It seems like it’s been a week of ‘putting the rumours to bed’ with the 2024 destinations of Zac Lomax and Joey Manu formally (finally?) announced. Then, just yesterday, we heard that Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris is off to the Warriors next year – adding yet another hyphen to their roster! Only the South Sydney coaching position yet to be sorted! It’s been surprisingly quiet on that front in the last few days. The Rabbitohs have the bye this week so, perhaps, we’ll be spared any dramas for a week or so.
Round 6 had its share of thrills and, unfortunately, spills as several more players are out for a few weeks after bad injuries, with The Hammer probably the most significant this week. Joey Manu didn’t win a Golden Boot award for nothing! His drive from the back propelled the undermanned Roosters to a win over the Knights. What a loss he’ll be when he goes to Japanese rugby next year. Does it mean that the premiership window for the Roosters closes to ‘slightly ajar’ with his departure? I felt a bit sorry for Cameron Ciraldo as his Bulldogs got to within a few minutes of a win in Melbourne. Unfortunately, the Storm play for the full 80 minutes and so pipped their opposition at the post – again! The decimated Dolphins ran out of personnel and, in the second half, ideas against the Broncos who capitalised on errors to literally run away with the game. Imagine what the Broncos might do when Reece Walsh learns to curb his impulses just a bit and chooses the right moments – the mark of the true champions.
The Warriors v Sea Eagles match was a beauty and probably deserved a draw but it was a victory of a kind for Manly to gain a point away from home. The Eels revived their hopes; the Cowboys showed a couple of worrying signs. Any money on either of these outfits seems more about hope than expectation at this stage. The Rabbitohs may have saved Demetriou for a couple of weeks with their better, albeit still losing, effort against the Sharks. Let’s give them credit where due. The Dragons v Wests Tigers game was simply awful to watch – say no more! And the round’s controversy came in the final seconds of the Raiders v Titans clash with offside issues and coaches clashing. Let’s just say that there were probably a dozen other instances during the 80 minutes of standard time that had just as much, if not more, bearing on the eventual result.
Round 7 begins tonight with the best match-up of the weekend when the Roosters meet the Storm. The Roosters surprised me last week while the Storm got there – just – but were below par. The Tricolours get Teddy back, the Storm have NAS on the field for his first game of the year. I expect the Manu saga to favour the home side and I like the look of their forward pack. You have to be either courageous or a fool to tip against Melbourne. I’ll let you choose which word fits best. I’ll go with the Roosters.
Tomorrow evening sees the Dragons at home to the Warriors. Zac Lomax gets to play centre – how ironic! But that will be about the only good news for the Dragons because the Warriors will be far too talented across the park and will win easily. Later on the resurgent Eels take on the depleted Dolphins. No contest, I’m afraid – get on the Eels.
Likewise Saturday afternoon when the Panthers will make a real mess of the Wests Tigers. In the early evening the Titans meet Manly with Kieran Foran up against his old side. More heartache coming for the Gold Coast, I fear. Put your money on Manly. Then, at night, the other good game of the weekend will see the Broncos trying to repel the Raiders. Could be, should be a beauty if both play to potential. I just think that Brisbane has a higher level of potential than the Raiders, especially when you look all the way from 1-17 on the respective team sheets. My new cult figure is Xavier Willison – size, speed, skills, sense. Sign him up for the long term NOW! It’ll be Brisbane.
Come Sunday and the Bulldogs have a chance to make amends against the Knights. This could be a really good game. There’s no doubt that the Doggies are headed in the right direction; Newcastle is also trending well but tends to do the two steps forward, one step back thing. The Bulldogs are just a classy halfback away from greater things. Drew Hutchison is better at 3, 4 or 6 if he’s in the starting side; better still, he comes off the bench. I’ll go with the Knights because of their greater strength up front, Best out wide and Ponga at the back. The round wraps up with the Sharks against the Cowboys, a real toss of the coin. At their best, the Sharks win because the Cowboys have a few out with injury and are no safe bet away from home. But which Sharks side will show up – that is the question! I’ll stick with them, however.
The Rabbitohs have the bye.
The Hyphens:
The proliferation of players with hyphenated names led me to come up with the following team:
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 4. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 7. Chanel Harris-Tavita 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Addin Fonua-Blake 11. James Fisher-Harris 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Kai Pearce-Paul
Not a bad combo, eh?
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About Ian Hauser
A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.
the hyphenated squad: surely coached – managed by the great Wally Fullerton-Smith?! QUEENSLANDER !!