 2024      
Luke Garner 2023 2024      
Matt Eisenhuth 2023 2024      
Mitch Kenny 2023 2024      
Moses Leota 2023 2024      
Nathan Cleary 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Scott Sorensen 2023        
Soni Luke 2023        
Spencer Leniu 2023        
Stephen Crichton 2023         
Sunia Turuva 2023 2024      
Taylan May 2023 2024      
Thomas Jenkins 2023        
Tyrone Peachey 2023        
Zac Hosking 2023 2024  

2023 recruits

Tyrone Peachey, (Wests Tigers), Luke Garner (Wests Tigers), Zac Hosking (Broncos), Jack Cogger (Huddersfield).

2023 departures

Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers), Api Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Robert Jennings (Dolphins), J’maine Hopgood (Eels), Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Christian Crichton (unsigned), Jaeman Salmon (unsigned).

2024 departures

Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)

St George Illawarra Dragons

Aaron Woods 2023      
Ben Hunt 2023 2024 2025  
Blake Lawrie 2023 2024 2025 2026  
Cody Ramsey 2023 2024    
Francis Molo 2023 2024    
Jack De Belin 2023 PO    
Jack Bird 2023 2024 MO  
Jacob Liddle 2023      
Jaiyden Hunt 2023 2024    
Jayden Sullivan 2023 2024 2025  
Jaydn Su’A 2023 2024    
Josh Kerr 2023      
Mathew Feagai 2023 2024    
Max Feagai 2023 2024    
Michael Molo 2023 MO    
Mikaele Ravalawa 2023 PO    
Moses Mbye 2023      
Moses Suli 2023 2024    
Nick Lui Toso 2023      
Talatau Amone 2023 2024    
Tautau Moga 2023      
Tyrell Fuimaono 2023      
Tyrell Sloan 2023 2024    
Billy Burns 2023      
Zac Lomax 2023 2024 2025 2026
Zane Musgrove 2023 2024  

2023 recruits

Jacob Liddle (Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Tigers), Nick Lui Toso (Northern Pride), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors).

2023 departures

Tariq Sims (Storm), Josh McGuire (Warrington), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins), George Burgess (released), Jack Gosiewski (Cowboys), Andrew McCullough (retired).

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Alex Johnston 2023 2024 2025
Benjamin Lovett 2023 2024  
Blake Taaffe 2023    
Cameron Murray 2023 2024 2025
Campbell Graham 2023 2024  
Cody Walker 2023  2024 2025
Damien Cook 2023 2024  2025 
Daniel Suluka-Fifita 2023 2024 2025
Davvy Moale 2023 2024 2025
Dean Hawkins 2023    
Hame Sele 2023    
Isaiah Taas 2023 2024  
Izaac Thompson 2023 2024  
Jacob Host 2023    
Jai Arrow 2023 2024  
Jed Cartwright 2023    
Josiah Karapani 2023 2024  
Keaon Koloamatangi 2023 2024  
Lachlan Ilias 2023 2024 2025
Latrell Mitchell 2023 2024 2025
Leon Te Hau 2023 2024  
Liam Knight 2023    
Michael Chee Kam 2023    
Peter Mamouzelos 2023 2024  
Shaquai Mitchell 2023 2024  
Siliva Havili 2023    
Taane Milne 2023 2024  
Tallis Duncan Dev. 2024 2025
Terrell Kalo Kalo 2023    
Tevita Tatola 2023 2024  
Thomas Burgess 2023 2024  
Tyrone Munro Dev. 2024 2025

2023 recruits

Nil.

2023 departures

Mark Nicholls (Dolphins), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Josh Mansour (unsigned).

Sydney Roosters

Corey Allan 2023
Angus Crichton 2023 2024    
Brandon Smith 2023 2024 PO  
Billy Smith 2023      
Connor Watson 2023      
Daniel Tupou 2023      
Dominic Young 2024 2025 2026 2027
Drew Hutchison 2023      
Egan Butcher 2023 2024  2025   
Fletcher Baker 2023      
Jake Turpin 2023      
James Tedesco 2023 2024  2025  
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 2023      
Jaxson Paulo 2023 PO    
Joseph Manu 2023 2024    
Joseph Suaalii 2023 PO    
Joshua Wong 2023 2024    
Lindsay Collins 2023  2024 2025 2026
Luke Keary 2023 2024    
Matt Lodge 2023
Nathan Brown 2023
Naufau Whyte 2023 2024    
Nat Butcher 2023 2024    
Nathan Brown 2023
Paul Momirovski 2023 2024    
Renouf Atoni 2023      
Robert Toia 2023 2024 2025  
Sam Walker 2023 2024 2025  
Sitili Tupouniua 2023 2024    
Terrell May 2023 2024    
Victor Radley 2023  2024  2025 2026

2023 recruits

Brandon Smith (Storm), Jake Turpin (Broncos), Jaxson Paulo (Rabbitohs), Corey Allan (Bulldogs), Nathan Brown (Eels).

2023 departures

Sam Verrills (Titans), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Catalans Dragons), Daniel Suluka-Fifita (Rabbitohs), Oliver Gildart (Dolphins via Wests Tigers – after loan stint) Kevin Naiqama (Huddersfield), Adam Keighran (Catalans), Tuku Hau Tapuha (Sharks).

2024 recruits

Dominic Young (Knights)

Wests Tigers

Adam Doueihi 2023 2024     
Alex Twal 2023 2024    
Alex Seyfarth 2023      
Apisai Koroisau 2023 2024 MO  
Apisalome Saukuru 2023      
Asu Kepaoa 2023 2024    
Brandon Tumeth 2023 2024 PO  
Brandon Wakeham 2023
Brent Naden 2023 2024 2025  
Charlie Staines 2023      
Daine Laurie 2023      
David Klemmer 2023 2024 2025 MO
David Nofoaluma 2023 2024 2025  
Fonua Pole 2023 2024 2025  
Isaiah Papali’i 2023 2024 2025  
Jake Simpkin 2023 2024    
Joe Ofahengaue 2023 2024 2025  
John Bateman 2023 2024 2025 2026
Josh Feledy Dev. 2024 2025  
Junior Tupou 2023 2024    
Justin Matamua Dev. 2024 CO  
Luke Brooks 2023      
Rua Ngatikaura 2023 2024    
Shawn Blore 2023 2024    
Sione Fainu 2023 2024    
Starford To’a 2023 2024    
Stefano Utoikamanu 2023 2024 MO  
Tommy Talau 2023      
Triston Reilly 2023 2024    
Tukimihia Simpkins 2023      

2023 recruits

Charlie Staines, Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Isaiah Papali’i (Eels), Triston Reilly (rugby union, Waratahs), David Nofoaluma (Storm – return from loan), David Klemmer (Knights), John Bateman (Wigan), Brandon Wakeham (Bulldogs)

2023 departures

Luke Garner, Tyrone Peachey (Panthers), Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles), Thomas Mikaele (Warrington), Jock Madden (Broncos), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Zane Musgrove (Dragons), James Roberts (retired), James Tamou (Cowboys), Jock Madden (Broncos), Oliver Gildart (Dolphins), Jackson Hastings (Knights), William Kei (unsigned), Henry O’Kane, (unsigned), Ken Maumalo (Titans).



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The old man and the Cheese: How the Roosters ignited their fire

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For the first 25 minutes of Friday’s match against South Sydney, the Roosters looked a lot like they have through the first two matches of the competition.

Passes were not sticking. The middle looked fragile. The Rabbitohs were scoring tries and slapping their chests and looking good doing it.

Then they came, like drifters from the high plains with quick draws and bad intentions. Around the 25th minute, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Brandon Smith were subbed on together and things changed, in ways large and small.

The 20-18 Tricolour victory was far from perfect. Round 3 matches rarely are and if you’re a serious team you almost don’t want them to be. This is a long season and it’s important to peak at the right time.

But for a team vaunted as premiership favourites, it had been a lean opening fortnight for the Roosters, with a loss and a scratchy win to show for it.

Injuries have stretched them thin and meant we were yet to see anything close to the best of Waerea-Hargreaves and Smith. In what proved to be a masterstroke in managing resources from Trent Robinson, he benched the two stars in the hour before kick-off.

The Kiwi duo have not had beginnings to remember in 2023. Smith’s first two games for his new club after his high-profile move from Melbourne have both ended early.

When Felise Kaufusi wiped ‘The Cheese’ out in the Dolphins’ upset win two weeks ago it was a microcosm of why the Roosters were beaten to the punch all day. They were out-muscled and out-fought.

Even at 34, Waerea-Hargreaves is the man who stops that from happening.

For all of Lindsay Collins’s brute force and Victor Radley’s disregard for his own safety and the quality of absent duo Matt Lodge and Angus Crichton, it is Waerea-Hargreaves who ensures the Roosters pack hit with the kind of intent usually reserved for the last spike on a railroad. He walks the line and dares you to cross it.

“He said ‘I’m going through these guys’ and everyone jumped on the back of that. Without Jared today we wouldn’t have won the game,” said Smith. 

“I’ve had the privilege of rooming with Jazza every (New Zealand) tour we’ve been on, so I know what he’s about and I know what he brings.

“But this game here was something new, his mentality toward controlled aggression, the way he spoke to the team out on the field when the scuffles were going on and how he stayed composed – I was quite proud of him, I know that’s something he’s been working on.

“We don’t want Jared playing one week on and three weeks off; we want him all the way through the season, and I thought he took a big step towards that controlled aggression without being soft.

“In that scuffle he grabbed a few of the boys and said ‘it’s all good, it’s all good, keep calm’ and he was telling us to control our emotions and when he’s saying that… When someone like that is saying that…

“He spoke about discipline at the beginning of the game and I said ‘are these words coming out of your mouth?’. Outstanding!

“He didn’t look too old out there, he’s looking a lot younger than the other front-rowers but he’s got an ugly head, geez it’s battered and bruised.”

True enforcers, like Waerea-Hargreaves, have an air about them, like fighters do. They don’t have to talk about it, because they’re already tough like some guys think they’re tough.

While Waerea-Hargreaves ran for 150 metres from 15 carries, the most of any forward on the field, his true value hasn’t been measurable on a stat sheet for some years now. Just know that when he came on the field, something changed and everyone felt it.

Smith doesn’t quite have that air about him, not yet. He’s comfortable in a street fight-type match for sure, but the best parts of his game is still sudden and dynamic, like the try he scored in the 33rd minute that began the fightback.

“That 60-metre runaway? Where I broke through six tackles? No, it was good, when I came on everyone was a bit more tired, we did a bit of video on the markers throughout the week, I’m just lucky everything worked out to plan,” Smith said. 

“If Sam Walker didn’t push through the line Lachlan Ilias wouldn’t have fell for the dummy, so I have to thank him for that.

“Or was it Luke Keary? I can’t remember, I was too busy feeling the wind in the back of my hair, too busy flying at Usain Bolt speed.”

Like so many players, Smith’s greatest weakness is the underside of his greatest strength. He runs on high-octane fuel and explodes from dummy half like few others can, but he’s more of a sprinter than a marathon runner.

If you’re asking him to play 80 minutes it’s a tall order. But playing 55 minutes, and coming on when there’s a little less bite in the game? That’s right in his strike zone and he’s never afraid of swinging.

“I made a career of sitting on the bench and coming on when everyone was tired, so it wasn’t new to me,” Smith said.

“I came on and you saw when I came on there was a lot of tired bodies and I got rewards for all the work Jake Turpin did; if you look at the first half all they did was tackle the whole time.

“It’s not something I want to get used to, I wanted to be a starting number nine but the coach gives you a role, you have to play it.”

Once Smith and Waerea-Hargreaves came on, the Roosters outscored their old rivals 20-8. The ball moved across the field more smoothly and they found a new desperation in defence, both with their scramble and their kick pressure.

It flipped the yardage battle, forcing the Rabbitohs onto the back foot and starved their vaunted playmakers of any good field position.

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NRL Saturday: Tom Trbojevic scores on return as Manly spoil Canterbury’s rebuild

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The first Saturday of the NRL season is in the books and Tom Trbojevic made every post a winner while Daly Cherry-Evans raced in his first career hattrick as Manly smashed Canterbury 31-6 to open their NRL season.

Later on, North Queensland held off a furious Canberra fightback to win 19-18 before South Sydney put together a statement performance in a 27-18 victory over Cronulla. 

Check out all the scores and stats below.

Manly Sea Eagles 31 def Canterbury Bulldogs 6

Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic have ensured new coach Anthony Seibold’s era at Manly got off to a winning start, starring in a 31-6 NRL defeat of Canterbury.

Playing in his first match since he dislocated his shoulder last May, Trbojevic scored one try and had a hand in two others as Manly controlled Saturday’s match at 4 Pines Park.

Cherry-Evans bagged a hat-trick of tries and kicked a field goal, while the Sea Eagles ended the seven-match losing streak that snuffed out their 2022 campaign after the Pride Jersey saga.

For new Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo, the loss highlighted concerns around his team’s pack with Luke Thompson and Tevita Pangai both missing through injury.

Team stats

Manly dominated the Bulldogs’ inexperienced pack through the middle, allowing them to spend the majority of the match on the front foot.

The game wasn’t without drama though, with the Sea Eagles scoring two tries while Kyle Flanagan was controversially sin-binned.

With scores locked at 6-6 shortly before half time, Flanagan was punished by the bunker for lightly pushing Trbojevic in pursuit of a grubber kick.

Manly then scored down Flanagan’s left edge minutes later, when Trbojevic and Kelma Tualagi put winger Reuben Garrick over untouched.

With Flanagan still off early in the second half, the Sea Eagles were then able to extend their lead to 12 when Cherry-Evans toed the ball ahead three times and dotted down after a Paul Alamoti error.

In reality though, Manly were the better team throughout.

They scored first when Trbojevic toed ahead a Cherry-Evans grubber kick, and the pair combined again in the second half for the halfback to score after a Taniela Paseka bust.

Trbojevic’s timing was still not perfect and at stages he stopped himself from breaking into full flight, but he got through unscathed after the $50,000 trip to the US to work on his problematic hamstrings.

Manly pulled the superstar fullback from the field with 16 minutes to play to protect him, but he returned moments later when Lachlan Croker suffered a concussion.

Cherry-Evans then iced the match with a 50-metre intercept for his third try, as Canterbury looked every bit a side with eight new faces from last year.

Matt Burton’s bombs were dangerous when on target, but he and Viliame Kikau both put kicks out on the full while another kick off from the five-eighth also went astray.

Kikau was well contained, with Max King the sole Bulldogs forward to exceed 80 run metres.

The Bulldogs’ one try came when hooker Reed Mahoney collected his own grubber kick off the posts and was ruled to have got the ball to ground without dropping it.

South Sydney Rabbitohs 27 def Cronulla Sharks 18

South Sydney have heaped more pain on Cronulla to open their 2023 NRL campaign with a stirring 27-18 victory over the Sharks at PointsBet Stadium.

Six months after ending Cronulla’s 2022 season with a 38-12 semi-final demolition job, the Rabbitohs returned to haunt a sellout Saturday night crowd in the Shire with a brave and bruising display in a pulsating encounter between two of the competition heavyweights.

Souths lost Tevita Tatola in the opening minute after the prop came off second best in a heavy head clash in the first hit-up of the match with Cronulla captain Dale Finucane.

Fellow middle man Jai Arrow didn’t see the first half out after succumbing to a hamstring injury while Rabbitohs fans breathed a huge sigh relief after superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell carried on after receiving lengthy treatment for a leg issue.

Thankfully for Souths fans, playmaker Lachlan Ilias came to the party with a rousing performance as the Sharks were unable to overcome the absence of injured Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes.

Team stats

Hynes’ halfback replacement Braydon Trindall was close to Cronulla’s best but he couldn’t get the hosts home as the Sharks’ defeat was compounded by having Braden Hamlin-Uele and Wade Graham placed on report.

Graham, in particular, could be in strife for a high tackle on Oregon Kaufusi that prompted referee Todd Smith to tell the veteran back-rower: “you left the ground to make contact with the head” before banishing him to the sin bin.

Officials could have called the game off at halftime and fans of both sides probably would have been happy, having seen it all in a wild opening 40 minutes of ebbs and flows and the downright bizarre.

Fittingly, the score was locked up at 12-12 at the break after both teams crossed the line four times, but were only awarded two tries each.

Ilias denied Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo a try early with a miracle tackle eerily similar to George Gregan’s famous Bledisloe Cup save on Jeff Wilson almost 30 years ago.

A minute later, Ilias crossed himself down the other end to give the Rabbitohs the lead before Mulitalo produced his own defensive heroics to prevent Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson from scoring what seemed a certain try.

There was redemption for Trindall, too.

After his floating pass to put Sione Katoa in the right corner was ruled forward, Hynes’ playmaking deputy scored himself moments later in a rare play featuring five chipkicks and grubberkicks between Trindall and Sharks fullback Will Kennedy.

Then it was Keaon Koloamatangi’s turn to atone, with the Souths back-rower spilling the ball over the line, before making good with a four-pointer shortly after to put the Rabbitohs back in front.

But Trindall had the final say of the helter-skelter half, slotting a sideline conversion after Katao couldn’t be denied a second time seconds before the siren sounded.

But it was Souths’ second half as a double from Campbell Graham blew the game open before Teig Wilton bagged a late consolation try for the Sharks.

North Queensland Cowboys 19 def Canberra Raiders 18

A Chad Townsend field goal five minutes from fulltime has edged North Queensland past Canberra 19-18 in a see-sawing NRL round-one contest in Townsville.

With the clock ticking down, Harley Smith-Shields’ error on a short-side play gifted the Cowboys a scrum in midfield and on tackle four Townsend made no mistake from 20 metres to kick his side to a winning start in 2023.

Townsend’s kick salvaged a disastrous second half for the home side, who — after dominating the opening period — completely capitulated offensively and offered the resilient Raiders a way back into the contest.

Team stats

North Queensland had dominated the opening proceedings, playing with patience, confidence and spark to gain territory and possession.

That swagger quickly disappeared in the second half with consecutive errors within five minutes. The Raiders wrangled momentum with hard, straight running and short passing from contact to wear the Cowboys down.

Tom Starling made the most of a deflected kick to score Canberra’s second try in the 53rd minute before Kyle Feldt’s spilled ball off a short drop-out gifted Jack Wighton their third.

That made it three unanswered tries from the visitors, Jamal Fogarty nailing a sideline conversion to tie the game at 18-18 with 20 minutes remaining.

The players were out on their feet in the sticky Townsville conditions but it was the Cowboys who coped best in a manic finish to end Canberra’s four-year round-one winning streak.

It took North Queensland 15 minutes to open their 2023 scoring account after constant and sustained pressure on the Raiders’ try-line.

The Cowboys had 73 per cent possession through 15 minutes and 17 tackles inside the Raiders’ 20m zone.

Murray Taulagi grabbed North Queensland’s opener with a left-hand diving finish, before Scott Drinkwater added a second after a deft inside grubber kick by Townsend.

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Kalyn Ponga’s move to five-eighth is the latest chapter in a never-ending story

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On Friday night, the next episode of The Kalyn Ponga Show will premiere and you can be sure ratings will be through the roof.

The Newcastle superstar will be attempting to switch to five-eighth for the second time in his career and, while seven seasons is a little early for a show to be starting re-runs, this feels a little different to the last time Ponga tried to move to the halves in 2019.

Back then, the ploy was abandoned after two-and-a-half matches. This time, the Knights and Ponga are locked in for the long haul, regardless of how long it might take to bear fruit, which makes it hard to see Friday’s trial against Parramatta as anything other than the beginning of a crossroads for both player and club.

Ponga is, by just about any measurement, one of the most famous players in rugby league. It’s been that way since before he came into first grade – ever since his early teens there was talk of the multi-sport phenom from Queensland.

You probably remember the first time you saw him play because it was probably in this video.

There were sizzle reels like this before Ponga came along and there have been many more since, but his is still the biggest.

It’s currently sitting at just over two million views on YouTube, over a million ahead of the highlights of Ponga’s Origin debut five years ago.

This three minutes and 57 seconds of schoolboy excellence is Ponga’s origin story. Plenty of players have sterling junior resumes with long lists of accomplishments, awards they’ve won and teams they’ve made, but those are just words on a page.

They can’t cut through and capture the imagination like seeing Ponga teleport around defenders can. You watch that video and you think there’s no limits to what this player can do, no level of greatness he can’t achieve. God, just look at him. Look at how he moves.

And so the Ponga hype machine began and didn’t slow down for some time. The expectations were high but Ponga wore them so lightly and so easily, even as he made his first grade debut in a sudden death semi-final and signed a big money deal with the Knights after just two games, even as he almost won the Dally M Medal as a 19-year-old rookie and became a State of Origin regular.

It was as fast a start as any player has had this century, which fed into the hype like desperate workers shovelling coal into the furnace of a steamship. But it was never, ever going to last.

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