A sneaky Tim Sheens trick paved the way for the Tigers’ stunning 12-8 defeat of premiers Penrith on Saturday night.
Sheens instructed his forwards to cover their wrists with loads and loads of strapping tape – something he learned from coaching in England in recent years.
The ploy keeps the hands relatively dry in wet conditions – and the weather in Bathurst was shocking on Saturday night.
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The move worked a treat, with the Tigers completing at a remarkable rate of over 90 per cent despite monsoonal rain and a wet track.
It proved the difference between the teams, with the Panthers unable to match the Tigers in ball control.
The Tigers hunted as a pack and took on the premiers up front.
David Klemmer ran for 209 metres and Isaiah Papali’i (106m), Alex Twal (173m), Stefano Utoikamanu (133m) and Joe Ofahengaue (119m) were also prominent.
Api Koroisau came of age as a skipper against his former club, terrorising the Panthers around the rucks with his dummyhalf work as the Tigers produced the best ambush for many years.
Tough road ahead for Walker
The Joey Manu-Luke Keary halfback combination looks here to stay for the Roosters – and that’s bad news for talented youngster Sam Walker.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson created something of a storm when he dropped Walker for the Anzac Day clash with the Dragons, moving the versatile Manu into the halves.
But the Roosters have won back-to-back games with the pair in the playmaking roles and their styles seem to complement each other well.
Keary is all about lovely hands and a smart kicking game, while Manu is a powerhouse ball runner and rugged defender.
Walker will doubtless get another chance down the track – but he may have to be patient judging by how well Keary and Manu went in the 14-0 shutout of the Warriors yesterday.
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Fifita fires
David Fifita is an enigma, no doubt about it – a match-winner on his day but a player often criticised for going missing in big games.
But against the strong Manly pack at Brookvale on Saturday night, Fifita was on his angry pills – and led his team to an upset win.
The big man ran for 166 metres – more than any Titans forward – and scored one try and created another.
On their day, the Titans can match any team in the NRL and with Fifita leading the way, they inflicted Manly’s first home loss of the year in emphatic style.
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Sticky’s masterstroke
Sebastian Kris’ emergence as a top class fullback has proved a godsend for Ricky Stuart’s Raiders in 2023.
With the consistent Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad quitting the club for the Warriors over the summer and his replacement Xavier Savage missing the early rounds through injury, Stuart needed to find a fullback in a hurry.
He decided to gamble on specialist winger/centre Kris – and it has been a masterstroke.
Kris has been returning Dylan Edwards-like running metres, averaging over 150 a game and returning a mammoth 247 in the golden point win over the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon.
Kris notched a try as well and saved several dangerous situation in defence in another fine all-round display.
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Graham set for Blues call-up
Campbell Graham has given Blues coach Brad Fittler no choice – he must be the first centre picked for Origin One.
The long-striding Souths star was outstanding in the Rabbitohs’ 32-6 demolition of Brisbane, scoring three tries and setting up another.
Graham now has eight tries in eight games this season and is playing the best football of his career in the red-hot Bunnies backline.
No centre in the NRL has scored as many – and Graham has also been outstanding in defence, saving tries with last-ditch tackles.
Graham played for Australia in the World Cup and looked very comfortable in the green and gold – now it’s time to blood him in Origin football against the Maroons.
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Makatoa shines for Parramatta
What a performance from Makahesi Makatoa coming off the bench for the Eels against the Knights on Friday night.
The big guy started from the bench, played just 42 minutes in the middle, yet ran for a massive 194 metres – the most by any forward on the field in Parra’s impressive 43-12 win.
With Reagan Campbell-Gillard missing, Brad Arthur was looking for some of his lesser lights to stand up – and Makatoa did that and then some.
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Alarm bells at Newcastle
Kalyn Ponga is one of the most exciting and dynamic players in the NRL – but clearly something has gone wrong.
His two games back from injury have resulted in two losses for the Knights, who suddenly find themselves out of the top eight.
Alarm bells rang for me when he started last week’s comeback game against the Cowboys from the bench – almost an admission from the club that his HIA issues were still a problem.
Then against the Eels last Friday night, he played the 80 minutes at five-eighth – and was well off his game.
Ponga had little impact in attack, made 11 tackles and missed 10 – including several that led to tries.
It leaves coach Adam O’Brien with a dilemma – and if I was him, I’d shift Ponga back to fullback where he has played some sensational football in recent years.
NRL Highlights: Eels v Knights – Round 9
Sharks make it three straight
After a bit of a patchy start to the season, the Sharks are finding form with three straight wins and Nicho Hynes in sparkling form.
And he can thank the Sharks’ workmanlike pack for laying the platform for his current purple patch.
Five Sharks forwards – Braden Hamlin-Uele, Jack Williams, Teig Wilton, Cameron McInnes and Royce Hunt – ran for over 100 metres as the Sharks decimated the Cowboys 44-6 on Thursday night.
Hamlin-Uele, in career-best form, led the way with 159 metres and got the Sharks on the front foot, enabling the backs to run riot.
It was all over by halftime – the Cowboys missed 23 tackles in the opening 40 minutes and look a shadow of the team that took the NRL by storm last year.
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