😃 The good: Dolphins serious NRL title contenders
It was the embarrassing trashing that proved a blessing in disguise for the Dolphins. The Redcliffe club was belted 52-18 by Manly at Kayo Stadium in Round 5, not only marking Kieran Foran’s entry to NRL head coaching but signalling one of the darkest moments in the Dolphins’ short history.
At that stage they had won just two games from five and looked well off the pace. But the Manly defeat was to be in a line in the sand moment.
The Dolphins demolished an under-manned Roosters outfit.
(Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images)
Halfback Isaiya Katoa revealed the players held a truth session in the wake of the loss and conceded a change in attitude was required if they were to be a serious threat. They went on to lose their next two games by one and two points respectively – to Penrith and the Warriors – before winning the next six in a row.
The Dolphins have conceded an average of just 13 points a game during that winning streak and are now being viewed as a genuine title threat in just their fourth season in the NRL. It’s made a true believer out of Immortal-in-waiting Cameron Smith after he watched their 48-10 demolition of the Roosters on Friday night.
“That’s what it needs to take to win games consistently, and also to win premierships in this competition,” he said.
😔 The bad: Warriors to blame for shot clock fiasco?
Brad Fittler has blamed the Warriors for the shot clock fiasco that proved critical in the two-point loss to Cronulla on Saturday night – and warned the NRL clubs could now exploit the situation. Warriors coach Andrew Webster had a rare blow up in the post-match press conference over the decision by referee Gerard Sutton to penalise Chanel Harris-Tavita for taking too long to launch a line drop-out.
CHT asked Sutton how long he had because the shot clock on the big screen was obscured by an advertisement and was told five seconds, only for the buzzer to go off after two seconds. Sutton has no choice but to penalise the Warriors kicker, pointing out he has no control over the big screen.
Brad Fittler (L) reckons the Warriors only had themselves to blame. Image: Getty/NRL
It proved a big call in the end, with Cronulla holding for a courageous 10-8 win. “It’s on the Warriors…it’s up to them what they put on their screens,” Fittler said.
“I’m assuming they run their game day, so the fact that they decide to put up advertising at the time when there should have been a shot clock is on them. The league may actually need to step in because if I’ve got Manly (for example) playing at my field the following week, I’m saying every time there’s a drop-out I’m just hiding it (the shot clock).”
The NRL is looking into the situation but will likely back Sutton’s call and suggest the Warriors get their act together and ensure what they put up on the big screen doesn’t impact the game.
😡 The ugly: Broncos staring down grim finals reality
The Broncos look in need of a drink. A big drink.
When Brisbane’s season was sliding towards oblivion last year following a heavy loss to Manly, the players headed to a pub near their hotel to let off some steam. They looked each other in the eye and delivered some home truths as they knocked back a few beers and spritzers.
They returned home a more connected team and the rest is history – a premiership win just a few months later. A year on and the Broncos are again struggling to find their mojo.
The Broncos suffered another embarrassing loss against Souths.
(Mark Metcalfe via Getty Images)
The 48-6 loss to Souths on Thursday night – the side’s sixth defeat in a row – was embarrassing on many fronts. Sure, they were missing a heap of frontline players to Origin and injury.
But the lack of commitment, desire and attention to detail would have killed coach Michael Maguire. The visitors looked like 13 strangers thrown together 10 minutes before kick-off.
Is Maguire’s message still resonating with the players a year after climbing the NRL summit? We’re about to find out.