Two rounds have already flown by and already a
couple of teams are separating themselves into the elite of the competition
while others are leaving their fans asking many questions. Here's my rankings
and recap following round 2.
#1 Storm - 4 points (prev #2)
In what was on paper a game of the round contest
against the highly touted Cowboys, the Storm sounded an ominous warning to the
rest of the NRL by dispatching of another expected Premiership contender with
relative ease. Melbourne once again completed less than 70% of their sets, but
the Storm's attacking prowess was too much for the Cowboys to handle running in
6 tries to 2. Once again it was Cronk who stood tallest of the big three,
scoring two tries and picking up try assists on two others along with 294
kicking metres. Rookie 2nd rower Tohu Harris had a big
night logging 80 minutes, 123 metres and 31 tackles. A quiet Cameron Smith
still lead all players with 35 tackles.
#2 Rabbitohs - 4 points (prev #1)
Left a lot to be desired but managed to grind out a
2 point win over Cronulla in a very sloppy Monday night footy. The Rabbitohs
looked likely to win for most of the game but completed just 66% of their sets
and missed 37 tackles. Andrew Reynolds once again offered plenty for the
NSW selectors to think about picking up 2 try assists, 228 kicking metres and
21 tackles, his kicking game was very precise. Greg Inglis was monstrous as
usual with 198 metres and 8 tackle breaks. The Bunnies still showed in patches
that they are going to be amongst the cream of the crop, they still put up the
second most metres of the round, but they did have a bit of an off night.
#3 Sea Eagles - 4 points (prev
#4)
Not sure if it was too much respect for Newcastle
or not enough respect for Manly, but the Sea Eagles opened with just a -2.5
line at Brookvale, the bookies won’t make that mistake again as they cruised to
a 32-0 victory. Jorge Taufua opened their account early at the 6 minute mark,
again at the 60th and at the 79th still wasn't finished
as he dotted over for the hat trick. Daly Cherry-Evans amassed 554 kicking
metres while Anthony Watmough was at his best with 154 metres, 32 tackles, 6
tackle breaks and a try. With over 1500 metres, 76% completion rate, 12
offloads and 16 missed tackles it was a good
all-around effort for Manly.
#4 Cowboys - 2 points (prev #3)
A disappointing week for the Cows who many fancied
to give the Storm a run for their money, but weathering the Storm is no easy
feat as the Cowboys were reminded Saturday night. A completion rate of 70% and
29 missed tackles will both need to be addressed at training this week, but
Melbourne will make many teams look bad this season. The Cowboys will be happy
with a strong 15 offload performance, and the co captains were dependable as
always. Matt Scott a rampaging 159 metres and 29 tackles while JT asked a lot
of questions with 4 tackle breaks, 2 offloads, 1 line break and 2 line break
assists. Should have no trouble getting back on track after this hiccup.
#5 Titans - 2 points (prev #8)
Rocketing up the rankings after the biggest
thrashing of the round a 36-0 flogging of the Raiders. Sure, the Raiders looked
pretty dreadful, but the Titans showed a lot of grit in their loss to a very
motivated Sharks team in round 1, and now have shown off plenty of fire power
also. For the second week in a row the Titans lead all teams in metres 1580 and
their Origin studded forward pack is looking very strong. Everyone knew the
forward group was loaded, but the Titans are shooting up to 5th because
of some great play from young halves Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly. The halves
were the question mark for the Gold Coast this year but these two are gelling
very well.
#6 Sharks - 2 points (prev #7)
Given no chance by the books starting with a +8.5 line that blew out to 10.5 in some places, the Sharks couldn't get the deal done against the Bunnies but managed to kept it agonizingly close going down 14-12. Ate up some big metres with 1507, but too many missed tackles with 16, plenty of errors with 18 and they couldn't finish a cake with just 60% of their sets completed. The Sharks however will be very enthused about pulling off 21 offloads, and the captain Paul Gallen as always putting in work with 170 metres and 31 tackles. Michael Gordon looked back to his explosive best with a try, 171 metres and 12 tackle breaks while Luke Lewis also stood out with 104 metres, 8 tackle breaks, 19 tackles and 4 offloads. While people continue to write off the Sharks with speculation about the drug investigation and Flanagan and horse injections and whatever else is floating around there, on the field the Sharks are rallying together to tune all of the drama out.
#7 Eels - 2 points (prev #6)
Went toe to toe in a 7 try first half exchange with the Bulldogs, with an 88% completion rate and 3 tries, but crumbled in the second half to 67% and failing to cross the line again. A weird game overall with a 0 point second half after a try scoring feast in the first, but while the Eels were unable to get their second win of the season, they did at least follow up their emphatic week 1 win with a competitive performance. Chris Sandow continues to look rejuvenated with 389 kicking metres and 3 try assists, if he continues to play like this then the Eels are going to remain a team in the mix for a spot in the top 8. Jarryd Hayne put up the quietest 158 metres and 6 tackle breaks that you'll ever see, he really didn't seem all there for this game, if the Eels can get both he and Sandow firing then watch out.
#8 Broncos - 2 points (prev #12)
After a 40 minute performance against Manly in week 1, the Broncos delivered a very strong performance in week 2 taking down the Dragons 22-6. The Broncos failed to complete just 2 sets, going 31/33 for 94%. Too many missed tackles with 29 but fortunately for the Broncos the Dragons were able to do little to capitalize on them. Suffered too worrying injury blows with Josh McGuire looking to be out for around a month while Justin Hodges left the game early but is named to play this coming week. A monstrous night out of Ben Hannant with 135 metres, 39 tackles and a try in just 48 minutes with great support from Andrew McCullough who made 50 tackles, Alex Glenn 152 metres 15 tackles and Sam Thaiday 102 metres 38 tackles. A complete performance from the Broncos that will give them a lot to build from.
#9 Knights - 2 points (prev #5)
After flying high in round 1 decimating the Tigers, the Knights were treated to a comprehensive reality check from Manly getting flogged 32-0. The Knights were scored on early and scored on often, a 69% completion rate and 26 missed tackles did nothing to help their cause. The men from Newcastle had no answer for a big Manly team that trampled over them for 1520 metres. Matt Hilder lead all players with 41 tackles, and Darius Boyd delivered another strong performance with 128 metres and 5 tackle breaks but ultimately the Knights were never in this one and their were few positives they could take from that performance.
#10 Bulldogs - 2 points (prev #10)
Put up 4 first half tries in a back and forth frenzy with the Eels to take a 20-16 lead, then held out the entire second half to finish the game on that same score and pick up the win. Completed 79% in the first half with 5 missed tackles, but backed that up with 63% and 15 missed tackles in the second stanza. Just one Bulldogs player went over 100 metres, tireless Aiden Tolman racking up 162 metres to go with 25 tackles. The Bulldogs have been reasonable enough across their 2 games, but a far cry from the elite team they were last year, unsurprising given the plethora of stars they have out of action. With Ben Barba set to return in round 4 and the likes of Frank Pritchard and Sam Kasiano also returning soon, we'll then get a better idea of what the 2013 Doggies are going to do.
#11 Roosters - 2 points (prev #11)
It wasn't comprehensive but the Roosters did enough to come away from a trip to Auckland with a 2 point victory. Just 6 errors and a 78% completion rate while all of the Roosters backs had multiple tackle breaks. The Roosters continue to show glimpses of what they may be capable of once they have fully gelled with Sonny Bill Williams and Michael Jennings showing the potential to be a lethal combination. SBW played 80 minutes for 100 metres and 19 tackles, while Jennings was every bit the danger man with 166 metres 3 tackle breaks, 1 offload, 2 line breaks and a line break assist. With a win under their belt it will be interesting to see how the Roosters follow this one up.
#12 Panthers - 2 points (prev #9)
Had to change the script when Lachlan Coote was
lost early in the game and will be out for the season. Fell off 38 tackles
which is simply unacceptable and asking to get burned by a team like the Tigers
who only need a sniff and didn't do much when they got their mitts on the ball
completing just 68%. Josh Mansour continues to look the goods with 132 metres
and 4 tackle breaks while Sika Manu grabbed 2 tries. While James Segeyaro put
forth a valiant effort with 105 metres, 33 tackles and 5 offloads, but it's a
big ask for most teams to reshuffle around an injured half. Maintain their
position for a solid week 1 performance, but how much of that was attributable
to the Raiders ineptitude?
#13 Tigers - 2 points (prev #16)
After a disastrous opening round, the Tigers found
a bit of their swag and put up 5 tries in a solid win over Penrith. Completed
just 68% of their sets and had 14 errors, but the positives came in the form of
9 line breaks and 16 offloads. The Tigers aren't built to be clinical, they're
built to be dangerous and we saw a few glimpses of that. Unfortunately lost
prop Keith Galloway with a pectoral industry, but Aaron Woods made a huge
statement to NSW selectors with 144 metres, 27 tackles, 5 tackle breaks and 2
tries. Marika Koroibete sprung to life after being nullified in week 1, going
off for 223 metres 7 tackle breaks and a try. A nice response after
Newcastle embarrassed them, but still questions to be answered.
#14 Dragons - 0 points (prev #13)
Familiar story for the Dragons who once again
failed to muster up much on attack with just 1 try against the Broncos and even
that one had to come from Michael Weyman. Unsurprising that the Dragons are
apparently willing to overlook Josh Dugan's indiscretions because they won't be
going anywhere with this feeble attacking game, even the Broncos being down a
man for 10 minutes didn't help them. An 80% completion rate from 40 sets and 8
errors are good numbers as were 15 offloads, but they need to find a way to get
over the line. Brett Morris ate up the metres with 214 along with 5 tackle
breaks while Trent Merrin was his usual busy self with 160 metres and 3o
tackles.
#15 Warriors - 0 points (prev #15)
Much improved from the rogering they took from the
Eels in week 1 but not good enough to put the touring Roosters away in front of
32,740 Eden Park faithful. Matched the Chooks with 3 tries a piece but lack of
a specialist goal kicker was very clear and proved costly. 24 missed tackles and
12 errors indicate there's still a lot to improve on but the defence was at
least somewhat stronger than the feeble week 1 effort. Lacked direction and
creativity in attack, but received a clear boost when utility Pita Godinet took
to the field. As always, Ben Matulino proved reliable with 160 metres and 22
tackles and Jacob Lillyman provided great support with 123 metres and 31
tackles. Early in the season but two losses down and a trip to Cronulla
followed by visits from the Cowboys and Rabbitohs will be very difficult.
#16 Raiders - 0 points (prev #14)
Absolutely belted by the Titans on the back of some
dreadful defence that saw them heading to the break down 30-0. Saved a little
face in the second half restricting the Titans to just 6 points but they were
out of this one within the first 10 minutes when the Titans had already crossed
the line twice. Completed just 23 sets, 26 missed tackles, 17 errors and a sin
binning for Reece Robinson capped off a very turbulent week for the Green
Machine. Lock Shaun Fensom was his usual honest self with 42 tackles and big
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs chewed off 100 metres off just 10 hit ups but there’ll
probably be a few other Raiders on the Vodka Cruisers after this one.
@WellsNorthShore
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