A great performance from the Gold Coast and it caps off the most productive season for them since 2016. Hell, time could prove it's their best since 2009. The return of Brian Kelly gave them an extra dimension in attack and AJ Brimson surely has to be in the Queensland team. Don't even worry about where he'll play, you just have to find a spot for him. Those tries were as good as you'll see from anybody this season and it's great when you get to see a Touch Footy star in full flight in this competition. It certainly bodes well for their future, the key is that they have to grow from it. Taylor looks to be enjoying his footy which is a great sign, but he's got to take his game to the next level. Even tonight there were some pretty bad efforts which the Titans just can't afford if they want to do anything in this competition.
Newcastle had their opportunities but just couldn't capitilise on them and defensively they just switched off. As great as Kelly's try was, he should have never been able to score from that position, that was just awful work back on the inside from Pearce who once again showed why he's got so many critics. He's a good halfback who's played 14 seasons of NRL football. That's a wonderful achievement in anyone's books, but when he's been in positions to step up he's rarely taken them. They're really feeling the loss of Brailey at this point and it still feels like they have square pegs in round holes. Still a few positions that need ironing out, Frizell should be a nice boost but there's a couple of areas that need sorting.
Didn't see the South Sydney performance coming at all. The win doesn't surprise me too much, but 60-8 just seems like something you'd see in an unrealistic simulation. Strange game, Sydney were all over them and then Cody Walker got around Josh Morris and from there the Roosters were made to look second rate. Easily the Rabbitohs best performance of the year and it was a joy to once again see them play good footy against quality opposition. It's one thing when you see a top team smash a bad a team, another when it happens like it did tonight. It reminded me a lot of the Cronulla/Newcastle games in the early 2000s.
It was good from Souths and it should by rights get them into Week 2 but in a lot of ways this is the type of win I'd expect from Wayne. A big win against a quality side but in a nothing game. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop where the same team comes out the next week and doesn't play anywhere near as well, nearly loses it only to get knocked out comfortably in the most important game of the season. That's not a shot, that's just been the theme for the past 4 seasons.
However, that probably doesn't matter to Souths fans. They're still looking in good shape for 2021 and more importantly they just blew the Roosters chances to smithereens. I don't know where that type of scoreline comes from, I haven't been this shocked since the Broncos/Eels 2017 game. However, it certainly raises the stakes for next week where we'll likely see Panthers/Roosters. That's the match up that I wanted to see and I'm glad Penrith will have to prove themselves against the defending premiers in the middle of a dynasty with a point to prove. I'm curious to see how it goes because I'm not convinced by either team. I didn't see 3-in-a-row for Sydney, especially when they lost Latrell but I'm not convinced on Penrith either who have rarely hit 4th gear all year.