NRL Notepad: Round 12 (Saturday)
From now through to October, I’ll look back at my notes from the prior round and highlight an area of each team to keep a close eye on from your couch.
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Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast Titans
Roosters
This feels like the game Sydney goes crazy.
They lost to the Raiders in Round 10 and weren’t all that convincing in beating the Warriors 18-10 in Round 11. Now, they face a Titans side that is set up perfectly for the Roosters to run through using their greatest strength - short side plays.
Given what we’ve seen so far this season, it won’t be long before a Titans edge defender flies out and makes a poor read as Jordan Rapana did here.
Some nice footwork from Boyd Cordner gets him up the field with a lightning-quick play-the-ball creating the overlap on the short side. George Williams, in an attempt to get back into the line as quickly as possible, fills in at A on the wrong side to give Luke Kearey the option to run.
Lachlan Lam does enough to engage the marker, Keary waits for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to bite before releasing a pass that should have resulted in a try.
Good luck handling that, Titans.
Titans
Dismantled by the Storm in Round 10, we kept a closer eye on the Titans left edge defence last week. To their credit, they only let one try through that edge.
The right edge, though…
A really nice double-block play put the Panthers over the line for their first try. But it’s the second that causes concern.
That’s too easy. With what the Roosters offer on the edges and their ability to hit the short side or be in shape to shift to the other, the Titans need to clean it up.
North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders
Cowboys
With Michael Morgan, Scott Drinkwater and now Daejarn Asi out injured, the Cowboys don’t have a lot of options in attack. So, who have they started to look for more in good ball areas?
Francis Molo.
They aren’t just using him to dump it off while getting into shape. North Queensland is working to positions for Molo to have a crack at the line.
Here, they use Jason Taumalolo to attract some attention in an effort to isolate Molo on Cade Cust. It’s clunky and Jack Gosiewski reacts quick enough to get across to help his half.
But just five minutes later after hitting Marty Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake in back-to-back tackles before stretching the middle defence with a left-side shift, the Cowboys returned to the middle. Taumalolo is there again, but this time, Josh McGuire gets involved to get the ball wider to Molo.
Molo has Cust in his sights and the young five-eighth is all on his own.
I’ve really liked Molo’s work this season and am eager to see how the Cowboys continue to use him close to the line.
Raiders
It can only be the return of John Bateman here. Or perhaps more importantly, what Bateman’s return does for George Williams and Curtis Scott.
Williams has been great without his right-side running mate. We shouldn’t expect too much different there. Scott, however, has been in and out of the side due to poor form.
First of all, will Bateman come back the player he was, not only after injury, but with his future already decided to be elsewhere?
Second, can Bateman inspire any sort of first-grade quality out of Scott, who up to this point, would struggle to crack a reserve grade side?
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Penrith Panthers
Sea Eagles
Dylan Walker has been named in the reserves this week. If he plays, the question is where?
If he doesn’t, can Cade Cust put in one more strong performance to make the six jersey his?
He’s the better five-eighth and has continued to prove it time and time again in limited opportunities. Oscar highlighted his awareness and execution to score this solo try last week.
Cust also provided a handful of dangerous runs and an early repeat set that soon turned into points.
I’d have Cust in the halves when Walker returns, but I’m not sure Des Hasler will just yet. Another solid outing for the 21-year-old might force Hasler’s hand, though.
Panthers
I only have eyes for one move this week.
It involves Stephen Crighton sneaking over to the right side. While it didn’t work here, you can see what Penrith was trying to do.
Ideally, Sam Stone turns in on Liam Martin while Ash Taylor sticks to Caleb Aekins to stay numbered up out wide. Crichton would then be presented with a gaping hole to stroll through.
Hopefully, Penrith tries it again Saturday night.
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