"Heads In!" Round 12
Unpacking the scrum each week in the NRL
The Raiders rush in some much needed reinforcements, while two middle placed teams fight to claw their way out of the pack.
And will a rookie playmaker force his way into a representative spine?
Whether you’re searching for an edge in the workplace tipping comp, or just desperate to talk some footy, you’ve found the place. Join me as we unpack the scrum that is the NRL each week.
Centre-Field Scrum
What’s centre-frame in the Rugby League lens this week?
Raiders’ Reinforcements
The Green Machine’s issues in the engine room have been well documented this season, with long term injuries to the likes of Corey Horsburgh, Emre Guler and Sia Soliola depleting the Raiders’ forward pack stocks… until now.
The timely additions of John Bateman and Corey Harawira-Naera to Canberra’s lineup this week cannot be underestimated, as the Raiders head into the back half of the season.
We have already talked up the influence of Elliott Whitehead on an edge for the Raiders this year, with his increased involvement in 2020 likely a result of Bateman’s absence. What Whitehead lacks in attacking flair, he makes up for in effort areas and support play, and should rightfully be considered one of the Raiders’ best so far this season.
But with all the drama surrounding Bateman’s future in the NRL, some might have forgotten just how dynamic he was for the Raiders last season, and how much Canberra have missed his individual brilliance with the ball in hand:
His ability to create something out of absolutely nothing, either for himself or for his outside men, was crucial to Canberra’s run into the 2019 Grand Final, and will be crucial to the Raiders’ finals hopes again this season.
In Jack Wighton and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (when he’s fit), the Raiders have two spine players who’s main prerogative is to run the footy. George Williams, while registering a handy eight try assists already, has also proven to be a running half.
The Raiders’ primary ball player was Josh Hodgson, who from hooker was often the one organising attacking plays or distributing in good ball sets.
Without Hodgson’s craftiness on the ball, Bateman will provide a much needed point-of-difference to Canberra’s attack, particularly on the edges where he can be both a support player for Williams or a ball playing link to his outside men.
The combination of Bateman and Joey Leilua in 2019 might have been one of the most underrated in the NRL, and while BJ isn’t there anymore, Bateman’s return will surely spark some life into Canberra’s right edge - and hopefully into new recruit Curtis Scott.
But there’s another cog joining The Green Machine this weekend, and Raiders’ fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of Harawira-Naera linking up with the likes of Joseph Tapine and Josh Papalii through the middle of the field.
Ricky Stuart has developed a tough but skilful rotation of forwards that are equally adept at taking tough carries as they are ball playing at or through the line, where Harawira-Naera’s footwork and hole-running abilities is sure to create attacking opportunities for the Raiders in the coming weeks.
They may have lost some key players to season ending injuries, but any pack featuring names like Papalii, Whitehead, Bateman and Harawira-Naera is sure to cause some problems for opposition defences, and with good variety.
Don’t throw this Milk out just yet.
Right Scrum-Line
Who is feeling the pressure this week?
Climbing the Ladder
The South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons suit up on Thursday night, in what almost feels like a must-win for both clubs if they are to avoid a logjam of teams collecting in the middle of the ladder.
Both squads have shown promise in the first half of the season, only for inconsistency and poor execution to cruel their chances.
The Dragons should have won against the Sharks last weekend - regardless of any Bunker howlers - while Souths were in winnable games against the Knights and Raiders in recent weeks but made too many basic errors to get the job done.
For the Dragons, Ben Hunt’s forced return to his preferred position of halfback is arguably a negative, considering his excellent form at hooker in the past few games.
Hunt was bringing his forwards onto the ball well in yardage sets, but most importantly was making the right decisions and providing good service to his halves in attacking sets.
His greatest challenge on Thursday however will be his decision making and positioning in defence, where he was exposed last week after his switch to halfback:
Defending at 3-man top of screen here, Hunt is ridiculously out of position relative to Tyrell Fuimaono, leaving a yawning gap for Aaron Woods to crash through:
Way too easy.
With Adam Reynolds and Jaydn Su’a forming a nice attacking duo on Souths’ right edge in recent weeks, Hunt should expect plenty of traffic to be sent his way tonight, particularly when defending his try line.
With the ball in hand, Hunt combined well with fullback Matt Dufty in the closing stages of last week’s game, almost providing the match winning play with a perfectly weighted grubber that Dufty failed to ground.
If the pair can build on this combination they shape to be key to the Dragons’ chances against Souths, who are juggling a few positional reshuffles of their own.
Latrell Mitchell’s return to fullback sees Alex Johnson revert to the wing, while Liam Knight returns from injury via the bench.
With poor execution and handling errors in good-ball sets effecting Souths’ attacking form this season, we have seen the Rabbitohs focus in on the middle third of the field in recent weeks, with varying success:
This try came off the back of a perfectly executed attacking set led by Cam Murray, while Tom Burgess almost crashed over for what could have been a match winning try against the Raiders last weekend.
Knight’s return to the pack gives Souths another big, mobile body to attack through the middle third with, while Mitchell’s sheer presence at fullback is often enough to create space for other players around him.
Dane Gagai has made a fist of the left-centre position in his last two games, and with Souths favouring their left side (18/36 tries) in attack this season, expect to see Mitchell linking up with Gagai and Johnson tonight, looking to expose the Dragons’ right edge.
Left Scrum-Line
My left-field thought on the NRL this week
Selection Headaches
Not that we doubted even for a second that Des Hasler would ever make the wrong call on this one, but Cade Cust has had some fans here at Rugby League Writers for a while now.
Since Dylan Walker went down in Round 6, Hasler has toyed with the makeup of his halves, with both Lachlan Croker and Cust having a crack at partnering captain Daly Cherry-Evans in the spine.
After a stellar performance last week that included a smart solo try, it seems Cust has made the five-eighth position his own… but for how long?
With Walker expected back as early as next week, the clock may be ticking for Cust despite his excellent form in the number six jumper so far this season:
It’s worth keeping in mind that Cust played limited minutes in two of these five games, further highlighting his attacking influence and involvement for the Sea Eagles in recent weeks.
He showed great balance and footwork to break through the line here and find Cherry-Evans back on the inside, before doing it all himself late in the game to seal the match for the Sea Eagles:
Cust identifies Francis Molo at A-defender is slow to get back onside, and punishes him for moving too laterally off his line with a strong left foot step back in behind the ruck.
Great awareness and execution from the young half.
When Walker returns in the coming weeks, the question for coach Hasler will likely be where to play Cust, not if.
Walker has been moulded into a five-eighth since joining Manly in 2016, but is arguably best suited to the centre position where he won a competition with South Sydney in 2014.
With Moses Suli a lock at right centre, the ever reliable Brad Parker shapes to be the unlucky but likely man to make way, should Hasler decide to keep Cust in the halves.
Brenden Elliott is the safest option at fullback with Tom Trbojevic hamstrung on the sidelines, and Walker’s inclusion at centre in Manly’s backline could somewhat offset the loss Tommy Turbo’s attacking output.
Round 12, begin!
The New Zealand Warriors begin life without star wingers Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu’a this week, who have both returned home to their families. Not to mention the news that fellow Warriors’ players Eliesa Katoa and Selestino Ravutaumada will not be allowed to return to New Zealand due to border restrictions.
All of this amidst a turbulent 2020 season which has seen coach Stephen Kearney sacked and the club forced to rely on loan players from rival NRL teams.
Interim coach Todd Payten has the odds stacked against him this week, but the best mentors find a way to use adversity as motivation…
Goodluck to your teams, your tips and your punts!
Glory Glory.