NRL 2023 Round 4 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Parramatta Eels vs. Penrith Panthers
CommBank Stadium, Thursday 23 March 2023
Kick Off: 7:00pm (AEST)

PARRAMATTA EELS

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Ryan Matterson 13. J'maine Hopgood

14. Matt Doorey 15. Brendan Hands 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa

18. Jakob Arthur 19. Jirah Momoisea 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Toni Mataele 22. Haze Dunster

PENRITH PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 19. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo

14. Soni Luke 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon

12. Liam Martin 18. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Tyrone Peachey 21. Jack Cogger 22. Thomas Jenkins

Melbourne Storm vs. Wests Tigers
AAMI Park, Friday 24 March 2023
Kick Off: 5:00pm (AEST)

MELBOURNE STORM

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 22. Jonah Pezet 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King

14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tariq Sims 17. Bronson Garlick

7. Jahrome Hughes 18. Tom Eisenhuth 19. Grant Anderson 20. Aaron Pene 21. Sualauvi Faalogo

WESTS TIGERS

1. Adam Doueihi 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali'i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole

14. Daine Laurie 15. Alex Twal 16. Shawn Blore 17. Alex Seyfarth

18. Starford To'a 19. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Justin Matamua 21. David Nofoaluma 22. Jake Simpkin

Dolphins vs. Brisbane Broncos
Suncorp Stadium, Friday 24 March 2023
Kick Off: 7:05pm (AEST)

THE DOLPHINS

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Tesi Niu 21. Anthony Milford 7. Sean O'Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 17. Mason Teague 18. Poasa Faamausili 10. Kenny Bromwich 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert

9. Kodi Nikorima 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone

6. Isaiya Katoa 11. Felise Kaufusi 19. Kurt Donoghoe 20. JJ Collins 22. Robert Jennings

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Corey Jensen 17. Martin Taupau

18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Kobe Hetherington 21. Jock Madden 22. Xavier Willison

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Gold Coast Titans
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday 25 March 2023
Kick Off: 4:30pm (AEST)

NORTH QLD COWBOYS

1. Tomas Chester 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Coen Hess 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Jake Granville 15. Heilum Luki 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. James Tamou

18. Brendan Elliot 19. Riley Price 20. Mitchell Dunn 21. Laitia Moceidreke 22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

GOLD COAST TITANS

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu

14. Jayden Campbell 15. Jo Vuna 16. Erin Clark 17. Iszac Fa'asumaleaui

18. Klese Haas 19. Sam McIntyre 20. Toby Sexton 21. Keano Kini 22. Treymain Spry

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Manly Sea Eagles
Accor Stadium, Saturday 25 March 2023
Kick Off: 6:35pm (AEST)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 15. Michael Chee Kam 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray

8. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 16. Davvy Moale 17. Jed Cartwright 18. Ben Lovett

14. Blake Taaffe 19. Dean Hawkins 20. Tallis Duncan 21. Taane Milne 22. Peter Mamouzelos

MANLY SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai

14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie

18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Cooper Johns 20. Morgan Harper 21. Karl Lawton 22. Ben Condon

Warriors vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday 26 March 2023
Kick Off: 1:00pm (AEST)

NZ WARRIORS

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris

14. Dylan Walker 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale

18. Josh Curran 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Rocco Berry 23. Demitric Sifakula

CANTEBURY BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

14. Jayden Okunbor 15. Corey Waddell 16. Jayden Tanner 17. Fa'amanu Brown

19. Braidon Burns 20. Josh Reynolds 21. Karl Oloapu 22. Jackson Topine 23. Kurtis Morrin

Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 26 March 2023
Kick Off: 3:05pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 22. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Kurt Mann

11. Brodie Jones 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Mathew Croker

17. Jack Johns 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Adam Clune 20. Thomas Cant 21. Enari Tuala

CANBERRA RAIDERS

1. Sebastian Kris 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Jack Wighton 18. Matt Frawley 17. Emre Guler 14. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera

8. Josh Papali'i 9. Zac Woolford 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Corey Horsburgh

7. Jamal Fogarty 19. Brad Schneider 20. Trey Mooney 21. Semi Valemei 22. Peter Hola

St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Cronulla Sharks
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sunday 26 March 2023
Kick Off: 5:15pm (AEST)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su'A 15. Zane Musgrove

13. Jack Bird 14. Jacob Liddle 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr

18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Talatau Amone 22. Aaron Woods

CRONULLA SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane

14. Cameron McInnes 15. Royce Hunt 16. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Jack Williams

17. Braydon Trindall 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Thomas Hazelton 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Connor Tracey

 

[Sproj]

That Tigers side, goodness me. Their whole issue is the handbrake at 7 and he’s like the one unchanged position.

 

[Big Pete]

That Tigers side, goodness me. Their whole issue is the handbrake at 7 and he’s like the one unchanged position.

I know you have a teamlist in you mate.

Who would you go with?

 

[Sproj]

I know you have a teamlist in you mate.

Who would you go with?

Here’s the thing, I would have kept Hastings and Madden. I don’t have an answer from their current list.

 

[Big Pete]

Here’s the thing, I would have kept Hastings and Madden. I don’t have an answer from their current list.

So 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jock Madden?

Where would Doueihi play?

 

[Sproj]

So 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jock Madden?

Where would Doueihi play?

Oh you wanted me to elaborate, sorry I didn’t.

I actually would go:
6. Doueihi
7. Madden
13. Hastings

 

[BroncsFan]

So 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jock Madden?

Where would Doueihi play?

Doueihi is good as a centre as well.

His best position in the tigers team is possibly 1... just to get him ball on both sides of the ruck.

He's also young enough to be their franchise player moving forward, and would then be in the primary attacking position as well.

The concerns / queries would be fitness, defence, durability and high balls... but he's a big unit so defence may not be a concern... also feel like he played well as a 1 a couple years back before doing his knee??

 

[Foordy]

I've been thinking about this for a while, but i wonder if the NRL actually want players to challenge their charges at the judiciary.

after they change the penalties, the risk is still generally the same (i.e. one extra match suspension) ... but the reward is far bigger (i.e. instead of serving one less game with a downgrade, players could possible serve 3 less game, and avoid suspension all together)

 

[IceWorks]

That Tigers side, goodness me. Their whole issue is the handbrake at 7 and he’s like the one unchanged position.

I don't know why the move to the Knights idea wasn't jumped on by the tigers when they had the chance.. It's like.... lets stick with what hasn't worked for a decade because it may just need one more year.

 

[Foordy]

8:41pm - Fletcher Baker found NOT GUILTY of high contact on Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham. He has escaped any punishment and won't be fined.

The panel deemed the tackle to be high but not forceful.

 

[Foordy]

9:53pm - Jahrome Hughes UNSUCCESSFUL in downgrade - he will miss two matches.

Not a great night for Ghabar ... 0 from 2

 

[Kimlo]

9:53pm - Jahrome Hughes UNSUCCESSFUL in downgrade - he will miss two matches.

Not a great night for Ghabar ... 0 from 2

Glorious

 

[Foordy]

cue the Roosters to have another crack at getting Dom Young early, now that he's been dropped.

 

[Super Freak]

I actually think Tigers could nab a win here. Let's look at their last 5 games in Melbourne.

Round 10, 2019 - Melbourne win 24-22
Round 2, 2018 - Tigers win 10-8
Round 16, 2016 - Melbourne win 29-20
Round 5, 2013 - Melbourne win 26-12
Round 14, 2012 - Tigers win 10-6

That 2019 game was a controversial win for Melbourne. Tigers have a real knack of going up a gear in Melbourne and the games are usually very close.

With the players Melbourne have out and with the changes Sheens has made that nearly got them the win against the Bulldogs, I actually think they could win here if they play the style that Sheens is trying to get them to play.

 

[Foordy]

Dean Ritchie (i know) reporting that the Eels tried 5 different ways to backflip on Matterson's decision to accept the ban instead of the fine. According to Ritchie, Parramatta and Matterson thought that they could count trial matches towards the suspension.

They lodged an application for the judiciary to revisit the decision ... REJECTED.

They tried to meet with Abdo / Vlandy's ... NOPE TRY AGAIN, they can't intervene, as the judiciary is independant.

Then they tried to meet with judiciary chairman, Geoff Bellew ... STRIKE OUT ... REJECTED

 

[Mustafur]

Dean Ritchie (i know) reporting that the Eels tried 5 different ways to backflip on Matterson's decision to accept the ban instead of the fine. According to Ritchie, Parramatta and Matterson thought that they could count trial matches towards the suspension.

They lodged an application for the judiciary to revisit the decision ... REJECTED.

They tried to meet with Abdo / Vlandy's ... NOPE TRY AGAIN, they can't intervene, as the judiciary is independant.

Then they tried to meet with judiciary chairman, Geoff Bellew ... STRIKE OUT ... REJECTED

I'll be very surprised if the Parra fans don't boo him, every single one I have met is pissed about the whole situation.

 

[LittleDavey]

And now the talking heads on Fox reckon Mitch Moses might be holding out for an offer from...you're gonna love it...I don't wanna say...guess who? Just guess? I'll give you one guess, it's all you need...

They're assessing Keary's longevity apparently and Moses may come into the frame. So - Tigers offering $1.5M over 5 years, Eels are at what, $1.2M over 4 years? Keary is on anywhere between $700k - $950k depending on the source so that would be a SIGNIFICANT haircut on what even his existing club will pay. I wonder if Mitch plays golf? Or speaks French?

 

[Big Pete]

Doueihi is good as a centre as well.

His best position in the tigers team is possibly 1... just to get him ball on both sides of the ruck.

He's also young enough to be their franchise player moving forward, and would then be in the primary attacking position as well.

The concerns / queries would be fitness, defence, durability and high balls... but he's a big unit so defence may not be a concern... also feel like he played well as a 1 a couple years back before doing his knee??

That's a good point and it appears Sheens is trying to hit two birds with one stone. By picking Doueihi at fullback, it allows him to swing over to the left where the Tigers have really struggled to make any inroads. It also allows Doueihi to be more patient with the football. In recent weeks he's over-played his hand trying to make the most of every opportunity even when there's nothing on. Ideally he should have to worry less about staying alive for play six and he should have more space to operate in.

With that said, I don't think the Tigers issues can be fixed with selections. They will need to bring players through in the next couple of years, but they didn't lose against the Titans because they didn't get the team right. They lost because the players who should have performed struggled and they really struggled to find their rhythm. Their best play against the Titans was swinging it left to Doueihi who'd be running an outside line then step and catch the Titans back on their inside shoulder. That wasn't enough to win an NRL game and their other options left a lot to be desired.

One issue they've run into is making Koroisau captain. Api is a deadly player, but you have to have the players around him to be effective. Api was great at Penrith because the backs constantly got them on the front foot and A defenders had their work cut out for them deciding to either put pressure on Yeo, Cleary, Luai or hold for Api. If one marker was down, all bets were off.

The captaincy has appeared to be an albatross around Api's neck and he's taking it upon himself to create plays and the ball is struggling to reach the halves. As a result they're trying to work these shapes in strange parts of the field and passes are missing the mark as a result.

Brooks has struggled for years now, but once the Tigers made the call to honour his final season they should have made him the priority. The Dragons staved off a wooden spoon because they made Ben Hunt the team and hired ex-team mates and former coaches to get something back on their investment. They should be looking to give Brooks more touches and having him play that Mitchell Pearce type game. Even if it's overly-structured at first, he's the only player capable of driving this team forward so work with him.

As it stands, it appears Brooks is being coached to stand on the left hand-side and look dejected. To me the writing is on the wall and I'm already contemplating which half I want to get some games into in the back-half of the season where I'm thinking rebuild.

Actually I lie, there would be one selection they can fix up.

It's not 2015 anymore, pick a goddamn lock forward!