Five Metre Gap: Rd 19 Wrap
Like the way of the five metre gap in defence, looking at the points you may have missed from round 19 action of the NRL. All sides were in action with no more byes for the balance of the season.
Paul Gallen is a lightning rod for opinion in the NRL but the Sharks skipper was key on Saturday afternoon in Canberra as Cronulla triumphed 21-20. Not only did Gallen make the most tackles of anyone in his team (41) and the most metres of any player in the game (231) he was influential when his side needed a try. Taking the ball off scrum-base Gallen ran to start the set, and nearly scored himself, with the Sharks needing a try to win. The NSW skipper handled twice more in the set before Andrew Fifita crossed the stripe only to be ruled no try by the video officials. Rallying his troops once more Gallen in extra-time helped to guide his side towards the posts before Valentine Holmes potted the winning point. Whilst NSW coach Laurie Daley is right in his recent constructive criticism that the Australian forward doesn’t need to try to be the focal point (aka play 5/8) every set Gallen does know when to inject himself into the game for maximum impact. Gallen’s running allowed the Sharks to have plenty of options and it’s not the first time a Gallen run on the prior play has led to a try for the fellow Australian representative.
Sunday afternoon in Brisbane was proof timing is everything as the Broncos skipped clear of the Wests Tigers to win 42-16 but not until seeing off a spirited comeback by Jason Taylor’s men. Having scored the last three tries in the game to cut the margin back to 26-16 the Sydney-siders were cruelled by a penalty on the fifth tackle (the second of those they had conceded all game and one of seven penalties all up) which was followed by trying to withstand a further Broncos set after Anthony Milford forced the first drop-out the Broncos had gotten all game. The wall couldn’t hold and the damn burst after Lachlan Maranta grabbed his second try of three in the game Tigers winger Kevin Naiqama inadvertently batted Jack Reed’s pass to him. A three-try plus lead is not irretrievable in 11 minutes and Taylor might be concerned with how his team dropped their bundle and let in two more tries late in the game.
Brisbane leads the competition and North Queensland, who won on Monday night, sit second. Much of the focus around the Cowboys normally involves Johnathan Thurston and, lately, Michael Morgan but Lachlan Coote should not be forgotten. The former Penrith custodian laid on the second try for the Cowboys as they beat the Sea Eagles 30-12. Running a hard line after the play of the ball Coote charged at the line drawing the attention of Jamie Lyon and some of his teammates. Coote then shuffled the ball to Kane Linnett who put the Cowboys back in the lead, which they never relinquished.
After they had shipped their fourth try in Melbourne on Friday night Penrith had missed 15 tackles in half an hour to Melbourne’s one before the Storm crossed six more occasions to thrash Ivan Cleary’s men 52-10. It didn’t get much better as the Mountain Men missed 54 tackles all up. Whilst key Penrith staff are at pains to point out the injury toll the cub face it’s worth noting Melbourne injuries include star fullback Billy Slater, Kiwi international Matt Duffie, emerging forward Jordan McLean and utility Slade Griffin. Whilst Penrith were more impacted by injuries Melbourne’s missing are significant as well.
Newcastle’s 30-2 victory over the Gold Coast might not be cause to break out the bunting yet in the Hunter but the performance of bench forward David Fa’alogo was a highlight as his team ran riot against a limp Titans outfit. Fa’alogo’s 186 metres gained from 21 runs was the most of any player in the 28-point triumph and a stellar effort for a bench player who only featured for 42 minutes. Fa’alogo, 34, who returned to the NRL last season is a key player if the Knights are any hope to start a winning streak and attempt to move up from 14th.
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Hamish Neal
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