"Heads In!" Round 15
Unpacking the scrum each week in the NRL
We’ve all heard about the fullback factory hidden away somewhere down in Melbourne, but this time it is Bellamy’s halfback stocks that are being put to the test.
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?
Melbourne Manning Up
When Cam Smith and Cameron Munster went down injured two weeks ago, coach Craig Bellamy calmly assessed that he would need Jahrome Hughes and a couple of his middle forwards to step up and assume more responsibility and control in games.
Copy that, coach.
Hughes’ masterclass last week - along with the contribution of Brandon Smith at hooker - eased some of the fears regarding life after the GOAT with a resounding win over the defending premiers.
But fast forward a week, and with Hughes, Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane joining a growing rehab group on the sidelines, Bellamy has been forced to turn to Plan C.
The Melbourne Storm will run out against the Parramatta Eels tonight with a spine of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Ryley Jacks, Cooper Johns and Brandon Smith, who combine for a total 135 games of first grade experience.
This against Parramatta’s quartet of Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown, Mitch Moses and Reed Mahoney, who have 326 first grade games between them.
Given the meticulously professional approach that Bellamy and the Storm have taken into games over the last decade or more, it will be interesting to watch how well Melbourne control the game tonight given their lack of experience in key positions.
This makes speculating on how Melbourne will attack tonight particularly difficult.
Kenneath Bromwich has been named captain this week, and it won’t surprise to see him take on more of a ball-playing role in attacking areas (think Wade Graham for the Sharks). He was the play-maker and try-scorer in this disallowed effort against the ‘Dogs a few weeks back, showing great vision and skill to grubber in behind the line for his outside men before backing up in support.
With centre Justin Olam having one of his best games of the season against the Roosters last week, Melbourne may look to him and Bromwich for points tonight.
But the surprise playmaking star could well shape to be debutant Cooper Johns, who will line up against Moses on Melbourne’s right edge tonight.
I’ll be watching closely to see how Johns links up with back-rower Felise Kaufusi, who is one of the better hole running forwards in the competition.
Given some of these highlights, it won’t surprise to see Johns and Kaufusi combine for points against Parramatta tonight, who have conceded 55% of their tries down that edge this season.
That said, this game is well and truely Parramatta’s to lose, considering the raft of missing stars from Melbourne’s line up.
The Eels’ attack has been clunky in recent weeks, and not just due to the wet conditions. After their red-hot start to the season, Parramatta’s left-edge of Shaun Lane, Michael Jennings and Mika Sivo haven’t crossed the try line since a win over the Tigers back in Round 11.
That’s a long time between drinks for the fourth-best attacking edge in the NRL this season…
Right Scrum-Line
Who is feeling the pressure this week?
Defence Wins Premierships
After a convincing run of form that resulted in four wins out of their past five matches, the Cronulla Sharks have silenced a few of their critics from earlier in the season.
The stunning form of Shaun Johnson, along with an impressive bench rotation and the development of Will Kennedy as a first-grade fullback has the Sharks sitting comfortably in seventh place heading into Round 15.
But a closer look at their draw - particularly in matchups against fellow top-eight teams - should have the Sharks squirming a little upon their rung on the premiership ladder.
Since the first footy was kicked way back in March, the Sharks have faced four top-eight teams - South Sydney, Melbourne, Penrith and Parramatta - for four losses.
Souths were lucky to get away with the win back in Round 1, while Cronulla’s 14-12 loss to the Eels a few weeks back was a tough result decided by an off night with the kicking tee for Johnson.
That being said, coach John Morris’ team is still 0-and-4 against finals contenders this season, something he will need to address as the Sharks prepare to face four top-eight teams in the next six games.
With the likes of Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo on the flanks and Johnson calling the shots, Cronulla have hardly struggled for points so far this year. But with their 306 points against easily the most out of the current top-eight teams, it is defence that must become a focus for the Sharks in the coming weeks.
Aaron Woods has stepped up as a leader in the Sharks’ pack this year, but too many lazy efforts like this through Cronulla’s middle third has seen them concede an average 21.9 points per game in 2020 - far too many to be serious premiership contenders.
With ongoing injury concerns hampering Andrew Fifita’s involvement this season and last year’s break-out star Briton Nikora seemingly suffering from second-year syndrome, the Sharks have had to rely on the likes of Toby Rudolf, Siosifa Talakai and Royce Hunt to fill the void, and they have done so admirably.
But with games against Penrith, Newcastle, Sydney and Canberra in the coming weeks, Cronulla’s defensive fortitude will be put to the test, starting this weekend against Api Koroisau and the Panthers.
Given the poor defensive reads and lateral movements we’ve seen from Cronulla’s middle forwards already this season, we’re expecting Koroisau to have a field day around the ruck on Friday night.
If he is allowed to dictate terms from dummy half and bring his forwards - or fullback Dylan Edwards - onto the ball and into space around the ruck, the Sharks could be looking down the barrel of another unflattering scoreline against the competition leaders.
Left Scrum-Line
My left-field thought on the NRL this week
Year of the Lock
We began by talking up Victor Radley’s involvement for the Roosters in the early rounds of the competition, as he took on more of a ball-playing role alongside rookie halfback Kyle Flanagan.
Then it was Isaah Yeo, who has doubled his career average running meters since moving to the lock-forward position, to become one of Penriths key men in yardage sets.
But in the past few weeks, the efforts of Mitch Barnett for the Newcastle Knights has not gone unnoticed, as he appears to be returning to full fitness - and form - at the right time of the year.
After starting the season on an edge, Barnett has worked his way back from a neck injury to be firmly cemented as the Knights’ lock-forward for the foreseeable future.
With shades of Parramatta’s Nathan Brown in the way he carries the ball and hits in defence, Barnett has emerged as Newcastle’s go-to enforcer despite the presence of big men David Klemmer or the Saifiti brothers.
He is a fearless ball runner with good footwork and strength through tackles - in limited game time this year he has 12 tackle busts and 11 offloads to his name already - while without the ball he is a tireless and bruising defender:
Barnett doesn’t have the flashiest of highlight reels, but his willingness to try and put a shot on or take a tough carry when his team needs it shows how he has developed as a leader since his debut in 2015.
With plenty of attacking flair across the park already, Barnett is the exact type of no-frills workhorse forward that coach Adam O’Brien needs shoring up the Knights’ middle third.
As his development continues in his new role , I’d like to see Barnett add a pass to his game. The premier locks in our competition currently can fill in as an extra ball-player in attacking sets - look at South Sydney’s Cameron Murray or Manly’s Jake Trbojevic.
If Barnett can begin to combine with the likes of Mitchel Pearce, Blake Green and Kalyn Ponga in good field position, the Knights will be a far more dangerous offensive outfit as they look to play finals footy for the first time since 2013.