A couple of glaring defensive lapses will have Craig Bellamy’s alarm bells ringing after their loss to the Broncos in the Grand Final rematch.
Meanwhile, there remains conflicting reports over Bronson Xerri’s future at the Bulldogs amid an elephant in the room.
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And two of the best centres in the world go head-to-head in the latest instalment of the Broncos vs Dolphins rivalry.
Read on for the key Talking Points ahead of Round 4.
QUESTIONS OVER SEIBOLD AND JURBO’S FUTURES AFTER MANLY’S HORROR START
Sea Eagles vs Roosters Thursday 26th of March @ 8pm
The futures of Anthony Seibold and Jake Trbojevic have come into question after Manly’s 0-2 start to the season, despite the bye getting them off the mark with two points in Round 3.
Manly hardly disgraced themselves with a 29-28 defeat to the Raiders in Round 1, but the manner of their home loss to the Knights without injured duo Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown was alarming.
Meanwhile, Jake Trbojevic’s form has been singled out as one of the reasons for Manly’s struggles, with calls for Kobe Hetherington to start at lock.
Braith Anasta questioned if Seibold should be under pressure if Manly lose a third straight home game to the Roosters and prodigal son Daly Cherry-Evans on Thursday night.
“Anthony Seibold is one of a number of coaches that are under pressure, 0-2 start the year and they need to win this week,” Anasta said on NRL 360.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie noted that every coach who goes on a winless run at home is under pressure, but still feels Seibold will be given time to turn it around.
“Well, if they are 0-3, he is under the pump, there’s no doubt about that,” Ritchie said.
“We just spoke about Trent Robinson and I suggested he wasn’t under the pump. Robbo’s obviously won three premierships, Seibs hasn’t won one yet.
“I think Anthony Seibold at the moment is the right man for the job. You cannot appoint a bloke to coach your team for 2026 and then get rid of him after two games. It’s ridiculous.
“I think they’ve got to give him at least half way through the season before they sit back and go, OK, let’s take stock. Where are we at? What’s the future hold? Is it a man to take us forward?”
Anthony Seibold is facing three straight losses at home to start the season.Source: Supplied
The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read agreed that pressure for Seibold’s job after two losses and a bye is far too premature.
“I think it’s madness,” Read said.
“It’s the madness of rugby league we’re talking about him and Todd Payten after three rounds.
“It’s crazy. I mean, they’re three rounds into the year.
“Toddy’s won a game now. Shane Flanagan’s 0-3, we’re not talking about him. And I should stress I don’t think we should be.
“But I’m saying, we’re not talking about Flanno. If you look at their records over the past three years, Seibold’s got a bigger winning percentage than Flanno. We’re not talking about Flanno.”
Jake Trbojevic’s future has also been clouded after his poor performance against the Knights, as he weighs up whether to activate a one-year extension in 2027.
Trbojevic, 32, hasn’t scored a try, broken the line or busted a tackle since 2024, with the workhorse lock forward limited to just two carries for 15m in the Sea Eagles’ Round 2 loss to Newcastle.
Manly skipper and brother Tom Trbojevic leapt to the defence of Jake amid the storm of criticism.
“I think it’s a little bit disappointing that he is coming under fire,” Tom Trbojevic said.
“I think he’s really gone great after the first two weeks, the way he’s played, especially defensively. And I think a lot of people that watch the game and analysts get caught up in stats and what you need to do with the ball, but he’s a real leader for us in defence and the way he links our attack together as well.
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Jake Trbojevic is facing criticism in his performance against the Knights.Source: Supplied
“You look at someone that runs really hard, and people will appreciate how hard they’re running and getting quick play the balls and whatnot.
“But in defence, it’s the same thing. If someone’s tackling hard and forcing errors in the back, it’s just as big a play, but it doesn’t get talked about as much.
“I’m not here to justify why he’s good enough. We in this club know he’s good enough and we really appreciate him as a footy player and as a person (because) he’s s an integral part of our team. So I really think it’s unfair that he is coming under criticism.”
Younger brother Ben Trbojevic was equally disappointed in the criticism of Jake and backed him to play on next season if he wants to.
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I reckon he’s a big asset to this club and he will be going forward,” he said.
“I just think he leads the line speed. He’s one of the best forwards at just going after the game and really gets off the line and puts good hits on and it really lifts us as a team.”
However, in a results driven business, Manly know they have to start winning soon, particularly at their former fortress Brookvale or the knives will continue to be out for their coach and veteran forward.
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Turbo backs brother Jake to play on | 01:25
WILL WARRIORS SINK OR SWIM AFTER ‘BRAVE’ HALVES DECISION
Warriors vs Tigers Friday 27th of March @ 6.00pm
In a massive surprise, the Warriors named Luke Metcalf in their side to take on the Tigers.
What makes this such a shock is that Metcalf wasn’t due back for at least another couple of weeks after suffering an ACL injury last June.
Many believed that without Metcalf, the Warriors would struggle to start the season with Tanah Boyd in the No. 7 jersey, but they’ve done anything but.
Winning all three while scoring at least 38 points a game, the Warriors have been the surprise packets of 2026 to date.
Metcalf makes this team better, there’s no doubt about it, and he should complement Boyd’s game perfectly, but given the Warriors are unbeaten and Metcalf is coming off a serious injury, would it be wiser to give the star playmaker a bit more time?
That question is why the decision to parachute Metcalf back into the side has been labelled a “brave” call.
Metcalf is all class and a super player, exemplified by the fact he was leading the Dally M count before his untimely injury last season.
“It’s a brave decision by coach Andrew Webster isn’t it? Metcalf, before his injury was leading the Dally M, and was playing o.7. He wanted to be the main man but Boyd has come in and played so well that you just couldn’t move him,” foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley said on NRL 360.
“Boyd seems like a natural No.7 and Metcalf would fit in the No.6 jumper.”
Luke Metcalf’s early return has been labelled a ‘brave’ decision.Source: Getty Images
Metcalf would not be rushed back unless he’s 100% fit as The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio said.
“He’s done everything he can in terms of the rehab from the torn ACL,” Riccio said.
“For the Warriors, getting him back so soon is a huge plus.”
The job Webster has done always deserves a huge rap.
As mentioned, the Warriors were overlooked heading into the season because of the injuries to Mitch Barnett and Metcalf.
Miraculously, both have returned much earlier than expected, but the guys who have stood up in their absence have been absolutely lights out.
Boyd we’ve touched on, but the play of Jackson Ford alongside James Fisher-Harris in the starting front line has been outstanding.
In fact, Ford leads the Dally M count through three weeks and is knocking on the door of a Blues call up.
Crawley said Webster has clearly had an impact on both players’ development given their previous situations.
“The guy in his spot, Tanah Boyd, has been in career best form but they have found a spot for both of them,” he said.
“It’s just good coaching from Webster because Tanah Boyd went down there from the Gold Coast where he was a superstar junior talent but never found his way as an NRL player. Over the summer, they’ve made him into a guy that is up near the Dally M leaderboard.
“And the guy who is leading the Dally Ms is an offcut from the Dragons, Jackson Ford, and he’s trained him.
“At the start of the season you’re thinking no Metcalf, no Barnett, geez they are going to struggle to make the eight, but the two blokes who have come in for them have done a wonderful job.”
Couchman suspended for four games | 00:51
MASTERS TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN EPIC BRONCOS VS DOLPHINS RIVALRY
Broncos vs Dolphins Friday 27th of March @ 8.00pm
One of the main reasons the Dolphins joined the NRL was to create an epic local derby and fierce rivalry with the Broncos and the latest instalment promises to be the best yet.
With the Ben Te’o saga simmering in the background and the Broncos’ title defence off to a rocky start, a third loss from four games, including three at home could spell disaster for the Broncos in their bid to stay in touch with the top four.
The Broncos have the wood on the Dolphins, winning five of their six clashes since they came into the competition, but the form of both sides coming into this fixture ensures an instant classic is on the cards.
The Broncos bounced back from back-to-back losses to stun the Storm in the Grand Final rematch, while the Dolphins thrashed the Sharks, who are one of the leading contenders for the title, 38-10 on their own turf.
“This game has produced some classics since the Dolphins have joined the competition and both teams are coming off a win,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
Broncos legend Gorden Tallis recalled Kotoni Staggs’ match winner to break the Dolphins hearts and remind them who is the big brother in Brisbane.
“It should be huge, I think the Dolphins have won one of the six games, so Brisbane have won most of them and that was a great moment with Kotoni Staggs scoring the match winner,” Tallis said.
“There’s obviously Dolphins’ flags everywhere and he just reminded them, this is our house. “It’ll be a sell-out, you would imagine. If it’s good weather in Brisbane on Friday, I might even sneak down there myself.”
Kotoni Staggs goes head to head with Herbie Farnworth.Source: Getty Images
Both teams come into the clash with some brilliant players, with the Broncos boasting the likes of Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Staggs and Deine Mariner, while the Dolphins’ backline features Isaiya Katoa, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Herbie Farnworth and former Broncos star Selwyn Cobbo.
Paul Crawley noted that both sides are arguably the best attacking teams in the NRL on their day, which sets the stage for a high-scoring shootout at Suncorp Stadium.
However, Crawley feels the Dolphins need to win if they are serious about cracking the finals for the first time this season.
“It’s huge, you’ve got two of the best attacking teams in the competition going up against each other,” Crawley said.
“You saw the Dolphins the other night, how they just really put the Sharks to the sword in the blink of an eye and they’ve got match-winners across the park.
“But the Broncos have had the wood on them, so if the Dolphins are going to be a top eight side this year, they need to stand up in this one.”
There are no shortage of mouth-watering match-ups across the park, but the battle between English centre Farnworth and Origin and Test star Staggs promises to be the most explosive, according to The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio and Tallis.
“My favourite player’s playing Herbie Farnworth, he’s just the best to watch,” Riccio said.
“His ability to beat tackles and create space for his teammates and against the Sharks it was Herbie. How does the centre take over? With all that star quality that the Dolphins have, it was the centre who did the damage.”
Herbie Farnworth destroyed the Sharks.Source: Getty Images
Tallis rated the pair the premier centres in the business in their positions at their best, saying: “It’s the battle of the two best centres in the world because he’s up against Kotoni Staggs.”
However, Riccio believes Farnworth has got him covered and the Bulldogs’ skipper might be up there on par or ahead of them.
“With great respect to Kotoni, I don’t think Kotoni’s number one,” Riccio said.
“Herbie’s right up there and so is Stephen Crichton. Herbie’s always in great form. It’s only injury that stops him.”
All eyes will be on Walsh and Hammer at the back, but the battle between Staggs and Farnworth could decide the contest with one play.
‘Not getting the job done’ Crawley | 04:32
DOUBTS REMAIN OVER XERRI’S FUTURE AS BULLDOGS TRY TO MAKE ATTACK CLICK
Bulldogs vs Knights Saturday 28th of March @ 3.00pm
For the second straight week Bronson Xerri will play NSW Cup as the Bulldogs and Cameron Ciraldo try to get their attack clicking against the depleted Knights on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs have been anything but convincing with ball in hand in a 15-14 win over the Dragons and a 14-10 victory over the Raiders either side of their bye.
Like last season, the Bulldogs are relying on their superior defence to keep them in the top four and winning games, but after bowing out of the finals in straight sets, they know their attack needs to improve.
However, the jury is still out on the Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton halves pairing and if they can’t put some points on a Knights team missing their two best players, alarm bells will start ringing at Belmore.
And keeping one of their best attacking players from the last couple of seasons in Xerri in reserve grade won’t help them score more points.
The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read revealed on NRL 360 that he believes Xerri has turned around his attitude and no longer wants to leave the club.
“He is not in the team and he will play NSW Cup again,” Read said on NRL 360.
“He played pretty well in NSW Cup last week and scored a nice try. Phil Gould was there to watch him play.
“I think things have settled down a bit and I reckon he might stay there now. I don’t think he will follow through with that release request because they have had some more conversations and things have just calmed down.”
Bronson Xerri remains in NSW Cup.Source: Instagram
That isn’t to say that everything is all settled in Belmore.
While there have been positive signs so far, Read conceded that if Xerri remains in NSW Cup for the next month there is the possibility his stance on the matter will change.
“That’s the elephant in the room,” Read added.
Coach Ciraldo was strong in his explanation on why Xerri was dropped, telling reporters at the time that the centre “might have had one of those moments” where he reacted to the adversity in the wrong way.
Given the strong, team-first culture that Ciraldo has built at Belmore, it had The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie questioning if the Bulldogs should want to rush Xerri back so soon.
“Given the situation and how it unfolded and his dismay at multiple things that happened, do you think that Cameron Ciraldo has any appetite to bring him back?” Ritchie said.
Braith Anasta agreed that Ciraldo looked like he “had the s***s visibly” with Xerri in his press conference and may need more time to re-instate him.
However, ultimately it will all depend on how his replacement Enari Tuala plays.
Tuala was very dependable in defence in last week’s win over the Raiders and that would have pleased coach Ciraldo, who built the club’s success last season on their work and attitude without the ball.
With that in mind, all eyes will continue to be on Tuala this weekend and beyond to see if he can continue to do enough to leave Ciraldo with no choice but to keep Xerri in reserve grade.
“He also wants to win though and with due respect to Enari Tuala, I think Bronson Xerri is a better player than him,” Read said.
“Ultimately he wants to win footy games.”
Matt Burton could be the key to Xerri’s future.Source: Getty Images
Anasta asked if a simple attitude adjustment at training was enough to get Xerri back in the team.
“So really it is just about him accepting the other side as a centre and having the right attitude bouncing around ready to go, let’s go boys, I’m in, I’m on the train,” Anasta said.
Read replied: “I think after some conversations his attitude has been better, so I think it is heading down that path.”
However, Ritchie revealed Xerri is still unsettled and likely to agitate for a release in the future and put the quietening down of the story on Gould.
“My mail is different,” Ritchie said.
“My mail is he is still unsettled and he wants to leave. Gus is the master of sucking the air out of a story.”
Anasta agreed this had a Gould smokescreen written all over it.
“They could be just trying to silence it for now and let it go off into the distance and then bang a decision is made one way or another,” Anasta said.
One thing is for certain if the bulldogs don’t start to show more in attack, they may be forced to move Matt Burton to the centres, Lachlan Galvin to five-eighth and bring in Sean O’Sullivan at halfback, which would block Xerri’s return to the team.
And if that is the case it is unlikely that Xerri will accept playing NSW Cup for the rest of the season.
Solly on Allianz, Haas & Humphries | 08:23
STORM SCARS GIVING BELLAMY ALARM BELLS
Cowboys vs Storm Saturday 28th of March @ 7.35pm
The Storm lost back-to-back games against the defending premiers the Broncos after leading at half-time, with their 18-14 loss in Round 3 coming after their 26-22 Grand Final defeat.
And it is just not the scars of defeat to the team that denied them the trophy last year and are one of their main rivals for the title in 2026, it was the fact it was on their own turf that concerns Cooper Cronk.
“That’s twice now, they lead at half-time again, and the Brisbane Broncos have run them down on their home patch and in a grand final,” Cronk said on Matty and Cronk.
Matty Johns questioned if it could become a “scar” for the Storm after snatching two defeats from the jaws of victory in a row against the Broncos, to which Cronk conceded the “more it happens the more” that could be the case.
However, more than the simple results themselves, Cronk highlighted a couple of alarming defensive issues against the Broncos from the Storm’s left edge.
Nick Meaney has been moved to wing this season to cover for the injured Xavier Coates, but he also struggled in defence in the Grand Final at centre.
However, his replacement in the centres Moses Leo also comes from a Rugby Sevens background and with just five games of NRL experience, he was exposed badly against the Broncos.
Leo was caught at marker on one of Brisbane’s earlier tries in the game as Ben Hunt went blind and passed to Kotoni Staggs, who found Jordan Riki unmarked on the wing for his second try.
“There’s a couple of moments in that second half that is a little bit alarming for the Melbourne Storm,” Cronk said.
“On the left-hand side, they scored a couple of tries. Watch Moses Leo here. Now, he’s a Rugby Sevens guy, he’s at second marker. And when you have multiple reps in rugby league, you understand you’re second marker.
Moses Leo was caught at second marker.Source: FOX SPORTS
“On the short side, when you’re outnumbered, you’ve got to go back. It’s alarm bells straight away. And on the reverse angle, you see he doesn’t move quick enough.
“Yes, the Melbourne Storm got the numbers wrong there. But when you’re playing lots of rugby league and you understand that, you have to go quickly at second marker.”
The second defensive lapse that concerned Cronk was Cameron Munster, who has 239 games of experience under Craig Bellamy, but committed a cardinal sin for Staggs’ match winning try.
Munster rushed up on Reece Walsh allowing space on the inside for Staggs to change the angle and cut back through a gaping hole to score under the posts.
“Munster here he just overthought that,” Cronk said.
Cameron Munster only has eyes for Reece Walsh.Source: FOX SPORTS
“There’s one rule at the Melbourne Storm under Craig Bellamy. You do not give up your inside shoulder and Cameron Munster just had eyes for Reece Walsh.
“This is the threat of Walsh. Wherever he is, most people think he’s going to get the ball and I think that’s a really good ball-playing in a tight game to use Walsh up as a decoy.
“Munster thinks about it, he puts eyes to Walsh, and the short pass for Staggs and he goes through. It ends up being the match-winner.”
Craig Bellamy admitted he was not happy with his side’s second half defence post-match and while it is obviously just one loss and hardly anything to lose sleep over, the Storm coach demands excellence.
With that in mind, it was hardly surprising to see how forthright he was in his press conference about the team’s need to address its defensive lapses.
“We need to get more consistent at the end of the day…. that game tonight with our defence was like two different teams they just had the same jumper on, so that’s what we need to start doing,” Bellamy said.
“I think in the past this team prides itself on its defence, but I think that’s one area that we knew we needed to improve this year.
“We haven’t been great defensively and let’s say it was just a real contrast and I was really happy with the way we defended the first half. We thought we’d done a great job but the second half it wasn’t near as good.”
If the Storm want to exorcise their demons against the Broncos and avenge two Grand Final heartbreaks in a row, they have to improve their edge defence.
“They can go Back to Back” | 02:27
WHY ‘THERE WILL BE CHANGES’ WITH DRAGONS LOSS
Titans vs Dragons Sunday 29th of March @ 6.15pm
Changes are afoot for the Dragons if they are unable to beat the lowly Titans this Sunday.
A loss would drop the proud club to a 0-4 start and huge odds to play finals football this season.
Coach Shane Flanagan has elected to keep his team as is despite rumblings there could a reshuffle in the halves.
Once again, Dan Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan will take the reigns.
There were no shortage of opportunities for the Dragons against the Eels, but they couldn’t capitalise on them.
“If they don’t get the result against the Titans, there will be changes,” The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio predicted.
If anyone is in the hot seat, it should be Flanagan.
Defensively he’s sound, but he has been unable to threaten the line as five-eighth this season.
Atkinson meanwhile has been more than solid, recording three try assists in a new system.
Foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley said the outlook for the Dragons was grim this year with Atkinson and Flanagan in the halves.
“They’ve got two halves that aren’t getting the job done,” Crawley said.
Kyle Flanagan is struggling at five-eighth.Source: Getty Images
“At the start of the season, I had concerns when I looked at the Dragons and I’m thinking to myself, of all the rosters in the competition, when it comes to attack, I think they’re the most limited.
“At the moment, it’s still not working. Kyle Flanagan is not a five-eighth. When he took the line on the other day, he didn’t have the strength, the size, the speed to get through.
“If that’s (Raiders half) Ethan Strange, who is a five-eighth, he goes through. That’s my concern with the Dragons at the moment.”
So, who comes in if the Dragons drop to 0-4?
Riccio said pickings are slim at the Red V, with no one really waiting in the wings.
That is why Flanagan and Atkinson have as long a leash as they do.
“Who comes in? Kade Reed is sitting there but he’s not ready. They have Lyhkan King-Togia, they had Jonah Glover but he’s gone (to Souths),” Riccio said.
“There’s no question that Shane Flanagan is a proven coach but the attack is not there and it’s not going to change with the halves combo they have,” Crawley added.
RTS linked to shock Warriors exit | 00:49