Take the Two: Round 13
NRL Round 13 under the microscope
If the beer’s cold and the afternoon’s long enough, we’d be talking footy all day, every day until kickoff on Thursday night. With so much to review each week, let’s break down some of the key plays each week in the NRL.
Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons
It’s been six weeks since Victor Radley went down with a season ending injury - against the Dragons no less - and in that time we’ve watched Trent Robinson tinker with his line up around the lock forward position.
Nat Butcher was the first experiment, with the young utility forward filling that role with mixed success against Melbourne and the Cowboys.
Sio Siua Taukeiaho loomed as the next choice, with the international forward having played in the lock position often in his junior years. But after this weekend’s 80 minute, 288 meter, 37 tackle effort in the front row, it’s clear that Robinson needs Taukeiaho leading the charge for his pack this season.
Enter Isaac Liu.
Now in his eighth season of first grade, Liu has been a regular in the Roosters’ pack for years now, and was the incumbent lock before Radley emerged on the scene in 2018.
In the past, Liu has been used as a hard running mobile forward, busting tackles on his way to a career average 83 running meters per game. But with Radley’s injury - and with a need to adjust to the new rules this season - Robinson has quickly moulded Liu into the lock forward his team requires.
After a few games in his new role, Liu’s 53-minute stint against the Dragons was both his most effective of the season, and a glimpse into the short-term future of Sydney’s attacking structures.
The Roosters start a yardage set deep in their own half, with Liu taking a simple yet effective early carry one off the ruck:
Two plays later, he slots into first receiver and digs deep into the line, convincing me (and the Dragons’ defence) that he is just taking another hit up:
But at the last moment he turns and fires a perfect ball out to Luke Keary, who sends the Roosters another 15 meters up-field and into position for a field goal.
Keary’s attempt hits the post, but the Roosters regather the ball for one final assault on the Dragons’ line.
Liu fills in again at pivot, and when the Dragons rush out quickly he sums it up nicely to put Keary over for an easy try:
This kind of high quality involvement from Liu is exactly from the Roosters have been missing in the middle third of the field since Radley’s injury. As we covered earlier in the year, Radley’s ball playing took plenty of pressure off young Kyle Flanagan at the start of the season, and it’s no surprise that Flanagan’s form suffered once Radley was gone.
But with Liu acting as a link man between the Rooster’s powerful middle and their strike outside backs, we might start to see the tricolours attacking click into gear - just as we approach the pointy end of the season.
Something to look out for in the coming weeks.
Gold Coast Titans vs North Queensland Cowboys
For the first time in almost twelve months, I sat down with some soggy chips and an overpriced coldie to watch some live footy as the Titans hosted the Cowboys at CBUS Super Stadium.
It was good to be back.
Defying their position on the ladder, the Titans turned on an impressive attacking display in the perfect afternoon conditions, running in four tries in the first half against a poor Cowboys defensive outfit.
It’s no coincidence that Gold Coasts’ recent improvement has coincided with the inclusion of AJ Brimson, who had a promising return from injury last week against the Roosters before lighting up the park on Sunday afternoon in his second game back:
From what I saw from the stands Brimson was everywhere, organising the Titans’ defensive numbers on either side of the ruck or chiming into backline shifts with perfect timing:
His presence - along with the continued development of Jamal Fogarty as a genuine first-grade quality half - has taken so much pressure off maligned halfback Ash Taylor, and Titans’ fans will be hoping the trio can build on this combination moving forward.
The variety and speed with which they attacked was most impressive on Sunday - the two shifts above came from the same set and while they didn’t result in points, Fogarty’s ability to end the set well and force a drop out is something the Titans’ have lacked in the past.
Taylor’s run of form has also seen an increase in attacking output from captain Kevin Proctor, who was back to his damaging best down the Titan’s left edge on Sunday, thanks to some good service and lead up work from his half:
Just like we touched on last week, a Taylor-Proctor combination could ask plenty of questions for opposition defences close to the line, while creating space for outside men like Brimson or Brian Kelly, who is fast becoming a fan favourite on the Gold Coast.
As Jason has written recently, the Titans’ future looks bright with big names David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - among others - joining the club next season and bolstering a roster that coach Justin Holbrook is clearly sending in the right direction.
There’s Always Next Week For…
… the Cronulla Sharks.
Sunday night’s dour matchup between the Cronulla Sharks and Parramatta Eels was an entertaining - if not scrappy - affair, as heavy rain limited both team’s attacking chances, despite recent form.
In what will remain a mystery to most long time fans, Shaun Johnson continues to cop unwarranted criticism despite posting career best numbers so far in the 2020 season.
Johnson was at his wily best in the wet conditions, particularly with his short kicking game which netted him a try assist through Jesse Ramien. He also showed great pace to run down Mitch Moses and tackle him into touch in the first half when a Sharks’ shift broke down.
It seems Johnson is destined to be knocked by fans unless he’s stepping three defenders on his way to the try line each week, and while his poor goal kicking on Sunday night ended up being the difference, his involvement throughout the game had the Sharks in the fight until the siren sounded.
According to NRL.com, the Sharks scored more tires (3 - 2), ran for more meters (1564 - 1495), made less errors (10 - 15) and were forced to make fewer tackles (311 - 333) than the Eels, but were unable to get the win.
Playing with new five-eighth Matt Moylan, we can excuse the Sharks for being a little out of sync considering regular half Chad Townsend had played an unbelievable 107 of 108 games in that position before his injury two weeks ago.
Moylan had some nice touches, but looked a little off the pace when presented with some open space. Considering his potential (at full fitness) as a ballplayer, it will be interesting to see if/how Townsend comes back into the side when he is available for selection.
William Kennedy is twice the player he was at the beginning of the year, and is reaping the rewards of a continued run in first grade. With Moylan clearly not fully fit, its hard to imagine him displacing Kennedy out the back, who’s high energy playing style is converting into points for the Sharks this season:
It wouldn’t surprise to see a Kennedy-Moylan-Johnson-Brailey spine in Cronulla as we enter the back end of the season, with Townsend an unlucky spectator on the sidelines given his service to the club in recent years.