Five Metre Gap: Rd 24 Wrap
Like the way of the five metre gap in defence looking at the points you may have missed from round 24 of the NRL.
Our forward review this week is in aid of the title favourites the Sydney Roosters who have lost Jared Warea-Hargreaves for the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury as the Tricolours won 12-10 against Brisbane on Saturday night. As the game progressed and due to more key injuries the Roosters emptied their bench with every bench player playing at least half an hour. With Waerea-Hargreaves out for the balance of the year Kane Evans, the least used interchange player shapes as the probably replacement. Evans, in his 31 minutes, made 17 tackles and logged 10 runs for 99 metres. The week prior against the Eels Evans in 39 minutes was hugely impressive with 12 runs which racked up 157 metres. During that 28-18 win the Fijian international broke the most tackles, six, of any forward in the match bar Waerea-Hargreaves. Hopefully if you are playing NRLCEO finals the Roosters forward and co-captain Mitchell Pearce aren’t in your team.
Sharks hooker Michael Ennis might have a big fat zero in the try assist category from the weekend but he was key as Cronulla saw off the Wests Tigers 40-18. For Cronulla’s second try he sold a huge dummy to the open-side which deceived the Tigers defence before Sosaia Feki barged over in the left corner. Eight minutes later another dummy later didn’t fool Aaron Woods or James Tedesco but the 87 kilogram rake still forced the ball for a try to help Cronulla lead 20-6 at the interval. Shane Flanagan’s side withstood a Tigers comeback in the second stanza to get themselves to 30 points and finish the weekend in fifth spot on the ladder. Ennis did miss a few tackles, five, but his attacking output more than covered those blemishes on this occasion.
It was reported last week that the Melbourne Storm was set to offer 32-year old Billy Slater a further two-year deal but I wonder if the form of his recent replacement Cameron Munster has given coach Craig Bellamy pause for thought. Munster, 20, coming into Monday night’s game against Newcastle had averaged 220 run metres per game and 22 runs. He broke at least five tackles in each of those games and on Monday night added to his burgeoning resume when he scored a try early on (although he did only run for 97 metres in a surprise 20-6 loss.) Contrast this with Slater who in his last three games at fullback averaged 98 run metres and at the most ran 13 times. Both custodians made a total of four errors across this brief analysis with Slater missing two more tackles (four) than Munster. Whilst it is worth noting Slater was feeling the effects of injury for which he ultimately had surgery on if he has chosen to play he is at an acceptable standard and should be judged on his performances. Given the Storm pay four representative backs, five if Tohu Harris plays in the centres, letting Slater leave to offer upgraded deals to secure others such as Munster and finding a replacement for Cameron Smith (who shares Slater’s birthday) isn’t the worst idea.
Staying with fullbacks who play for Queensland and Greg Inglis will be missing for Souths at least in the next week but how will this impact the reigning premiers? In his last three full games in the number 1 jersey the former Storm player averaged 132 run metres and was influential on attack but it may surprise that his likely replacement Alex Johnston outstrips the 28 year-old from the last three weeks he played when covering the position during the Origin period. Johnston last featured at the back in round 17 and in his last three games as custodian averaged 165 metres. Inglis broke an average of three tackles in his last three games whilst Johnston averages over five in that category. Admittedly the two do change during games at times but Johnston’s attacking statistics won’t be a problem for Michael Maguire. Where the issues may come is the communication in defence. Souths’ left-side has, in particular, been worrying in recent weeks and Johnston will need to be ready to help out to that end.
Back in the side, playmaker Gold Coast Kane Elgey helped the Titans secure a morale-boosting win on Sunday when they beat Canberra 28-12 on Sunday. Elgey, NYC Player of the Year in 2014, was instrumental in ‘closing’ the game. Firstly he took a penalty shot with 14 minutes to go ahead by eight points against a side who have had a few comebacks this season. Elgey then produced a 40/20 kick before the sides traded errors prior to Kalifa Faifai Loa staging a run deep from his own half to set up good field position. Elgey provided an important flick on for Nene Macdonald to score with ten minutes to go which helped push the scoreline out to 26-12. Whilst the ‘loss’ of Daly Cherry-Evans is a blow for the Gold Coast side it could be a blessing in disguise for Elgey as it will be more incumbent on him to elevate his game earlier in his career as he showed on Sunday. However with the form Tyrone Roberts is in and another rising star Ashley Taylor joining the club Elgey will have some competition for a starting spot in 2016.
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Hamish Neal
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